'Wasn't That Special' Season 39 Clips Package
As always, for those who have signed up for the podcast at the Executive Producer level, we send out notable video and newspaper clips that aided us in preparing for the episode. Below are some of the Saturday Night Live sketches and media clips we reference throughout the episode, to enhance the listening process.
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Here are some of the materials we discuss throughout the Season Thirty-Nine episode:
Black Jeopardy
When Louis C.K. hosts the show, writers are willing to delve into issues few other hosts would touch.
12 Years a Slave Auditions
Probably the best bit from Brooks Wheelan and Mike O’Brien during their brief time as cast members.
Women’s Group
A role only Melissa McCarthy could play.
Olya Povlatsky on the Sochi Olympics
(Do It On My) Twin Bed
Future pre-taped bits will revisit this theme over and over, but this is a great start, even if it feaures Jimmy Fallon rapping.
Ex-Porn Stars: Lamborghini
The Beygency
Every bit as relevant ten years later.
Awkward Flirts
This sketch is exhibit number of Vanessa Bayer’s excellence. She carries it.
Dyke and Fats
The show issued a behind-the-scenes video in which Bryant describes the “Dyke and Fats” writing process.
Elevator Embarrassment
Written by Michael Che.
When Will the Bass Drop?
As the quality of digital shorts plummeted, Andy Samberg and the Lonely Island guys returned to show how it’s done.
Michelangelo Unveils David
One small dick joke but it works.
Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy
Remember what we told you above about Vanessa Bayer? Here’s more brilliance.
The Worst Lady on an Airplane
While used sparingly, Aidy Bryant was usually excellent when she popped up.
4th Grade Talent Show
John Milhiser’s only memorable moment on the show. But it’s a strong one, and he added Lady Gaga to the mix.
New Cast Member or Arcade Fire?
The show became a lot about itself this year, and this sketch is a prime example.
The Boarding of Flight 314
From the season debut - after watching this, you believed the show might actually be in good hands after the departures of Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, and Jason Sudeikis.
Dongs All Over the World
As usual, we don’t just show you the good sketches. This one is an abomination.
This season, Kate McKinnon started taking over the show, and it was getting more attention:
McKinnon also granted this interview to the Huffington Post.
The big behind-the-scenes news of the season was the pressure the show felt to hire a black woman to join the cast. There were conflicting reports on who that woman would be, but it, of course, ended up being Sasheer Zamata, who, like Tina Fey, was a former University of Virginia Cavalier.
The Dallas Morning News held forth on SNL’s race problems, with writer Tanner Colby arguing they were a microcosm of America at large:
Salon followed up with a piece on SNL’s race problem:
From Rolling Stone: “Vanessa Bayer: SNL’s Secret Weapon”
Bayer joined Conan O’Brien’s talk show (where she was once an intern) to discuss the time she was deemed too ugly to be in a TV commercial:
Finally: