For as long as I can remember I have loved Saturday Night Live. Even the supposed shitty years, it was always something I enjoyed watching, I love comedy, it fucking moves me. The one thing that I never really cared for was the musical guest. It is not that I didn’t like the acts, though most times this was the case, it was more that I didn’t see the need for them to cut into my comedy time. I would have much rather watched Billy Crystal, without the slightest bit of self-awareness, play some old negro ball player than some flash in the pan pop act play their one mildly popular hit, and then their borderline unlistenable second single.
The whole thing just felt sort of forced, more often than not the acts seemed like they were being shoehorned into the proceedings. It wasn’t like the early years when the whole culture was sort of in tune with one another, the not ready for prime time players were obvious fans/listeners to many of the punk/art rock bands they had on. It felt simpatico. Like it all fit together.
As the years went on it got more and more away...
