I finished the 4 episode Beyond Saturday Night documentary. Scattershooting:
- The 4th episode about Season 11 was my favorite. I’ll give them credit for allowing Wayans to talk some shit and tell his side of the story. Very cool of Lorne to invite him back to perform his stand up.
- Pretty interesting that terrific comedic actors like Downey and Anthony Michael Hall didn’t do well on SNL. Movie stars, but not sketch performers. Great pivot in Season 12 to cast the improv greats of their time.
- I need to watch more of Season 10. Holy shit what a cast. That’s an impossible act to follow for first timers.
- I love that they had to use archival footage from 2005 for ALL of the Lorne interviews on Season 11. In fact, episode 3 is the only episode that includes a Lorne interview. I guess he’s feigning modesty that he won’t sit for interviews on his own show.
- It was fun watching the old auditions and casting decisions in episode 1. The casts were probably better in the past because of less nepotism. I think Lorne wants a smooth operation now, and he’ll cast nepo babies because they know what to do and how to act at Studio 8H.
- While not a nepo baby, from what I’ve gathered everybody in the New York Comedy Community was rooting/pushing for Pete Davidson. No problem with casting him on the show, but he was consistently the worst performing cast member while appearing in the most sketches. Lorne played favorites, and it cost the show. He then doubles down on Davidson and produces his show on Peacock. If you can’t make show with Joe Pesci, Edie Falco, and Brad Garrett work, then problem is with your star. Lorne is so established and comfortable I doubt he’s ever given it a second thought.