Best of Saturday Night Live (Alec Baldwin / David Spade)

Since 1975 Saturday Night Live has been the place for cutting edge comedy, well usually. With so many series lasting less than a single season, often only a few episodes, thirty plus years is an incredible achievement. Universal Studios has now taken over the release of the ‘Best of’ sets for this landmark show. The first two on deck feature the perpetual host, Alec Baldwin and cast member David Spade. While the material for both will be very well known to most it is fantastic to have these collections.

Best of Alec Baldwin

With no less than thirteen times at bat as the host Alec Baldwin is practically a member of the cast. In fact he has a standing offer to host at least once a year, an honor given to only one other performer, Christopher Walken. One thing that is very special about the numerous appearances by Baldwin is his skits almost always go right up to the line of good taste and go boldly over it. Some of the most controversial vignettes have featured this great actor. One of the most memorable that is presented here was part of a recurring skit, the NPR ladies. National Public Radio is spoofed with the low key performances by SNL veterans Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon. Their dry humor was the perfect backdrop for the appearance of Pete Schweddy (Alec Baldwin) who is on NPR to promote his Christmas confection, Schweddy Balls invoking every possible double edged reference possible. The main reason the bit works carries for most of Baldwin’s work here. This ruggedly handsome, main stream actor making such sexually immature references is just funny. Another case of this, also at the center of much controversy is the now infamous Canteen Boy bit. Apparently, this skit has generated more mail, complaints and praise, than any other. Here Baldwin is a pedophile Boy Scout troupe leader with amorous designs on the innocent and mentally slow Canteen Boy (Adam Sandler). As the scout leader removes his shirt and snuggles next to Canteen Boy in a sleeping bag we are simultaneously repulsed and driven to fits of laughter.

Baldwin has a natural gift to mimic other performers. His rendition of Tony Bennett is hysterical. He has the cadence down to a tee. He also does Charles Nelson Reily in a skit with Will Ferrell portraying James Lipton in a take off of Bravo’s ‘Inside the Actor’s Studio’. Baldwin is excellent taking on the paramount American actor, Robert DeNiro in a skit ‘The Joe Pesci’ with Jim Brewer in the role of a mean spirited Pesci.

What makes Baldwin such a natural is his ability to not only play against his typical screen persona but he is able to take on self depreciating roles here as the consummate professional. He is not above ruining his looks with fake teeth, wigs and outrageous costumes to get the audience to laugh, not at him but with him.

One of the best features of this DVD is the commentary track. It features a running conversation between Baldwin and SNL producer Marci Klein. The two of them are obviously friends after working together for so long. There is a natural feel to this commentary that is lacking in many similar features on other DVDs. Baldwin pumps Klein for inside scope and gossip about the cast and crew while adding his own unique insight to the bits being featured. Baldwin is a very generous performer always quick to praise the work of others on the screen. I had to watch this disc twice, once for the outlandish performances and again to listen to every word of the commentary. Baldwin also pokes fun at himself here noting the increase of his girth as the years passes. One interesting aspect of this commentary track is that Baldwin obviously has a sheet of show details. He goes into who wrote the bit providing a nice little behind the scenes look at the show.

The only other bonus feature is some footage of the rehearsals for the shows. While not as funny as the actual skits they are interesting.

Best of David Spade

David Spade started out slowly on Saturday Night Live. At first his particular sense of humor was utilized behind the camera as a staff writer. He then moved on to a bit player and finally a regular featured player. He also hosted several times and it mostly it was performances from these appearances that made their way to this DVD collection. The key component of Spade’s humor is his sarcastic one line punches. He is perfect as the brutally honest little man striking out at others. Unlike many other players on SNL Spade never really had a recurring character, he usually played himself or someone very similar to his stage persona. Perhaps his best known skit was with host Helen Hunt. The two of them portrayed flight attendants helping passengers to disembark the plane. Well, helping is very loosely applied here. The two of them rush the passengers off the plane with the still famous words ‘bub bye’. According to Spade this phrase haunted him for years after the skit aired.

His other key role was as the ascorbic and condescending personal assistant to television legend Dick Clark. He ignores and insults everyone seeking a meeting with Clark including Clark’s ‘long lost mother’ played by Julia Sweeney, Roseanne Barr and even Jesus Christ portrayed masterfully by the late Phil Hartman. No matter who is in front of him Spade dismisses them with a sardonic flair.

Spade is not what anyone would consider very masculine. He is quick to poke fun at this with several bits. In one he plays himself filming an action movie. His stunt double is regular cast member Amy Poehler who is constantly playing Spade as exceptionally feminine. Spade is joined in one skit, The Gap Girls’ with Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and host Sara Gilbert. The bit is silly but does invoke laughter.

For much of his career Spade was in the shadow of Chris Farley and the time they spend on screen together here shows why, they had a great chemistry. Spade did something very difficult for any comedian, he played the straight man. Spade displayed the rare talent of being able to do as well setting up the joke for others displays his innate talent for comedy.

For the commentary track here Spade is joined by SNL writer Matt Piedmont. The two of them just sit back and rip on everything on screen. Once again the commentary track provides its own humor and makes this disc a real value.

Hopefully Universal will continue to provide these sets. They are more than just funny television, they push the envelop and remain classic comedy. The full screen video is generally clean and free form defect. The Dolby stereo audio is broadcast quality but gets the job done. Both of these sets are well done and just the right thing for all the fans out there.

Posted 1/27/06