Do you remember when Saturday Night Live was funny?

Yes, actually, I do. The glory days were obviously before my time, but I was amused by live episodes of Dana Carvy, Chris Farley, Phil Hartman.

Maybe they should cancel it and go with Friday Night Reruns for a few years in the hopes they figure out what's funny again.

Now that is a good idea!

 

i wonder how much of matt's outrage arises from the skit's depiction of limbaugh and how much is actually attributable to the slightly deprecating mention of the drudge report a few moments earlier.  yall musta not seen the segment to which he's referring?  compared to other elements it contained, i'm guessing the limbaugh scene would not have been the most upsetting; the references to and descriptions of red state voters were much more inflammatory altho ultimately the enraged santa who wasnt gonna deliver presents to 'dumbf**kistan* was clearly lampooned for his foolish generalizations and bias.

i rarely watch snl...i cant see the tv from where i sit...but i generally listen to it.  i did happen to see this particular episode.  while it may have fallen short of greatness, it certainly was more entertaining--as has generally been the case with this season's productions--than the real losers of the past.

when snl first aired, it was much more savagely political than it has been in a long while.  i'd love to see it regain some of that again.  the limbaugh scene--while perhaps exceeding the boundaries of good taste--was pretty tame compared to back in da day.  limbaugh put himself at risk of being lampooned by his behavior. he was not seeking treatment at the time his drug use came to light.  he, more than anyone, should realize that those who throw stones better keep up the premiums on their glasshomeowners policies.

There was a time that SNL set the standard for political satire. Sadly, now they seem to be wallowing in the vomit that their "Rush" fell into.

if limbaugh had shown any of the same concerns for his targets, i'd be more easily persuaded.  in the context of the overall piece and its message--which was that both sides of the conflict are equally deluded--having limbaugh volunteer to be santa for the red states (or the idea of him being santa at all for any reason but the fact the suit might fit him without alterations) would hadly make sense to anyone who isnt on drugs.   rush as santa?  you smokin crack again?  is he?

ive made a fair living at times writing or overseeing the creation of parodies.  like i said, it may have been overly mean-spirited, but so is he.  that doesnt invalidate the underlying joke. i doubt limbaugh, drudge or anyone but moore's partisans would lose any sleep over a similar segment in which michael moore ate himself sick.

A great parody would maybe be a commercial of the Rush Limbaugh Weight Loss Program (due to current laws, these pills cannot be offered in Florida). ;~D

wish id thought of it first dammit.  

yall musta not seen the segment to which he's referring?

I did.  I saw the entire thing, and I didn't find it very funny at all.

As the previous commenter noted, Farley and Belushi were comedians, they didn't set themselves up as some uber right straight laced law abider like Rush has. 

 

Do you remember when Saturday Night Live was funny?

The first years when SNLwas on were the best.  I remember the coneheads, Land Sharks, Chase doing Fords pratfalls!  Even into the early 80s it was good, but soon ran down hill.  I see I dont have to waste my time checking out the recent editioins.  Whether you love or Hate limbaugh, I fail to see the humor in a skit like this.  Even if it was Mikey Moore, I would fail to see th humor, but then I guess I have more class in my Pinkie than the current cast and crew of SNL combined.

With all his "lock up the drug abusers" ranting on his radio show.

Can you quote that Show?  He archives all his statements on his site, so it should nto be hard to do.  However, I have never read this, so it is news to me.

And as I stated previously, it would be in bad taste regardless of the victim, whether I agreed with the person or not.

Will Farrell was definitely the glue that kept it together. Ever since he left, they've began to slip into mediocrity...

My Sons love him, but I really cant stand him.  However, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy - now those guys crack me up all the time!

Also, they seem to have soured on it as well, and would rather watch Mad tv.  Guess it is a generational thing.

ParaTed2K

When it comes to some though, they seem to settle for the pathetic. They have never done a decent send up of Rush Limbaugh. Apparently to them, all they have to show is a fat guy in a belly warmer tie.

I agree. I don't think Rush Limbaugh is "hands off" topic, but every human regardless of political swing can be parodied without degrading the person.

There are some who explain SNL as "generational humor",

SNL is not "generational humor" in my opinion. I was barely a little girl during the "golden years" of SNL with Gilda, Chevy, Steve, etc. I have seen the reruns in my adulthood, and think they are hilarious!

kingbee

i wonder how much of matt's outrage arises from the skit's depiction of limbaugh and how much is actually attributable to the slightly deprecating mention of the drudge report a few moments earlier.

Did you notice the article didn't site Matt Drudge's outrage. It was a "senior production" source that was outraged.

the limbaugh scene--while perhaps exceeding the boundaries of good taste--was pretty tame compared to back in da day.

I simply do not buy this. It is most certainly tame in humor, but not taste.

ParaTed2k

Look at the 2000 presidential candidate sketches for example

Those were hilarious regardless of political affiliation.

kingbee

(or the idea of him being santa at all for any reason but the fact the suit might fit him without alterations)

Uhmmmmm....it would need alterations. If you knew anything about Rush, you would know this.

ParaTed2k

A great parody would maybe be a commercial of the Rush Limbaugh Weight Loss Program (due to current laws, these pills cannot be offered in Florida). ;~D

Fat jokes against Rush worked a few years ago, but now they are just evidence that the joker is not up with the times.

   

Outstanding!SNL should give you a job!

Dr.Guy

Here again we have someone who never listens to Rush Limbaugh, but will pontificate on him like an expert. You dont really have a clue what Limbaugh says, you just parrot the left's lines on him, right?

Thank you for saying this. The whole time I was reading certain comments, I kept thinking, "there is no way they have ever listened to Rush." Course I am a "mega-dittohead" since my high school days in the late 80's.

Even if it was Mikey Moore, I would fail to see th humor, but then I guess I have more class in my Pinkie than the current cast and crew of SNL combined.

I agree. The skit would still not be funny with Mikey Moore.

thatguyinslc

I prefer MAD TV.

Me too, for now. I do get offended and disgusted by them every once in a while, though. Sometimes MadTV pushes the envelope into perverted, imo.

 gr00vy0ne

so we wait for another cycle.

I hope you are right.

Can you quote that Show? He archives all his statements on his site, so it should nto be hard to do. However, I have never read this, so it is news to me.

SHOW: RUSH LIMBAUGH (9:00 PM ET)

October 5, 1995, Thursday 11:15 AM
LENGTH: 3252 words
HEADLINE: DISCUSSION OF NO BOUNDARIES TIES; THE NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY
BOOK LISTS; DRUG USE; MEDICARE; WAGES IN AMERICA
ANCHORS: Rush Limbaugh
BODY:
HOST: Rush Limbaugh
RUSH LIMBAUGH

Excerpt:

Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods which become consumed by them. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up.

If you're a black living in the inner city--and--and I firmly believe that, no matter what your race, if you have children--or even if you don't--you don't want to be surrounded by drug infestation. You don't want your kids running around being tempted by the quick profits of drug sales or the quick high of drug use. And if the cops are in these neighborhoods and ridding these neighborhoods of these people, then that's good and you ought to be happy about it.

What this says to me is that too many whites are getting away with drug use, too many whites are getting away with drug sales, too many whites are getting away with trafficking in this stuff.

The answer to this disparity is not to start letting people out of jail because we're not putting others in jail who are breaking the law. The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too.

That's how you deal with this, ladies and gentlemen. And I guarantee you that everybody's going to look at this and draw the wrong conclusion. They're going to say, America's racist.

We're unfairly targeting blacks.' I think blacks ought to be dis--unhappy--whites ought to be unhappy about this. If--if white people are getting away with this stuff, they're tempting your kids, they're tempt--they're--they're in the process perhaps of getting into your neighborhoods. This stuff is des--is destructive.

The Demented Nixon, but not drunk. The drug damaged Cocker? Where you high then? He did a great Cocker! Even Cocker joined him in one episode! Your rememberance is severely warped!

"nixon" was holding a drink in his hand and mourning the impending demise of his presidency.  it was based on a kissinger memoir in which he (kissinger) described nixon as appearing to be intoxicated. 

belushi's 'cocker' was spot on because it so accurately mimicked cocker who by that point had deteriorated to the point where he was nearly spastic and vomited on stage while performing.  cocker had no choice but to go along with it--and therein lies the cruelty--he was an unbookable act at that point because of his overly excessive drug and alcohol use.

Before attacking those you do not agree with, wouldn't it be a good idea to know what and why you are attacking them? because if you just lash out, as you and they did, you will always be shown to be ignorant and insensitive, and not do a thing to your intended victim.

considering you didnt even see the segment youre slamming, you might wish to consider your own advice.

SHOW: RUSH LIMBAUGH (9:00 PM ET) October 5, 1995, Thursday 11:15 AM LENGTH: 3252 words HEADLINE: DISCUSSION OF NO BOUNDARIES TIES; THE NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BOOK LISTS; DRUG USE; MEDICARE; WAGES IN AMERICA ANCHORS: Rush Limbaugh BODY: HOST: Rush Limbaugh RUSH LIMBAUGH

Oops!  Your slip is showing!

http://www.bestoftheblogs.com/2003_10_11_bestof.html