Customer Reviews
Just not that funny 
2008-09-20
The first season of SNL is definitely a groundbreaker, but the truth is, it's just simply not that funny. Actually, the comedy is pretty much downright horrible; there's barely any real "laugh out loud" moments, just a few chuckles here and there. It really depends on how you want to view this - it's a great look at a young TV comedy cast in 1975 trying hard. Everyone keeps saying how great the first cast is - they're ok, but they do make a lot of mistakes. The highlight is definitely the musical guests and watching the guest hosts be themselves in 1975. So if you are looking at a trip back in time, it's definitely an ok viewing in short doses. But as comedy, it's bad. I also can't figure why the Amazon listing says the Louise Lasser episode is one of the show's worst ever - it didn't seem any worse than any of the other shows here! And she looked pretty hot! As did Loraine Newman - she looks downright sexy all over the place. But the show just isn't funny - and definitely not worth a lot of money, even with eight DVDs - I got this on sale here for 31 dollars and that seems about right, only because there are eight DVDs after all. I probably will pick up the other 70's seasons for the "time capsule" aspect when the price gets low enough for me. So again - great time capsule, mostly unfunny show.
The Golden Era of 'Saturday Night Live'!!! 
2008-08-31
I bought this 2 years ago, and I'm just now finishing it! These actors are extremely hilarious! Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Laraine Newman, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris are awesome! I think Gilda Radner is so adorable, and very sexy! (It sucks that she's dead!) There are some pretty cool guest stars like Lily Tomlin, Candy Bergen, Desi Arnez, and much more! Chevy Chase is hilarious as always falling down and doing the news. If you love comedy, and these actors, you'll love SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON!!!
A great trip back in time! 
2008-08-02
The original SNL players were amazing and this takes you right back in time.
Highly recomment.
Finally, season one! A mixed bag as entertainment. Problematic video quality. 2008-07-18
Saturday Night's format was in flux during 1975 and 1976. The series was originally touted as a comedy/variety show (rather than a sketch comedy series). Today's viewers may find the amount of music surprising, but it was an essential part of the show. For a lot of people at the time, the rock music was the main attraction.
Yes, it all looks very 1970s, and yes, the topical jokes are now dated. But, of course, it WAS the '70s, so that's to be expected.
There are a few good episodes here, including a great early one hosted by Lily Tomlin and a fun broadcast hosted by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Also of interest is the show hosted by White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen (with brief specially filmed appearances by President Ford, a presidential skit featuring Nessen with Chevy Chase as Ford, the classic "Bass-o-Matic '76" sketch, and a send-up of Smuckers Jam commercials).
These DVDs are, however, a mixed bag as entertainment. There are memorable skits, but also a lot of humor that falls flat (especially some of the Albert Brooks films and anything involving people in bee costumes). Still, I'm having a great time watching even the weaker programs. The quality of the comedy improves as the season progresses.
My main complaint is the picture quality, which is rather smeary and suffers significant loss of color detail on a lot of the episodes. I can't help wondering whether some of these were mastered from copies instead of original tapes.
Among other issues, there's major "crushing" of the darker colors, with people's hair and dark clothing occasionally disappearing into the background. There are also image distortions and far too many cases of juddery movement (which are surely the result of poor DVD authoring rather than flaws on the source tape). The video problems are worse than I've seen on other 1970s series, and they add to the sense of datedness. Nonetheless, I'm thrilled to finally have the whole first season of this groundbreaking series, which redefined late-night TV.
The depths of 1975 2008-07-03
If you want to remember--or learn about--how utterly rotten 1975 was, exhibit A is the first season of Saturday Night Live. The comedy is not up to the high school level; one after another of the sketches falls completely flat. And there should be a contest about who was the worst host. Rob Reiner was pathetic. Lily Tomlin was excruciatingly bad. And as for Louise Lasser.....Then there was the bad music. And the garrish clothes. And the stiflingly uniform political correctness (even before the term was invented), made to seem oh-so-daring. (It takes a lot of courage and smarts to make fun of Gerald Ford.) In short, drugs help make these programs funnier than they were. Which is surely one of the problems haunting the performers and the writers who concocted some of the lamest excuses for comedy to be seen anywhere.
Chuckles 2008-05-24
Nicknamed the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" the original cast of Saturday Night Live ignited a comedy revolution with their mix of irreverent characters and satirical impressions of political figures and pop culture icons.From the premiere of this groundbreaking sketch comedy show on October 11 1975 live from historic Studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center Dan Aykroyd John Belushi Jane Curtin Chevy Chase Garrett Morris Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner launched themselves into instant stardom and were often referred to as "The Beatles of Comedy."Created by Lorne Michaels over three decades ago Saturday Night Live has had the cultural impact and relevance that few shows can claim.Nowhere else can you see the complete first season of SNL featuring hosts George Carlin Rob Reiner Lily Tomlin Richard Pryor Elliott Gould Candice Bergen or original musical performances by Simon & Garfunkel ABBA Patti Smith Jimmy Cliff and Carly Simon. And if you're curious as to how the original cast was hired check out the DVD bonus features which include the screen tests of each performer.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025193056528 Manufacturer No: 61030565
Finally! 2008-05-15
Finally SNL is available on DVD! I've watched since the beginning...the great seasons as well as the less memoriable. Even the bad shows had at least a few redeeming moments that made me laugh. I'm thrilled to have complete access instead of the edited reruns currently in syndication. I can only hope they continue to release each season so I can own the complete set instead of the best of's...
They were the best! 2008-04-21
What can I say? This was my era...I've been a serious fan of the original "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" and in my opinion, their creativity & humor was one of a kind. The first 5 years are the best, by far!
Hilarious Time Capsule 2008-04-21
I have only been able to see minor clips from this early SNL period as I was only 5 when these were on TV...It's great and even more fun to see the news stories they parody. The real treasures are the musical guests...New York always had the cutting edge of music in the 70s and they all showed up on SNL... well worth the price!
A Rocky Start 2008-03-26
The first two episodes of the first season are surprisingly unfunny. George Carlin's stand up routine is continually struggling for laughter and the 2nd episode more aptly called Paul Simon and Friends Show is in need of more skits and less music. But then in comes Rob Reiner and his Lounge act (gee, we now know where Bill Murray got the idea) and suddenly everything changes. SNL is known for its roller coaster periods where the cast is either hilarious or struggling. At first it may seem this cast is struggling but they soon find their nitch. Lots of classic skits appear such as John Belushi's hilarious Samarai Chef, Land Shark and of course the Richard Nixon decorating his Christmas Tree opening act. It's even funnier to see how people scored laughs back in the 70's compared to what is funny in 2008. Even Robert Kline's stand up act would be considered "unfunny" by today's standards. SNL 1975 is for the die hard fans of SNL who fully appreciate the genesis of the show, the original cast members that experimented and played with the format and ideas and were not afraid to go overboard or risk a spinal injury for a laugh.
4 out of 5 stars.
