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• Sunday, December 10, 2006 01:01 AM

  selective memory

  ""Saturday Night Live," the unspoken model for these shows, stopped being the generator of fresh comedy and the showcase for new comic actors a long time ago. (Arguably it never was; did Chevy Chase, John Belushi or Dan Aykroyd ever make movies that really lived up to their hyped status as comic geniuses?) "

  That's a bit of selective memory isn't it, mentioning only Chevy Chase, John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd. What about Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Mike Meyers and Will Ferrell? Those guys were new comic actors who showcased on SNL and went on to make some pretty successful and pretty funny movies and at least one genuinely *great* movie (Groundhog Day). Didn't Ben Stiller do a season on SNL as well?

  And, of course, Chase, Ackroyd and Belushi were variously in Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, Animal House, The Blues Brothers, National Lampoon's Vacation and Trading Spaces. Those movies may have their flaws, but they are among the most popular and beloved comedies of the last 30 years.

  I do agree with Rob Anderson, though, that the years Tina Fey was 9(co)head writer were probably the worst years in the show's history. Is it just a coincidence that this year SNL is funnier than it's been since Will Ferrell left?

  —Giggs
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