Posted on 11/01/2007 1:05:50 PM PDT by Clint N. Suhks
Justin Timberlake in the Emmy-winning ''D--- in a Box'' video. Will Ferrell as a one-note percussionist in the classic ''More Cowbell'' sketch. Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat. Here are ''Saturday Night Live'''s Greatest Hits
JOHN BELUSHI AS JOE COCKER (1976)
Was John Belushi's scary-but-dead-on impression of Joe Cocker singing ''With a Little Help From My Friends,'' complete with spastic, jerky movements and howling vocals, a lampoon or an homage? Thirty years later, the jury is still out, but Belushi gets bonus points for nerve, since he did it on an episode where Cocker himself was the musical guest.
THE BLUES BROTHERS (1978-80)
What began as an after-show jam session for the cast's own amusement became a sensation, as deadpan black-suited bluesmen Jake and Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) performed reverent covers of the soul hits of the '60s. The sketch turned into a No. 1 album (backed by some of the musicians from the original hits) and a hit movie.
BUH-WEET SINGS (1981)
Eddie Murphy spoofed our fascination with child stars who've become misfit, scandal-magnet adults with a recurring character based on Buckwheat, the wild-haired, speech-mangling Our Gang tyke. As the grown Buckwheat, Murphy appeared in this fake ad for an album full of unintelligible cover versions of contemporary hits, like the Commodores' ''Fee Tines a Mady.''
WAYNE'S WORLD (1989-93)
Wayne's World, a recurring sketch about a public access cable show featuring two rock-loving teens (Mike Myers and Dana Carvey) hanging out in a suburban basement, was a catchphrase machine (''Schwing!'') and generated two hit movies. Surprisingly, a number of celebs came to visit Wayne and Garth in Aurora, Illinois, including Madonna and, most memorably, Aerosmith, who performed a full-throated version of the Wayne's World theme song. Also on hand: a roadie, played by Tom Hanks.
MORE COWBELL (2000)
Supposedly an account of the recording of Blue Öyster Cult's hit ''Don't Fear the Reaper,'' the sketch made a catchphrase out of record producer Christopher Walken's repeated demands for ''more cowbell'' from overzealous percussionist Will Ferrell, over the objections of the rest of the band. ''Guess what?'' Walken finally says, ''I got a fever, and the only prescription...is more cowbell!''
Eddie Murphy does James Brown, It's Hot...In the Hot Tub!
And of course, when Steve Martin did King Tut.
Actually, John first did Cocker in Season 1, episode 3, hosted by Rob Reiner. He then repeated it in the next season with Cocker.
IMHO, the first time he did it probably saved the show from being cancelled.
Loved when Belushi did the old Slim Harpo tune “King Bee” dressed in a bee costume.
He missed Will Ferrell making of a fool out of Robert Goulet, TWICE - Red Ships of Spain and Robert Goulet Raps.
Apparently there was always a fear of being canceled till the later years.
While not a John McCain fan, I still love the sketch with McCain doing Streisand songs.
Lazy Sunday and Dick in a Box. *snicker*
If you rent the Season 1 box set, you’ll see that the first five or six shows were really awful. The second episode should have been called the Paul Simon special because there were little or no skits.
Speaking of real music. They could make a heck of a show just showing all the great bands they had on. Grateful Dead, Aerosmith, The Band...just to list a few.
On the otherhand, who they’ve put on in the past 10 years have pretty much been crap.
Joe Piscopo (as Frank Sinatra) and Eddie Murphy (as Stevie Wonder) singing “Ebony and Ivory.” Hilarious stuff. I’ll try to find a link.
Sinatra: You are blind as a bat and I have sight...
That was great. I loved Tthem.
It reminds me of, for some dumb reason, when Tonto, Tarzan & Frankenstein sang Christmas Carols. LOL!
Exactly my thoughts...those were some of the best.
I agree. The Hottub song was hilarious, and well-played by Murphy.
And the King Tut song was a classic.
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