Here's a little comedy journey. I've been trying to keep up with all the SNL50 content hitting the airwaves. I got to see the 4 documentaries they released in January '25. I loved them. And with all the hype about the anniversary for the past year, it only hit me last week about a parody. The idea started as a documentary parody...the fan-viewpoint. They issue was I don't have a lot of access to people, what being anti-social and all. So a DYI version of the idea worked itself out. And it was pretty good. I started to think personally, and realized all the SNL-related stuff I had on hand. I could essentially record something on my phone and create a video bit. I could.
Thinking about it, I considered my other options. Once the concept had been hashed out, I could write it up as a prose piece and send it to my usual contacts. So I did that. I thought it had topically. I thought it was a different approach to the idea. And the comedy sites should like a take on SNL, we're all fans to one extend or another.
They didn't bite. So, to get it out there, I was going to have to go full DYI. So, I present here the prose version of my mockumentary:
Thinking about it, I considered my other options. Once the concept had been hashed out, I could write it up as a prose piece and send it to my usual contacts. So I did that. I thought it had topically. I thought it was a different approach to the idea. And the comedy sites should like a take on SNL, we're all fans to one extend or another.
They didn't bite. So, to get it out there, I was going to have to go full DYI. So, I present here the prose version of my mockumentary:
Beyond Saturday Night: The Fans-They Like to Watch
Saturday Night Live is celebrating fifty years of comedy. Fifty years of cast members. Fifty years of production teams, camera operators, cue card holders, craft services and producers. But the show wouldn’t exist at all without one major component: The audience. We’ve decided to look at SNL through the eyes of one such audience member:
I’m Lenny Bosocvich. They call me Saturday Night Lenny. Well, no. They don’t. No one does. But wouldn’t it be great if they did?
I’ve been watching Saturday Night Live from day one. Back in 1976, I used to get the magazine, TV Guide (remember magazines?), and there was the ad for a new show, NBC’s Saturday Night. It was going to be a sketch comedy show. Now, I grew up watching TV comedy; “Camp Runamuck,” “It’s About Time,” “Captain Nice,” “Run, Buddy, Run,” “Mr. Terrific,” and all those other classics, so I knew I was going to want to watch this show. George Carlin was going to host and this was back when Carlin was funny. This was going to be “Must See TV” (NBC-what I did there?).
Back then, watching a late night show was a big deal. There were no VCRs, so I was going to have to stay up late to view it. Which meant I had to get permission from my parents. And the remote control for the TV. They were really strict about that remote. So strict. But after I promised to do a couple of chores and stop dating, they gave me the green light.
I was so glad they did! I loved it! Loved it all! Wolverines! Bees! Update! Muppets! Andy Kaufmann? Too much music! Peak Carlin! How’d they fit that all into 90 minutes with commercials? It was a miracle of TV. I remember sitting there, show over, alone in my living room at one o’clock in the morning and thinking, “Wow, they probably could have used one more rehearsal.”
Anyway, I was sold. I’ve watched every episode since. Eleven-thirty Saturday night was appointment TV in my house. Even when the NBC News show “Weekend” was on. Then the repeats of SNL. Then those weird movies they’d slide in during the summer. There was that brief foray into pro wrestling. Oh, and that Bob & Ray special they slipped in once to make everyone think they had hosted the real show.
I became a huge fan. I went out and bought the books; Live From New York, SNL, the First 20 Years, the Saturday Night Scrapbook, Wired, Jay Mohr’s book. I got the SNL comedy album, which was all their great video skits on a vinyl record (remember records?).
One year they did an “Anyone can host” contest and I remember thinking, “I’m anyone!” So I sent in a couple of dozen postcards to the show (Man, remember postcards?). I was so sure I would get it. I mean, who else was going to mail in a dozen postcards? And I figured it would be a no-brainer for them, I lived in New York! They wouldn’t even have to fly me in! They could just give me carfare! I still can’t believe I didn’t win.
I continued to be a fan, though. There was a time I was able to name all the cast members past and present…until around season seven. Then I needed that part of my brain for other things.
Weirdly, I only attended the show in person once. And that was a rehearsal show. During Christmas time. Rockefeller Center around Christmas with the tree up? I won’t do that again. The crowds were insane!
Since traveling into Manhattan was such a project, I knew I wouldn’t get up there again. That and the restraining order. I decided to work on a project of my own. I recreated Studio 8H in my basemen! Now I can host whenever I want to. I even started working on figures of cast members. I have a model of Seth Meyers for the Update desk. It looks really good. My Dennis Miller looks off, though. My Chevy is just a cut out. That’s from before I got my 3-D printer.
I have this spare room that holds my most valuable collection. The skits! No, not skits from SNL. These are the skits I wrote for SNL. Yeah, I’m always sending them material. Sure, they say they send it back unopened, but I always tape one of my hairs along the envelop flap, and every time it comes back, that hair is missing. So, they see them. I’m pretty sure they stole “Black Jeopardy from me.
Fifty years later and I’m still here and I’m still watching. Keeping track of the Fiver-Timers and the One-n-Doners. I mean, Dolly Parton only hosted ONCE?? What’s up with that? Half the skits I sent them were Dolly Parton skits. Take the hint, Lorne!
SNL is the best live, weekend, late-night variety show ever. And I’m still watching, live. Because I never figured out how to set my VCR. Anyway, I have to wrap this up; I’m off to the post office to mail this week’s postcard to the “Anyone Can Host” contest. I’m wearing them down, I know it.
The end
I’ve been watching Saturday Night Live from day one. Back in 1976, I used to get the magazine, TV Guide (remember magazines?), and there was the ad for a new show, NBC’s Saturday Night. It was going to be a sketch comedy show. Now, I grew up watching TV comedy; “Camp Runamuck,” “It’s About Time,” “Captain Nice,” “Run, Buddy, Run,” “Mr. Terrific,” and all those other classics, so I knew I was going to want to watch this show. George Carlin was going to host and this was back when Carlin was funny. This was going to be “Must See TV” (NBC-what I did there?).
Back then, watching a late night show was a big deal. There were no VCRs, so I was going to have to stay up late to view it. Which meant I had to get permission from my parents. And the remote control for the TV. They were really strict about that remote. So strict. But after I promised to do a couple of chores and stop dating, they gave me the green light.
I was so glad they did! I loved it! Loved it all! Wolverines! Bees! Update! Muppets! Andy Kaufmann? Too much music! Peak Carlin! How’d they fit that all into 90 minutes with commercials? It was a miracle of TV. I remember sitting there, show over, alone in my living room at one o’clock in the morning and thinking, “Wow, they probably could have used one more rehearsal.”
Anyway, I was sold. I’ve watched every episode since. Eleven-thirty Saturday night was appointment TV in my house. Even when the NBC News show “Weekend” was on. Then the repeats of SNL. Then those weird movies they’d slide in during the summer. There was that brief foray into pro wrestling. Oh, and that Bob & Ray special they slipped in once to make everyone think they had hosted the real show.
I became a huge fan. I went out and bought the books; Live From New York, SNL, the First 20 Years, the Saturday Night Scrapbook, Wired, Jay Mohr’s book. I got the SNL comedy album, which was all their great video skits on a vinyl record (remember records?).
One year they did an “Anyone can host” contest and I remember thinking, “I’m anyone!” So I sent in a couple of dozen postcards to the show (Man, remember postcards?). I was so sure I would get it. I mean, who else was going to mail in a dozen postcards? And I figured it would be a no-brainer for them, I lived in New York! They wouldn’t even have to fly me in! They could just give me carfare! I still can’t believe I didn’t win.
I continued to be a fan, though. There was a time I was able to name all the cast members past and present…until around season seven. Then I needed that part of my brain for other things.
Weirdly, I only attended the show in person once. And that was a rehearsal show. During Christmas time. Rockefeller Center around Christmas with the tree up? I won’t do that again. The crowds were insane!
Since traveling into Manhattan was such a project, I knew I wouldn’t get up there again. That and the restraining order. I decided to work on a project of my own. I recreated Studio 8H in my basemen! Now I can host whenever I want to. I even started working on figures of cast members. I have a model of Seth Meyers for the Update desk. It looks really good. My Dennis Miller looks off, though. My Chevy is just a cut out. That’s from before I got my 3-D printer.
I have this spare room that holds my most valuable collection. The skits! No, not skits from SNL. These are the skits I wrote for SNL. Yeah, I’m always sending them material. Sure, they say they send it back unopened, but I always tape one of my hairs along the envelop flap, and every time it comes back, that hair is missing. So, they see them. I’m pretty sure they stole “Black Jeopardy from me.
Fifty years later and I’m still here and I’m still watching. Keeping track of the Fiver-Timers and the One-n-Doners. I mean, Dolly Parton only hosted ONCE?? What’s up with that? Half the skits I sent them were Dolly Parton skits. Take the hint, Lorne!
SNL is the best live, weekend, late-night variety show ever. And I’m still watching, live. Because I never figured out how to set my VCR. Anyway, I have to wrap this up; I’m off to the post office to mail this week’s postcard to the “Anyone Can Host” contest. I’m wearing them down, I know it.
The end
