Saturday Night Live just turned 31 on October 11th of this year. It still looks pretty good to me, despite losing several regular cast members last season. Saturday Night Live has been, over the years, the best and worst comedy ride ever. There have been absolutely brilliant comedians with a few mediocre at best thrown in from time to time.
I began watching SNL in 1975, even though I was only 12 years old. It seemed to me like the adult thing to do and as a preteen, I longed to be an adult. Years later, I am still at home watching SNL on Saturday nights. Now, it doesn’t quite seem so “adult,” but I still enjoy it.
Through all the years, did you know there is a list of “banned” hosts and musical acts? People that so angered producer Lorne Michaels, they can never appear on SNL again. When I found this list, I thought it was pretty funny and would like to share some of those banned in this blog:
Louise Lasser
Louise was the first to be banned – what a dubious honor that must have been! She was banned for being nearly incoherent through most of the show.
Charles Grodin
The host in 1997, Grodin gave a clumsy performance, but it is no small wonder since he missed rehersal. He stumbled and bumbled his way through the show, but Michaels banned him from ever appearing again.
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Costello was hot when he appeared in December 1977, but not quite as hot as the act he replaced – The Sex Pistols. Unable to get passports into the country, Michael’s asked Costello to replace the Sex Pistols, but didn’t want him to perform his media protest song “Radio, Radio.” Costello agreed and began playing “Less Than Zero” when he stopped the band and told the band to play “Radio, Radio.” Not only did Michaels not want that song played, it threw the show off schedule, infuriating Michaels.
Michaels eventually got over it and let Costello appear again as a musical guest, but it took 12 years.
Frank Zappa
Unpopular with the cast and crew for his humor, Zappa also read cue cards and continued to mug for the camera throughout the show. Most cast members, sans John Belushi, stood far from him during the final goodnights of the show.
Milton Berle
Another who mugged too much for the camera, Uncle Miltie was banned for overacting and inserting comedy bits without the approval of Michaels. Michaels was so angry about this show, that it didn’t run in repeats for over twenty years.