The untold truth of SNL's forgotten season (1980-81)

[TMC]

http://www.looper.com/83835/untold-t...gotten-season/

For more than 40 seasons, Saturday Night Live has been the premiere TV sketch comedy show, turning little-known actors into stars and speaking truth to power. For almost that entire time, SNL*has been guided by the steady hand and impeccable comedic instincts of creator and producer Lorne Michaels.

Not the entire*length of the show's run, however.*Michaels parted with the show*between 1980 and 1985 to pursue other movie and TV projects because he needed a break. The first year he was gone, the 1980-'81 sixth season of SNL, was what some might call a "transitional" or "building" period—a polite way of saying it was the most tumultuous year in the show's long history.

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[robyrob]

I remember that season - it still had some good skits, but it WAS pretty weird.

the backlash about the cast changes and Lorne leaving was much more of a problem than how bad the cast and writing was though.

I just wish they could have continued releasing the seasons on DVD - this season was the one that they just couldn't do.

[mets82]

I'm not a big SNL fan but do know some of the history. I thought the 1986 season with Randy Quaid, Anthony Micheal Hall etc. was worse than the 1980 season.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by robyrob

I remember that season - it still had some good skits, but it WAS pretty weird.

the backlash about the cast changes and Lorne leaving was much more of a problem than how bad the cast and writing was though.

I just wish they could have continued releasing the seasons on DVD - this season was the one that they just couldn't do.

Saturday Night Live 6

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Home Series Saturday Night Live Season 6

[Dr. Thong]

I'll bet some of those sixth season sketches are probably better than the current SNL.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

I'll bet some of those sixth season sketches are probably better than the current SNL.

It certainly wasn't as good as the previous seasons, but yeah, there were some good skits in there and I bet you are right in your estimation. I stopped watching SNL about three years ago because I literally couldn't find a single laugh anymore, even in the news or cold opens.

I thought Gail Matthius was good, and Denny Dillon too. Rocket was OK; but the rest of the cast was pretty forgettable.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

It certainly wasn't as good as the previous seasons, but yeah, there were some good skits in there and I bet you are right in your estimation. I stopped watching SNL about three years ago because I literally couldn't find a single laugh anymore, even in the news or cold opens.

I thought Gail Matthius was good, and Denny Dillon too. Rocket was OK; but the rest of the cast was pretty forgettable.

SNL plays to the young audience now. I am not young and not their target demographic, so I bailed five years ago for the same reason you stated.

I will watch a Trump skit online if I hear about it, but I don't watch the show in full anymore. Hell, even when I was, I was skipping through most of the show because if I didn't get a solid laugh within the first minute of a skit, it was on to the next one.

[WilliamHBonney]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

SNL plays to the young audience now. I am not young and not their target demographic, so I bailed five years ago for the same reason you stated.

The "best season" of SNL is always when people were in high school or junior high and the worst season is always the current one

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by WilliamHBonney

The "best season" of SNL is always when people were in high school or junior high and the worst season is always the current one

True that! Watching it is somewhat like meeting someone from one's old homeroom who'd one had thought was hilarious at the time but hasn't evolved and now is a colossal, tasteless, juvenile bore because one has moved past those things as one has matured.

However; even factoring in that they had a 'tough act to follow', that rather awkward partial season with Doumanian and Rocket helming things is truly best forgotten IMO.

[Retro4Life]

Originally Posted by WilliamHBonney

The "best season" of SNL is always when people were in high school or junior high and the worst season is always the current one

Not sure I agree. The original SNL was hugely popular with people who grew up in the 60's, and were in their late to mid 20s at the time it first aired (1975), and obviously out of high school. So the implication that it's always kind of a "what's cool" or "what's not" type of thing just doesn't ring true for me.

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

Not sure I agree. The original SNL was hugely popular with people who grew up in the 60's, and were in their late to mid 20s at the time it first aired (1975), and obviously out of high school. So the implication that it's always kind of a "what's cool" or "what's not" type of thing just doesn't ring true for me.

Yep and I enjoyed the Dana Carvey years in the early 90's too so I was in my late 20's then.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by WilliamHBonney

The "best season" of SNL is always when people were in high school or junior high and the worst season is always the current one

Ayup.