Saturday, February 19, 2011
By Verne Gay
Long Island Newsday
Remarkably or inexplicably, “Saturday Night Live” never produced a 35th anniversary show. But you will finally get it Sunday night (9 p.m., NBC), albeit a year or so late.
“Saturday Night Live Backstage” is a sprawling two-hour overview of the past 36 years, with dozens of interviews, outtakes, clips, factoids and observations from many “SNL” alumni.
The broadcast is divided into sections that correspond to show elements — monologue, guest hosts, “Weekend Update,” cast characters and so on. Many of the interviews were taped for earlier specials and never aired. Some were taped for an anticipated 35th anniversary special that never materialized.
There is no greater TV institution in America than “SNL,” and we know this largely because “SNL” tells us so, and has told us so, year after year, special after special, clip job after clip job.
What’s slightly different this time around is that you get a glimpse behind the scenes, but only a glimpse. Jim Downey, Michael Shoemaker, Tom Davis, A. Whitney Brown, Tim Kazurinsky, Paula Pell and Conan O’Brien are a few of the wordsmiths who explain the genesis of sketches, ideas or controversies.
This genial, enjoyable and fast-moving special will be reasonably familiar to casual fans. But real “SNL” Kremlinologists will be somewhat disappointed. Lorne Michaels, the grand master of ceremonies himself, remains ever elusive here. And there are odd cast omissions, too: Bill Murray, Darrel Hammond, Cheri Oteri and Tracy Morgan are almost invisible (Hammond was the longest-serving cast member).