Friday, August 31, 2012

Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#21)

21.  (Steve Martin's Holiday Wish ... Dec 6, 1986)

I don't think I knew what an orgasm was when I first saw this, but that didn't stop me from laughing.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#22)

22.  (Angry Boss ... May 5, 2001)

How good was Will Ferrell ?  He's obviously all over this list, but as you will find out on Monday, he will hold 4 of the top 14 moments as well.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#23)

23.  (Weekend Update with Dennis Miller ... Nov 9, 1985)

Easily the best Weekend Update anchor of all time.  That being said, Monday Night Football was a mistake.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#24)

24.  (Beck performs "Clap Hands" ... Oct 28, 2006)

What a brilliant musician, maybe not the highest ranking musical performance ever, but easily the most creative.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#25)

25.  (Debbie Downer ... May 1, 2004)

They did this seven times, but the first time was still the best.  Almost everyone in the sketch breaks character.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#26)

26.  (Weekend Update, with Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey ... 2000 - 2004)

In my opinion, the best Weekend Update duo in the history of the show, but not the best Weekend Update anchors ever.  Don't hold your breath, Brad Hall.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#27)

27.  (Cocker & Cocker ... Oct 2, 1976)

This is the best pure impersonation on the list.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#28)

28.  (Celebrity Jeopardy ... Oct 23, 1999)

They've done 14 of these since 1996, 31 unique impressions in all, and every single one of them delivered.






Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#29)

29.  (The Sinatra Group ... Jan 19, 1991)

Piscopo's Sinatra and Hartman's Sinatra were completely different characters.  Both great, but this is the defining Sinatra sketch in the history of the show.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#30)

30.  (Dear Sister ... Apr 14, 2007)

At the time I originally saw this, I didn't know that this was a parody of an "O.C." storyline, nor do I care.  It doesn't change the fact that this is executed to perfection.  And yes, I bought the song the very next day on iTunes.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#31)

31.  (U2 Encore ... Nov 20, 2004)

Every now and then, the musical guest comes back after goodbyes and ends the show with another tune.  I've heard they came back and did three more songs, for a total of five.  "I Will Follow" was the one that aired, but right before the broadcast ends, you see Bono look to the crowd, and ask "One more?"


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#32)

32.  (Locker Room Motivation ... Mar 24, 2007)

Orville Willis Forte IV, and the defining moment of his SNL career.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#33)

33.  (Cooking with the Anal Retentive Chef ... Apr 1, 1989)

The thing that made Phil Hartman great, is that he didn't have to be animated to be funny.  There was no gimmick with him.  Pure funny.






Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#34)

34.  (Astronaut Jones ... Feb 2, 2002)

There aren't words.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#35)

35.  (Beethoven ... Nov 22, 1975)

If you can believe it, there are two more Belushi moments that I have ranked higher.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#36)

36.  (Saddam Calls Osama ... Jan 10, 2004)

What's with all the Tom Hanks references ??




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#37)

37.  (Woman to Woman ... Nov 21, 2009)

Ya gotta get right up on that mic.  Who ever wrote this needs to hugged.






Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#38)

38.  (Ebony & Ivory ... May 22, 1982)

One of the sketches I frequently sing in the shower.  There are a few more coming up in the top 40 that I sing a lot too.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#39)

39.  (So Long, Farewell ... May 14, 1994)

We didn't know it at the time, but this was the last time that Phil Hartman and Chris Farley shared the stage on SNL, and because they both left us way too soon, seeing this now means more.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#40)

40.  (Weekend Update, with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler ... 2004 - 2006)

And not because I always wanted them to kiss.


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#41)

41.  (Garrett Morris : News for the Hard of Hearing ... Nov 8, 1975)

OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT ...


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#42)

42.  (Wayne's World ... Feb 17, 1990)

VH1 did a Top 100 SNL moments list a few years back, and this was # 1 of all time.






Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#43)

43.  (Sex on Tape ... Jan 9, 1993)

Perhaps the single funniest line Phil Hartman as ever uttered on the show ... I like my vagina.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#44)

44.  (Song Memories ... Feb 24, 2007)

They've done about 5 or 6 of these, the last two weren't great, but the first 2 or 3 are historically funny.  The meanings of each of the songs they used have been changed forever in my mind.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#45)

45.  (Weezer performs "Island in the Sun" ... May 19, 2001)

After these guys were away for about 5 years, they come back with the Green Album, and end up being the musical guest for SNL's season finale in 2001.  Mike and I watched this episode from his basement, and all night, the words, "Weezer are playing SNL" kept racing through my mind.  This is the performance that Will Ferrell joined Weezer for.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#46)

46.  (Pants Stuffing ... Oct 6, 1984)

I spent this evening at Scott Etzel's house for a sleepover.  I wouldn't become an avid fan for another 5 years or so, but this night, we were watching the show, and this is the hardest I had ever laughed, up until that point.  I can't find any video, but Jim Belushi sees gentlemen stuffing their pants in the restroom, to impress the ladies with their bulges, and the rest is history ...


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#47)

47.  (Andy Kaufman "performs" "Mighty Mouse" ... Oct 11, 1975)

One of the most brilliant comedy minds of all time.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#48)

48.  (Delco Cat Toys ... Dec 5, 1998)

Can you imagine how fun it would be to hang out with Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn for a night.  This sketch is the purest form of comedy genius I can think of.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#49)

49.  (Duluth Live ... Jan 14, 2006)

I tell you what.  I will vote for Mitt Romney if iTunes makes this song available as a download in the next 2 months.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#50)

50.  (Little Chocolate Donuts ... Nov 19, 1977)

I'm pretty sure these next 50 have brought me to tears, for one reason or another, over the years.  Most of them insanely funny, some moving, some meant something to me personally.  We are in the Top 50 !    Here's a classic from Mr John Belushi.






Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#51)

51.  (The Coconut Bangers Ball ... Nov 4, 2000)

The night this aired, I almost choked to death in laughter.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#52)

52.  (Spelling Bee ... Dec 17, 2005)

I beat Phyllis Sklar in an 8th grade spelling bee.  I need you to respect that.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#53)

53.  (Crazy Doctor ... Jan 15, 2000)

I think I quote this every Goddamn day.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#54)

54.  (The H is O ... Feb 5, 2000)

Frey.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#55)

55.  (United Way ... Mar 24, 2007)

It's all about being a leader in the community.






Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#56)

56.  (The Blues Brothers perform "Soul Man" ... Nov 18, 1978)

I haven't really embraced the John Goodman/Jim Belushi version, though.  Has anyone?


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#57)

57.  (Lifer Follies ... Jan 24, 1976)

This is the first of two Garrett Morris bits featured today.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#58)

58.  (Them Crooked Vultures perform "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" ... Feb 6, 2010)

An incredible supergroup, awesome album, and I can't wait for the next one.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#59)

59.  (Wedding Singers ... Mar 11, 2000)

It is now impossible to not think of Horatio Sanz when I here this song.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#60)

60.  (Consumer Probe ... Dec 11, 1976)

Dan Aykroyd was great for the show.  That being said, I think Caddyshack 2 was a mistake.  That being said, I still like it.




Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#61)

61.  (Jack Sparrow ... May 7, 2011)

A new found respect for Michael Bolton.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#62)

62.  (Emily Litella ... Nov 22, 1975)

There was just something about Gilda Radner that I was drawn to.




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#63)

63.  (Weekend Update, with Norm MacDonald ... 1994-1997)

Maybe the best delivery of all the WU anchors.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#64)

64.  (Paul Simon's Monologue (in a Turkey costume) ... Nov 20, 1976)

Hey, I've been throwing this out there for a few months now.  You.  Me.  SNL night at my place.  I've got every full episode from the first five seasons on digital video disc.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#65)

65.  (The Vogelchecks ... Nov 15, 2008)

I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I just can't seem to get enough of Paul Rudd and Fred Armisen showing affection.  Why is it really funny when Rudd and Armisen do it, and extremely hot when it's Jenna and Janine ?




Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#66)

66.  (Belushi's Luck of the Irish Rant ... Mar 19, 1977)

Nobody could match Belushi's energy.  Oh.  Oh!  I get it, now.




















John Belushi: Thank you, thank you very much. Well it's come that time again, St. Patrick's Day has come and gone and well the sons of Ireland are basking in the glow. When I think of Ireland I think a lot of colorful Irish expressions like, "Top of the morning to ya," "Kiss the barney stone," "May the road rise to meet ya," "May you be in heaven an hour before the devil knows you're dead," "I'd like to smash you in the face with my shalalee," "Danny-boy," "Bhagora," "Wail of the banshee," and "Whiskey for the leprechauns, whisky for the leprechauns." But the expression I think most people identify with the Irish, is, of course, the luck of the Irish. 

The luck of the Irish. Sure. Let's say you're in a pub somewhere in Ireland, oh, anywhere in Ireland, some guy comes up to you and says, "Hey is that a bomb on you I hear ticking?" And then BAM!!! Your small intestines are on the ceiling and your brains are on your car across the street. That's the luck of the Irish for ya, who's kidding who, okay? 

Let's talk about the bad luck of the Irish, all right? How about this, POTATO FAMINE!! How about that? It scares them, doesn't it? Well it should. That's why they came here in the first place. So they wouldn't have to work in the potato fields. That's why they became politicians, priests, and cops. Luck? Gimme a break. 

I got a friend, his name is Dan Sullivan, he's Irish as they come. We used to drink together a lot. After two drinks, he would look like an Irish pirate. You know? You think he had luck? In one day he got his car stolen, and the stupid, he had no insurance, and no license, and he gets locked up for being drunk. And after that, he takes off for someplace like India or Nepal, or someplace like that. And his mother dies, ya know, so they wire him to tell him to come to the funeral. It's his mother's funeral, that's all. And he's in India or Nepal, sitting squat-legged listening to some sacred cow. So he comes back and he gets stopped at U.S. Customs for trafficking illegal drugs, not holding, he's trafficking. I mean, here's this guy Sullivan, his old lady kicks off, he gets popped at the border and he's sitting on fifty pounds of black Tibetan finger hash and two keys of slam. Now that's not bad luck, that's DUMB luck. I don't think luck has anything to do with it, I don't think he has any brains at all. First of all, he's drunk, then he's a junkie. I don't know what's worse. Don't ask me, ask Sullivan. And what happens? He calls me up and says, "Hey man, I got busted at the border. I need five grand bail." I said, I said, "Five grand man!? Hey man, I've never even seen five thousand dollars in my life, so don't ask me for it, man, why don't you ask your mother!!" Which was a dumb thing for me to say because his mother just died. Right now, I got this drunken Irish junkie who wants to kill me because of what I said about his mother being in terminal dreamland. Oh pal. One thing! One thing!!! They love their mothers, boy, oh they love their mothers. It's momma this, momma that. Oh my Irish mother! Ireland must be heaven, because my mother.. aauugghhh! Aaauugghhh!!! 

Jane Curtin: Well, that's the news. Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow. 

Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#67)

67.  (The Culps ... Nov 2, 1996)

I'm not going to lie to you, I probably improvise the idea of this sketch on a daily basis, in the car, in the shower ... singing pop songs poorly to myself, for my own amusement.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#68)

68.  (Robert DeNiro confronts Jimmy Fallon ... Oct 21, 2000)

Probably the first impression Gracie ever did, was Fallon's DeNiro.  Fallon looks genuinely nervous at the beginning of this.



Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#69)

69.  (Elevator Fans ... Jan 19, 1991)

They did this with Sting and Michael J Fox, both equally hilarious.  There may have been a time in my life where this was my favorite.


Fugazzi Grand II : SNL (#70)

70.  (The Elvis Costello "incident" ... Dec 17, 1977)

I'm sure you know the story.  Costello and the band start playing "Less Than Zero", and a couple of notes in, Elvis Costello stops the band and they play "Radio, Radio", which they were told specifically not to play.  This threw the show's timing off, and legend has it that Lorne Michaels stood behind the camera, giving the finger to Costello during the whole performance.