OK, so MRM chose ‘Best SNL spin-off’ as the theme this week. I guess I stand exposed in my Britishness in that I had to google SNL. Sure, I’ve heard of the show but I don’t believe that I have ever watched an episode. Wikipedia give a list of film spin-offs, including the Blues Brothers and Wayne’s World. Both are good films, but not ones that I would want to watch over and over again. The rest of the list I wouldn’t voluntarily choose to see at all.
Wikipedia also listed some ‘incidents’.
The Sinead O’Connor Saturday Night Live protest against child abuse within the Catholic Church. In the rehearsal she held up a picture of an African child but, live, decided to be a little more contentious. There is a three minute version of the full song but, despite being a fabulous singer, her a capella version of ‘War’ is still a bit harsh on the ear, so I have reproduced just the ending to allow you to see what actually happened.
Wikipedia also mentions the famous Ashlee Simpson Saturday Night Live gaffe where she appeared to sing ‘Pieces of Me’ live but when she started to perform her second song, a pre-recorded track of ‘Pieces of Me’ began to play. She looked uncomfortable and unsure of what to do as they band played on. She jigged about nervously for a bit and then sort of meandered off the stage. And, at the end of the show, attempted to explain herself – with Jude Law’s help.
There is also talk about an incident between Rage Against The Machine and Steve Forbes but the only video evidence seems to have some legal issues attached so, discretion being the better part of valour, I shall not reproduce that here.
In the UK, we did have our own versions of both Saturday Live Friday Night Live – the former following the SNL format of guest hosts, the latter compered solely by Ben Elton – and featuring the best of British comedy.
From those shows emerged a wealth of budding talent – Harry Enfield’s ‘Stavros’ and ‘LoadsAMoney’ spring immediately to mind. He went on to get his own show and the movie spin-offs from those were the hideous but hysterical teenagers, Kevin and Perry. As the parent of such a male specimen, I appreciate these films far more these days.
Don’t worry about your lack of interest in the SNL back catalog, that’s pretty much how most Americans feel as well, Blues Brothers, Wayne’s World and a bunch of stuff that probably shouldn’t have been movies. I don’t know when the cast over at SNL is going to figure out that funny in a 4 minute sketch does not = funny in a 2 hour movie.
I have to throw Office Space out as a contender though. I have no idea what kind of popularity it enjoys in the UK, but in the states it’s a cult classic for anyone under 35 or so, and from what I’ve heard there were some sketches that could have vaguely been the inspiration for it from SNL.
Rhacodactylus recently posted..Did You Know Religion Is Genetic Neither Did I
Good evening Joanna,
Rhacodactylus is right about the 4 minutes and sketch the 2 hour movie. That last clip was pretty funny.
Have a happy clip day!
Karl recently posted..Movie clip Wednesday- SNL spin off
Absolutely about the 4 minute sketches … and some of those aren’t funny either. Especially the newer ones. But it gets people used to the characters so when the movies roll around to tv, bam, there’s an audience. I love the Sinead clip — I remember watching that live and thinking … uh oh ……..
pam recently posted..Movie Clip Wednesday – Best SNL Movie
Hey Rhac, That’s not the American version of Ricky Gervais’s The Office…?
Karl, the rest of Harry Enfield’s shows were not always very funny – a bit like SNL, I guess. But Kevin and Perry just seemed to encapsulate the whole frustrating but lovable teenage thing.
Hey Pam, Ruf couldn’t bear to listen to the whole clip, the song and the singing were so depressing!
Oh no no, definitely not, although that translated way better than did Coupling or some of the other shows we have imported, I’m talking about:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/
Office Space it’s a Mike Judge flick with Ron Livingston in the lead, touches on a lot of similar themes to The Office, but is definitely different. It’s a cult classic here, so it wouldn’t surprise me if it hadn’t gained huge popularity over seas.
Rhacodactylus recently posted..Exercising Your Brain May Lead to More Rapid Mental Decay