statuskuo

This movie is bad. It's not "misunderstood" it's a horrific trash heap of ill fitted parts. Worst waste of talent.

It's so sad that the 80s desperately wanted kind Dad face Kevin Kline to be bigger. He is a quiet actor that needed to do more introspective films like "Grand Canyon" and less broad crap like this or "A Fish Called Wanda" Don't get me started on Monty Python.

Having Rod Steiger screaming isn't funny.

John Patrick Shanley doesn't know nuance.

Remarkable that he was also responsible for the cartoonish yet socially aware "Joe Versus The Volcano" I think if "The January Man" leaned into MORE silly, it may have been a thing. I don't think Susan Sarandon or Harvey Keitel are capable of being caricatures (see: "Tammy" with Sarandon).

If you binge watch the first two seasons, you will be disappointed when it goes to 3rd season 1st run syndication.

Gone is the sweet wholesome doll Vicki (Wendy Schaal) and Lois (Susan Sullivan) and in came random folk who had a minute of backstory. For some odd reason, 3rd season just seemed so...flat. The laugh track is uneven. Writer/Producer Tom Whedon (yes, thars Joss Whedon's Dad) attempted to guide it more towards the Junger/Witt/Thomas formula of "The Golden Girls" But again, it lost steam. They really hammer the jokes in these seasons.

Marian Mercer as Nancy the head hostess is the sharp tongue best thing of the show. Not sure how Barrie Longfellow stayed so long. Other than to add the single mother aspect.

The head chefs are a who's who of character actors. Standout awkward Earl Boen being non-existent.

Of course, the lounge singing Sonny Mann and Ann Jillian's Cassie is the spike this show desperately needed.

On the day of the launch of the first ever SNL, comes this chaos of juggling mentally ill people. Through the eyes of a mousy placating young Boomer icon Lorne Michaels.

The tale follows him through all the familiar faces of that era. If you don't know any of them, this isn't going to be THAT interesting. However, if you are filmmaker, you will enjoy the technical aspects of what use to be known as "blocking" Characters fly in and out of shots. And the timing of that is impeccable. DIrector Jason Reitman injects his frame with a lot of energy with a ticking time clock which most likely is playing in Lorne's head. Though, curiously, he doesn't seem phased.

Cocaine George Carlin is the first guest host. And we get a glimpse of his opinion of what will become iconic.

The initial episode is clunky, as most shows are. They aren't particularly funny. One of the most aggravating things is when you have the actors laugh at something simply to get the idea that what is said is funny. But it's not. I guess you "had to be there" Any way, I never though John Belushi or Andy Kaufman was all that funny either. That doesn't matter here. They are caricatures of caricatures. It wasn't until the 80's where SNL really hit their stride.

A day in the life of a sketch show that has become part of American culture is remarkable. Simply because it was hatched by a non-aggressive Canadian. It's a solid watch and wouldn't be surprised at Oscar noms for those involved.