Ramblings:-->SNL Season 2/Episode 8 -&- Sam Kinison

"I used to be a preacher, had a good life.
I had a wonderful family...
Always tried to do right.
When I saw her in church
I knew she didn't come to stay.
She looked at me and said, "I got a confession.
Don't tell anyone but I'm the backdoor to heaven."
Sam Kinison (courtesy of Leslie West)

Season 2/Episode 8 may have been the greatest SNL episode of all time. It certainly was the definitive episode that handed the ..."Torch of Total Coolness" to SNL. It was "Must-Watch" television at its best.

Observations:
  • Chevy Chase is gone from the cast...but makes a cameo.
  • Still, no Bill Murray...though he is mentioned as part of the cast.
  • Guest Host Paul Simon famously sings 1st verse of "Still Crazy After All These Years" in a turkey costume.
  • Paul Simon performs "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover".
  • Paul Simon shyly introduces George Harrison and perform "Here Comes The Sun" & "Homeward Bound". Each share a verse. George has Paul Simon totally pleased with his guitar ending of "Homeward Bound". Simon is obviously honored to share the stage.
  • Simon introduces a short film by Eric Idle...starring George Harrison. It is what we now call a music video. "Crackerbox Palace" by Harrison.
  • Paul Simon sings one of his underrated songs..."Something So Right".
  • Another music video. George Harrison singing "This Song". A comment on his questionable plagiarism lawsuit.
  • Finally, Paul Simon sings "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" solo.
  • The SNL comedy sketches intermixed were top-notch. Commercials about..."Puppy-Uppers" and "Doggy-Downers". And "Quarry Cereal".
  • "Update" is Jane Curtain's puppy...and this was the best one so far.
  • Dan Ackroyd nails talk show host Tom Snyder in a sketch with Paul Simon.
  • A great parody of movie..."Billy Jack"...with Paul Simon dead-on as the main character.
  • Among stars in the audience...Art Garfunkel and teenage Jodi Foster.

Simon & Harrison. A classic. Wait for the end and watch Simon's face
watching Harrison finish his song with a tasty guitar lick. Priceless.

From this show forward...SNL had musical guests lining up wanting to perform.
Episode 8/season 2 perfectly defined the show.

AND ANOTHER THING:
Flipping through some of my CDs, I came across Sam Kinison and was reminded of how excited I would get when finding out he was going to be on the tube. He was always so...in your face and spontaneous with the directions he would take on stage.

Sam Kinison was voted #20 in Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time...but he was a flaming candle that burned out way too soon.

What I also enjoyed was when Sammy K would let his Rock-n-Roll demons out and slay one well known rocker after another with his over-the-top tonsils. These were vocals meant to ride over heavy drums and lightening guitars and thumping bass.

He'd take on AC/DC or Cheap Trick...or maybe an old '60s rocker...it didn't matter. Sammy's energy raised whatever song he was doing to a whole other level.
Below is Sam Kinison performing "Wild Thing".

Sammy K and a few rockers work out..."Wild Thing".
That's Jessica Hahn in the ring.

On "Leader Of The Banned"...Kinison wails on four rockers flailing on his Stratocaster...while also including some of his biting comedy.

Sam rounded up Leslie West (Mountain) and C.C. DeVille (Poison) to help him nail a perfect parody of the Mountain classic..."Mississippi Queen"...poking fun at televangelist Jim Bakker and Jessica Hahn.
Sam Kinison, RIP.
Good Stuff!

Casey
Sam Kinison:-->"Mississippi Queen" (Leader Of The Banned) (1990) (Own It)

Comments

WZJN said…
What a fantastic Harrison/Simon medley. Just what I was in the mood for here on a Sunday morning. One of the few performances in which the line 'I wish I could have been there' is uttered in a sincere manner.

A McCartney quote: "It's a humbling experience when two saints meet"
March 9, 2008 at 9:25 AM
Nazz Nomad said…
i remember being very young and staying up to watch this entire show.
March 27, 2008 at 8:03 AM
jeffberk said…
My Uncle was in the Quarry cereal commercial in this episode of SNL. He was the one eating the cereal.
May 19, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Casey said…
jeffberk...Now that is the coolest thing I've heard all week.
It's a very funny commercial...and I bet your proud of him.
Good Stuff!
May 19, 2008 at 8:30 PM
jeffberk said…
Casey, Yes, I am proud. I can still here my grandmother when she saw him on TV. He worked at Pace University outside NYC and used to help them find locations to shoot. Became friends with Lorne Michaels.
May 21, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Peetu said…
This episode is of early 80's. Even at that time i was not born. My father told me abt this show. I have started to Watch SNL episodes from the season 7. Its hilarious and non stop comedy show.
October 30, 2009 at 1:36 AM
Anonymous said…
I have not seen this type of series. This is not including in my TV Shows List.
November 30, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Anonymous said…
Throughout its three decades on air, Saturday Night Live has received a number of awards. Fabulous show and I like to Watch TV Shows Online. Thanks for this post.
January 29, 2011 at 9:01 AM
Hines said…
Thanks for posting:)
It's a wonderful show to watch using free TV
July 20, 2011 at 7:11 AM
Open Source PDF Editor said…
Hi there! It was мун interesting to read your post! Thnaks a lot for sharing!
October 18, 2011 at 5:34 AM
Screen Recorder Free said…
Hello, it is such a lovely post here, it was very nice to read it! Thanks a lot for sharing!
October 24, 2011 at 7:57 AM
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