(no subject)
Matthew Pacific
Ms. Cronin
11/08/04
Period G
Saturday Night Live
To be the center of attention is what we as humans naturally strive for. A comedic performer can bless a room with laughter and attain respect and adoration just from simply telling a joke. I certainly have found myself determined at times to brighten a room with smiles and focus attention upon myself. As the middle child in my family I believe that my all out efforts for attention are acquired as a result of being just one of four boys. Often do I find myself seeking humor and innovative ways to make people laugh. Everything I read and watched as a child was as to benefit my quest for comedy. I embedded all comedic skits, jokes, and one-liners in my memory only for them to be repeated afterwards for a few cheap laughs. This fascination of mine ultimately lead to the discovery of my destiny. Just four simple words echo through my head every weekend. “ Live from New York it’s Saturday night!”.
Upon the VCR of my room sits my personal bible of comedy. The 25th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live. This collection of comedic performances is an assortment of the top comedic skits performed over the past 25 years of the shows existence. Not only do these skits bring forth hilarity, but also some unforgettable names that are symbolic to comedy in our time era. Names such as Chris Farley, Chevy Chase, and Adam Sandler will forever be noted as the forefathers of modern day humor. This humor has created the highest rated late-night show in America since 1977. While the cast member have changed over the years, the basic elements remain the same; a celebrity host, musical guest, ensemble of cast members, sketches, commercial parodies, and fake news segments. These segments reflect our generation through a signature form of comedy. Along with the difficult schedule and pressure-filled production environment it has resulted in some classic comedy sketches and some abysmally dull moments over the years. Creating comedy in such a situation is difficult at best and the audience was always aware when the show was running dry (usually in the last half hour). But this sense of the immediate and the unforeseen also gave the show its needed edge. By returning to TV's live roots, Saturday Night Live gave its audiences an element of adventure with each program. It acquainted the generations who never experienced live television programming in the 1950s with the sense of theatre missing from pre-recorded programming.
Due to its longevity, SNL has breached generational lines and made the culture of a younger audience available to their elders. Most of the skits performed are a comedic representation of the weeks’ current events and it is in this sense that our generation is represented. In a society where rules are strictly enforced and children are being socialized at a much younger age, there is a lack of conversing between adults and children. In this generation kids are thirsting for a voice. What better to represent children then a group of adults whom spread our generations’ news and entertainment through a universal language, comedy.
All this representation is exemplified into a 80 minute video where generation after generation are repeatedly voiced through hilarious parodies , skits, and commercials. Famous skits often representing major events of our time are played out through humor. Events such as presidential elections and other political scenarios can often be viewed on the show. Whether it be poking hilarity at George W. Bushs’ accent or the sluggishness in John Kerrys’ speech, these actors have each character fulfilled as if they personally knew them. Also represented are teenagers. The Gap Girls is a sketch on a group of high school girls performing cliché high school activities. Whether they are gossiping at the mall or having boy trouble these girls bring out the humor in the seemingly once large problems of High School. It is in this way that teenagers communicate to adults their world in this time and this generation. The classic skit of Wayne’s World, features Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey as two music fanatics obsessing over girls and television. The once popular teen saying, “Schwing” derived from the skit itself.
There are two ways in which you can view the humorous rationale of Saturday Night Live. The first has a historical context. Our history and important daily events are represented through the comedic performances. Ranging from the mockery of colonial lifestyles to present day presidential debates there is a comedy sketch to represent every era of United States history. The second justification for its existence is found within the counter culture of our present society. Today we live in a society where children take many a thing for granted and serious issues are no longer prominently valued among teenagers. This issue is mirrored upon the exact meaning of Saturday Night Live. Nothing is taken seriously and often at times people are wrongly portrayed. However , is this not what teens do? They miscommunicate and interpret people as well as spread rumors and gossip to their peers. In this sense we find subliminal meaning in SNL. Are people being harassed and oppressed for their beliefs and image? This is highly incongruous in a society where individualism is so widely suggested and encouraged.
As we move forward in our materialistic society many teenagers find comfort in idolizing the rich and the famous. Chiefly SNL promises a different star and musical guest to endow the show with their talents and humor every Saturday. These influential people unknowingly are influencing style and image every minute of their lives. They indirectly represent this generation through the words they sing, the clothes they wear, the houses they live in, and their movie performances. These movie stars are so idolized that thousands of people tune in for the soul purpose of watching what their wardrobe, how their hair and makeup is done, and what body language they use. It is in this way that our generation takes comfort in “following the crowd”.
Ms. Cronin
11/08/04
Period G
Saturday Night Live
To be the center of attention is what we as humans naturally strive for. A comedic performer can bless a room with laughter and attain respect and adoration just from simply telling a joke. I certainly have found myself determined at times to brighten a room with smiles and focus attention upon myself. As the middle child in my family I believe that my all out efforts for attention are acquired as a result of being just one of four boys. Often do I find myself seeking humor and innovative ways to make people laugh. Everything I read and watched as a child was as to benefit my quest for comedy. I embedded all comedic skits, jokes, and one-liners in my memory only for them to be repeated afterwards for a few cheap laughs. This fascination of mine ultimately lead to the discovery of my destiny. Just four simple words echo through my head every weekend. “ Live from New York it’s Saturday night!”.
Upon the VCR of my room sits my personal bible of comedy. The 25th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live. This collection of comedic performances is an assortment of the top comedic skits performed over the past 25 years of the shows existence. Not only do these skits bring forth hilarity, but also some unforgettable names that are symbolic to comedy in our time era. Names such as Chris Farley, Chevy Chase, and Adam Sandler will forever be noted as the forefathers of modern day humor. This humor has created the highest rated late-night show in America since 1977. While the cast member have changed over the years, the basic elements remain the same; a celebrity host, musical guest, ensemble of cast members, sketches, commercial parodies, and fake news segments. These segments reflect our generation through a signature form of comedy. Along with the difficult schedule and pressure-filled production environment it has resulted in some classic comedy sketches and some abysmally dull moments over the years. Creating comedy in such a situation is difficult at best and the audience was always aware when the show was running dry (usually in the last half hour). But this sense of the immediate and the unforeseen also gave the show its needed edge. By returning to TV's live roots, Saturday Night Live gave its audiences an element of adventure with each program. It acquainted the generations who never experienced live television programming in the 1950s with the sense of theatre missing from pre-recorded programming.
Due to its longevity, SNL has breached generational lines and made the culture of a younger audience available to their elders. Most of the skits performed are a comedic representation of the weeks’ current events and it is in this sense that our generation is represented. In a society where rules are strictly enforced and children are being socialized at a much younger age, there is a lack of conversing between adults and children. In this generation kids are thirsting for a voice. What better to represent children then a group of adults whom spread our generations’ news and entertainment through a universal language, comedy.
All this representation is exemplified into a 80 minute video where generation after generation are repeatedly voiced through hilarious parodies , skits, and commercials. Famous skits often representing major events of our time are played out through humor. Events such as presidential elections and other political scenarios can often be viewed on the show. Whether it be poking hilarity at George W. Bushs’ accent or the sluggishness in John Kerrys’ speech, these actors have each character fulfilled as if they personally knew them. Also represented are teenagers. The Gap Girls is a sketch on a group of high school girls performing cliché high school activities. Whether they are gossiping at the mall or having boy trouble these girls bring out the humor in the seemingly once large problems of High School. It is in this way that teenagers communicate to adults their world in this time and this generation. The classic skit of Wayne’s World, features Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey as two music fanatics obsessing over girls and television. The once popular teen saying, “Schwing” derived from the skit itself.
There are two ways in which you can view the humorous rationale of Saturday Night Live. The first has a historical context. Our history and important daily events are represented through the comedic performances. Ranging from the mockery of colonial lifestyles to present day presidential debates there is a comedy sketch to represent every era of United States history. The second justification for its existence is found within the counter culture of our present society. Today we live in a society where children take many a thing for granted and serious issues are no longer prominently valued among teenagers. This issue is mirrored upon the exact meaning of Saturday Night Live. Nothing is taken seriously and often at times people are wrongly portrayed. However , is this not what teens do? They miscommunicate and interpret people as well as spread rumors and gossip to their peers. In this sense we find subliminal meaning in SNL. Are people being harassed and oppressed for their beliefs and image? This is highly incongruous in a society where individualism is so widely suggested and encouraged.
As we move forward in our materialistic society many teenagers find comfort in idolizing the rich and the famous. Chiefly SNL promises a different star and musical guest to endow the show with their talents and humor every Saturday. These influential people unknowingly are influencing style and image every minute of their lives. They indirectly represent this generation through the words they sing, the clothes they wear, the houses they live in, and their movie performances. These movie stars are so idolized that thousands of people tune in for the soul purpose of watching what their wardrobe, how their hair and makeup is done, and what body language they use. It is in this way that our generation takes comfort in “following the crowd”.