MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: WRITING FOR TELEVISION: THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. Museum curator Ron Simon moderates this seminar which concentrates on the writers at "Saturday Night Live," and is sponsored by the Writers Guild of America. Simon is joined by SNL comedy writers Rob Schneider, Ian Maxstone-Graham, David Mandel and Steve Koren. The writers each present a clip of their work from "Saturday Night Live" and discuss the weekly process of transforming rough ideas into produced sketches. Highlights include: the writers' backgrounds prior to their work at "Saturday Night Live"; the responsibilities of an SNL writer; network censorship; attempts to break free from SNL's traditional format; the evolution of Chris Farley's "Matt Foley" character; advice on how a writer can find employment with SNL; the creative process behind Mike Myers's "Coffee Talk With Linda Richman"; why certain people refuse to host the show; the failure of Chevy Chase's 1993 Fox network late-night talk show; the process of creating the show's cold opening; the pressure that the current writers and actors feel because of the legend of the show's early years; and the presence of venerable comedy writer Herb Sargent. Clips include: Rob Schneider as the "street musician," President Bill Clinton at McDonald's, "Fetal Abuse," and Jiffy Express Package Delivery company.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: December 13, 1993 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:30:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:30813
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ron Simon … Moderator
- Rob Schneider … Panelist
- Ian Maxtone-Graham … Panelist
- Steve Koren … Panelist
- David Mandel … Panelist
- Chevy Chase
- Bill Clinton
- Herb Sargent