The SNL40 extravaganza was one of the more appreciated multi-hour TV celeb fests to grace my TV screen in quite sometime.
I remember the first time I saw an episode of SNL. I was 8 or 9 and having a sleepover at my friend’s house. As expected, we were pretending to be asleep in her parent’s basement, but were quietly flipping around channels to find something on TV. Out of nowhere, Alec Baldwin appeared on screen. I don’t remember the sketch or who else was in it. I just remember we were intrigued as BeetleJuice had taken over our brains earlier that year and we knew exactly who that was! Why was he on a comedy show so late though? What was this? Was it old? New? We didn’t know, but the audience laughter told us it was funny, so we had to watch. I wish I could remember what else happened during that episode or which of the numerous hosting stints this was for Mr. Baldwin. All I remember is that by 1am, we were fans and vowed we had to figure out how to see this every week.
This was the late ’80s cast, kids. They say whichever SNL cast was your first, will be your favourite. I can’t speak for everyone, but I have to say this is absolutely the case for me. The late 80s-early 90s cast is all love. I don’t remember a Saturday night in junior high (or let’s be honest, most of high school. I was that nerd) that I was wasn’t loyally watching SNL. Becoming hooked on every sketch ranging from Toonces to Wayne’s World, to Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. My parents grew accustomed to the cackling echoing down the hall from 11:30pm-1:00am, and I eagerly awaited whatever soon-to-be-classic moments were about to burrow into my tweeny head.
Thanks SNL for giving me an early start to late night comedy love, and more importantly, for contributing to my lifelong case of insomnia.