And now this...

What I just discovered has confirmed I can’t just sit here and recap every episode: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0694451/plotsummary

It was a dumb idea anyway. Especially when those fine people at IMDB did such a concise and accurate job. I still think there is something to gain from watching every episode. And no it's not because I want to slowly kill myself (you know because most of it is boring and not funny). This just means I need to provide what some might call “insights” or at least interesting fact-jokes.

1975 - Episode 5:

Note: 5 min in - haven't laughed once.

YES ABBA!

Doesn't hurt that (1) I love ABBA, (2) this is one of my favorite ABBA songs (SOS), and (3) ABBA makes everything better (it’s science, you wouldn’t understand). You and I both know it I am just mature enough to admit it. Now a lot of you will judge me for liking ABBA. But you're just stupid (note this argument worked in 4^th grade. I’m expecting the same results now). They are a good band despite their outfits. Pure good pop music. It transcends (see Chuck Klosterman's book Eating the Dinosaur - and yes I did think this way about ABBA prior to his essay, he's just better at communicating thoughts. He as it turns out is a “writer”).

"Goodness, what a wonderful country, Wow what a nifty history, Gee it's a powerful nation, And it's been 200 years now, Isn't it wonderful?, Oh, you know it certainly is.
Well, I relived my country's history, In a class called Social Studies, And I learned the Pledge of Allegiance, And I sing my national anthem, 'My country 'tis of thee.'" - Loudon Wainwright III

Yup. That's a song. That I just heard. And no I didn't throw my TV out the window. It's not TVs fault. It's mine. I should buy my TV flowers.

This Loudon Wainwright is a very strange man. He kind of looks like he's going to cry. And people are laughing at him, but I don't think he means to be funny. I think he instead is writing a deep compassionate song that exemplifies what's going on. Research, as I've just conducted, he won a grammy last year. Good for him. Thank you ABBA for closing the show successfully at least from my perspective.

1975 - Episode 6:

Dear SNL - I see now that it is a tradition to continue to run a joke into the ground by replaying a skit episode after episode but please stop. Not funny in 2010 not funny in 1975 (see Jaws III sketch).
I can't even pay attention. I'm starting to loose sight of why this was innovative. I'm going to have to do some research into this.

1975 - Number 4

I've made a new rule for this SNL viewing I'm doing. I can't be drunk. Hmm. Now that I think about it maybe I should be drunk. Maybe that's how it is intended to be watched. After all who is sober at 11 PM on a Saturday? Maybe just maybe that's why I've never really laughed at this. Drinking. I should watch each episode sober then drunk as a science experiment. Take it to the science fair. That should get me a blue ribbon. But that seems like a lot of work. Oh well, rule already made - sober it is.

I'm just going to have to say that I don't get this joke, in these last few episodes before they go to a commercial they go to someone in the audience and put some kind of caption under the persons name. I think they are supposed to be jokes but I don't think I'm 1975 enough.

Ew. worst musical act. that i've seen so far. i'm sure there are more to come.

I'm starting to run out of things to say. I could just sit and recap the episodes moment by moment but that just might be as boring as watching every episode. Chevy's opening was funny. Shark bit went to long. (wasn't that entertaining?)

This isn't funny. Why does it need to be an hour and five min long? I need to investigate where this segment of time came from. Maybe this element is the key ingredient to funny. I worry it’s too much. But I’m still early on this journey.

This next part is going to be hard to describe. But I don't like when someone is doing stand-up and they say a line that ended up getting a laugh that seems unexpected, or larger than what I will call the “expected laugh.” And then the comedian ends up pausing and repeating the line. Which entices an awkward second flow of laughing. I always feel like it is them being greedy. They want that free extra laugh.

Side note, it’s bizarre how listening to women talking about ERA has become a nice break from hearing about health care reform.

I survived.

Number 3 1975

it's still weird watching chevy chase now (1975 SNL) vs. the one as seen on community.

i grew up hearing my mom say "oh that chevy chase, he's known for his slap stick." almost in a tone that meant the comedy he did wasn't the good kind. well, not that it wasn't the good kind but that it just was the easy kind of comedy because slapstick always gets a laugh. Nothing is funnier then a guy punched in the balls. Period.

She did always follow it up to say that it is a challenging art. "Physical comedy is hard because those people have to look hurt even though they aren't. They put their bodies through so much." I wouldn't know. If I run into a metal trash can on the sidewalk it's because I'm clumsy. The laughing is a bonus.

Rob Reiner had a gap between his teeth?! (this will not weigh in my general opinion of the show, but hmm never noticed it before and learned something new)

What I have noticed about these earlier episodes is that the sketches seem quicker then they are in the more current ones I've seen. Even if it isn't funny at least it doesn't last 10 min (see Kennan Thompson's "what's up with that” sketch). I still generally feel like they are holding back. That what I am watching is a portion of the sketch should have been.

Except, of course, Andy Kaufman. I could go on a mini-rant here about my original vs. current perception of him. Not worth it. He's genius. I get that now.

If you were hoping that 6 african american guys were on stage with 1 white girl dancing to 70's funk music just like Rerun from 'What's Happening" you are in luck, that is exactly what is happening.

I do like that in these first few I've seen the host is hosting. Introducing more then just the band. But the show also has more then just a set number of sketches and 2 segments of a band playing.

Bee costumes always funny. 3 episodes later. I know this will change.

here's something.

I'm going to watch every episode of Saturday Night Live.

[pause]

Yup.

[second pause – to re-read line 1]

Every last one.

You may ask "why would you ever want to do that?" Well, person in my head asking me this question, after reading Steve Martin's book I wanted to go back to see the episodes on SNL he was in. Try to see the things he spoke of. This got my thoughts thinking about my relationship with SNL. I've never really been a fan. Just as I believe no one really can be. We think about it in the way people told us to. That it supposed to push the boundaries of comedy. If you don’t get it you’re not liberal enough. Not creative enough. Not a revolutionary enough (as much as said term can be applicable to a TV show).

But I wanted to know, is it funny? Was it funny then? Is it funny now? How did it get to this?

But really that's all an excuse. It just seems like something I could waste my time doing. I love TV. Love comedy. Love making judgmental commentary on things I don't really have basis saying. It's watch instantly on netflix. So here I go.

Episode 1:

I like George Carlin's suit. Hate that he's dead, but like his suit. His jokes are not funny. Not in that I just don't get them because it's not 1975 anymore, but not funny because you can just tell he's holding himself back. They aren't fluid and just awkward. I blame the FCC. (because as an American who knows nothing of their regulations I can say such random things)

It's weird watching this knowing last night I was watching a show about making a show like this. Lorne Michael's master plan wasn't to make SNL but to make 30 Rock. Or so I tell myself. Right now. Because 30 Rock is funnier.

Best part of the whole episode: Andy Kaufman. I could watch this routine 40 billion times. Yes Billion. What a great mind.

Episode 2:

Now I love Paul Simon but an hour and five min of pure Paul Simon singing when you are expecting jokes is exhausting. I get it: You sing awesome and your 70's mustache is uber-creepy. I’m simply trying to say my one mission in the era of time machines will be to find the guy who decided mustaches would be “it” in the 1970’s and nair his whole head. He should know better.

Moving on. There isn't much to watch. Well except this mustache. (I should explain I never really move on)