Customer Reviews
snl live from the past 
2008-06-28
one has a certain expectation when seeing the names of john belushi, dan ackroyd, bill murray, jane curtain, gilda radner. steve martin will always be irreplacable and for that this dvd is good. as for the not ready for prime time players, there are certain instances when they are brilliant and not just reading cue cards and expressing some mild interest or overblown drug trance. an example would be belushi doing samarai scenes. he is there! many of the other scenes seem strained. the cone heads are also an exception. if you view this carefully you will see in the opening credits when each player is introduced that gilda takes a bite out of an apple (the big apple?) and then spits it out. they only allowed her to do that one time, and the rest are cut just after she takes the bite. so there are flaws in this entire series. too boring for the most part to detail here. certainly not worth buying. this is a totally subjective opinion of course. so if you must see some history find out for yourself. good hunting.
Now yer' talking!!! 
2008-06-27
THIS season is finally starting to show the cast in their true memories... No more "guests" as the "hosts" for the entire show; the cast gets to develop their style and really enjoys performing. Much better than the 1st and 2nd DVD sets. Laugh till you can't breathe! That's what the original members made you do! Who cares about the price of gasoline. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!
SNL's best year 2008-06-20
SNL was a very different show in its first five years from the show it would become. It did not pander to popular or dumbed-down tastes, nor was it an excuse for a modestly talented performer to plug their latest star vehicle. The show's third season displayed multiple talents reaching their peak, and the remarkable emergence of Bill Murray as a major comic actor. The musical guests are a truly colorful lot, rather than the flavor-of-the-week acts that are booked today. Most of all, this was the final year that the writing was shaped by the brilliant Michael O'Donoghue, and his hilariously dark perspective. The Robert Klein episode concludes with Mr. Mike's elaborate spoof of D-grade monster movies, "Attack of the Atomic Lobsters," which manages to send up Roger Corman, Orson Welles's "War of the Worlds," and the radio broadcast of the Hindenburg disaster, all at the same time. You'll never see anything as distinctive or daring as this on network TV again. This was also the year of the episode which many on the show considered their best ever, the April 1978 show hosted by Steve Martin. SNL defined comedy for at least a generation. Get this DVD box set and see why.
AWESOMMMMMMMMMME 2008-06-13
SNL keep it coming. It is so nice for a fan that first tuned into SNL in the mid 80's to finally see classic episodeds in their full unedited presentation.
Better image quality 
2008-06-09
This is the thirs box set in the series of complete seasons of SNL. It does have the wondeful cast of Belsuhi, Aykroyd,Radner etc. Stece Martin also appears as a regular and the musical appearances are quite extraordinary: Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, Sun Ra (Yes, Sun Ra) so there is actually very little to complain about. There are also of course the Blues Brothers who appear so this makes it in that sense maybe the best boxed set until now. However these sets are quite daunting to watch since they offer complete shows. As is to be expected now the image quality is better than on the first two sets. The limited edition comes in a nicer book like box with some nice cards as well.
The best season of all 1977-78 2008-06-09
"Live From New York it s Saturday Night!" For more than thirty years this catch phrase has made its way into the homes of millions of viewers now all 20 episodes of the classic third season are available in their 90-minute length in a 7-disc set for the first time! Saturday Night Live The Complete Third Season features hours of hilarious sketches memorable skits from the original Season 3 cast and all the original musical performances. SNL The Complete Third Season is destined to be a must-have addition to any Saturday Night Live collection.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025195034739 Manufacturer No: 61104239
SNL Stalker 2008-06-04
Delivered quicker than promised. Product was all I expected and more. Ease of purchase was wonderful. Including the rebate due to actual release price being less than originally advertised, this was a great value. Thank you for automatically managing the rebate for the difference in cost.
Better than you remember 2008-05-13
Many reviewers say these early Saturday Night Live seasons are products of their times, that they aren't nearly as funny today as we all thought they were back then. To that I say dude, what have you been smokin'? Yes, I was one of those who watched these shows in college, usually at a party where everyone was, shall we say, already in a purple haze. But thinking that's what made these shows great is simply revisionist history.
Sure there are some dated cultural jokes, a few lame musical guests and an occasional skit that falls flat. However, each episode is still, for the most part, solidly entertaining. As I sat down with these discs today partaking of nothing stronger than a few Diet Cokes, what I noticed is just how watchable these shows still are. Even when not at their best, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin and the others each did at least interesting work, and always in their own personal style. What resulted was a true comedy variety show, a witty take on middlebrow culture that though edgy at times, rarely takes a cheap shot or wallows in the gutter.
Originally 90 minutes long with commercial breaks, each commercial-free episode here runs between 66 and 68 minutes.
This third season may be the best in Saturday Night's history. Most every show includes at least one of SNL's most famous recurring skits as well as some hilarious forgotten moments. For example, the first show includes Lorne Michaels upping his offer to the Beatles from $3,000 to $3,200 and a commercial parody for the Kromega III, "a watch so complex it takes two people to make it work." The second episode tosses in an ad for Swill ("the water that's dredged from Lake Erie"), a great skit with Gilda and host Madeline Kahn as two drunken single girls who discuss everything from dates who endlessly drone on about "The Patty Duke Show" to how to lie on a bed "so the fat on your thighs isn't spread out," and an ad-libbed chat between Kahn and Dame Edna (English comedian Barry Humphries in drag) that suddenly catches Kahn so off-guard you can see the actress blush. After Dame Edna hints of "her" own lesbian tendencies, she offers Kahn some phallic-shaped "pineapple and sausage surprise," saying "you look like a girl who could use something hot inside you."
By the way, the Richard Dreyfuss episode does NOT have Belushi's ad-libbed finale about Dreyfuss being Jewish.
GUEST STARS AND MUSICAL GUESTS
EP. 1: Steve Martin; Jackson Browne
EP. 2: Madeline Kahn; Taj Mahal. Special guest: Dame Edna
EP. 3: Hugh Hefner; Libby Titus
EP. 4: Charles Grodin; Paul Simon and the Persuasions
EP. 5: Ray Charles. Special guest: "The Jazz Comedian" Franklyn Ajaye
EP. 6: Buck Henry; Leon Redbone
EP. 7: Mary Kay Place; Willie Nelson
EP: 8: Mrs. Miskel Spillman (Anyone Can Host winner); Elvis Costello
EP. 9: Steve Martin; The Dirt Band, Randy Newman
EP. 10: Robert Klein; Bonnie Raitt
EP. 11: Chevy Chase; Billy Joel
EP. 12: O.J. Simpson; Ashford & Simpson
EP. 13: Art Garfunkel; Stephen Bishop (Garfunkel sings, too)
EP. 14: Jill Clayburgh; Eddie Money
EP: 15: Christopher Lee; Meatloaf. Special guest: Richard Belzer
EP. 16: Michael Palin; Eugene Record
EP. 17: Michael Sarrizin; Keith Jarrett & Gravity
EP. 18: Steve Martin; The Blues Brothers (Martin does "King Tut")
EP. 19: Richard Dreyfuss; Jimmy Buffett and Gary Tigerman
EP. 20: Buck Henry; Sun Ra
BONUS FEATURES
Disc 7 has two interesting bonus features. "Things We Did Last Summer" is a 50-minute mockumentary that once aired in place of the regular show. The camera follows Radner as she charges tourists for a guided tour of her apartment and Murray as he plays minor-league baseball. Morris looks for work as a human lawn jockey, Newman takes a strange vacation to Tahiti and Belushi and Aykroyd perform "Hey Bartender" and "Rubber Biscuit" as Jake and Elwood Blues at the Universal Amphitheater. Also on the disc: an actual two-minute wardrobe test for Belushi and band director Howard Shore.
'LIMITED EDITION' EXTRAS
Like the initial pressings of the earlier SNL seasons, this Limited Edition third season set comes in a book-style box (dark blue). The inner lid reproduces a hand-painted photo of the cast. Inside sits a black folding slipcase with the seven DVDs. Also in the box are four postcard-sized duo-tone prints. Suitable for framing, they feature photos of the Nerds, Blues Brothers, Gilda, and finally Steve Martin performing "King Tut."
what is difference between limited edition 2008-05-07
Before i purchase this can someone tell me what the difference is between the limited edition set and just the regular release? I know the question leaves this post open for smart alec comments but i am looking for an answer. Thanks!!
SNL Gang Hits It's Stride 2008-04-29
This third season, along with the fourth, represent the height of the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players. For the first time, we are introduced to The Blues Brothers, The Festrunk Brothers, Roseanne Roseannadanna, Point Counterpoint, The Olympia Restaurant and many others. Favorites such as the Coneheads and the Samurai return in force as well.
I taped most of this season in its entirety over the years, and am quite familiar with the strength of these episodes. I especially like the Steve Martin/Blues Brothers appearance, as well as the season-ender with Buck Henry/Sun Ra.
I've shared my thoughts on the value of the original SNL before, so instead, I'd like to point out a few highlights to look forward to:
1. Chevy Chase returns for first time hosting duties on 02/18/78. There was quite a bit of backstage animosity/tension towards him, and one particular spat ensued over the Weekend Update anchoring duties. Bill Murray, still the "new kid," was out to hold his ground against Chase, and became defensive of Jane Curtin. Apparently, Belushi - who was the clearest Chase rival - delighted in stirring up the situation to the point that Murray punched Chase right before air time. The fight was broken up, with Murray walking away calling Chase a "medium talent." If Chase seems nervous, this was why. Still, Chase does a superb job performing under these circumstances. More trivia: this is the only time Belushi, Aykroyd, Murray and Chase ever share screen time together (for a military-themed skit). Even more trivia: Billy Joel, as Chase tells us, missed his 20th high school reunion to appear.
2. Steve Martin/The Dirt Band (aka Nitty Gritty...) - Martin explains that he went to high school with the Dirt Band members and that they were the most "talented musicians" he knew. Martin himself shows off some considerable musical chops (on banjo, natch) when he accompanies the group on an instrumental called "White Russia." Randy Newman also addresses the flak he had taken for "Short People," to which he responds with a giant raspberry.
3. While many of us are familiar with the clip of Elvis Costello stopping his song mid-intro to play "Radio Radio" instead, some may not know that this show was hosted by an old woman named Miskel Spillman who was the winner of the "Anyone Can Host" contest held throughout the first half of the season.
4. Attack of the Atomic Lobsters - the Robert Klein episode has an unusual "wrap around" or through-story that ends with everyone in the studio getting killed by giant lobsters. Still strange today, it shows how experimental the show was willing to be. This show also featured the demented brilliance of "X Police."
5. The experimentation is also prevalent in the integrity of musical choices, which was always a real treat. Instead of teen pop junk, we may be unexpectedly greeted with a rousing tuba ensemble (yes, that was Gravity, one of the house band member's pet projects), raw country (Willie Nelson), old school R&B (Chi-Lites founder Eugene Record), a personal friend of the cast or guest host (Gary Tigerman), or the guest host themselves (Madeline Kahn, Richard Dreyfuss, Mary Kay Place). Your personal tastes weren't always met, so much as your perspective expanded. The cast were obvious music aficionados themselves, as clearly evidenced by their spirited enthusiasm (Belushi, especially) towards Ray Charles, in a largely music-oriented episode.
6. Curious to see if a little bit cut from syndication will appear here: I remember there being a little tag to the Dreyfuss episode (this resulted from the show being under time). Belushi tells the audience that he loves Dreyfuss despite him being "a Jew." Now, Belushi is clearly improvising here and not being antisemitic, but of course this reads much different in our PC-sensitive times. Anyway, I haven't seen that since the original airing.
Many more to note, but I hope that gives you a taste of what's to come!
