One of my favorite sketches was the "Land Shark"
with Chevy Chase. The land shark skit was about an intelligent
shark that walked on land and murdered housewives in their homes
by disguising itself. I found this piece to be brilliant. My
favorite part in this sketch in the first Land Shark sketch was
when the shark went after his second female victim. The lady
replied to the knock with, " Who is it?"
Landshark: "Plumber."
Lady: I didn't hire a plumber. Who is it!?"
Landshark: "Flowers."
Lady: "What... for who"
Landshark: "Plumber"
Lady:"... you're.. that crazy shark aren't you?''
Landshark: " No maam, I am just a dolphin.. will you
let me in please?"
Lady: "A dolphin! Ok!"
This sketch was just one in a many few that Saturday Night
Live had going for it in the beginning. It was a show with
a lot of wit. The show was more popular than ever and continued
to be original.
From 1980 and on, there were many other great inspirations
such as Eddie Murphy, Joe Piscipo, Dana Carvey, Adam Sandler,
Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Norm McDonald, and now
Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell. There were also many great skits.
My favorite Saturday Night Live skit of all time is
the "Roxbury Guys" which was recently made into a movie
called "A Night at the Roxbury". This skit starred,
Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell, and featured at times, Jim Carrey,
Phil Hartman, and Jeff Goldblum, as well as Pamela Anderson Lee.
The skit is about the Butubi brothers, two guys trying to get
into a hip club. They are two wild head-banging guys and only
listen to the song, "What is Love?" by Haddaway. Throughout
the whole sketch they never stop banging their head to the side,
(unless, like in one episode, the radio shuts off for less than
two seconds.) I basically watch Saturday Night Live to
see this skit.
Lorne Michaels was becoming successful in other things too. He
had created a foundation for many forms of entertainment and
seemed a hero to some young Canadian actors. Over the years,
Saturday Night Live was steady and smashing and served
as a building block for many popular stars.
I am somewhat of an amateur actor myself, and Lorne Michaels
has inspired me and others who recognize his accomplishments.
To realize that Lorne Michaels made it big and did what he loved
makes me feel I can do the same thing and by watching Saturday
Night Live, I realize that I can accomplish my goals. I think
that Lorne Michaels is an example that Canadian people can achieve
such heights.
Lorne Michaels went on to produce other shows and movies as
well. Another show which he produced and I loved was Kids
In The Hall. Kids In The Hall was started up by five
young Canadian men. This was another of Michaels' masterpieces.
It aired on CBC and HBO from 1988 to 1995 and you can still watch
reruns of it on CBC or the comedy network. Michaels, and the
five cast members, Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Scott Thompson,
Mark McKinney, and Bruce McCulloch, were all Canadian and wanted
to put off an edgy show that was right here, at home, in good
old Canada, instead of in the States. These actors and writers
were very witty and were another example of Canadian achievement.
A lot of Canada, (well those who watched CBC often), watched
the show and it became very popular and know as a show with edge.
I found this to be true for the sketches would make me laugh
from the gut every time. My favorite sketches were "STEPS"
and the Kevin MacDonald goes crazy sketches.
STEPS, had its own unique way of presenting gay pride. It
featured three different types of homosexual men sitting on steps
to a cafe on Gay Pride Day. One man was a bubbly person,
the other a big, tough person, and another a geeky, political
businessman. They all showed their homosexuality in a different
type of way. This sketch was funny and surprisingly non-offensive
or controversial.
There are certain sketches where Kevin MacDonald, my favorite
Kid in the Hall, went crazy and showed his wild and brilliant
side. He is the member of the group with the most spirit. My
favorite sketch is when he decides to grow to grow a beard on
vacation. Then he goes back to work acting strangely because
the beard is taking him over. Finally, the beard makes him totally
crazy and he jumps over a rail and dies. His wife comes and identifies
him five or ten minutes later and the beard is gone!
All Canadians know that if a show or movie starts with "
Lorne Michaels Presents", you're in for a lot good laughs
and inspiration too. Saturday Night Live still comes on
at 1:00 PM (NF Time -- 11:30 EST) and everybody should try to
watch it. With a mixture of comedy, music, and good times, Saturday
Night Live and Lorne Michaels have had a great impact on
the world for the past twenty five years. |