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Sunday, September 05, 1999 By Barbara Cloud
Lorne Michaels just received his imprint on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. It's about time. Is the "Saturday Night Live" impresario a genius or what?
Does he have a Midas eye for talent beyond the norm, or does he have a staff whose collected eyeballs can weed out superstars as if they were the single perfect specimen in a bag of potato chips?
You know how rare that is.
I have no idea how many résumés, how many auditions, how many references for talented performers cross Michaels' desk, but he has a phenomenal average of success stories for members of his casts.
His is the kiss of wealth.
When I first heard of "SNL," it was the days of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner. I have to admit I wasn't always in step with the humor of the show, but Eddie Murphy and Jane Curtin finally reeled me in, and I became a regular viewer.
Steve Martin I didn't understand, but now I do.
John Belushi, I now realize, was extremely funny, but I didn't appreciate him at the time. He wasn't my favorite. Everybody talked about "SNL" back then, and it was more or less an "in" group thing as far as fans, or people with insomnia.
In recent years the show fell off its mark, but I occasionally watched it, laughing sometimes at many of the women, particularly the fantastic Jan Hooks. She, however, has not become a star.
As the show stumbled along, I began to wonder whether it had run its course. It was never consistently good, but it always had its moments.
Now as I think about the current successes of the cast members who eventually served their time and then left for greener pastures, I am amazed at the number who are making it in films and TV sitcoms, starting with Chase and Murray.
Who knows how far Phil Hartman might have gone if he hadn't died tragically? He was successful on "News Radio" and also did films. Mike Myers is skyrocketing with his silly "Austin Powers." When he left "SNL" I wondered if his talent was strong enough without his cohorts. Ha.
Jane Curtin, of course, never had to look back and has made it beyond Saturday nights. Some actresses, "SNL" regulars for years, pop up in supporting roles in movies and TV series, not as stars but hey, they're working.
Dana Carvey, David Spade, Martin Short, Adam Sandler, Kevin Nealon, Rob Schneider, Jon Lovitz were introduced to viewers as unknowns, and "SNL" more than jump-started their careers.
Chris Rock, to be honest, never impressed me that much on "SNL," at least not as a significant comedian with an original approach to the ditsy assignments he was given. He found an audience away from "SNL." Granted, it's often X-rated.
He's making millions. He doesn't need my endorsement.
There are sad outcomes, of course, evidenced by Belushi's death and also Chris Farley, who seemed destined to be a comic buffoon extraordinaire. Neither of them handled their success well, and that's a pity. Being funny isn't always funny.
Dennis Miller floundered for a while when he left the cast, but now everybody knows his name. He's made it. Norm MacDonald isn't in the same sphere, but he has landed a new TV sitcom called "Norm." Without "SNL" recognition, he might still be making the casting rounds.
Of the current troop, I wonder who the next major success will be. Many of them have remained in the cast longer than their predecessors, who went on to bigger and better things rather quickly. Will Ferrell oozes talent, as do Cheri Oteri, Molly Shannon, Tim Meadows and Ana Gasteyer (love her Martha Stewart), but none have made the big breakaway at this date.
My point is that once Michaels says "you've got the job" it would seem to be the stepping stone to stardom, whether the entire Saturday night 90 minutes live up to the reputation of great TV or not.
I saw no potential in Sandler, for instance. I always liked Myers but doubted he would ever have box office potential, talented as he obviously was. So, I'm not an agent. I'm just a viewer.
Do you see the $$$$$$ figures these guys now command?
Reason enough to tune into "SNL" from time to time to watch a star on the rise.
Odds are good you'll see at least one. And probably more.
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