VH1 Classic to air 433-hour Saturday Night Live (SNL) marathon

http://www.vh1.com/celebrity/2015-01-14/vh1-saturday-night-live-rewind-marathon/

NEW YORK (January 14, 2015) – VH1 Classic celebrates the 40th anniversary of the longest-running sketch comedy show in history by bringing fans 40 years of “SNL” in one place: “The SNL Rewind: 2015 - 1975 Mega-Marathon” beginning Wednesday, January 28th and wrapping on Sunday, February 15th.

Fans can relive the best moments (or binge on all the ones you missed) of “SNL” history with 19 days of back-to-back SNL episodes in this 433-hour “SNL” marathon — the longest ever mounted for a single series on television ever.

Starting with season 39 and working back to season 1 from 1975, VH1 Classic will bring fans the most loved moments and original skits that became cultural juggernauts. The last episode of the marathon will be “SNL’s” first episode ever, hosted by the late George Carlin, originally aired live on October 11th, 1975. VH1 Classic will air it on Sunday, February 15 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., leading up to NBC’s three-hour special (8-11 p.m.) celebrating 40 years of “Saturday Night Live.”

The marathon showcases 40 seasons of Not Ready For Primetime Players many of whom are now known around the world: Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers. VH1 Classic will deliver the best moments — which will leave fans demanding “even more cowbell.”

“Building a 19-day marathon seemed pretty daunting at first, but when we started mapping it out the days filled up quickly,” said Ben Zurier, Executive Vice President, Programming Strategy for VH1, VH1 Classic and Palladia. “There are so many tremendous stars, memorable characters, great music performances and unmatched comedy writing, that my biggest concern now is about all the great stuff we didn’t find room for!”

Special themed blocks dot the 19-day schedule, giving viewers a deeper dive into the classic episodes featuring a particular host, skit or musical artist:

Saturday, January 31 (4 PM – 10 PM)

Six episodes featuring pop superstar Justin Timberlake, now one of “SNL’s” most popular guest hosts.

Tuesday, February 3 (6 AM – 2 PM)

An eight-hour celebration of some of the biggest pop artists in the world, including Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Pink, Britney Spears and Usher.

Friday, February 6 (2:30 PM – 10 PM)

Former “SNL” cast members return to take on host duties. Featuring Dana Carvey, Chevy Chase, Phil Hartman, Mike Myers and Martin Short.

Saturday, February 7th (12-10pm)

“Remembering Chris Farley”: Highlights from Farley’s brilliant “SNL” career including Chippendales dancer, insightful interviewer on ‘The Chris Farley Show,’ graceful Lunch Lady, beautiful Gap Girl, and Chicago Bears Super Fan.

Sunday, February 8 (1 PM – 12:30 AM)

Party Time! Thirteen straight episodes featuring legendary sketch “Wayne’s World,” starring Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) direct from the basement studio in Aurora, Illinois.

Wednesday, February 11 (9:30 AM – 12:30 AM)

“The Eddie Murphy Years”: Mr. Robinson, Buckwheat, Gumby, Dion and more of Murphy’s legendary characters from the 1981-1984 seasons, not to mention a visit to “James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party.”

Saturday, February 14 (2:30 PM – 10 PM)

Five episodes hosted by Steve Martin from the series’ first three seasons – featuring Georg Festrunk: the original “Wild and Crazy Guy.”

Each Saturday of the 19-day marathon, VH1 Classic will take a break from 10 pm to 1 am to show a film starring an SNL alum:

• Saturday, January 31 at 10 PM “Macgruber” (Will Forte, Kristen Wiig); 11:30 PM “Black Sheep” (Chris Farley, David Spade)
• Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10 PM – “Trading Places” (Eddie Murphy)
• Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10 PM – “The Blues Brothers” (John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd)

VH1 will also join the party with a marathon of retrospective specials by decade for at least 10 hours on Sunday, February 15th, ending at 8pm.

In addition, Fan favorite episodes will be available on vh1.com & the VH1 App throughout the marathon time period.

VH1.com will support with daily posts including category countdowns such as “Best Character” and “Best Make Out.” Series clips will also be featured in the “Last Lap” evening news roundup.

Fans can follow @VH1Classic on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to engage with and commemorate the best of SNL throughout the marathon including:

The “#SNLClassic Best Character Ever “Tournament” is a 19-day interactive bracket, hosted by VH1.com, igniting fans to ‘vote’ each day on the greatest SNL character of all time.

“Pop Up #SNLClassic”will serve up exclusive original ‘pop-up video’ style shareable content, giving fans the behind-the-scenes perspective.

“SNL” Surprise Social Hostswill take over@Vh1Classic social channels to interact live with fans and give insider commentary.

“Soundtrack to #SNLClassic” on Spotifyprovides the definitive tracks from the iconic musical guests spanning each decade of SNL.

For more information on the “SNL Rewind 2015 – 1975” VH1 Classic, or VH1, visit SNL.VH1.com.

 

This is awesome--though it's kind of weird that they're apparently doing some full-length 90-minute episodes and some hour-long edits. Either way, my DVR is going to be filled...

 

There are so many bad moments throughout the average SNL episode (despite what nostalgia might otherwise suggest) that I can't imagine anyone actually wanting to sit through more than a few consecutive hours of this...

 

Wish I could sit home all day and watch. Should hook up the VCR but too lazy.

 

Hey MTV networks... are you listening? Once again now, VH1 Classic needs to be in HIGH DEFINITION DAMMIT!!!

 

This is great. The Eddie Murphy years and the rest of the 80's that are hard to find out there so I am looking forward to re-watching that middle period of SNL that gets the shaft.

 

Tuesday, February 3 (6 AM – 2 PM)


An eight-hour celebration of some of the biggest pop artists in the world, including Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Pink, Britney Spears and Usher.

Oh, I can hardly wait...

Anyway, this could be a great opportunity to make some great compilations of the musical guests. I will fire up the HD recorder. Hope I don't lose patience editing this stuff to transfer to DVDR.

 

This will be pretty cool. I'll probably tune in from time to time.

 

Is it each complete show intact, or just the best bits?

 

Alright, the chance to see all 13 episodes of the 1980-1981 Jean Doumanian year!

 

"Doumanian's last episode was March 7, 1981. In a cliffhanger titled "Who Shot C.R.", cast member Charles Rocket was "shot" in the episode after cast members shared their grievances with Rocket with one another. When that episode's host, Charlene Tilton, asked Rocket what it felt like to be shot, he replied "Oh man, it's the first time I've been shot in my life. I'd like to know who the **** did it." The uncensored expletive, seemingly planned, landed the show, its producer and the network in trouble. The show was put on a month-long hiatus after NBC executives decided the show needed an immediate overhaul, and Doumanian was dismissed" - Wikipedia

I remember watching that episode. As soon as the cussword was said our local NBC affiliate went off the air. They didn't even play "The Star Spangled Banner".

 

Yeh...thems was weird days.

 

Horrible, horrible, horrible shows. But I'd like to see them in reruns just to find out if my memories from 35 years ago were as accurate as how I'd feel today.

 

Crap! I need more DVR space!

 

Noooo I don't HAVE VH1 Classic! :'(

 

They are airing 433 episodes. (http://www.avclub.com/article/vh1-classic-airing-marathon-all-433-episodes-satur-213836)

Problem is, there are 776 episodes of SNL.

Sounds like we are getting the Broadway Video Syndication Package (i.e: NOTHING from 1980-1985, except for some Eddie Murphy best-of stuff)

Broadway Video is owned by Lorne Michaels.

 

I'd like to see the show Jennifer Lopez hosted around Halloween several years ago. I think it was Bill Hader's first year. I remember thinking every sketch was good and being surprised. Hader as Vincent Price.

 

I remember laughing to tears at Joe and Eddie doing the Frank and Stevie version of "Ebony and Ivory". So un-PC back then...

 

They're showing 15 hours from the Eddie Murphy years on February 11. See the first post.

 

Doh! Screwed again.

 

Yeah I think I'm gonna have to DVR some of this stuff. There was really some great back in the day.

 

15 hours = 900 minutes.

That means they are showing either A). 10 90-minute Eddie Murphy episodes or (more likely) B). 15 60-minute Eddie Murphy episodes.

Considering he was on the show for four years, that ain't a whole lot.

 

That's a good amount. Remember that is only 1/8 of SNL's history. They probably won't show anything or maybe 1 episode of the 1980-81 season so we get 4 years of good stuff.

Not sure why people are complaining about this. This is a really generous amount of SNL over a short period of time. Maybe if this does well we can get older episodes back in rotation on VH1 Classic.

 

We don't even know whether the 15 hours on February 11 is all they intend to show from the Eddie Murphy years.

By the way, NBC is airing the season 10 episode hosted by Eddie Murphy (with musical guest Robert Plant) as this Saturday's SNL Vintage (before the new episode with Kevin Hart).

 

So how many of the controversial or infamous bits will be aired?

* Herb and Marion Sandler in the bailout sketch (caption: "People who should be shot")
* Adrien Brody's Rastafarian Man
* The Replacements
* Martin Lawrence on feminine hygeine
* Ashlee Simpson ("my band is playing the wrong song")
* Elvis Costello ("Radio Radio")
* Milton Berle