The Wasn’t That Special Season 34 episode will be a day late next week, so as a peace offering, we recorded a review of the new movie Saturday Night, which “documents” the 90 minutes leading up to the first SNL episode on October 11, 1975.
Just now getting around to this episode and Bill Clotworthy didn't become Director of Broadcast Standards at NBC until 1979 according to his book (which I sadly cannot recommend. It's very meandering and hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, plus he comes off unapolgetically sexist at times).
I'm not at home with my SNL books right now but I definitely recall hearing of a censor who matches the one in the movie. One of them once said that "You cannot give the Virgin Mary a noogie", in regards to the Nerds Nativity sketch. And the writer replied "It's not the Virgin Mary, it's Gilda Radner playing Lisa Loopner playing the Virgin Mary!"
I’m seeing on the internet Andy Kaufman listed at an even 6 feet. Though that could be taken from kayfabed intros/thumbnail bios on Memphis wrestling (pro wrestling legit height/weight vs billed is often a guessing game for closeness) FWIW, Henson is listed as being 6’3”
That King and Kaufman photo I posted is telling. Lawler, like Ric Flair, was always booked as a medium sized guy but with enough ring savvy and strength to get the job done, being great characters, heel or face, helped of course (WOOOOOOOOOO). So him literally eyeball to eyeball with Kaufman does put the lie that Braun’s height was his own.
Being slender though I guess adds to the idea of being long and lanky. FWIW, Jim Carrey stands at 6’2”
Just now getting around to this episode and Bill Clotworthy didn't become Director of Broadcast Standards at NBC until 1979 according to his book (which I sadly cannot recommend. It's very meandering and hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, plus he comes off unapolgetically sexist at times).
I'm not at home with my SNL books right now but I definitely recall hearing of a censor who matches the one in the movie. One of them once said that "You cannot give the Virgin Mary a noogie", in regards to the Nerds Nativity sketch. And the writer replied "It's not the Virgin Mary, it's Gilda Radner playing Lisa Loopner playing the Virgin Mary!"
Thanks for this. That Gilda story rings true. I'll have to go back and look for it.
For comparison, his rival, Jerry Lawler I believe is a legit 6 feet as well https://www.vice.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/1666207472507-lawler-and-kaufman-lede.jpeg?resize=1536,864
I’m seeing on the internet Andy Kaufman listed at an even 6 feet. Though that could be taken from kayfabed intros/thumbnail bios on Memphis wrestling (pro wrestling legit height/weight vs billed is often a guessing game for closeness) FWIW, Henson is listed as being 6’3”
Kaufman in the film is a towering figure. Nicholas Braun is 6′ 7″.
That King and Kaufman photo I posted is telling. Lawler, like Ric Flair, was always booked as a medium sized guy but with enough ring savvy and strength to get the job done, being great characters, heel or face, helped of course (WOOOOOOOOOO). So him literally eyeball to eyeball with Kaufman does put the lie that Braun’s height was his own.
Being slender though I guess adds to the idea of being long and lanky. FWIW, Jim Carrey stands at 6’2”