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-Live from New York,
it's "Saturday Night"!
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-In the '90s,
depending on who you ask,
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00:00:10,802 --> 00:00:14,348
"Saturday Night Live" is an
unsinkable comedy institution...
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-Set a heading for romance!
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-...or the Titanic...
-The ship of dreams!
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-...crashing into an iceberg
of audience disappointment.
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Either way, the captain of the
"SNL" ship is Lorne Michaels.
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-Everybody has a healthy
amount of respect for him
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and probably
a healthy amount of fear.
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[ Laughs ]
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-He really does like that sense
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of being
the master of this domain.
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-But in Lorne's domain,
there's onstage controversy...
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-Fight the real enemy!
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♪♪
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-...and a sometimes toxic
workplace.
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-Lorne made the show
competitive...
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-No más.
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-...where the show's
biggest star
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is asked to pay
the highest price.
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-There was a lot of
inside talking about
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why the hell is Farley
even hosting the show?
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-Comedy can get along
without anyone.
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-I don't mean to be analyzing
the id of Lorne Michaels,
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but I do get the sense
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that that show runs
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thanks to the machinations
of this guy.
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-This is where we leave.
-Okay.
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-Good luck.
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♪♪
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-Live from New York...
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♪♪
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[ Modem whining ]
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♪♪
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♪♪
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-Live from New York,
it's "Saturday Night"!
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-"Saturday Night Live's"
40th-anniversary special in 2015
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brings together a who's who
of America's comedy stars.
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-Steven, what about actors?!
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-The impressive gathering
of former hosts
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and cast members
is evidence of "SNL's"
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enduring power
to launch careers
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by creating some
of the most enduring
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comedic characters
in TV history.
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-Well, isn't that special?
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-I'm just a caveman.
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-There's you, there's...
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-But the real star maker at the
anniversary is not the TV show,
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but the man who first created
"SNL," Lorne Michaels.
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-What can be said
about Lorne Michaels
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that he himself
has not already said?
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-Like the Wizard of Oz,
comedy's man behind the curtain
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works hard
at remaining a mystery,
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even to the people
who work with him.
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-Any adjective
in the English language
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we can find
applied to Lorne Michaels.
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Sadist, genius...
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caring, paternal...
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you know, mean-spirited...
uh, cold.
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-Powerful?
-Even the media struggles
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to find the right adjective
to describe him.
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-Controlling?
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-Controlling, you know,
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sort of has a negative context.
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I'd say "in charge."
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-So I don't know
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what is the deal
with Lorne Michaels.
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[ Indistinct conversations ]
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♪♪
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-How do you know what's funny?
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-That's what
a live audience tells you.
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-In the late '60s,
25-year-old Lorne Michaels,
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a former University of Toronto
English major,
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begins writing and acting
on Canadian radio and TV...
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-I'm speaking with
a Canadian beaver.
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-...before moving to Hollywood
to write for "Laugh-In."
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-Very interesting...
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♪♪
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-In the early '70s,
he pitches NBC
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a Saturday late-night
comedy variety show
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he claims will draw
a new audience
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by reflecting the decade's
youth culture.
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-Beginning on October 11th,
Saturday night
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will open up
a whole new live venture
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from New York City
from Studio 8H
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here at Rockefeller Center.
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And we just happen to have
the producer of the program,
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Mr. Lorne Michaels, with us.
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What should we look for
on your program?
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-Anxiety. Uh...
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-That anxiety will mostly
be inflicted on NBC censors.
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[ Laughter ]
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-Live from New York,
it's "Saturday Night!"
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-In the fall of 1975,
I was 16 years old
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when I first saw
"Saturday Night Live."
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-Thanks for joining us live.
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-My name is Robert Thompson.
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I'm a professor of television
and popular culture.
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Up until that point,
late-night television
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was "The Tonight Show
starring Johnny Carson."
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-He-r-r-r-re's Johnny!
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[ Cheers and applause ]
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-In retrospect,
that just seemed so much
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the stuff your parents watch.
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[ Laughs ]
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[ Coneheads imitating laugh ]
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-Here, this da-da,
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this weird, this trippy
type of programming.
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-[ Screaming ]
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-It was so different.
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John Belushi did
Samurai delicatessen,
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and there was nothing like it
on television.
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-"Saturday Night Live"
really shifted the way
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people saw comedy.
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-Our top story tonight...
-Our top story tonight!
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-Everybody was kind of shocked
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by certain things
that were shown on the shows.
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-But you wouldn't know
about that, Dan.
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-Jane, you ignorant slut.
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[ Laughter ]
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I'm Mariel Hemingway,
and I am an actress.
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And in 1995, I hosted
"Saturday Night Live."
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Since it launched in the '70s,
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it was such a huge part
of my young adulthood.
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-First, we must
stop the bleeding!
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-I'll never forget Julia Child.
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-Pressure on the apron like so.
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-They were really
a part of something
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that -- I don't know --
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that just means something
to your entire generation.
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-The Blues Brothers! Yeah!
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♪♪
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-"Saturday Night Live" was
this industry by this time,
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manufacturing these stars.
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But it was also
really, really effective
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at manufacturing distress,
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anxiety, angst, fear.
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-Most of that is a byproduct
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of how Lorne Michaels
prefers to work.
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-Lorne Michaels has the
biggest heart in show business.
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You see, he hired that director
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when nobody else
would hire him.
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-For Lorne,
creating a successful
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live 90-minute show from scratch
every week
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requires an insanely competitive
all-night free-for-all.
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-Lorne Michaels once told me
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that he set the show up
to be late hours
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because of his schedule,
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and he had us working
off of his sleep schedule.
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-You've got 90-hour
work weeks.
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They are, on a weekly basis,
making, in six days,
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what should take
about three weeks.
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That is a hazardous
work environment.
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-It's foxhole writing.
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It's like -- It's Ernie Pyle
stuff that we do.
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-Yeah, we write
all night, sometimes,
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you know, and just go
until we drop...or die.
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-As Lorne tells Oprah Winfrey
on her podcast,
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he sees the exhaustion
as a feature, not a bug.
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-Fatigue is your friend.
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Through exhaustion and through
people just being so depleted,
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the stuff around the
nerve endings gets worn away
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and you take way bigger risks.
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-Including, for some,
using cocaine
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to fuel those all-night
creative-writing binges.
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♪♪
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-How about
the use of intoxicants
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to aid the creative process?
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You don't perform your best
on drugs,
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and you don't necessarily write
your best on drugs, you know?
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-You know what?
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-You got to perform
totally straight,
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I mean, or else you just -- your
instincts aren't always there.
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-Belushi may believe that,
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00:07:48,009 --> 00:07:50,387
but he doesn't practice
what he preaches.
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News of his cocaine abuse
becomes public knowledge.
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Lorne Michaels and his writers
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see it as something
to laugh about.
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-Look. I can't put
this man on television.
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I mean, he's barely awake.
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00:08:01,231 --> 00:08:04,484
-Lorne, if John Belushi
could speak,
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00:08:04,484 --> 00:08:06,528
he'd tell you
he's got to go on!
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00:08:06,528 --> 00:08:08,947
-In a 1990 interview,
Lorne reveals
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that two years
after this sketch,
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a real doctor
tells him backstage
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00:08:12,951 --> 00:08:16,746
that Belushi is unable to
perform after partying all week
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00:08:16,746 --> 00:08:19,332
with Ronnie Wood
of the Rolling Stones.
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-His lungs were filling up.
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-Life is played on a sad stage.
We begin!
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-But Lorne says he replied to
the warning with a punch line.
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-The doctor said,
"If he goes on...
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50/50 he'll die."
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00:08:35,056 --> 00:08:37,225
And I said, probably just
because I was angry --
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I said, "Well, I can live
with those odds."
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-Belushi beats the odds.
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00:08:41,855 --> 00:08:45,734
-Thank you all for coming.
Good night and goodbye.
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00:08:45,734 --> 00:08:47,986
-But at the end
of "SNL's" fifth season,
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00:08:47,986 --> 00:08:50,864
when NBC refuses
to grant Lorne and his cast
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00:08:50,864 --> 00:08:52,574
a year off for some R&R,
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00:08:52,574 --> 00:08:54,617
he and all of
the remaining original,
201
00:08:54,617 --> 00:08:58,329
"not ready for prime time"
players quit in protest.
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00:08:59,831 --> 00:09:01,624
-When I left it, I was spent,
203
00:09:01,624 --> 00:09:05,503
and at the end of five years,
it was time for an upheaval.
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00:09:05,503 --> 00:09:07,714
-Michaels and Belushi
stay in touch,
205
00:09:07,714 --> 00:09:10,759
even as Belushi's health
deteriorates.
206
00:09:12,761 --> 00:09:15,388
-I went to Lorne Michaels'
wedding last night.
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00:09:15,388 --> 00:09:17,056
-On March 5, 1982,
208
00:09:17,056 --> 00:09:20,060
less than a year after
attending Lorne's nuptials,
209
00:09:20,060 --> 00:09:22,812
Belushi is found dead
in the Chateau Marmont Hotel
210
00:09:22,812 --> 00:09:24,522
in West Hollywood.
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00:09:26,566 --> 00:09:28,651
-John Belushi,
actor and comedian,
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00:09:28,651 --> 00:09:31,112
is dead at the age of 33,
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00:09:31,112 --> 00:09:34,949
after taking heroin and cocaine
by injection.
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00:09:34,949 --> 00:09:39,537
♪♪
215
00:09:39,537 --> 00:09:41,122
-There was no laughter
here today.
216
00:09:41,122 --> 00:09:43,833
The clown was dead.
217
00:09:43,833 --> 00:09:45,668
-His life was very full,
218
00:09:45,668 --> 00:09:47,504
and it was, uh --
219
00:09:47,504 --> 00:09:50,715
and that it's --
it's been, uh, stopped.
220
00:09:50,715 --> 00:09:52,300
That's the tragedy.
221
00:09:52,300 --> 00:09:55,762
Comedy can get along
without anyone.
222
00:09:55,762 --> 00:09:59,891
-"Saturday Night Live'
was a Petri dish,
223
00:09:59,891 --> 00:10:03,436
and it was a perfect
cultured environment
224
00:10:03,436 --> 00:10:06,564
for growing trouble.
225
00:10:06,564 --> 00:10:09,526
-In 1985, with the
post-Lorne Michaels "SNL"
226
00:10:09,526 --> 00:10:11,903
nearing cancelation
for poor ratings,
227
00:10:11,903 --> 00:10:16,115
NBC convinces the show's creator
to return for season 11.
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00:10:16,115 --> 00:10:18,034
He brings in new cast members,
229
00:10:18,034 --> 00:10:19,828
including actors Randy Quaid,
230
00:10:19,828 --> 00:10:23,498
Anthony Michael Hall,
Joan Cusack,
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00:10:23,498 --> 00:10:25,375
and Robert Downey Jr.
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00:10:25,375 --> 00:10:27,460
-My demands are few...
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00:10:27,460 --> 00:10:30,004
but unintelligible!
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00:10:30,004 --> 00:10:32,799
-But the belief that Lorne
can immediately right the ship
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00:10:32,799 --> 00:10:35,051
proves overly optimistic.
236
00:10:35,051 --> 00:10:36,928
The season gets dismal reviews,
237
00:10:36,928 --> 00:10:39,681
and Lorne starts over
in season 12...
238
00:10:39,681 --> 00:10:41,641
-Yes!
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00:10:41,641 --> 00:10:44,853
-...hiring the man who would
become known as the show's glue,
240
00:10:44,853 --> 00:10:46,229
Phil Hartman.
241
00:10:46,229 --> 00:10:49,440
-Jimmy.
Don't make me have to kill you.
242
00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,985
-Lorne also brings on board
Dana Carvey...
243
00:10:51,985 --> 00:10:54,362
-♪ Chopping broccoli ♪
244
00:10:54,362 --> 00:10:56,155
-...who teams up with Mike Myers
245
00:10:56,155 --> 00:10:59,492
two seasons later
in a signature "SNL" sketch.
246
00:10:59,492 --> 00:11:01,327
-Extreme close-up!
247
00:11:01,327 --> 00:11:03,079
Wh-o-o-o-o-oa!
248
00:11:03,079 --> 00:11:06,332
-The following year, Michaels
welcomes the new decade...
249
00:11:06,332 --> 00:11:07,917
-Hello. I'm Lorne Michaels.
250
00:11:07,917 --> 00:11:10,879
And as you know, this is
our first show of the 1990s.
251
00:11:10,879 --> 00:11:14,549
-...with another mostly new cast
including many young comedians
252
00:11:14,549 --> 00:11:18,303
who grew up idolizing "SNL"
and the man who invented it.
253
00:11:18,303 --> 00:11:19,971
-Chris Rock!
254
00:11:19,971 --> 00:11:21,764
Adam Sandler!
255
00:11:21,764 --> 00:11:23,474
David Spade!
256
00:11:23,474 --> 00:11:25,393
Chris Farley!
257
00:11:25,393 --> 00:11:27,729
-They all went on to be stars.
It's incredible.
258
00:11:27,729 --> 00:11:29,856
Just the biggest
assembly of talent
259
00:11:29,856 --> 00:11:31,649
that I've ever seen in one room.
260
00:11:31,649 --> 00:11:33,443
I'm Fred Wolf, and I worked on
261
00:11:33,443 --> 00:11:35,153
"Saturday Night Live"
in the '90s.
262
00:11:35,153 --> 00:11:37,655
I was a writer, eventually
head writer, feature player,
263
00:11:37,655 --> 00:11:40,617
producer, all-around great guy.
264
00:11:40,617 --> 00:11:43,286
I shared an office with
Adam Sandler and David Spade.
265
00:11:43,286 --> 00:11:46,623
And Farley always came in.
And I was just a writer.
266
00:11:46,623 --> 00:11:49,667
And those three guys
were all stars, becoming stars.
267
00:11:49,667 --> 00:11:52,962
-Maybe I don't "look the part."
268
00:11:52,962 --> 00:11:54,631
-Of all of Lorne's new hires,
269
00:11:54,631 --> 00:11:57,342
it's Wisconsin native
Chris Farley who stands out
270
00:11:57,342 --> 00:11:59,385
with his "heart on his sleeve"
personality
271
00:11:59,385 --> 00:12:02,722
and over-the-top
physical antics.
272
00:12:02,722 --> 00:12:05,266
-♪ Sloppy Joe,
sloppy, sloppy Joe ♪
273
00:12:05,266 --> 00:12:07,894
-Farley was amazing at, like --
274
00:12:07,894 --> 00:12:10,063
this driving force
of electricity.
275
00:12:10,063 --> 00:12:12,190
-[ Shouts ] Ow!
276
00:12:12,190 --> 00:12:14,108
-Writing for Chris Farley
was a dream
277
00:12:14,108 --> 00:12:16,736
because he would never
question anything you did.
278
00:12:16,736 --> 00:12:19,072
I'm Hugh Fink, and I was
a writer on "SNL"
279
00:12:19,072 --> 00:12:22,784
in the '90s
into the early 2000s.
280
00:12:22,784 --> 00:12:25,870
Chris Farley's breakout sketch
was with Patrick Swayze,
281
00:12:25,870 --> 00:12:27,914
where they were dancers.
282
00:12:27,914 --> 00:12:29,916
-In the Chippendales
audition sketch,
283
00:12:29,916 --> 00:12:31,834
Farley gets big laughs...
284
00:12:31,834 --> 00:12:33,461
♪♪
285
00:12:33,461 --> 00:12:36,631
...but they come from making fun
of his huge physique.
286
00:12:36,631 --> 00:12:39,175
-Chris Farley so embraces
287
00:12:39,175 --> 00:12:42,512
his own physical body.
288
00:12:42,512 --> 00:12:45,431
-Barney, we all agreed
that your dancing was great.
289
00:12:45,431 --> 00:12:48,768
Adrian's body was just
much, much better than yours.
290
00:12:48,768 --> 00:12:49,978
-Uh-huh.
291
00:12:49,978 --> 00:12:51,562
-But then there's
the other level.
292
00:12:51,562 --> 00:12:56,275
We're simply just making fun
of a corpulent guy
293
00:12:56,275 --> 00:12:59,988
like we've been doing from
Laurel and Hardy and Belushi.
294
00:12:59,988 --> 00:13:02,782
-[ Indistinct shouting ]
295
00:13:02,782 --> 00:13:04,826
-The same way the show
played up Belushi's
296
00:13:04,826 --> 00:13:07,954
hard partying for laughs
back in the '70s...
297
00:13:07,954 --> 00:13:10,540
-They all thought
I'd be the first to go.
298
00:13:10,540 --> 00:13:13,626
I was one of those
"live fast, die young,
299
00:13:13,626 --> 00:13:16,421
leave a good-looking corpse"
types, you know?
300
00:13:16,421 --> 00:13:18,339
-In the '90s, Lorne,
301
00:13:18,339 --> 00:13:21,092
the man who decides
which sketches make it to air,
302
00:13:21,092 --> 00:13:23,094
always seems to pick the ones
that find the funny
303
00:13:23,094 --> 00:13:26,514
in Farley's obesity
and out-of-control behavior.
304
00:13:26,514 --> 00:13:29,058
-[ Screaming ] Ohh!
-Pig!
305
00:13:29,058 --> 00:13:32,061
-Comedy ain't pretty.
It never was.
306
00:13:32,061 --> 00:13:33,479
-It becomes the only way
307
00:13:33,479 --> 00:13:37,025
Farley seems to get laughs
on or off stage.
308
00:13:37,025 --> 00:13:39,318
-Farley would do things.
Like, one time,
309
00:13:39,318 --> 00:13:41,029
he stuck his ass out the window
310
00:13:41,029 --> 00:13:46,034
and was taking a shit
from the 17th floor.
311
00:13:46,034 --> 00:13:48,202
[ Laughter ]
312
00:13:48,202 --> 00:13:50,788
And we were laughing so hard,
313
00:13:50,788 --> 00:13:52,457
and his face
was getting all red.
314
00:13:52,457 --> 00:13:53,666
[ Farting ]
315
00:13:53,666 --> 00:13:55,835
[ Laughter ]
316
00:13:55,835 --> 00:13:57,712
♪♪
317
00:13:57,712 --> 00:14:00,798
That was like five minutes
out of a 24-hour day.
318
00:14:00,798 --> 00:14:02,842
♪♪
319
00:14:02,842 --> 00:14:06,137
Farley and I became pretty
good friends. We hung out.
320
00:14:06,137 --> 00:14:09,807
And sometimes he would sort of
open up to me a little bit.
321
00:14:09,807 --> 00:14:14,228
His father was a little bit
off kilter, and mine was, too,
322
00:14:14,228 --> 00:14:17,815
and so I think, because of that,
we bonded and we talked.
323
00:14:17,815 --> 00:14:19,692
And there was
something about him.
324
00:14:19,692 --> 00:14:23,446
Like, he idolized John Belushi.
325
00:14:23,446 --> 00:14:24,864
[ Laughter ]
326
00:14:24,864 --> 00:14:27,408
-And soon Lorne Michaels
would bear witness
327
00:14:27,408 --> 00:14:29,994
as another one
of his biggest stars
328
00:14:29,994 --> 00:14:32,080
jokes his way over the edge.
329
00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,415
-Watch me.
I'll do a cannonball.
330
00:14:34,415 --> 00:14:35,666
[ Gunshot ]
331
00:14:41,047 --> 00:14:43,132
-♪ You can do
what you wanna do ♪
332
00:14:43,132 --> 00:14:44,509
♪ In Living Color ♪
333
00:14:44,509 --> 00:14:46,761
-In the early '90s,
comedy on TV
334
00:14:46,761 --> 00:14:48,971
is dramatically different
from when Lorne Michaels
335
00:14:48,971 --> 00:14:51,474
first launched
"Saturday Night Live."
336
00:14:51,474 --> 00:14:53,935
Now cable TV
and new comedy shows
337
00:14:53,935 --> 00:14:55,186
like "In Living Color"
338
00:14:55,186 --> 00:14:58,106
are cutting into
"SNL's" ratings.
339
00:14:58,106 --> 00:15:01,984
-They demonstrate
that others are hungrier,
340
00:15:01,984 --> 00:15:04,403
younger, more diverse...
341
00:15:04,403 --> 00:15:07,532
-Two snaps, a twist, and a kiss!
342
00:15:07,532 --> 00:15:09,325
[ Laughter ]
343
00:15:09,325 --> 00:15:13,121
-But if you thought "Saturday
Night Live" was boring...
344
00:15:13,121 --> 00:15:15,123
you just had to
wait for a minute.
345
00:15:15,123 --> 00:15:17,250
-In October 1992...
346
00:15:17,250 --> 00:15:19,335
-Sinéad O'Connor.
347
00:15:19,335 --> 00:15:22,588
-..."SNL" is thrust back
into the cultural conversation
348
00:15:22,588 --> 00:15:24,632
when Irish singer
Sinéad O'Connor
349
00:15:24,632 --> 00:15:28,094
finally shows up
to be the musical guest.
350
00:15:28,094 --> 00:15:31,222
-Two years before,
she's already canceled
351
00:15:31,222 --> 00:15:32,765
one of her performances
352
00:15:32,765 --> 00:15:35,476
because Andrew Dice Clay
was going to be the host.
353
00:15:35,476 --> 00:15:37,979
-That's too bad.
She was a cute bald chick.
354
00:15:37,979 --> 00:15:39,605
[ Laughter ]
355
00:15:39,605 --> 00:15:43,192
-He, of course, had a reputation
of being a misogynist.
356
00:15:43,192 --> 00:15:45,027
-Hooker.
-[ Laughter ]
357
00:15:45,027 --> 00:15:46,612
-♪ War... ♪
358
00:15:46,612 --> 00:15:48,698
-Now a different cause
inspires the singer.
359
00:15:48,698 --> 00:15:51,242
She performs Bob Marley's "War,"
360
00:15:51,242 --> 00:15:53,619
changing the lyrics
to highlight what she sees
361
00:15:53,619 --> 00:15:56,038
as a systemic problem
in the Catholic Church.
362
00:15:56,038 --> 00:15:58,791
-♪ Child abuse, yeah ♪
363
00:15:58,791 --> 00:16:01,252
-Afterwards,
she takes out a picture
364
00:16:01,252 --> 00:16:04,755
of Pope John Paul II
and tears it apart.
365
00:16:06,215 --> 00:16:07,633
-Fight the real enemy!
366
00:16:11,304 --> 00:16:13,848
-If Lorne Michaels
created SNL in the '70s
367
00:16:13,848 --> 00:16:16,142
to speak truth to power,
368
00:16:16,142 --> 00:16:20,479
in the '90s, it's not this truth
and not that power.
369
00:16:20,479 --> 00:16:23,191
He orders the crew to
turn off the "applause" sign.
370
00:16:24,483 --> 00:16:27,987
And the audience
falls into a hushed silence.
371
00:16:30,990 --> 00:16:33,451
NBC bans O'Connor for life.
372
00:16:33,451 --> 00:16:37,413
In an interview weeks later,
O'Connor defends her appearance
373
00:16:37,413 --> 00:16:39,290
and calls out
the Catholic Church...
374
00:16:39,290 --> 00:16:42,126
long before the truth
of her child-abuse claim
375
00:16:42,126 --> 00:16:43,753
is exposed.
376
00:16:43,753 --> 00:16:45,546
-The church must be
brought down, destroyed.
377
00:16:45,546 --> 00:16:47,256
Their days are numbered.
378
00:16:47,256 --> 00:16:49,592
Ireland has the highest instance
in Europe of child abuse.
379
00:16:49,592 --> 00:16:51,427
I experienced it myself.
380
00:16:51,427 --> 00:16:54,680
-It will take another 18 years
before the Vatican apologizes
381
00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:57,642
to Ireland's
Catholic sex-abuse victims.
382
00:16:57,642 --> 00:17:00,144
But in 1992, Lorne Michaels,
383
00:17:00,144 --> 00:17:02,355
who may be on
the wrong side of history,
384
00:17:02,355 --> 00:17:04,106
is on the side
of his employer...
385
00:17:04,106 --> 00:17:05,358
and most Americans,
386
00:17:05,358 --> 00:17:07,777
who are outraged
by her allegation.
387
00:17:07,777 --> 00:17:10,529
-A pile of Sinéad O'Connor
tapes and CDs
388
00:17:10,529 --> 00:17:13,282
were crushed by a steamroller
in Midtown Manhattan
389
00:17:13,282 --> 00:17:15,409
in front of a lunchtime crowd.
390
00:17:15,409 --> 00:17:18,037
-I will never again watch
"Saturday Night Live."
391
00:17:18,037 --> 00:17:20,831
-The following week,
Lorne tries to appease
392
00:17:20,831 --> 00:17:22,458
anyone offended by O'Connor
393
00:17:22,458 --> 00:17:25,127
by allowing host Joe Pesci
to condemn her actions
394
00:17:25,127 --> 00:17:27,129
in his monologue.
395
00:17:27,129 --> 00:17:28,798
-I thought that was wrong.
396
00:17:28,798 --> 00:17:31,259
So I asked somebody
to paste it back together.
397
00:17:31,259 --> 00:17:32,760
There.
-Three weeks later
398
00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,263
on "Charlie Rose,"
Lorne seems confused
399
00:17:35,263 --> 00:17:37,473
why O'Connor
thinks "SNL" is the place
400
00:17:37,473 --> 00:17:38,975
to challenge authority...
401
00:17:38,975 --> 00:17:40,685
-It just seemed, "Why us?"
402
00:17:40,685 --> 00:17:43,062
-...and deflects
his reaction to O'Connor
403
00:17:43,062 --> 00:17:46,023
by making a joke about
the true disaster that night.
404
00:17:46,023 --> 00:17:49,527
-The tragic part was having to
do two comedy acts after that.
405
00:17:49,527 --> 00:17:52,196
♪♪
406
00:17:52,196 --> 00:17:53,823
-Four months later, NBC,
407
00:17:53,823 --> 00:17:56,033
stuck in third place
among the major networks,
408
00:17:56,033 --> 00:17:58,327
makes sports producer
Don Ohlmeyer
409
00:17:58,327 --> 00:18:01,330
president of their
Entertainment division.
410
00:18:01,330 --> 00:18:04,292
Ohlmeyer makes boosting
"SNL's" flagging ratings
411
00:18:04,292 --> 00:18:06,294
a top priority.
412
00:18:06,294 --> 00:18:10,047
-Don Ohlmeyer becomes the Joker
413
00:18:10,047 --> 00:18:13,175
to Lorne Michaels' Batman.
414
00:18:13,175 --> 00:18:16,345
He becomes his nemesis.
415
00:18:16,345 --> 00:18:18,055
For the longest time,
416
00:18:18,055 --> 00:18:20,558
Lorne Michaels
had tremendous power
417
00:18:20,558 --> 00:18:23,269
where he didn't have to listen
to any network notes.
418
00:18:23,269 --> 00:18:26,522
But because of the show
being questioned,
419
00:18:26,522 --> 00:18:29,275
suddenly NBC
was exerting its power.
420
00:18:29,275 --> 00:18:34,113
And I can say, as a comedy
writer, network notes suck!
421
00:18:35,072 --> 00:18:36,991
-Tension with the network
intensifies
422
00:18:36,991 --> 00:18:39,535
when Lorne gives
the "Weekend Update" anchor job
423
00:18:39,535 --> 00:18:42,747
to fellow Canadian
comedian Norm Macdonald.
424
00:18:42,747 --> 00:18:45,875
-Murder is legal
in the state of California.
425
00:18:45,875 --> 00:18:47,418
[ Cheers and applause ]
426
00:18:47,418 --> 00:18:51,088
-Norm Macdonald was doing
a lot of O.J. jokes
427
00:18:51,088 --> 00:18:53,799
with the assumption
of complete guilt.
428
00:18:53,799 --> 00:18:55,968
-It was at that moment
that he realized
429
00:18:55,968 --> 00:18:58,095
he would never be able
to kill her again.
430
00:18:58,095 --> 00:18:59,764
[ Audience groans ]
431
00:18:59,764 --> 00:19:01,640
-Norm would share with me
432
00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,810
blow-by-blow details
of what was going on.
433
00:19:04,810 --> 00:19:08,147
Don Ohlmeyer resented
all the O.J. Simpson jokes
434
00:19:08,147 --> 00:19:09,607
because Don Ohlmeyer
435
00:19:09,607 --> 00:19:12,401
was a personal friend
of O.J. Simpson's.
436
00:19:12,401 --> 00:19:15,821
-Therefore, Norm Macdonald
did more O.J. jokes on "Update."
437
00:19:15,821 --> 00:19:17,365
-O.J. Simpson demonstrated
438
00:19:17,365 --> 00:19:19,575
how to stab two people
at the same time.
439
00:19:19,575 --> 00:19:21,786
[ Laughter ]
440
00:19:21,786 --> 00:19:26,123
-NBC executives were getting
madder and madder at him.
441
00:19:26,123 --> 00:19:28,876
I know that there was
a big giant sort of push
442
00:19:28,876 --> 00:19:30,336
to get him off the show.
443
00:19:30,336 --> 00:19:34,090
-And it will work,
but not until 1998,
444
00:19:34,090 --> 00:19:38,219
when Norm's fired after four
years of Ohlmeyer's complaints.
445
00:19:38,219 --> 00:19:41,597
In 1994, Lorne is also dealing
with Ohlmeyer's notes
446
00:19:41,597 --> 00:19:44,517
regarding the other
young comics on the show,
447
00:19:44,517 --> 00:19:46,852
including Chris Barley
and David Spade,
448
00:19:46,852 --> 00:19:49,146
who begin working
on the movie "Tommy Boy"
449
00:19:49,146 --> 00:19:52,650
right in the middle
of "SNL's" 20th season.
450
00:19:52,650 --> 00:19:53,901
-Marker.
451
00:19:53,901 --> 00:19:55,486
♪♪
452
00:19:55,486 --> 00:19:57,488
-They were flying
back and forth.
453
00:19:57,488 --> 00:19:59,281
They were shooting
"Tommy Boy" up in Toronto.
454
00:19:59,281 --> 00:20:01,826
It was all about them
just making that work,
455
00:20:01,826 --> 00:20:03,160
and, boy, they were tired.
456
00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,204
It was really, really
tiring on them.
457
00:20:05,204 --> 00:20:07,540
-Oh! I'm hurt!
458
00:20:07,540 --> 00:20:09,959
-In the meantime,
the show was going on.
459
00:20:09,959 --> 00:20:13,087
Comedy 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
460
00:20:13,087 --> 00:20:14,713
-Camera marker.
461
00:20:14,713 --> 00:20:16,590
-The grueling schedule
is wearing down
462
00:20:16,590 --> 00:20:19,260
the surprisingly fragile
young star.
463
00:20:19,260 --> 00:20:22,179
-You are gonna die!
464
00:20:22,179 --> 00:20:24,432
-While out promoting the movie,
Farley jokes
465
00:20:24,432 --> 00:20:26,809
with David Letterman about
managing the work stress.
466
00:20:26,809 --> 00:20:28,936
-We were doing the show
at the same time,
467
00:20:28,936 --> 00:20:30,855
so we'd, like, break up the
monotony and stuff like that.
468
00:20:30,855 --> 00:20:33,649
And Spade said that he kept
trying to bug me about my weight
469
00:20:33,649 --> 00:20:35,860
and said I kept eating
when I got nervous.
470
00:20:35,860 --> 00:20:38,738
I have a little bit
of weight problem.
I'm not sure if anyone...
471
00:20:38,738 --> 00:20:40,865
But then...
-For Lorne Michaels,
472
00:20:40,865 --> 00:20:42,825
Farley's "little bit
of a weight problem"
473
00:20:42,825 --> 00:20:46,412
is a big and easy opportunity
for "SNL's" comedy writers.
474
00:20:46,412 --> 00:20:48,080
-[ Grunts ]
475
00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,791
[ Laughter ]
476
00:20:50,791 --> 00:20:54,879
-But Farley's substance-abuse
problem can't be laughed off
477
00:20:54,879 --> 00:20:57,506
and leads to multiple
"SNL" suspensions
478
00:20:57,506 --> 00:20:59,467
and several visits to rehab.
479
00:20:59,467 --> 00:21:01,385
♪♪
480
00:21:01,385 --> 00:21:04,930
-He wanted to get sober
a lot of times.
481
00:21:04,930 --> 00:21:06,557
You'd want to say, "Chris, man,
482
00:21:06,557 --> 00:21:10,644
I think maybe you need to
cut back a little bit."
483
00:21:10,644 --> 00:21:13,773
We would talk, getting deep
into conversation about it,
484
00:21:13,773 --> 00:21:16,734
because my brother
had a lot of problems.
485
00:21:16,734 --> 00:21:18,277
♪♪
486
00:21:18,277 --> 00:21:19,945
My brother went to jail
for nine years,
487
00:21:19,945 --> 00:21:23,657
and he killed himself
the day he was getting out.
488
00:21:23,657 --> 00:21:25,951
Farley knew that,
and we connected over that.
489
00:21:25,951 --> 00:21:28,662
♪♪
490
00:21:28,662 --> 00:21:30,581
He would say
that he wants to stop.
491
00:21:30,581 --> 00:21:32,625
♪♪
492
00:21:32,625 --> 00:21:34,710
That was on his mind a lot,
you know?
493
00:21:34,710 --> 00:21:37,796
And, uh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
494
00:21:37,796 --> 00:21:40,257
♪♪
495
00:21:40,257 --> 00:21:44,428
-By 1995, Chris Farley is just
one of many problems at "SNL"
496
00:21:44,428 --> 00:21:47,181
keeping Lorne Michaels
up at night.
497
00:21:47,181 --> 00:21:50,976
-NBC's "Saturday Night Live"
has been canceled.
498
00:21:50,976 --> 00:21:52,937
-[ Screams ]
499
00:21:52,937 --> 00:21:53,979
-Oh!
500
00:21:53,979 --> 00:21:55,439
[ Laughter ]
501
00:21:55,439 --> 00:21:57,316
[ Applause ]
502
00:21:57,316 --> 00:21:58,776
Lorne.
503
00:21:58,776 --> 00:22:00,486
-I just had --
-Are you okay?
504
00:22:00,486 --> 00:22:03,822
-As ratings drop another 19%,
505
00:22:03,822 --> 00:22:06,283
the media piles on,
506
00:22:06,283 --> 00:22:09,537
condemning "SNL"
for uninspired writing.
507
00:22:09,537 --> 00:22:12,623
-People were saying
the show's not funny.
508
00:22:12,623 --> 00:22:15,209
It's got all these stars
who think they're,
509
00:22:15,209 --> 00:22:17,336
you know,
bigger than they should be.
510
00:22:17,336 --> 00:22:20,089
-Comments about the writing
criticism and so forth?
511
00:22:20,089 --> 00:22:21,465
[ Laughter ]
512
00:22:21,465 --> 00:22:24,009
-Yes. Okay. I'm leaving now.
513
00:22:24,009 --> 00:22:26,637
-And I heard that,
and I got so mad.
514
00:22:26,637 --> 00:22:28,347
And I went to Lorne's office
and I go,
515
00:22:28,347 --> 00:22:30,432
"Did you hear
what they're saying?!"
516
00:22:30,432 --> 00:22:33,561
And Lorne said, "Well, you know,
do you know how many times
517
00:22:33,561 --> 00:22:35,229
I've heard,
'Saturday Night Live'
518
00:22:35,229 --> 00:22:37,439
no, 'Saturday Night Dead'"?
519
00:22:37,439 --> 00:22:40,568
-But even as the man making
all the decisions at "SNL"
520
00:22:40,568 --> 00:22:44,238
believes reports of its death
are greatly exaggerated,
521
00:22:44,238 --> 00:22:46,865
New York Magazine
is preparing to publish
522
00:22:46,865 --> 00:22:49,535
"Saturday Night Live's"
obituary.
523
00:22:58,335 --> 00:22:59,962
-Lorne Michaels
has masterminded one of
524
00:22:59,962 --> 00:23:01,213
the longest-running
comedy shows on television.
525
00:23:01,213 --> 00:23:02,923
He started "Saturday Night Live"
in 1975.
526
00:23:02,923 --> 00:23:04,550
He helms
the feature-film franchise
527
00:23:04,550 --> 00:23:06,010
being developed from the show --
528
00:23:06,010 --> 00:23:08,470
"Wayne's World,"
its sequel, "Wayne's World 2,"
529
00:23:08,470 --> 00:23:10,055
and the Coneheads.
530
00:23:10,055 --> 00:23:11,849
--If you're around people
who make you laugh,
531
00:23:11,849 --> 00:23:13,225
doing the work you like,
532
00:23:13,225 --> 00:23:16,228
it's a great life,
and I have a great life.
533
00:23:16,228 --> 00:23:18,731
-But in March of 1995,
534
00:23:18,731 --> 00:23:20,649
the "SNL"
fame and fortune factory
535
00:23:20,649 --> 00:23:23,193
comes under attack...
536
00:23:23,193 --> 00:23:25,195
in a cover story that details
537
00:23:25,195 --> 00:23:26,905
the behind-the-scenes
dysfunction
538
00:23:26,905 --> 00:23:28,741
that exists under the watch
539
00:23:28,741 --> 00:23:31,535
of its mercurial leader,
Lorne Michaels.
540
00:23:31,535 --> 00:23:34,038
♪♪
541
00:23:34,038 --> 00:23:37,958
-The New York Magazine
piece presented a picture
542
00:23:37,958 --> 00:23:42,046
that was by no means
a comforting one.
543
00:23:42,046 --> 00:23:45,090
We hear stories
from Janeane Garofalo
544
00:23:45,090 --> 00:23:48,385
to Sarah Jessica Parker
545
00:23:48,385 --> 00:23:50,679
about how, you know,
"I'd go into his office,
546
00:23:50,679 --> 00:23:54,099
and he wouldn't
even look at me."
547
00:23:54,099 --> 00:23:57,311
Or you'd have to wait
six hours to get in.
548
00:23:57,311 --> 00:23:59,229
-The article quotes
an ex-cast member
549
00:23:59,229 --> 00:24:02,775
who says, "Loren wants people
to feel insecure.
550
00:24:02,775 --> 00:24:05,069
It's the same techniques
cults use.
551
00:24:05,069 --> 00:24:06,695
They keep you up for hours,
552
00:24:06,695 --> 00:24:08,947
they never let you know
that you're okay,
553
00:24:08,947 --> 00:24:10,949
and they always make you think
that your spot
554
00:24:10,949 --> 00:24:15,329
could be taken at any moment
by someone else."
555
00:24:15,329 --> 00:24:18,165
Michaels is also criticized
for creating a workplace
556
00:24:18,165 --> 00:24:21,001
that is both sexist
and lacking diversity
557
00:24:21,001 --> 00:24:23,379
in allegations
supported by the numbers.
558
00:24:23,379 --> 00:24:25,422
In 1995, the writing staff
559
00:24:25,422 --> 00:24:27,883
has four times more men
than women
560
00:24:27,883 --> 00:24:31,178
and no Black writers.
561
00:24:31,178 --> 00:24:34,682
-It truly was a white-male
dominated show.
562
00:24:34,682 --> 00:24:37,518
-♪ Well, I love it
when you talk nasty to me ♪
563
00:24:37,518 --> 00:24:40,396
♪ With your legs
wrapped around my back ♪
564
00:24:40,396 --> 00:24:44,191
-The sketches really did
ooze of testosterone.
565
00:24:44,191 --> 00:24:46,068
The Clarence Thomas hearings.
566
00:24:46,068 --> 00:24:47,569
-Couldn't have been easy
for you
567
00:24:47,569 --> 00:24:50,155
to sit here and talk about...
penis size.
568
00:24:50,155 --> 00:24:51,323
[ Laughter ]
569
00:24:51,323 --> 00:24:53,033
-Lorena Bobbitt jokes.
570
00:24:53,033 --> 00:24:55,619
-[ Screaming ]
571
00:24:55,619 --> 00:24:57,538
-All of that subject matter
572
00:24:57,538 --> 00:25:00,624
that was both headline news
573
00:25:00,624 --> 00:25:07,423
and perfect for a roomful
of snarky, snotty boys
574
00:25:07,423 --> 00:25:10,551
misbehaving
and farting and belching.
575
00:25:10,551 --> 00:25:11,760
[ Man belches ]
576
00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:13,595
[ Laughter ]
577
00:25:13,595 --> 00:25:16,432
-The cast also talk about
578
00:25:16,432 --> 00:25:20,978
being overwhelmed
by the class-clown attitudes.
579
00:25:20,978 --> 00:25:23,731
-The show continued to do stuff
580
00:25:23,731 --> 00:25:27,818
that one could accuse of
being racist or misogynistic.
581
00:25:27,818 --> 00:25:30,571
A great example
would be the Gap Girls.
582
00:25:30,571 --> 00:25:33,282
-God, I love these fries.
-[ Giggles ]
583
00:25:33,282 --> 00:25:34,950
If you love 'em so much,
why don't you marry 'em?
584
00:25:34,950 --> 00:25:36,368
[ Giggles ]
585
00:25:36,368 --> 00:25:38,787
-Why are they having
men play these women
586
00:25:38,787 --> 00:25:42,332
when there's three
other female cast members?
587
00:25:42,332 --> 00:25:44,918
-The New York Magazine
article also highlights
588
00:25:44,918 --> 00:25:48,046
Lorne Michaels' several
attractive female assistants,
589
00:25:48,046 --> 00:25:50,924
known as the Lornettes.
590
00:25:50,924 --> 00:25:53,719
In their early 20s,
one of their duties
591
00:25:53,719 --> 00:25:56,472
is apparently to keep him
supplied with popcorn.
592
00:25:56,472 --> 00:25:58,932
♪♪
593
00:25:58,932 --> 00:26:00,517
The author also reports
that when
594
00:26:00,517 --> 00:26:03,854
Janeane Garofalo complains
that a sketch is sexist,
595
00:26:03,854 --> 00:26:07,399
it brings down the wrath of
the man who wrote it, Fred Wolf.
596
00:26:07,399 --> 00:26:10,486
-It was a hit piece.
There was not a hiring practice.
597
00:26:10,486 --> 00:26:12,446
Women were frozen out
or whatever.
598
00:26:12,446 --> 00:26:15,574
And it just wasn't true.
It was really not true at all.
599
00:26:15,574 --> 00:26:20,078
And I was sort of upset
that that was his conclusion.
600
00:26:20,078 --> 00:26:22,706
-True or not, the cover story
puts more pressure
601
00:26:22,706 --> 00:26:25,334
on "SNL's" king
to clean up his castle
602
00:26:25,334 --> 00:26:27,961
and improve the
toxic environment and sexism
603
00:26:27,961 --> 00:26:29,963
inside his realm.
604
00:26:29,963 --> 00:26:32,883
-Lorne was in charge of
managing people's behavior,
605
00:26:32,883 --> 00:26:38,722
and unless it was something
deeply criminal or violent,
606
00:26:38,722 --> 00:26:40,057
no one was going to interfere
607
00:26:40,057 --> 00:26:43,560
with people's behaviors
at the show.
608
00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:45,562
-At the end of the 20th season,
609
00:26:45,562 --> 00:26:48,482
Michaels caves to network
pressure to revamp the show...
610
00:26:50,609 --> 00:26:53,570
...and fires nine cast members,
611
00:26:53,570 --> 00:26:56,448
including Chris Farley
and Adam Sandler.
612
00:26:56,448 --> 00:26:57,741
♪♪
613
00:26:57,741 --> 00:26:59,660
-It felt like a purge.
614
00:26:59,660 --> 00:27:02,830
They want to change the dynamic
overall, the tone of the show.
615
00:27:02,830 --> 00:27:05,707
-For "SNL's" 21st season
in 1995,
616
00:27:05,707 --> 00:27:08,210
Lorne asks the show's
new co-head writer
617
00:27:08,210 --> 00:27:11,088
to find some talented
female performers.
618
00:27:11,088 --> 00:27:13,507
-Cheri Oteri!
619
00:27:13,507 --> 00:27:15,259
Molly Shannon!
620
00:27:15,259 --> 00:27:16,969
Nancy Walls!
621
00:27:16,969 --> 00:27:18,846
-I was told
to do some outreach,
622
00:27:18,846 --> 00:27:20,681
you know,
see what females are out there.
623
00:27:20,681 --> 00:27:23,183
It was a concerted effort
to get more of a female voice
624
00:27:23,183 --> 00:27:24,726
on the show, and it worked.
625
00:27:24,726 --> 00:27:26,436
-East Lake Spartans!
-What?
626
00:27:26,436 --> 00:27:28,230
-East Lake Spartans!
-What?
627
00:27:28,230 --> 00:27:31,483
-One of the big sketches was,
of course, the cheerleading.
628
00:27:31,483 --> 00:27:33,735
Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri.
629
00:27:33,735 --> 00:27:35,863
-Just because
we didn't make the squad
630
00:27:35,863 --> 00:27:37,990
doesn't mean
we don't have Spartan spirit!
631
00:27:37,990 --> 00:27:40,325
-Stop the presses --
the woman in that sketch
632
00:27:40,325 --> 00:27:42,411
was actually played by a woman!
633
00:27:42,411 --> 00:27:44,705
-The historically
testosterone-fueled
634
00:27:44,705 --> 00:27:46,957
writers room
gets an estrogen injection
635
00:27:46,957 --> 00:27:49,793
when female writers
and producers are hired.
636
00:27:49,793 --> 00:27:51,503
-Everyone was new
when I started,
637
00:27:51,503 --> 00:27:53,964
so it was kind of a good vibe.
638
00:27:53,964 --> 00:27:56,383
Like, everyone was ready
to start over.
639
00:27:56,383 --> 00:27:58,844
I'm Tanya Ryno, and in the '90s,
640
00:27:58,844 --> 00:28:01,346
I was a producer
for "Saturday Night Live."
641
00:28:01,346 --> 00:28:05,225
I produced commercial parodies,
animation...
642
00:28:05,225 --> 00:28:08,270
like "The Ambiguously Gay Duo"
segments.
643
00:28:08,270 --> 00:28:09,688
-Good work, Gary.
644
00:28:09,688 --> 00:28:11,815
That Ice Monster
can't hurt us now.
645
00:28:11,815 --> 00:28:14,526
-You were basically
working around the clock.
646
00:28:14,526 --> 00:28:15,903
-This is where we leave.
-Okay.
647
00:28:15,903 --> 00:28:18,280
-Good luck.
-Thank you, Lorne.
648
00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:20,324
-Tanya soon learns
that Lorne Michaels'
649
00:28:20,324 --> 00:28:22,200
grueling work-all-night
schedule,
650
00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:24,453
the approach
to live-TV production
651
00:28:24,453 --> 00:28:27,164
that led many staffers
to abuse drugs in the past,
652
00:28:27,164 --> 00:28:28,582
is still happening,
653
00:28:28,582 --> 00:28:31,793
even for those making
digital segments.
654
00:28:31,793 --> 00:28:34,922
-Getting there
to 11:30 Eastern Time,
655
00:28:34,922 --> 00:28:37,925
"Saturday Night Live"
can kill you.
656
00:28:37,925 --> 00:28:41,178
-I just worked myself to death.
657
00:28:41,178 --> 00:28:42,971
-Tanya also learns
that Lorne Michaels
658
00:28:42,971 --> 00:28:45,766
remains uncomfortable
speaking truth to power
659
00:28:45,766 --> 00:28:48,185
when she produces
a "TV Funhouse" cartoon
660
00:28:48,185 --> 00:28:50,020
called
"Conspiracy Theory Rock!"
661
00:28:50,020 --> 00:28:52,230
-♪ It's a media-opoly ♪
662
00:28:52,230 --> 00:28:54,942
-"The Schoolhouse Rock!" parody,
written by Robert Smigel,
663
00:28:54,942 --> 00:28:57,819
attacks media corporations,
including GE...
664
00:28:57,819 --> 00:28:59,571
-And good old GE?!
665
00:28:59,571 --> 00:29:01,698
-...the parent company of NBC.
666
00:29:01,698 --> 00:29:03,283
-What are PCB's?
667
00:29:03,283 --> 00:29:05,035
-♪ They come from
electric power plants ♪
668
00:29:05,035 --> 00:29:07,496
♪ Built by Westinghouse and GE ♪
669
00:29:07,496 --> 00:29:09,706
-The digital short
airs just once
670
00:29:09,706 --> 00:29:11,833
before Lorne locks it away.
671
00:29:11,833 --> 00:29:13,585
[ Long beep ]
672
00:29:13,585 --> 00:29:15,921
-Lorne's excuse was that
it wasn't funny.
673
00:29:15,921 --> 00:29:18,715
Like, I mean, it was funny,
but it was ironically funny.
674
00:29:18,715 --> 00:29:21,885
I mean, we were told
not to do it again, basically.
675
00:29:21,885 --> 00:29:24,763
-Mariel Hemingway!
676
00:29:24,763 --> 00:29:28,141
-To mark the supposedly more
female-friendly season of "SNL,"
677
00:29:28,141 --> 00:29:31,019
the first episode is hosted
by Mariel Hemingway,
678
00:29:31,019 --> 00:29:32,479
ironically, the granddaughter
679
00:29:32,479 --> 00:29:34,815
of "man's man" author
Ernest Hemingway,
680
00:29:34,815 --> 00:29:36,608
but best known
for playing Woody Allen's
681
00:29:36,608 --> 00:29:39,361
underage girlfriend in the film
"Manhattan."
682
00:29:39,361 --> 00:29:42,656
-Welcome to a brand-new season
of "Saturday Night Live."
683
00:29:42,656 --> 00:29:44,866
There's been a lot of changes
over the summer.
684
00:29:44,866 --> 00:29:47,244
I'd never done anything live.
685
00:29:47,244 --> 00:29:51,248
So I said, "Look.
I'm not a stand-up comic.
686
00:29:51,248 --> 00:29:55,002
So I would love to be able
to introduce this new cast."
687
00:29:55,002 --> 00:29:57,254
There's Dave Koechner.
And Will Ferrell.
688
00:29:57,254 --> 00:29:58,588
-Hi!
-Hi!
689
00:29:58,588 --> 00:30:01,091
-I had played so many lesbians
690
00:30:01,091 --> 00:30:02,884
that I thought
it would be really funny
691
00:30:02,884 --> 00:30:05,053
if I just ignored all the men
692
00:30:05,053 --> 00:30:07,139
and made out with all the women.
693
00:30:07,139 --> 00:30:09,516
I just love her.
[ Chuckles ]
694
00:30:09,516 --> 00:30:11,685
[ Laughter ]
695
00:30:11,685 --> 00:30:14,688
-Mariel's idea is
female empowerment
696
00:30:14,688 --> 00:30:16,940
with just a hint of "SNL's" men
697
00:30:16,940 --> 00:30:19,484
enjoying an adolescent
lesbian fantasy.
698
00:30:19,484 --> 00:30:21,570
-Hey, Lorne. Oh! Lorne!
Don't forget to introduce me
699
00:30:21,570 --> 00:30:23,697
to your wife
at the party tonight!
700
00:30:23,697 --> 00:30:25,532
[ Laughter ]
701
00:30:25,532 --> 00:30:26,992
[ Cheers and applause ]
702
00:30:26,992 --> 00:30:29,536
-In her one-week
crash course at "SNL,"
703
00:30:29,536 --> 00:30:31,705
Hemingway experiences
the atmosphere
704
00:30:31,705 --> 00:30:34,416
created by Lorne Michaels.
705
00:30:34,416 --> 00:30:36,460
-Working on "SNL"
706
00:30:36,460 --> 00:30:38,545
really is
survival of the fittest.
707
00:30:38,545 --> 00:30:41,214
You really feel like,
"Okay. I'm gonna make it..."
708
00:30:41,214 --> 00:30:43,508
[ Growls ] You know?
Like I'm a warrior!
709
00:30:43,508 --> 00:30:46,053
♪♪
710
00:30:46,053 --> 00:30:48,847
But it accelerates
at a pace that you're like --
711
00:30:48,847 --> 00:30:51,308
It's just not normal.
712
00:30:51,308 --> 00:30:54,478
And that's why I think
there's burnout
713
00:30:54,478 --> 00:30:57,272
on the people that are there.
714
00:30:57,272 --> 00:31:00,609
They're doing it week after week
after week after week.
715
00:31:00,609 --> 00:31:04,613
That's intense.
That's a lot of pressure.
716
00:31:04,613 --> 00:31:07,532
[ Cheers and applause ]
717
00:31:07,532 --> 00:31:10,368
I want to thank everyone --
the band, the cast.
718
00:31:10,368 --> 00:31:12,370
They're incredible.
I love you all!
719
00:31:12,370 --> 00:31:15,123
-While Mariel Hemingway
proves she's a survivor,
720
00:31:15,123 --> 00:31:17,125
Lorne will soon invite
someone to host
721
00:31:17,125 --> 00:31:20,003
who should be returning
as a conquering hero.
722
00:31:20,003 --> 00:31:22,798
Instead, he'll be thrown
to the lions.
723
00:31:22,798 --> 00:31:24,299
-Okay.
-Alright. Okay.
724
00:31:24,299 --> 00:31:26,468
-I'm the new Chris.
Okay, fellas?
725
00:31:26,468 --> 00:31:29,679
♪♪
726
00:31:34,226 --> 00:31:35,477
-Every vote counts.
727
00:31:35,477 --> 00:31:37,104
-With the release of
728
00:31:37,104 --> 00:31:39,356
the Lorne Michaels-produced
"Black Sheep" in 1996
729
00:31:39,356 --> 00:31:42,275
and "Beverly Hills Ninja"
in '97,
730
00:31:42,275 --> 00:31:44,820
former "SNL" cast member,
Chris Farley
731
00:31:44,820 --> 00:31:46,947
is a box-office movie star,
732
00:31:46,947 --> 00:31:48,657
but watching him
promote his movies...
733
00:31:48,657 --> 00:31:50,325
-Yeah, it's funny.
It's hard to be funny, you know?
734
00:31:50,325 --> 00:31:51,868
When you try to be funny,
you're not,
735
00:31:51,868 --> 00:31:53,537
so you just try to be real.
736
00:31:53,537 --> 00:31:55,539
-...one can't help but wonder
if Farley's
737
00:31:55,539 --> 00:31:57,958
17 trips
to drug-treatment centers
738
00:31:57,958 --> 00:32:00,210
and ongoing struggle
with obesity
739
00:32:00,210 --> 00:32:04,422
is too high a price
to pay for fame.
740
00:32:04,422 --> 00:32:05,924
-I don't know what's happening.
741
00:32:05,924 --> 00:32:08,468
-[Laughing]
You're drawing a blank.
742
00:32:08,468 --> 00:32:10,554
-He was not in great shape.
743
00:32:10,554 --> 00:32:13,181
You know?
Not in great shape at all.
744
00:32:13,181 --> 00:32:15,142
He had pushed the partying
really hard,
745
00:32:15,142 --> 00:32:17,894
and it just felt like
he was giving up for something.
746
00:32:17,894 --> 00:32:21,189
There was -- Something just
had changed about him.
747
00:32:21,189 --> 00:32:23,358
I told Norm Macdonald,
748
00:32:23,358 --> 00:32:25,652
"I think he'll be dead
in three months."
749
00:32:25,652 --> 00:32:28,822
-[ Laughs ]
-Farley is relapsing at 33,
750
00:32:28,822 --> 00:32:31,074
the same age
his hero, John Belushi,
751
00:32:31,074 --> 00:32:33,535
overdosed and died.
752
00:32:33,535 --> 00:32:35,829
-He wasn't gonna
kill himself on purpose,
753
00:32:35,829 --> 00:32:38,081
I don't think,
but I think subconsciously,
754
00:32:38,081 --> 00:32:39,624
it was on his mind
755
00:32:39,624 --> 00:32:41,585
that he wanted to leave
at the same age
756
00:32:41,585 --> 00:32:44,462
that John Belushi was
when he died.
757
00:32:44,462 --> 00:32:48,300
♪♪
758
00:32:48,300 --> 00:32:50,969
-It's against this backdrop
that Lorne Michaels decides
759
00:32:50,969 --> 00:32:53,805
to bring Farley back to "SNL"
to guest host.
760
00:32:53,805 --> 00:32:55,640
[ Laughter ]
761
00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:57,809
[ Indistinct shouting ]
762
00:32:57,809 --> 00:32:59,019
-People were
more than concerned
763
00:32:59,019 --> 00:33:00,562
about Farley that week.
764
00:33:00,562 --> 00:33:02,731
There was a lot of
inside talking about
765
00:33:02,731 --> 00:33:06,276
why the hell is Farley
even hosting the show?
766
00:33:06,276 --> 00:33:08,278
-In what's become
the show style
767
00:33:08,278 --> 00:33:10,447
when confronting an
out-of-control performer,
768
00:33:10,447 --> 00:33:13,241
be it John Belushi
or Sinéad O'Connor,
769
00:33:13,241 --> 00:33:16,786
Lorne and the writers
mine those concerns for a joke.
770
00:33:16,786 --> 00:33:19,456
With Farley,
it's leaning into the anxieties
771
00:33:19,456 --> 00:33:21,875
everyone has about
Chris' ability to host
772
00:33:21,875 --> 00:33:24,878
in the show's cold open.
773
00:33:24,878 --> 00:33:27,214
-But how do I know
he's not gonna screw up?
774
00:33:27,214 --> 00:33:30,091
-Well --
-Because I won't.
775
00:33:30,091 --> 00:33:31,301
[ Cheers and applause ]
776
00:33:31,301 --> 00:33:33,053
-When I saw him,
you know, hosting.
777
00:33:33,053 --> 00:33:37,474
he was very, very heavy,
very, very -- very, very loud.
778
00:33:37,474 --> 00:33:41,144
-But this time, I am not
gonna let you down, boss!
779
00:33:41,144 --> 00:33:43,021
-You've said that before,
Chris.
780
00:33:43,021 --> 00:33:45,106
-Chris' behavior in the scene,
781
00:33:45,106 --> 00:33:48,652
like a troublesome kid
seeking his dad's approval,
782
00:33:48,652 --> 00:33:50,862
offers insights
into the relationship
783
00:33:50,862 --> 00:33:54,866
Lorne Michaels has
with many of his performers.
784
00:33:54,866 --> 00:33:56,868
-He birthed their careers.
785
00:33:56,868 --> 00:33:59,454
He midwived their fame.
786
00:33:59,454 --> 00:34:03,250
He is, metaphorically,
very much a father figure
787
00:34:03,250 --> 00:34:06,002
who everybody
really wanted to please.
788
00:34:06,002 --> 00:34:09,506
And I think
that doesn't go away.
789
00:34:09,506 --> 00:34:11,007
There still is this,
790
00:34:11,007 --> 00:34:13,593
"I want to please Dad.
791
00:34:13,593 --> 00:34:16,179
I want Dad to love me."
792
00:34:16,179 --> 00:34:18,265
-Can you still
fall through a table?
793
00:34:18,265 --> 00:34:21,268
-Can I?! Ga-gaa, goo, gee!
794
00:34:21,268 --> 00:34:25,230
[ Grunting ]
795
00:34:25,230 --> 00:34:26,690
See?!
796
00:34:26,690 --> 00:34:29,109
-Laughing off
its stars' addiction issues
797
00:34:29,109 --> 00:34:31,403
is one of the rituals
of the show Lorne created.
798
00:34:31,403 --> 00:34:32,904
-You know what I've learned?
799
00:34:32,904 --> 00:34:34,948
I've learned lessons
about responsib--
800
00:34:34,948 --> 00:34:37,033
-Responsibility?
-Responsibility.
801
00:34:37,033 --> 00:34:39,703
-The monologue and sketches
in the rest of the show
802
00:34:39,703 --> 00:34:42,872
that Mine Farley's weight
for laughs
803
00:34:42,872 --> 00:34:46,293
are also right out of "SNL's"
how-to manual.
804
00:34:46,293 --> 00:34:49,212
-The uniquely pathetic quality
of Todd's condition
805
00:34:49,212 --> 00:34:51,798
convinced us
to enlist some help.
806
00:34:51,798 --> 00:34:55,135
-No! Our producer, Ted Gurrigan!
-What? What'd you just say, Ted?
807
00:34:55,135 --> 00:34:59,014
-I said I love Italian food!
Can you tell?!
808
00:34:59,014 --> 00:35:01,308
[ Laughter ]
809
00:35:01,308 --> 00:35:03,643
-On a podcast in 2021,
810
00:35:03,643 --> 00:35:07,897
Farley's fellow cast member
Jim Breuer reflects on that week
811
00:35:07,897 --> 00:35:10,692
and remembers Chris calling him
to his hotel room
812
00:35:10,692 --> 00:35:12,861
to confess
all the fears and anxiety
813
00:35:12,861 --> 00:35:14,946
returning to "SNL" has provoked.
814
00:35:14,946 --> 00:35:18,450
-He goes,
"Jimmy, am I funny?"
815
00:35:18,450 --> 00:35:21,786
He goes, "Or am I just
a fat stupid guy?
816
00:35:21,786 --> 00:35:24,497
Girls don't like me.
Have to get hookers.
817
00:35:24,497 --> 00:35:26,333
And I'm just fat and stupid."
818
00:35:26,333 --> 00:35:30,003
I went, "No, you're not.
No, you're not."
819
00:35:30,003 --> 00:35:33,173
The next day, we went
and did a read-through.
820
00:35:33,173 --> 00:35:37,677
Every sketch
was a fat, stupid guy.
821
00:35:37,677 --> 00:35:39,471
-I don't have much
in the brain department,
822
00:35:39,471 --> 00:35:41,806
but when fatty falls down,
everyone goes home happy.
823
00:35:41,806 --> 00:35:46,102
♪♪
824
00:35:46,102 --> 00:35:48,188
-Even though that became
his big thing,
825
00:35:48,188 --> 00:35:50,190
falling into the furniture,
826
00:35:50,190 --> 00:35:52,400
there was always
that sense of vulnerability.
827
00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:56,029
-I am in dire need
of a dance partner, s-so...
828
00:35:56,029 --> 00:35:58,281
-This was the guy
that needed a hug.
829
00:35:58,281 --> 00:35:59,783
-Oh!
830
00:35:59,783 --> 00:36:01,284
-Whatever motivates
Lorne Michaels
831
00:36:01,284 --> 00:36:02,911
to bring Chris back to host...
832
00:36:02,911 --> 00:36:05,663
-Get your fat ass in gear!
It's 1997!
833
00:36:05,663 --> 00:36:08,875
-I wear special pants.
834
00:36:08,875 --> 00:36:11,419
-...the sketches that night
fuel all the personal doubts
835
00:36:11,419 --> 00:36:13,254
Chris shared with Jim Breuer.
836
00:36:13,254 --> 00:36:14,798
[ Gas hissing ]
837
00:36:14,798 --> 00:36:17,300
Farley is pushed so far
physically during the show
838
00:36:17,300 --> 00:36:20,470
that he needs a nurse offstage
to give him oxygen.
839
00:36:20,470 --> 00:36:22,555
Jim Breuer believes
that something more
840
00:36:22,555 --> 00:36:24,516
should have been done.
841
00:36:24,516 --> 00:36:28,937
-He clearly needed help.
842
00:36:28,937 --> 00:36:33,274
He had a serious,
high-alert drug issue going on.
843
00:36:33,274 --> 00:36:36,069
Is anyone gonna step forward
844
00:36:36,069 --> 00:36:38,738
and say,
"What are we doing this for?
845
00:36:38,738 --> 00:36:41,116
Our ratings?
846
00:36:41,116 --> 00:36:43,159
The man is gonna be dead soon.
847
00:36:43,159 --> 00:36:46,371
Does anyone care
about his soul or his health?
848
00:36:46,371 --> 00:36:50,250
No? We're products
and money? Oh."
849
00:36:50,250 --> 00:36:52,836
♪♪
850
00:36:52,836 --> 00:36:54,671
-Despite the backstage nurse
851
00:36:54,671 --> 00:36:57,882
and other signs
that Farley is struggling...
852
00:36:57,882 --> 00:37:02,011
-El Niño is Spanish for...
853
00:37:02,011 --> 00:37:04,514
The Niño!
854
00:37:04,514 --> 00:37:07,934
-...Chris perseveres through
the show's final sketch,
855
00:37:07,934 --> 00:37:11,521
which has him playing a wrestler
named after a weather front.
856
00:37:11,521 --> 00:37:14,691
-...a submission
fight to the finish!
857
00:37:14,691 --> 00:37:16,609
-Pushed to the breaking point,
858
00:37:16,609 --> 00:37:20,280
it appears the exhausted
comedian really has had enough.
859
00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:22,574
-No más. No más.
860
00:37:22,574 --> 00:37:24,284
-You heard it, folks!
It's unbelievable.
861
00:37:24,284 --> 00:37:26,661
Ric Flair has subdued the
powerful weather phenomenon
862
00:37:26,661 --> 00:37:28,079
known as El Niño!
863
00:37:28,079 --> 00:37:30,874
♪♪
864
00:37:30,874 --> 00:37:32,876
[ Siren wails ]
865
00:37:35,545 --> 00:37:38,173
-Six weeks later in Chicago,
866
00:37:38,173 --> 00:37:41,009
Chris' brother John
discovers the comedy legend
867
00:37:41,009 --> 00:37:44,179
in the hallway
of his 60th-floor condo
868
00:37:44,179 --> 00:37:45,847
not breathing.
869
00:37:45,847 --> 00:37:47,891
-My manager called
early in the morning
870
00:37:47,891 --> 00:37:49,517
and said, "Fred,
I have some bad news."
871
00:37:49,517 --> 00:37:51,978
And I'm thinking,
"Okay. I got fired off 'SNL.'"
872
00:37:51,978 --> 00:37:54,397
And he said,
"Chris Farley died."
873
00:37:54,397 --> 00:37:59,527
♪♪
874
00:37:59,527 --> 00:38:02,071
I was not super-surprised
to get that phone call,
875
00:38:02,071 --> 00:38:05,742
but I was shocked,
and, uh, it wasn't fun.
876
00:38:05,742 --> 00:38:07,285
It wasn't fun at all.
877
00:38:07,285 --> 00:38:09,537
So...
878
00:38:09,537 --> 00:38:11,498
-Friends and fans
of Chris Farley
879
00:38:11,498 --> 00:38:13,374
have gathered outside
the Hancock building,
880
00:38:13,374 --> 00:38:15,335
waiting for just any information
881
00:38:15,335 --> 00:38:17,212
police and investigators
may give.
882
00:38:17,212 --> 00:38:19,631
-I couldn't believe it.
-It's really sad.
883
00:38:19,631 --> 00:38:22,258
-Chris was a puppy.
He was funny.
884
00:38:22,258 --> 00:38:24,719
He made everyone laugh.
885
00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:27,055
[ Indistinct shouting ]
886
00:38:27,055 --> 00:38:28,640
♪♪
887
00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:31,893
-He was 33.
The target age, you know?
888
00:38:33,394 --> 00:38:34,646
Hm.
889
00:38:36,022 --> 00:38:38,399
-Farley idolized John Belushi.
890
00:38:38,399 --> 00:38:42,070
They died with virtually
the same poisons in their veins.
891
00:38:42,070 --> 00:38:48,201
♪♪
892
00:38:48,201 --> 00:38:51,788
-After a four-day
drug-fueled binge,
893
00:38:51,788 --> 00:38:54,499
Chris Farley overdoses
from a speed ball
894
00:38:54,499 --> 00:38:56,793
of cocaine and morphine.
895
00:38:56,793 --> 00:39:00,964
♪♪
896
00:39:00,964 --> 00:39:02,632
-Lorne Michaels
has now witnessed
897
00:39:02,632 --> 00:39:05,093
two of the talented men
he helped make famous
898
00:39:05,093 --> 00:39:07,053
die at the same young age
899
00:39:07,053 --> 00:39:10,932
and under
eerily similar circumstances.
900
00:39:10,932 --> 00:39:14,394
-Anytime that anyone
has a drug-abuse problem,
901
00:39:14,394 --> 00:39:17,063
you can go back and probably
see that someone knew
902
00:39:17,063 --> 00:39:19,357
and probably someone
could have stepped in.
903
00:39:19,357 --> 00:39:21,859
It's a tragedy that
could have been prevented.
904
00:39:21,859 --> 00:39:28,992
♪♪
905
00:39:28,992 --> 00:39:31,286
[ Bells tolling ]
906
00:39:31,286 --> 00:39:34,330
-Chris' death is mourned
by the "SNL" community.
907
00:39:37,041 --> 00:39:41,421
-I feel relief for Chris
that he's not in pain.
908
00:39:42,463 --> 00:39:44,299
I'm thinking he can hear
everything I'm saying,
909
00:39:44,299 --> 00:39:46,509
and I try to -- I'm still
trying to make him laugh,
910
00:39:46,509 --> 00:39:49,762
and I miss him.
911
00:39:49,762 --> 00:39:52,932
-Five months after absorbing
the loss of Chris Farley...
912
00:39:52,932 --> 00:39:54,309
[ Siren wails ]
913
00:39:56,853 --> 00:40:00,565
-...the "SNL" family is
once again rocked by tragedy.
914
00:40:09,073 --> 00:40:10,825
[ Line ringing ]
915
00:40:10,825 --> 00:40:12,952
-911 line...
916
00:40:18,333 --> 00:40:21,085
-In the early morning
of May 28, 1998,
917
00:40:21,085 --> 00:40:22,837
police are called to the home
918
00:40:22,837 --> 00:40:25,965
of former "SNL" cast member
Phil Hartman
919
00:40:25,965 --> 00:40:28,009
and discover him murdered
by his wife.
920
00:40:28,009 --> 00:40:32,930
♪♪
921
00:40:32,930 --> 00:40:35,266
-Mr. Hartman had been dead
for a while.
922
00:40:35,266 --> 00:40:37,935
He did not die at the same time
923
00:40:37,935 --> 00:40:40,730
that Mrs. Hartman
apparently killed herself.
924
00:40:40,730 --> 00:40:43,024
-Police believe
the couple's 9-year-old son
925
00:40:43,024 --> 00:40:45,068
and 6-year-old daughter
slept through
926
00:40:45,068 --> 00:40:50,323
the murder of their father
and the suicide of their mother.
927
00:40:50,323 --> 00:40:53,409
-Like, what happened here?
What the...happened?
928
00:40:53,409 --> 00:40:56,871
'Cause that's insane, obviously.
929
00:40:56,871 --> 00:41:01,250
And no one knows really
what happened still.
930
00:41:01,250 --> 00:41:03,294
The "SNL" family
was ruined by that
931
00:41:03,294 --> 00:41:05,213
because it came out of
the clear blue sky.
932
00:41:05,213 --> 00:41:09,133
-As I said during the campaign,
I'm just a caveman.
933
00:41:09,133 --> 00:41:12,220
-Phil Hartman's ability to do
a seemingly endless number
934
00:41:12,220 --> 00:41:15,431
of impersonations...
-You damn dirty ape!
935
00:41:15,431 --> 00:41:17,350
What have you done?!
936
00:41:17,350 --> 00:41:18,851
-...puts him on
the Mount Rushmore
937
00:41:18,851 --> 00:41:20,186
of "SNL" cast members.
938
00:41:20,186 --> 00:41:23,481
-Did somebody say sassy?
939
00:41:23,481 --> 00:41:25,316
-His nickname was "Glue."
940
00:41:25,316 --> 00:41:28,111
-We go for the gold. Yay, team!
941
00:41:28,111 --> 00:41:30,905
-Because he was the guy
that held the sketch together.
942
00:41:30,905 --> 00:41:33,199
Everyone thought that.
He could play anything.
943
00:41:33,199 --> 00:41:36,035
And he was solid as a rock.
944
00:41:36,035 --> 00:41:38,830
Brutal. Just brutal, really.
So...
945
00:41:40,540 --> 00:41:43,126
-Hartman left "SNL" in 1994
946
00:41:43,126 --> 00:41:45,545
in a touching final scene
with Chris Farley.
947
00:41:45,545 --> 00:41:49,257
-♪ Goodbye ♪
948
00:41:49,257 --> 00:41:51,968
[ Cheers and applause ]
949
00:41:51,968 --> 00:41:54,470
-The man of a thousand voices
says goodbye
950
00:41:54,470 --> 00:41:57,932
in voice number one --
his own.
951
00:41:57,932 --> 00:42:00,143
[ Cheers and applause ]
952
00:42:01,978 --> 00:42:05,022
-The "SNL" family,
when they lose a member,
953
00:42:05,022 --> 00:42:07,567
even as admired as Phil Hartman,
954
00:42:07,567 --> 00:42:11,571
there's sort of a sense
of "the show must go on,"
955
00:42:11,571 --> 00:42:13,656
that even Phil Hartman
wouldn't want people
956
00:42:13,656 --> 00:42:17,410
to simply grieve and fall apart
and not be able to be funny.
957
00:42:19,996 --> 00:42:23,040
-Despite the show's tragedies
in the outside world,
958
00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:26,335
at 30 Rock, Lorne Michaels
has always made sure
959
00:42:26,335 --> 00:42:28,838
that "Saturday Night Live"
does go on.
960
00:42:28,838 --> 00:42:31,424
-It's a very clear thing,
and we have a job to do,
961
00:42:31,424 --> 00:42:33,134
and we have to get it done.
962
00:42:33,134 --> 00:42:35,970
-With "SNL's" 40th celebration
now in its rear-view,
963
00:42:35,970 --> 00:42:39,015
it's approaching
its incredible 50th season.
964
00:42:39,015 --> 00:42:41,726
And, after surviving
threats of cancelation,
965
00:42:41,726 --> 00:42:43,853
controversy, and tragedy,
966
00:42:43,853 --> 00:42:47,774
the weekly live show performed
in the iconic Studio 8H
967
00:42:47,774 --> 00:42:50,026
remains a late-night
institution.
968
00:42:50,026 --> 00:42:52,278
-I think the show's legacy
969
00:42:52,278 --> 00:42:56,240
is the fact that number one,
it's survived,
970
00:42:56,240 --> 00:43:01,954
but also "SNL" has roots
in many different generations.
971
00:43:01,954 --> 00:43:06,334
It has some of the greatest
comedians of all time.
972
00:43:06,334 --> 00:43:08,252
They've come. They've gone.
973
00:43:08,252 --> 00:43:12,632
And the legacy is that
they planted a statement
974
00:43:12,632 --> 00:43:15,885
of who we were
in each generation.
975
00:43:15,885 --> 00:43:18,304
-Live from New York...
-Live from New York...
976
00:43:18,304 --> 00:43:21,766
-Live from New York,
it's "Saturday Night"!
977
00:43:21,766 --> 00:43:24,185
[ Cheers and applause ]
978
00:43:24,185 --> 00:43:26,687
-"Saturday Night Live,"
however it does it,
979
00:43:26,687 --> 00:43:30,399
has been incredibly efficient.
980
00:43:30,399 --> 00:43:34,111
The fact it's been run
by the same cultural warlord
981
00:43:34,111 --> 00:43:37,156
is something of a legend...
982
00:43:37,156 --> 00:43:39,158
and still going.
983
00:43:39,158 --> 00:43:40,743
-Can you see a day, Lorne,
984
00:43:40,743 --> 00:43:42,578
where you're not
sitting in that office?
985
00:43:42,578 --> 00:43:45,414
-My plan is to be here
for the 50th.
986
00:43:45,414 --> 00:43:50,086
And by that point,
I really deserve to wander off.
987
00:43:50,086 --> 00:43:52,547
[ Cheers and applause ]