# SNL 40th Reunion: Anyone watching? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767 "2015-02-16T00:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/41 "2015-02-16T04:43:10Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Yes, quite so. Well played. > > And their nerve did not fail them, to open the memorial with the film that had John Belushi be the only one who had lived to old age, _“everyone thought I’d be the first to go…”_ Our DVR quit right at the beginning of that. Anyone find it online yet? I know it was just a few minutes ago, but we’re really sad we missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/42 "2015-02-16T05:50:21Z")
> [@zombywoof](#): > > Meh, wanted to like it but it seems typical SNL… > > 1. Bring out celebrity for a few seconds so the audience can make “woo!” noises > 2. Show a bunch of commercials > 3. Show an overplayed old skit (Bass-o-Matic) > 4. Show a bunch of commercials > 5. Show something unfunny (“Californians”) > 6. Show a bunch of commericals > > repeat… Just to be clear, you did catch that the Bass-o-Matic skit was being done live, right? They weren’t replaying the original one. I was waiting to see if they would replay John Belushi’s old [Little Chocolate Donuts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrythD3kkoA) commercial (it’s a spoof of the old [Bruce Jenner](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtF9RvF12nA) [Wheaties Commercials](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNU90DQn5lw)), but I don’t think most people would catch so they could slip it in as a nod to John. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/43 "2015-02-16T05:54:48Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > Our DVR quit right at the beginning of that. Anyone find it online yet? I know it was just a few minutes ago, but we’re really sad we missed it. Here’s the clip the played at the beginning of it. [https://screen.yahoo.com/dont-look-back-anger-000000945.html](https://screen.yahoo.com/dont-look-back-anger-000000945.html) ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/44 "2015-02-16T12:45:27Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Paul Simon doing “Still Crazy After All These Years” is of course quite appropriate for the type of event, gotta admit. I missed it. Was he in a chicken suit this time? ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/45 "2015-02-16T14:01:03Z")
Perspective from someone who has only an occasional SNL watcher: I caught most of last night’s show, and laughed a handful of times. But I had no idea what was going on for a lot of it. The clips were a bit too short - if I knew the old skit, they could be funny. But if I didn’t know what they referred to, they weren’t enough to make me laugh. Some of the celebrity appearances just seemed like SNL (or the celebs themselves) were just marking a checkbox that they were there. Overall, I was hoping it would bring more to the table for people that weren’t familiar with everything they did over 40 years. I’m sure people who knew the skits better enjoyed it more than I did. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/46 "2015-02-16T14:13:00Z")
I’ll rarely watch anything for 3 1/2 hours but overall that was pretty entertaining (sans Kanye, Californians, etc). Loved seeing old Gilda, Chevy, Steve Martin. Could pretty much figure out a lot that I hadn’t seen before that came from a long period where I’d quit watching altogether. The biggest laugh for me was a Jack Handyism… \*Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis." \*Paul Simon nailed it at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Donegal\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Donegal\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donegal_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/47 "2015-02-16T14:18:19Z")
This was definitely for fans of the show only. Too much to cover in too short a time to explain things as they went. So we had to catch the references sometimes in 1 or 2 seconds. Made for a frenetic pace but I enjoyed every minute ( OK, except for Kanye) . Would have loved to be at the after party!! ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/48 "2015-02-16T14:31:45Z")
> [@lawoot](#): > > I missed it. Was he in a chicken suit this time? Nope. No turkey suit. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/49 "2015-02-16T15:06:06Z")
I watched some of it but I was very disappointed with the amount of commercials it had (and with some of the choices of people they chose to have perform). ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/50 "2015-02-16T15:15:24Z")
I remember the 15th anniversary special in 1990 (I actually taped it so I could watch it over and over). It showed more of actual clips, which is sorta what I was hoping last night would be. New original stuff was cool, but I wanted to be able to reminisce on skits for a bit longer than 2.5 seconds. I actually don’t think I watched the 25th anniversary special for some reason. Not a Miley fan, but I’ll echo that her performance was really good. Paul’s and Paul’s were good in the sense that you just want to see the old guys perform for old time’s sake, even if they’re way past their prime vocally, but Miley just nailed it. Kanye’s was just fucking painful and embarrassing. He’s becoming the Michael Jackson of his generation; too many people around him telling him how awesome he is with no reigns on his strangeness. Loved Weekend Update with Jane, Tina and Amy. The Weekend Update men reminded me that most of them couldn’t hold a candle to those three ladies (Colin: mumbles and fumbles, Norm: drunk, Kevin: not funny). Melissa McCarthy as Matt Foley blew me away. Great way to bring back a classic character for the live performance. Eddie Murphy was the most disappointing 73 seconds in the history of network television. He very obviously didn’t want to be there. He’s just become a prick who takes himself way too seriously. I’d have rather him not be there and just see some clips from the point in his career when he was actually funny and innovative. Wayne and Garth were great. Celebrity Jeopardy was the highlight of the evening for me. Very well-done. It took me a minute to realize it was new and not a clip. People who surprised me at not being there: Dennis Miller, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Cheri O’Teri, the Muppets and Christopher Walken(?). Victoria Jackson not being there didn’t surprise me at all. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/51 "2015-02-16T15:26:49Z")
I’ve been a fan of SNL since the begining - yes, I was 9 and didn’t understand a lot of the material- and would not have missed this for the world. I wouldn’t say I’m “meh” about the whole thing, but I didn’t love it either. As has been pointed out, it was uneven, much as SNL has always been. It was great to see the original cast members, which, _humor wise_, are not my favorites, but more for nostalgia’ sake and to give them their due. Heck, John Belushi has always been my least favorite cast member but I still think he deserves a tribute. Loved Jimmy and Justin’s opening number, though I couldn’t understand a lot of the lyrics. Funny that Andy Samburg was allowed to say “dick” when the original short has the word censored. I completely get “The Californians”, or at least what they were going for. It’s pretty surprising to me that such talented people, especially Fred Armisen, cannot do a decent stereotypical Southern California accent. Have none of these people heard the song “Valley Girl”? Not to mention, all of them probably have second homes there. I can see why so many people don’t get it or find it funny. Paul McCartney, wtf? I wasn’t thinking what did “they” do to his voice, but more, why didn’t “they” do something to help his ovice, or you know, why he didn’t perform a song whose notes he can still actually reach. Also, what was the video playing the background? It looks like a young Sir Paul, so I was wondering if it was the original video that went with the song. If so, what an odd choice. Kanye can fuck off. Another thing that was already mentioned is the seemingly wide spread intoxication. Totally understandable and I don’t begrudge anyone one bit, but very noticable. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/52 "2015-02-16T15:44:04Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > My wife and I are finding it borderline unwatchable. They refuse to show more than 2-3 seconds of any given clip. There was a 6-7 minute period where they must have shown 100 different punchlines. None of the new content has been funny and it’s mostly been a parade of A listers there for seconds. > > There is nothing else on tv tonight though. > [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > fuck kanye… > > wtf does he have to do with SNL and why was he give too much air?? > [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I kept waiting for that Kanye skit to get funny but it just…didn’t. I’m stunned and appalled that Kanye and Miley got so much air time, and all they could muster for honoring Tracy Morgan. I can’t stand either of them. In all fairness Miley did a good job; but I still would have preferred Steve Martin being allowed to sing his entire rendition of King Tut than have her on there. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/53 "2015-02-16T15:58:11Z")
Can someone explain the joke about Jon Lovitz being included in the list of deceased cast and crew members? ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/54 "2015-02-16T16:03:28Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Can someone explain the joke about Jon Lovitz being included in the list of deceased cast and crew members? For once I hope I’m not under thinking it… I just thought it was funny because it played a joke on the viewers. My wife saw that and surprised that she didn’t know he had died. I immediately said “That has to be fake!” Then they showed Lovitz. I thought it was hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/55 "2015-02-16T16:06:17Z")
They did it twice… I too though there must be some skit history there. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/56 "2015-02-16T16:06:22Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Can someone explain the joke about Jon Lovitz being included in the list of deceased cast and crew members? Like Enright said, I think it was a joke and nothing more. It almost looked like Jon wasn’t even in on it. And if he was, that he didn’t know he was going to be included in the video montage. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/57 "2015-02-16T16:10:09Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Eddie Murphy was the most disappointing 73 seconds in the history of network television. He very obviously didn’t want to be there. He’s just become a prick who takes himself way too seriously. I’d have rather him not be there and just see some clips from the point in his career when he was actually funny and innovative. Also, didn’t they cut to commercial during his speech? ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/58 "2015-02-16T16:12:19Z")
Lovitz played a character on Seinfeld that was supposed to have terminal cancer. I don’t think that is the origin of the joke or not. They should have just finished the fallen comrades montage with Generalissimo Francisco Franco gag. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/59 "2015-02-16T16:33:59Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > It almost looked like Jon wasn’t even in on it. And if he was, that he didn’t know he was going to be included in the video montage. “_Ac-ting!_” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767/60 "2015-02-16T16:37:05Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Also, didn’t they cut to commercial during his speech? No. He literally did not have a speech. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-40th-reunion-anyone-watching/712767.md?page=4)