Doug ([info]revdj) wrote,
@ 2009-11-08 09:22:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend  Next Entry
Entry tags:improv and performing, movies and tv

One More thing
I will never find it - it will never be rebroadcast.

Don Rickles once hosted Saturday Night Live. In the opening sketch, before the theme, Joe Piscipo had to slap him. And Don's reaction was not to say the scripted line. "What did you hit me so HARD for? You didn't do that in rehearsal! I hope Eddie Murphy robs your house!" And everyone broke up, and Don just went from cast member to cast member, berating them, and they were giggling or shocked but all silent. The cue cards could not help them. Then the band went and the credits rolled.

Next sketch, as it went on, the actors started to look worried as they read their lines. Don was clearly not where as he was supposed to be, as he was edging closer and closer to Joe Piscipo. And then his character found an excuse to start slapping him repeatedly. Everyone else broke up, and Don slapped him until they cut to commercial.

Next scene (this was the season where Joe Piscipo and Eddie Murphy were in everything) they were doing something and Don had a line in an accent or a dance or something, and Joe read his line from the cue card, and Don was like , "What did you do that so soon for? Let me do my accent for crying out loud! I practiced for this!" Again - cast goes silent, and then Don starts insulting them until we cut to commerical.

Not a single sketch got finished that night, and I've never seen it rerun. I wish they did... it was the best episode of SNL ever.




(4 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]immemor
2009-11-08 03:39 pm UTC (link)
Should be on DVD in a few years. Somewhere in seasons 6 - 9.

I told my brother who is only 10 years younger than me that in the early 80s Eddie Murphy was the biggest star in the world. He thought I was pulling his leg.

(Reply to this)


[info]sacramentalist
2009-11-08 04:35 pm UTC (link)
That one had Adam Ant on it, right? I had it taped. I wonder if my folks still have it.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]sacramentalist
2009-11-08 04:36 pm UTC (link)
Billy Idol. Sry.

Yes, it was very funny, from that I recall.

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]eldogo
2009-11-08 06:36 pm UTC (link)
I remember the Don Rickles SNL episode slightly. All I remember is a sketch where Rickles and Piscopo were playing mobsters (well, they were wearing fedoras and suits) and they kept kissing each other on the lips. Even Don was losing it.

The Dick Ebersole era (i.e. Murphy and Piscopo) has never been collected or distributed well (except for the Best of Eddie Murphy DVD). They didn't even show it on Comedy Central, back when they were showing every other SNL episode imaginable, including the Jean Doumanian season which I consider far and away the worst season in their history. The speculation is that Lorne Michaels has been suppressing it. It's too bad. That era was a lot better than anyone seems to want to admit.

(Reply to this)


(4 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…