Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 20, 1993 TAG: 9302200253
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEVE McKERROW THE BALTIMORE SUN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WAYNE AND GARTH HOST SPECIAL HONORING `SNL' MUSICAL GUESTS
Back in the fall of 1975, when Lorne Michaels and a crew of bright young comedians were putting together the first edition of "NBC's Saturday Night" (which became "Saturday Night Live" in 1977), they paid only scant attention to the music acts that would break up the comedy bits."What we did in those days, really, was just pick people we wanted to see and hear. . . . It was very easy going, with no thought given to selling records and that stuff," admits John Head, the first talent scout for "SNL."
But that first-season nonchalance changed dramatically, says the co-producer of a "sweeps" special on NBC Sunday night, which looks back at 18 years of music on "SNL."
"Wayne and Garth's Saturday Night Live Music a Go-Go" (Sunday at 9 p.m. on WSLS-Channel 10), with hosts Dana Carvey and Mike Myers, spans a wide-ranging musical map. We'll see the biggest of the big - Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Aerosmith, Prince, Bonnie Raitt, the B-52s - because the late-night comedy series quickly became a coveted booking.
"Once the record companies saw who it was reaching, they were pretty fast to catch on," says Head.
Catch on to what? That millions of young viewers - as in young record-and-video-buying viewers - helped make "SNL's" irreverent comedy from the Not Ready for Prime Time Players the most-watched late-night show in TV history.
Indeed, music industry executives once estimated that within two weeks of an appearance on "SNL," a musical group could expect an increase in record sales of at least 300,000 copies, according to TV historian John Javna, in his book "Cult TV."
Head says that he and co-producer Jim Downey have culled through tapes of more than 150 acts from the "SNL" archives to select montage highlights for the retrospective special.
What a range of artists from which to choose! In one season alone (1978-79), according to publicity materials, the acts included The Chieftains, Frank Zappa, Delbert McClinton, Ricki Lee Jones and Bette Midler.
From some artists we will see full numbers in the special, such as Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight," Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed" and Roy Orbison's "Crying." Other artists are highlighted in one of nine montage sequences.
Yes, we will see irish singer Sinead O'Connor, but not in last year's appearance when she tore up a picture of the pope.
The show also includes some of the memorable musical skits from the comedy performers, including Steve Martin's "King Tut," a number from The Blues Brothers (Dan Akroyd and Jon Belushi) and Bill Murray's bits as Nick the lounge lizard.
An appearance on "SNL" remains a good booking today, says Head, particularly for new artists.
"It can put them over the top and help them sell a lot of records," he notes. But, "it doesn't make stars out of people who don't have talent."
And who do you think has been the most frequent musical guest? Singer (and sometimes skit performer) Paul Simon.