More Cowbell Classic SNL Skit From The 2000s

More Cowbell was a skit performed on season 25 during episode 16 of Saturday Night Live in April of 2000. This is one of the funniest sketches from that season. Christopher Walken is very funny in this as he is in every show he hosts. He plays serious villains and psychopaths in most of his big screen films but somehow this translates into some really funny characters whenever he is on the show. It's the reason why he has been asked to host SNL 7 times at the date of this posting.

Of course Will Ferrell is also very funny in this one and is probably in my list of top ten comedians to ever host Saturday Night Live. Will is a professional funny man who stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of comedy greats like Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler. Will Ferrell has always been one of my all time favorite comedians and I have been in love with his comedy style ever since I saw the movie Step Brothers.

With these two sturdy professionals playing Bruce Dickinson and Gene Frenkle respectively we have enough acting genius and comedy experience in the room to make this a belly buster of laughs. However we also have Chris Kattan, Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon rounding out the rest of the members of the band.

The skit begins as an episode of VH1 Behind The Music. The narrator tells us that in late 1976 the band Blue Oyster Cult assembled for a recording studio session with famed record producer Bruce Dickinson. The track that was layed down that day was their classic hit Don't Fear The Reaper.

The band tries to record the track in one session but keeps getting annoyed by Gene Frenkle's (Will Ferrell) over exuberance with the Cowbell. There are two points we're the band has to stop playing because Gene gets too carried away with beating his drumstick on the cowbell. Each time Bruce (Christopher Walken) enters the room to see what the problem is but each time he reiterates that he needs more cowbell.

This is a seriously funny SNL skit, one of the great ones from the 2000s period. I can watch this one over and over and I will still find myself holding my sides from all the laughter.

The skit also ends with a touching in memorium to Gene Frenkle who lived from 1950 to 2000. This is a hidden joke as this character is fictional, although modeled on the real musician Eric Bloom. Over the years the band has had many fans express their sadness over the passing of their former band mate.

Dan Aykroyd The French Chef SNL Classic Skit

 This is another 1970s Saturday Night Live skit that deserves a review. It's from season 4 episode 8. This is one of Dan Aykroyds best impersonations ever in my opinion. Although I think he does a wonderful job of representing Julia Child I do have some problems with this sketch.

Julia Child is a great American icon. A wonderful French Chef and a woman with a huge personality. Her public television show The French Chef ran from 1963 to 1973 and produced more than 200 episodes. She was the author of many books and her TV shows taught professional cooking techniques in a way that made them understandable and accessible to millions of Americans.

Her personality and way of speaking made it inevitable that she would be top shelf comedy material for a sketch show like SNL. Dan Aykroyd dressed up like an older woman and mimicing her mannerisms was spot on in his performance. My only problem is that I think he should have continued with his impersonation of her rather than going for the cut and bleeding hand gag.

Physical comedy is the most difficult type of humorous endeavor, however the bloody finger gag is the oldest trick in the book. Don't get me wrong, I think this classic SNL skit is hilarious. I just think Dan Aykroyd could have gone in a different direction with this. 

Classic SNL Skits Two Wild & Crazy Guys: Computer Dates

 This classic 1970s Saturday Night Live skit from season 3, episode 18 is one the first repeating character sketches to appear on the show. It features Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin playing the two socially awkward Festrunk brothers. Two recently immigrated Czech brothers who don't really understand English lingo.

These two siblings are constantly trying to score with American women as they cruise the New York club scene. Although the title of this skit says computer dates I think there may be some confusion here. Instead of waiting for dates they are waiting for two foxes they met during their latest club outing. These two ladies played by Gilda Radner and Laraine Newman promised to meet them at their apartment.

Garrett Morris shows up playing their cool American friend named Cliff. He is convinced that his two buddies have been stood up but there may still be a chance for some swinging in their bachelor pad tonight.

This is a great skit. I think Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd had real chemistry together back in the 1970s. I wish there were more skits with them together. As it is they rehashed their roles as the Festrunk a few more times but more importantly it led to the creation of many more recurring characters. Recurring roles would become commonplace on SNL throughout the 70s, 80s and beyond.

Classic 1980s Saturday Night Live Skit, The Eggshell Family With Steve Martin, Martin Short And Jan Hooks

 Here is a classic SNL skit from the 1980s called 'The Eggshell Family'. Its from the sixth episode of season 12. It's about a family that is neurotic and extremely sensitive to the point that the family cannot function or even communicate with each other.

The 1980s was the golden age for Saturday Night Live in my opinion. I know many people believe the 1970s were the best years for good SNL skits but I am a 80s and 90s child so I love these two decades the most.

That being said this is not one of my favorite classic SNL sketches. It's just not that funny. I generally love Steve Martin, he was great in many of of his appearances on the show over the years. The guy is in a very exclusive club having hosted SNL 15 times as of this posting. I love his stand up as well as his many comedy blockbusters. The Jerk is one of my favorite funny movies.

Maybe it was the writers fault, or maybe I just don't know good comedy but I never really liked this one very much. Martin Short was also in this as one of the male sons of the oversensative father played by Steve Martin. Short has always been hit or miss with me when it comes to his SNL work. Jan Hooks who I have also enjoyed in other skits plays the mother. I sure wouldn't have any problems communicating with her if she were my mom if you know what I mean.

All in all this comedy sketch is average at best but because I love Steve Martin I will probably end up posting all of his Saturday Night Live appearances on this blog.

Saturday Night Live Classic Skit Samurai Hotel With John Belushi, Chevy Chase And Richard Pryor

This is one of the greatest SNL skits of all time. It features in incomparable John Belushi as the Samurai Futaba or Samurai Hotel clerk and Chevy Chase who in my opinion is one of the greatest comedians of all time. It's interesting how Chevy Chase ended up having more big screen success than John Belushi even though John was the bigger mainstream star at the time and I don't mean this because of Belushi's early death.

This Saturday Night Live skit was featured in the 7th episode of the first season and is Belushi's first portrayal of Samurai Futaba. He would go on to do a total of 18 sketches as this character. The role is based on Toshiro Mifun's character in Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo. In that movie Toshiro plays a peerless Samurai named Sanjūrō Kuwabata who's mind is even quicker than his sword.

Although the role may be based on a more serious character Belushi turns it into comedy genius. Speaking mock Japanese to Chevy Chase's perfect English, the two seem to understand each other despite the language barrier and that is part of the underlying comedy here. Richard Pryor makes an appearance as another Samurai employee of the hotel. Apparently there is some confusion as to who is the bellboy at this establishment and a mock sword battle ensues.

I won't give away all the laughs in this one but if you haven't seen this classic SNL skit you must watch it immediately. If you like vintage Saturday Night Live clips and you like reading about the history of this great American sketch comedy series then stay connected to this blog because for the next few months I will be posting tons of great SNL skits from the 70s and 80s and adding lots of great commentary.