‘Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music’ Is a Spectacular, Definitive History of the Most Influential Music Stage in America: TV Review

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Regardless of personal opinions towards the humor, skits, or cast/host selections on “Saturday Night Live,” there’s no arguing that over the past five decades, it has served as one of the most influential and enduring stages for musicians in America. Whether they’re established superstars, promising up-and-comers, or artists facing a career decline, “SNL” has provided an unparalleled platform.

Nearly every prominent artist has graced its stage, and for emerging musicians, being invited to perform here often signifies they’re on the verge of success – either due to their popularity, intrigue, or more significantly, the stir they’ve caused. It was among the first prime-time American TV shows to showcase new wave (Devo in 1978), hip-hop (Funky Four Plus One in 1981), hardcore punk (Fear and the Sex Pistols, although the latter were booked in January of 1978 but didn’t perform due to their disbandment), and numerous other musical subcultures.

For any ardent music enthusiast, it’s hard to forget a standout performance from Saturday Night Live, whether it’s a handful or even dozens. Among the legendary acts who graced the SNL stage are David Bowie (who arguably gave the best performance ever in 1979), the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Tupac, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Jack White, Radiohead, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Waits, Coldplay, Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, Mary J. Blige, Donald Glover, U2, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Billy Joel, No Doubt, Tom Petty, Elton John, Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, and Prince – just to name a few featured in this documentary, often only briefly.

When it comes to the variety of musical performers, “SNL” stands virtually unmatched in American television’s history. The program that might come closest in terms of impact is arguably the more traditional “Ed Sullivan Show” from the 1960s. For several decades, numerous musicians who appeared on SNL not only watched it growing up but also discovered some of their favorite artists there. As Dave Grohl expresses in the extensive and fascinating special “Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music,” airing tonight on NBC, witnessing the B-52s perform on the show in 1980 was a life-altering moment for him because “I felt odd, and they were odd too.

For an artist, performing on such a stage serves as a significant test: If they can excel in this setting, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee they can do the same for a complete album or live performance – remember, Hothouse Flowers and Sleigh Bells also graced that stage – but it does demonstrate that they possess enough skill, charm, or compelling songs to handle a challenging performance.

How do you manage to encapsulate such rich history and impact within a documentary, or even squeeze it into just a thousand words? Directors Oz Rodriguez, an Emmy-winning alum of “SNL,” and Questlove, a Grammy-and-Oscar winner known for “The Summer of Soul” and the leader/drummer of the Roots as well as musical director of “The Tonight Show,” have achieved a remarkable balance: Despite the documentary being three hours long and featuring numerous interviews with these musicians, along with Lorne Michaels, the show’s founder, and actors and executives from Jane Curtin and Jimmy Fallon to many behind-the-scenes personnel, it manages to avoid the self-indulgent praise that is so prevalent in many MTV documentaries about themselves.

Indeed, numerous prominent musicians have expressed the significance, impact, and anticipation they felt when appearing on the show, with Billie Eilish candidly admitting that “SNL is tough.” However, it rarely feels like they’re overstating their experiences. (The exception being the historical account of Sinead O’Connor’s highly controversial and widely criticized statement about the Catholic Church on the show in 1992, where she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II as a protest against child abuse, which now appears somewhat prophetic in hindsight.)

This extensive history isn’t easily grasped in one or multiple sessions: It’s organized into chapters based on themes, covering a variety of musical genres such as hip-hop and punk; it also delves into contentious moments, like Elvis Costello’s disputes and Ashlee Simpson’s lip-synching fiasco; and addresses somber topics, including the 9/11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, it doesn’t just focus on musical guests; it also delves into various sections dedicated to parodies (ranging from John Belushi’s Joe Cocker imitation to Jimmy Fallon’s Mick Jagger impression and Maya Rudolph’s portrayal of Beyonce), as well as the groundbreaking digital shorts by Lonely Island, totaling more than a hundred.

Experiencing the breathtaking montage at the start is something no one can fully prepare for. It’s a six-minute masterpiece, skillfully crafted by Questlove as a video DJ mix. This mesmerizing blend of songs and performances from various decades creates an astonishing medley that deserves recognition, perhaps even an Emmy Award.

It’s almost essential to rewatch numerous outstanding performances and stories due to their abundance (The New York Times has conveniently gathered 38 exceptional examples). Through repeated viewings, one can truly grasp the evolution of the music within the show, as well as understand the underlying principles that drive it. As Miley Cyrus puts it, controversy is what attracts Michael the most, who himself says about Costello’s life-changing 1978 appearance (substituting for the Sex Pistols), where he suddenly changed songs during the performance, “I might read occasionally, ‘someone is banned [from the show] for life.’ We’ve never banned anyone; we’re far too uncouth and opportunistic. If something’s popular, we’ll make sure to include it on our program.

We could go on, but trust us — it’s well worth watching, probably more than once.  

‘Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music’ airs on NBC at 8 p.m. on NBC.

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2025-01-27 20:47