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Saturday Night Live: Season 1, 1975-1976
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Additional DVD options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
Watch Instantly with | Per Episode | Buy Season |
Purchase options and add-ons
Genre | DVD Movie, Blu-ray Movie, Comedy |
Format | Color, Multiple Formats, Dolby, NTSC, Box set |
Contributor | Aviva Slesin, Albert Brooks, Robert Marianetti, Andy Warhol, Mike Judge, Mike DeSeve, Gary Weis, James Signorelli, Jane Curtin, Beth McCarthy-Miller, Leon Ichaso, Dave Wilson, Christopher Guest, Walter Williams (IV), Dan Aykroyd, Claude Kerven, Gilda Radner, David Wachtenheim, Matthew Meshekoff, Tom Schiller, Cheve Chase, Bill D'Elia, John Belushi, Laraine Newman, Paul Miller, Robert Smigel, Adam McKay, A.D. Miles, Garrett Morris See more |
Language | English |
Number Of Discs | 8 |
Frequently bought together
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Product Description
Product Description
Nicknamed the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players," the original cast of Saturday Night Live ignited a comedy revolution with their mix of irreverent characters and satirical impressions of political figures and pop culture icons. From the premiere of this groundbreaking sketch comedy show on October 11, 1975, live from historic Studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner launched themselves into instant stardom and were often referred to as "The Beatles of Comedy." Created by Lorne Michaels over three decades ago, few other shows have had the cultural impact and relevance of Saturday Night Live. Nowhere else can you see the complete first season of SNL, featuring hosts George Carlin, Rob Reiner, Lily Tomlin, Richard Pryor, Elliott Gould, Candice Bergen, or original musical performances by Simon & Garfunkel, ABBA, Patti Smith Group, Jimmy Cliff, and Carly Simon. And if you're curious as to how the original cast was hired, check out the DVD bonus features that include the screen tests of each performer.
Amazon.com
Saturday Night Live: The Complete First Season boxed set is much more than the sum of its parts, in fact it's one of the most significant TV DVD releases yet. This isn't just an 8-disc set featuring 24 episodes of live sketch comedy, it's a big box of zeitgeist. This really is the complete first season, mostly uncut and complete with every musical act and short film intact (a few bumpers and transitions were removed to make it flow better on DVD). The first broadcast aired on October 11, 1975, hosted by George Carlin and featured musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian. At first, things seem a little raw: Carlin's opening monologue is painfully unfunny, Chase's first shot at the seminal "Weekend Update" is amusing but sloppy, and much of the cast seem to be holding back. But the groundwork is all there, and soon in subsequent episodes you can see it all start to come together (especially with John Belushi who lets his simmering intensity out to tremendous effect), proving that the first episode simply belies the historic impact the show would come to have on popular culture. Here you'll find the first airing of some of the many skits that stayed famous over the years: the Land Shark, Samurai Hotel, Chevy Chase's opening pratfalls and the impersonations of Gerald Ford which would spin off into the proud SNL tradition of presidential parodies.
The set is a very entertaining look at a significant point in TV and American cultural history. It is so 1975, but that's a major part of its appeal: did Chevy Chase really used to look that young? Did a young George Carlin really used to look so old? Check out Abba in those disco jumpsuits. And if you're a fan of The Muppets, seeing them here on late-night TV making jokes about getting drunk will blow your mind. Younger fans may not fully understand just how groundbreaking this show was at the time. For example, Richard Pryor hosting the seventh episode, which includes the famous "Word Association" sketch. Back then, to have a comedian of Pryor's reputation joking about drugs, sex, and race on live TV was a tremendous risk (it's also gratifying to see the obvious effect he had on the next generation of comics like Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock), and it helped established the show's cache as unpredictable and edgy. The DVD set is full of moments like this and, like the show itself, it has its ups and downs. Watching hosts like Rob Reiner (back when he was still in his "Meathead" days from All in the Family), Madeleine Kahn, and Desi Arnaz work their comedy chops with the cast are high points. Whereas the infamous Louise Lasser episode, which is known for being among the worst episodes in the show's history not so much. Still, it's entirely to Executive Producer Lorne Michaels's credit that it's included here. It's a tremendous collection of everything that gave birth to Saturday Night Live, and the seed of what SNL would become, spawning many movies (not to mention a few catch-phrases), launching the careers of many great comedians, and providing TV viewers with some of the most famous, and infamous, moments in broadcast history. And it all started right here.
The set is packaged in a well-designed, sleek fold-out digi-pack with every episode listed on the sleeves, with hosts, musical guests, and the original air date. The special features include a rare look at the cast members' original screen tests, and a 1975 TV interview with the cast. --Daniel Vancini
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 13.6 ounces
- Item model number : 2220660
- Director : Dave Wilson, A.D. Miles, Christopher Guest, Mike Judge, Tom Schiller
- Media Format : Color, Multiple Formats, Dolby, NTSC, Box set
- Run time : 26 hours and 34 minutes
- Release date : April 25, 2010
- Actors : Dan Aykroyd, Cheve Chase, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris
- Subtitles: : English
- Language : Unqualified, English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
- Studio : Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
- ASIN : B000JLQPYK
- Number of discs : 8
- Best Sellers Rank: #13,577 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #1,566 in Comedy (Movies & TV)
- Customer Reviews:
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I don't think I began watching SNL on a regular basis until its second season when Bill Murray joined the show and The Coneheads first appeared and Steve Martin began hosting. So it was fascinating for me to watch the show's first season in order to see the transformation of this landmark series. The first few episodes aren't that great or funny. The Not Ready for Prime Time Players weren't allowed to really shine until around the fourth episode when Candice Bergen hosted. And the second show with Paul Simon as host is almost all music--which isn't bad--but it's not the SNL we came to know and love. But slowly as the season evolved, the original cast became stars and the main reason to tune in.
Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner took over SNL and made it their own during the first season. They developed classic characters such as Gilda's Emily Litella and Baba Wawa (Barbara Walters), Chevy's accident-prone President Ford, Land Shark (a spoof of the popular "Jaws") and his smooth Weekend Update newscaster, Dan's Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon, and John's Japanese Samurai, plus The Bees. Even The Muppets showed up during the first season, but they were eventually phased out as the cast became more popular--and their humor didn't really fit the show that well (and it was all for the best, since The Muppets then went on to create their own popular show, "The Muppet Show").
I confess I haven't watched SNL much since the days of Eddie Murphy and The Sweeney Sisters (Nora Dunn and Jan Hooks). After they all left, so did I. But I think it's amazing that the show is still on the air after all these years. That's what makes this first season so special--to see the roots of such a legendary show. I loved the eclectic mix of guest hosts--Rob Reiner, Candice Bergen, Lily Tomlin, Richard Pryor, Elliott Gould, Buck Henry, Dick Cavett, Desi Arnaz (who is wonderful), Jill Clayburgh, Anthony Perkins, Raquel Welch, Madeline Kahn, Dyan Cannon and Louise Lasser--and the musical guests are just as diverse: Janis Ian, Simon & Garfunkel, Abba, Anne Murray, Neil Sedaka, Patti Smith Group, Carly Simon, Gordon Lightfoot, Loudon Wainwright III (Rufus' father) and Rita Coolidge. Wow. I have to say that again. Wow. And again.
Also, this DVD set includes some interesting extras: the original screen tests for the cast and an interview with the cast and producer Lorne Michaels on NBC's "Tomorrow Show" starring Tom Snyder just before the first episode aired.
If you want to watch a groundbreaking show become a force of nature, here's where it all began. Right here--on this DVD set. And be sure to watch the episodes in order. It's a fascinating journey.
These are jokes and skits I will never forget. Chevy Chase and Garrett Morris in the black vs white job interview. Gilda Radner's high register 'Never mind.' The suspense of Chevy Chase's falls.
The cunning 'Land Shark'... Candygram! Chomp. Unforgetable.
My first husband and I watched these together as we were deciding how long-lasting a relationship we were planning. (We estimated life, but it ended after 7 1/2 years.) He hadn't heard about it, so I bought and gave him a set.
Quality, quality, quality. This was a great big experiment that worked. I love these actors and many more that came out of the first few seasons. And the great guest stars - Carly Simon, George Carlin with hair, Desi Arnez, beautiful Candice Bergen, and even a President of the United States (!), Don Pardo, the band, and on and on.
Also, I loved the Bees. I'll never forget what John Belushi could achieve with a small, almost undetectible movement of his head that sent the bee antenae into a crazy contrary motion that mezmerized the actors playing opposite him, as well as the audience. That one, barely perceptible movement was such a strong artistic gesture. Belushi certainly was a genius.
And who wouldn't be holding their sides with John Belushi doing 'Joe Cocker'? Or Samurai Delicatessan? Or Samurai divorce? 'No. Stop.' the mother says just as the sword comes close to the top of the child's head... then she steps back, turns the kid sideways and gestures, 'No, this way' (across the waist). Absolutely mad! And Peter Boyle, the big loveable monstor, is the judge in this scene. Too much irony!
My Stepson and I (he's 17) were both surprised to find out how many social issues are the same today as 30 years ago - gay marriage, discrimination against black Americans, marijuana use, casual sex. This made the comedy very up-do-date.
The one big difference I noticed is smoking. Many of the persons on the show were smoking during their appearances. Now, as a society, we 'don't smoke' any more; whereas then, we did smoke.
Did anyone remember what a solid, versatile actor Dan Aykroyd already was? And that Billy Crystal used to be 'Bill' Crystal?
Too much! Far out man... can you dig it? Yes I can.
Time travelling at its best. Thanks whoever did this, I love it. It gave me many happy hours of laughter. (Again.)
Evelyn
Top reviews from other countries
Sin audio ni subtitulos en español.
Season one is fresh and daring. The producers of SNL took a chance at having Richard Pryor host an episode. The problem was he swore a lot in his comedy routine. Being a live show made it quite scary for the censors. All they could do was cross their fingers and hope that Richard would not blurt out a profanity. What was really daring was a skit with Chevy Chase in which they uttered racial slurs at each other. You'll have to watch it to see if Richard kept it clean.
After season one there were many successes; however, the cast and writers began to burn out. SNL season one has an exciting innocence to it.