Live from New York …
This week’s puzzle pays tribute to Saturday Night Live, perhaps the most successful TV comedy show ever. With SNL recently completing its 50th season, we thought that the time was ripe to celebrate this American institution – even if we rarely stay up any more to see it live!
The long and glorious history of the show, along with the many iconic performers and acts that have graced its stage, provided lots of fodder for our theme. Indeed, we had some difficulty settling on a quote and a source for this acrostic. We ultimately chose a passage from Daniel de Visé’s book The Blues Brothers, which actually focuses on the movie The Blues Brothers but also includes a pithy observation about John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s performance of “Soul Man” on SNL in 1978.
For those who may not recall the song, both Answer A (DUSTY ROAD) and Answer N (SIDE STREET) are included in its lyrics. We also squeezed in allusions to some of our favorite SNL skits (“Jane, you ignorant slut!”) and Tina Fey’s impersonations of Sarah Palin. How many others did you spot?
We can’t resist offering two clips. The first connects to Answer J and the second, of course, is the original performance of “Soul Man.” Be sure to watch as the Bass-o-Matic nearly comes off its moorings in the first clip.
There’s something about Belushi’s cartwheel and Aykroyd’s dancing that never grows old, don’t you think?
The ad parodies were among the funniest sketches on SNL. One of my favorites was the one for Shimmer (“It’s a floor wax *and* a dessert topping!”). A classic sketch from the earliest days of SNL – it starred Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, and Gilda Radner.
Alas, I was unable to find a complete video, and I suspect it’s now only available on NBC’s streaming service (Peacock).
Having Steve Cropper and Donald Duck Dunn certainly helped.
Nice Acrostic.
It’s not a complete video, but you get the flavor: https://youtu.be/zOlhHakrKeE?si=a4bZkSuB2dlDmsM5
Lots of fun. Thanks!
Usually, my magpie-like affinity for remembering dumb trivia is utterly useless, but Bass-O-Matic came right up. In addition to the SNL references you mentioned, there are also:
Betty White – who hosted the show only once, after apparently turning down Lorne Michaels three times.
Blue Oyster Cult – whose song “Don’t Fear the Reaper” was parodied in a comic sketch that included Will Ferrell and generated the catchphrase “More cowbell!“ — now forever associated with the song. (To my annoyance, because I like the song a lot.)
Sketches – Of which SNL staged thousands. Some were classic; most were OK; many were truly unfunny. But to have survived for 50 years, and to have started the careers of so many talented comedians — that’s really something.
That was a blast from the past. When SNL first came on, I watched it or missed it because I worked swing or grave shifts, but I guess I saw it enough to know a lot of the skits and spoofs. Having grown up with the Motown sound, I didn’t really get the purpose for a spoof on Sam and Dave. I though Ackroyd was really funny, but Belushi was usually too over the top for me. Fun puzzle.
great puzzle, guys
Another fun acrostic. I got the theme early on by spotting Saturday Night Live in the quote. Most of the SNL links in the clues and answers flew over my head, although BASSOMATIC was a gimme. Luckily I didn’t need them to solve the puzzle. My favorite SNL ad parody was “Fluckers: with a name like that it has to be good.”
Another awesome amazing acrostic! I have done several of the Balton/Stewart puzzles now and they are all so much fun and such impressive creations. And I loved the Blues Brothers/SNL theme! Thanks so much.
I grinned from ear to ear when I saw the “Fish-blending appliance” clue. SNL’s early commercial parodies are classics; the Bass-O-Matic is a favorite of mine, as is the one for Puppy Uppers/Doggie Downers. (Shimmer, mentioned above by RichardZ, is another).
When I saw the clue for Blue Oyster Cult (“More Cowbell”!) I had a hunch it was an SNL theme and wondered if the quote might end up being from the recent biography of Lorne Michaels.
For those who haven’t seen it, Betty White’s NPR spoof (“Delicious Dish”) with Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon is priceless, and then there’s Tina Fey’s killer Sarah Palin impersonation.
Thank you for such a fun solve!
This was a quick solve — maybe even too quick. We were able to guess 12 of the 22 clues on our first pass, which led to our really going to town on the quote, which then enabled solving all the rest of the clues. Of course, it’s fun to solve something fast … but then it’s over so soon. Optimally we’ll have to go back and forth multiple times from the clues to the quote to the clues again. Still, a fine solving experience, for as long as it lasted.
Bass-o-matic and More Cowbell! Love the early SNL days!