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This oral history of NBC's Saturday Night Live is the juiciest treasure trove of backstage gossip, sex and drugs since The Andy Warhol Diaries. With almost three decades' worth of memories from cast members, celebrity hosts, writers, crew and network execs, readers get first-hand reports (often contradictory) on the volatile, competitive, grueling and often drug-fueled process of creating a weekly, 90-minute, live comedy show. While the cast and writers changed over the decades there were two constants: the universal loathing of guest host Chevy Chase and the power of producer Lorne Michaels ("I think he picked the right profession," assesses Jane Curtin, "because he gets to lord over people who want to kneel at his feet and he doesn't acknowledge them-which makes them work harder."). Regulars like Dan Aykroyd, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Mike Myers, Billy Crystal, Bill Murray, Al Franken, Martin Short as well as guest hosts like Tom Hanks, Penny Marshall, Alec Baldwin, Carrie Fisher, Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin contribute sterling anecdotes that are alternately hilarious, touching, upbeat and scathing. With the exception of Eddie Murphy (who's positively portrayed), virtually the only missing voices are of those who have passed away (the editors use only interviews conducted for the book and not vintage interviews with John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Phil Hartman or Chris Farley). Scandals, infighting and plenty of showbiz dirt make this a guilty-pleasure page-turner from start to finish. Photos not seen by PW. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Given access by Lorne Michaels himself, two journalists with TV connections Miller has produced two TV series, Shales is TV critic for the Washington Post recount this show's 25-year history. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"A patchwork of backbiting, humor, intelligence, backbiting, gossip, backbiting and backbiting." -- Newsweek, October 2002
"A perfectly woven memoir....You'll have as much fun as Wayne and Garth at an Alice Cooper concert." -- Jennifer Wulff, People
"A sharp-clawed, incisive account of how nearly three decades' worth of comic talent has emerged from a single television show." -- Janet Maslin, New York Times
"It's revealing, it's funny, it's mesmerizing, it's LIVE FROM NEW YORK, a behind-the-laughs history of Saturday Night Live." -- Entertainment Weekly, September 2002
About the Author
Tom Shales is the Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic of the "Washington Post." His books include "On the Air" and "Legends."
James Andrew Miller has written for "The New York Times," "Life," and "Newsweek." He is also the author of Running in Place.
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I’m only 100 pages into the book, but am going to have to abandon it. There is ZERO structure to this book.
So far it’s just an unorganized group of “memories” (about a paragraph long) from the cast and crew. There is no chapter organization just all these “memory blurbs”. There is some organization as it appears to be chronological and talking about a subject related to the show, but that’s it.
And this book is 738 pages long. Not sticking around for 783 pages of those memory paragraphs.
Sad too, as I am interested in the history of the show. But no interest in slogging through that.
I enjoyed the first parts of the book where they were interviewing people from the show when it started and into the late '80s and early '90s. There's a wealth of interesting information there for fans of the show. Everyone being interviewed in that section is so far from their SNL days that they can dish with reckless abandon and you get some very candid interviews.
Where the book falls apart, unfortunately, is when you start getting into the early 2000s. At that point it's obvious the authors are interviewing people who were still on the show at the time they were writing. Gone are the candid anecdotes to be replaced by stars talking about how great it is to be on the show and how they're fulfilling a lifelong dream.
I can understand why this happened. You don't want to bite the hand that feeds you. The problem is that it really derails what was otherwise a very interesting book for the first half as people switch from dishing stories from their crazy younger days to current stars obviously avoiding rocking the boat.
The writers and actors in Saturday Night Live, through their skits on the show and the TV shows and movies they later produced, largely defined contemporary American comedy.
Rather than dwell on the moments and characters that made the show beloved by millions, the book wastes page after page on petty feuds and tediously insignificant details. It's shocking that a book that lets the writers and actors retell things in the own words is so short on actual wit and even clear storytelling.
It reads as if someone emailed everyone alive from the show and printed out the series of "reply-alls" that emerged. The group chat format is choppy and awkward to follow.
Such an iconic show deserves a book that pulsates with energy. This book doesn't inspire anyone to enter comedy, but rather to keep their day job as a CPA. We know that Billy Crystal earned $25K an episode. But the book fails to tell why.
Pleasant read, being reminded of some of the forgotten "players" and hazy years was nice. The idea of having so many different people's perspective gave a really good picture of just how difficult this has been to pull off for so many years. Spared no one's feelings when they were mentioned but also gave praise for the hard work most put in. Having a lot of different people's opinion about the same thing or the same person was really an interesting read. The writers had some of the toughest comments but they have the hardest job and it all fit together very nicely. The common theme of the players seeking Lorne's favor or just any crumb of attention he could toss them was just about pitiful at times and he is apparently one stingy guy with compliments, then the ones who claimed an easy "we were really close" relationship with him were almost as pitiful, the way they spoke made you think it was just what they were hoping was true. Found out new things about the players I thought I had probably read everything about, turns out there were still things to be told.
Live from New York, a behind-the-scenes history of the Saturday Night Live television series by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, was originally published in 2002. The latest edition, released in 2014, was timed to coincide with the show’s 40th anniversary and has been updated with coverage through the program’s 39th season. The book is an oral history comprised of brief bits of first-person commentary by hundreds of SNL cast members, crew, writers, hosts, and NBC network executives. The oral history approach evokes the collaborative nature of SNL and allows for the presentation of differing perspectives on events or controversies in the show’s history. The drawback to this approach, unfortunately, is that it all too often amounts to dozens of people making the exact same points over and over again.
Miller and Shales are attempting to accomplish two goals here: the first is to give the reader an idea of what it’s like to work at SNL; the second is to establish the show’s place in television history. Towards the latter goal, it’s not surprising that much space is devoted to the formation of the show and the original cast of Not Ready for Prime Time Players. For the television historian, the endless debates over the details of the show’s creation may be important, but for the casual fan the network politics can get rather dull. I understand that Lorne Michaels is the heart and soul of SNL, and likely a comedy genius, but does anyone really watch the show for Lorne? Most likely you watch the show for its cast members, and what this book doesn’t do well is let the cast members’ voices be heard, unless they’re talking about Lorne. Writers are an important part of the show also, and it’s interesting to hear them talk about how certain sketches were created. Unfortunately, too many of the writers just discuss the same things over and over again—how hard it is to get stuff on the show, staying up all Tuesday night writing, and once again, Lorne. Even though everyone analyzes Lorne ad nauseam throughout the entire book, when you reach the end you get a final chapter entitled “Lorne” which is an absurd exercise in eulogizing the living.
If you’re interested in romances or feuds between cast members, there’s little of that mentioned beyond what’s already common knowledge. Another problem with the oral history approach is that almost everyone is reluctant to say anything bad about anyone. There’s a few cast members that everyone seems to agree were difficult, and when the topic of worst host ever comes up, the usual easy targets are mentioned. Surprises are few. Some great cast members either declined to participate (Eddie Murphy) or are barely present (Will Ferrell, Mike Myers). The best part of the book is the Kevin Nealon/Jan Hooks/Phil Hartman years through the Sandler/Farley/Spade/Rock era, because that’s when you get the most cast input and the best idea of how much fun it is to put the show together. Surprisingly, an inordinate amount of time is devoted to the very recent years of the show, with a lot of unnecessary congratulatory back-slapping. From the way praise is heaped on Andy Samberg’s juvenile music videos, you’d think he were the next Fellini.
Fifty years from now, television historians are going to consider this book a valuable documentary record of the history of SNL. For the fan, however, it can be a colossal bore. It’s so easy, even addictive, to just read the next little tidbit, but at the end of twenty minutes you realize you’ve just heard forty people say the same thing, and you wonder why you wasted your time. If you can find this book cheap, get it, but just look up the passages concerning your favorite cast members. To read the whole thing is a disappointing and mind-numbing experience.
4.0 out of 5 starsFascinating reading about an American cultural phenomenon
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 13, 2020
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I had often heard this book quoted when certain comics were being discussed - it is a no holds barred account of everyone who was involved in SNL from its start in 1975 to pretty much today. So, with a fascination for 70s and 80s US comedy, I jumped straight in to this exhaustive look at the show.
It starts with a bit of background before launching into the origins of the series. It's constructed in an unusual way - a short passage introduces a series of comments from those involved at the time. Naturally this means that we start off with explanations from the likes of Chevy Chase and Lorne Michaels before going through the Eddie Murphy years, the Chis Farley years and all the way to the latter days of Tina Fey. I'll be honest - only the SNL stars up until about 1990 were initially of interest. Yet with patience even the later years become interesting.
What really sets this book apart from its contemporaries and why I would consider it essential reading is its brutal honesty. Very few classic stars come out of it beloved by everyone and it's a good reminder of the feet of clay that invariably support these stars. That said, some people come out of the history with real dignity. Here is a quick key to a few on both sides of the scale.
CHEVY CHASE - Well, much as I love Mr. Chase's dry wit and much as I adore the film 'Fletch', the universal feeling is that he is a massive jerk. At one point he even admits it himself!
JANE CURTIN - I was very impressed by her. While her surrounding cast were throwing themselves into drugs and needless flings with each other, Curtin did her job and didn't get sucked in. In a very boisterous, competitive environment with people like John Belushi bouncing off the walls, she refused to bend to peer pressure. There's even a wonderful moment when Lorne Michaels had tried to agitate her and it was all water off a duck's back to her. Massive kudos to you, Jane.
CHRIS FARLEY - I was never a fan of his over-the-top man-baby antics though seeing his effect on others is interesting. It's also poignant reading his desperation to be 'the funny guy' all of the time. Steve Martin comments on how exhausting it was trying to have a normal conversation with him.
PHIL HARTMAN - Universally loved and multi-talented, his tragic death really does seem to have rocked the cast. Again, down-to-earth and confident enough in his own abilities not to get caught up in the nonsense.
It is a very long read which might put the casual reader off as may the structure of it. Nevertheless, it is packed with information and interviews; highly recommended for those of us raised in the 80s when nearly all of the performers hear became big stars of cinema.
This book has not be written, in that, its actually just a series of quotes and interviews from past performers and writers grouped together in chronological order referencing different topics. But, it is still a highly informative read and discusses a lot of behind the scenes details. It is great to hear various people discuss other performers and how the show was put together and evolved. The book only loses stars on the rating, because it doesn't feel like you are reading a book. Rather, you are reading a transcript of various conversations strung together as if Bill Murray and Will Ferrell where in the same room.
