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Live from New York
Feb. 19th, 2014 08:09 amBusy week, but I'm thankful to see the weather finally turning toward non-winter stuff. "Go away, white stuff," I say.
One of my latest finds at the used bookstore is a 2002 book called "Live From New York," about the history of "Saturday Night Live." The book is unique in that it doesn't contain narratives really. It's literally an accumulation of different interviews that the author had done with the cast, the writers, and the hosts, segmented into different eras of the show. By interviews, I don't mean there are pages and pages from a single cast member, but rather a paragraph from this cast member, followed by one from the writer, etc. It's told in a strange chronology of things happening there and presented in a way that it almost looks like everyone was in a room telling stories on each other. It actually is a fascinating read, especially since the viewers only see the final product, not the issues, arguments, etc. that went on to put the show together.
I'm just getting into the early 1990's when Adam Sandler and that generation was involved. My favorite was the first years with the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" though. I love the candidness of the interviews. Once people leave, they feel free to discuss not just the facts, but their feelings on them. Just a few things I've gleaned from the book:
It's been a good read so far. I'm sad it ends at 2002, because an update of the book would be great.
One of my latest finds at the used bookstore is a 2002 book called "Live From New York," about the history of "Saturday Night Live." The book is unique in that it doesn't contain narratives really. It's literally an accumulation of different interviews that the author had done with the cast, the writers, and the hosts, segmented into different eras of the show. By interviews, I don't mean there are pages and pages from a single cast member, but rather a paragraph from this cast member, followed by one from the writer, etc. It's told in a strange chronology of things happening there and presented in a way that it almost looks like everyone was in a room telling stories on each other. It actually is a fascinating read, especially since the viewers only see the final product, not the issues, arguments, etc. that went on to put the show together.
I'm just getting into the early 1990's when Adam Sandler and that generation was involved. My favorite was the first years with the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" though. I love the candidness of the interviews. Once people leave, they feel free to discuss not just the facts, but their feelings on them. Just a few things I've gleaned from the book:
- Chevy Chase can be an @$$hole when he hosts. He was there the first season only, made a name for himself, and bolted, which didn't make him particularly popular with rest of the original cast and writers. Most people believe he's very mean when he's there for a hosting gig.
- Everyone loved Gilda Radner. Everyone. There were no negative things said about her at all. And I like that.
- John Belushi was destined to burn out. Nearly everyone on the show was doing coke in the first years. He was the worst in terms of usage.
- Eddie Murphy became a star on the show, even though the producer at the time didn't really want him. He blossomed on the show, but refuses to discuss his time on it. There are no interview quotes from him in the book.
- Victoria Jackson was a born-again nut while on the show. She left because there was nothing for her to do really. Apparently nothing has changed.
- When Sinead O'Connor ripped up the photo of the Pope on stage, everyone was shocked. In dress rehearsal, she held up a picture of an orphaned child and talked about taking care of our youth, which her management told SNL she would do. She switched it in the live performance.
- Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow auditioned for the show and didn't make it.
It's been a good read so far. I'm sad it ends at 2002, because an update of the book would be great.
