WilliamShatner.com

William Shatner Main Discussion - A little birdie told me...

Paul - Sep 12, 2008 - 09:44 PM
Post subject: A little birdie told me...

...to set your DVR's to record Saturday Night Live tomorrow night.

Don't ask questions...just do it! You'll be glad you did.

DebE - Sep 12, 2008 - 09:51 PM
Post subject: Re: A little birdie told me...

Thanks Paul.

Will do!

deb

Paul wrote:

...to set your DVR's to record Saturday Night Live tomorrow night.

Don't ask questions...just do it! You'll be glad you did.

morgram - Sep 12, 2008 - 10:28 PM
Post subject:

Instructions received, will comply.........ZOWWEEEEE!!!

SMB - Sep 13, 2008 - 01:54 AM
Post subject: Re: A little birdie told me...

Paul wrote:

...to set your DVR's to record Saturday Night Live tomorrow night.

Don't ask questions...just do it! You'll be glad you did.

Could that little birdie actually be Soaring Shat Eagle?

Don't ask me where I got that from. It just popped into my Native head when I read the title of the post. Cool

rubypearl - Sep 13, 2008 - 01:55 AM
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WOW!!! Can't wait! Thanks, Paul.

With M.Phelps as the guest host, perhaps some folk from the Boston Legal cast will be getting some pointers on how to pass their Coast Guard swimming tests. Now, wouldn't THAT be special! But.....whatever....will be a special treat.

Thanks, Paul. I would have missed it for sure.

Mirizor - Sep 13, 2008 - 01:56 AM
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Sorry, don't have a DVR to record it. Don't get NBC either.

daisydownunder - Sep 13, 2008 - 02:13 AM
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Other side of the pond so I wont get it:(

daisy Smile

britstarfan - Sep 13, 2008 - 05:35 AM
Post subject: Re: A little birdie told me...

Paul wrote:

...to set your DVR's to record Saturday Night Live tomorrow night.

Don't ask questions...just do it! You'll be glad you did.

Those birds, just can't keep anything secret can they..lol

vampyregirl - Sep 13, 2008 - 06:02 AM
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Cool!!! I was thinking of watching it anyway. Michael Phelps seems like a really funny guy, and now an added bonus!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

For those that don't have a dvr (like me), I'm sure it will be up on You Tube sometime on Sunday!!!! Wink

rdb - Sep 13, 2008 - 06:25 AM
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Well, I have a chore to do tomorrow that just cropped up because of this.

We just found our TV antenna is kaput. So, tomorrow is antenna repair day!!!

Gotta have things ready for taping!!!

Joe - Sep 13, 2008 - 07:50 PM
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Will do Paul, glad I caught the message.

Maybe this should be sticky for today?

RobertBernardo - Sep 13, 2008 - 10:41 PM
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Thanks! I'll get the DVD recorder or the Digital 8 recorder ready.

Nostromo - Sep 14, 2008 - 01:13 AM
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By your command. N

rdb - Sep 14, 2008 - 04:20 AM
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Antenna fixed, new Videocassette purchased, and ready to help Sue tape it...

SMB - Sep 14, 2008 - 04:57 AM
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rdb wrote:

Antenna fixed, new Videocassette purchased, and ready to help Sue tape it...

My Hero!

Mirizor - Sep 14, 2008 - 05:02 AM
Post subject:

SMB wrote:

rdb wrote:

Antenna fixed, new Videocassette purchased, and ready to help Sue tape it...

My Hero!

Can both of you be my heroes if you can let me know what happens?

By email of course.

SMB - Sep 14, 2008 - 05:08 AM
Post subject:

Mirizor wrote:

SMB wrote:

rdb wrote:

Antenna fixed, new Videocassette purchased, and ready to help Sue tape it...

My Hero!

Can both of you be my heroes if you can let me know what happens?

By email of course.

Gladly!

Mirizor - Sep 14, 2008 - 05:10 AM
Post subject:

SMB wrote:

Mirizor wrote:

SMB wrote:

rdb wrote:

Antenna fixed, new Videocassette purchased, and ready to help Sue tape it...

My Hero!

Can both of you be my heroes if you can let me know what happens?

By email of course.

Gladly!

Thank you Sue. Very Happy

angel - Sep 14, 2008 - 05:14 AM
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will do

morgram - Sep 14, 2008 - 07:25 AM
Post subject:

Bill is one of our greatest television legends but is that all some idiots in NYC think he`s worth? A few lousy moments? Why the hell couldn`t they have written something for him to do during weekend update? What a crock. That`s all I`m gonna say.

SMB - Sep 14, 2008 - 07:26 AM
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Michael Phelps did a good job at hosting SNL. He did pretty darn good with those skits they had him doing.

Bill was great also.

Gornman - Sep 14, 2008 - 07:28 AM
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morgram wrote:

Bill is one of our greatest television legends but is that all some idiots in NYC think he`s worth? A few lousy moments? Why the hell couldn`t they have written something for him to do fduring weekend update? What a crock. That`s all I`m gonna say.

We'll mark that down as......one vote against methinks Wink

SMB - Sep 14, 2008 - 07:30 AM
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morgram wrote:

Perhaps that is all the time Bill had to give them. Cool

morgram - Sep 14, 2008 - 07:40 AM
Post subject:

SMB wrote:

morgram wrote:

Perhaps that is all the time Bill had to give them. Cool

Bill`s a great guy. I`ll bet he would have loved to have done a weekend update skit.

SMB - Sep 14, 2008 - 07:51 AM
Post subject:

morgram wrote:

SMB wrote:

morgram wrote:

Perhaps that is all the time Bill had to give them. Cool

Bill`s a great guy. I`ll bet he would have loved to have done a weekend update skit.

I was actually hoping for that too. I wonder if it may have something to do with contracts. He is contracted to do Boston Legal. Perhaps doing a skit would have been a conflict of interest or something.

Maybe Paul could give us a brief 101 on contracts and the legal aspect of show biz.

DianaG - Sep 14, 2008 - 03:19 PM
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I missed the show so can some one email me and let me know what happened???

I was too exhausted to see it.

DianaG

Debb - Sep 14, 2008 - 04:49 PM
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I stayed up to watch it and caught Bill's priceline plug from the audience in conjunction with Michael Phelps opening monologue.

Worth a few chuckles.

Joe - Sep 14, 2008 - 05:05 PM
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It was worth catching just for the suprising way he poped up, never guessed that's how he'd appear. And a great plug too Smile

He certainly was born with it!

Thanks for the heads up Paul I most likely would have missed it otherwise.

rdb - Sep 14, 2008 - 05:47 PM
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I found the first few minutes and Bill's part to be the only funny things on that show.

I finally had to leave the room in disgust. 90% of what I heard and saw was not funny, and much of it made no sense whatsoever.

If this is what is being passed off as comedy- this country is in BIG trouble. About all I could say is that it seemed that they were trying to create a "modern" imitation of Laugh In- and failed miserably.

rubypearl - Sep 14, 2008 - 06:11 PM
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DianaG wrote:

I missed the show so can some one email me and let me know what happened???

I was too exhausted to see it.

DianaG

Better yet.....the clip of it. He comes in at the 2:00 marker if you don't want to watch the entire thing.....3:00. You all are right...."the OLD SNL" would have made better use of Bill S minute....but....he got to plug Priceline.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... &hl=en

CaptJTK - Sep 14, 2008 - 06:21 PM
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Nothing up on YouTube as of yet, but as soon as it is, I'll link it here.

angel - Sep 14, 2008 - 08:08 PM
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I watched the Priceline plug. It was cute and naturally Bill is always cute. I haven't had an interest in SNL since '92 and I would be willing to stay up all night if Bill would be host again after his contract with ABC is up. So please pretty please, Bill, would you be interested in that some day? We all would love to be reminded that we need to get a life again! Laughing

Cat - Sep 14, 2008 - 08:21 PM
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angel wrote:

Amen, Sister!! Laughing

Paul - Sep 14, 2008 - 08:27 PM
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I don't think it's up to Bill to decide to be a host; he has to be asked.

Also I'm going to see if I can get Bill to talk about his SNL piece. I do believe it was supposed to be something else.

-Paul

Cat - Sep 14, 2008 - 08:28 PM
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Paul wrote:

Now I'm curious. I look forward to hearing what happened.

littlestar - Sep 14, 2008 - 09:26 PM
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YEAH !!!!..I suffered through the whole show...and then went ...DAMNIT..
they cut the piece.... Embarassed

angel - Sep 14, 2008 - 09:30 PM
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I sure hope they ask him and I can't wait to hear what Bill has to say about what he thought he was going to get to do on SNL. Intriguing!

DebE - Sep 14, 2008 - 10:03 PM
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Paul wrote:

Very interesting Paul. Can't wait to hear what he has to say. He's always so good, it was fun watching him last night ...heck it's fun watching him on any show he does.
Like someone else said I don't watch much SNL anymore but for Bill I tuned in.

deb

morgram - Sep 14, 2008 - 10:35 PM
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rdb wrote:

I want to closely align myself with your comments, rdb. SNL of the past 10 years is the worst! Remarkably and incredibly bad! It`s almost beyond comprehension that it is still on the air.

SMB - Sep 15, 2008 - 12:32 AM
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I miss Chevy Chase and the gang.

Gornman - Sep 15, 2008 - 12:59 AM
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I haven't really watched SNL since they killed Buckwheat

SMB - Sep 15, 2008 - 01:43 AM
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All I can say is, that unless Bill had other business in NY to tend to, that was a mighty long trip to take for a minute or two blurb appearance. Confused

CaptJTK - Sep 15, 2008 - 01:54 AM
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Gornman wrote:

I haven't really watched SNL since they killed Buckwheat

Amen to that! Also, Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood, absolute SNL classic!

SNL hasn't been worth much since these guys left:

littlestar - Sep 15, 2008 - 02:59 AM
Post subject:

"Silly"
Michael Phelps/Lil' Wayne

A great Digital Short and a solid Weekend Update are high points, but the rest of the mostly mixed bag of sketches bring it down and make this overall a pretty mediocre season opening show.

Hey, thanks for reading this review!

I'll be judging the episodes by rating each sketch from 1 to 4, then adding all ratings together to give an overall rating to the show. I won't be rating the musical guests, but I'll mention them in the review.

9-13-2008 Season 34 Episode 1
Host - Michael Phelps
Musical Guest - Lil' Wayne

"Sarah Palin & Hillary Clinton" - Season 34 of SNL opens with a very direct address by Alaska Governor and Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin (Tina Fey) and New York Senator Hillary Clinton (Amy Poehler). Typical jokes were moderately funny, but not especially biting. Palin is clueless and Hillary is ambitious. Fey's impression is fairly funny, down to the Alaskan accent. But, unimaginative presentation doesn't do the sketch any favors. It's also worth noting that this bit contained the first of three references to meth in this episode. Meth is the big humor reference of 2008! - 2

No changes to the opening title sequence that I can see. I guess we'll have to wait another year before they upgrade the titles.

"Monologue - Michael Phelps" - Non-performers usually have a rough go on SNL, and 2008 Olympic swimming champion Phelps is no exception. Phelps' mom (Poehler) is sitting in the audience, cheering on her son much like she did during the 2008 Olympics. Then, they take some questions from the audience, and that features the second meth reference in a row. I'm telling ya, meth is so in right now. This was a pretty poor monologue, and would have rated a 1 if not for the appearance of legendary actor William Shatner. It is a rule of entertainment that a little Shatner makes everything better, and his presence bumps this rating up to a - 2

"Quiz Bowl" - Perky high school kids take on religious home schooled kids on a TV quiz show. Slightly funny, but no real build. Kristin Wiig's physicality was funnier than the sketch itself. - 2

"Jar Glove" - The setup goes by a little too quickly, but this was a funny parody commercial where they demonstrate the old, frustrating way of opening jars as Wiig makes the standard mild frustration facial expressions. Then, the commercial shows the frustration going to ridiculous extremes. Solidly funny concept and well shot. - 3

"Swim Team" - Will Forte reprises his inspirational coach character, now coaching a swim team. Forte's focus and physicality makes this work and gets a good response from the crowd. Unfortunately, it's the same punchline as last time. While the studio audience seemed to like it, I'm docking it half a point because it's basically a repeat. - 2.5

"Ugly Kids" - Another virtual repeat as Wiig and Phelps play two ugly pre-teens trotted out at a get together of their parents. The friends in the sketch make appalled faces, while the kids act obnoxiously awkward and dumb. There's really no joke or build beyond that, so this sketch is the first clear miss of the night. - 1

"Musical Guest Lil' Wayne" - Pretty good, I have to admit that I liked the second rapper better than Lil Wayne himself, but this was an okay jam.

"Weekend Update" - The first few news jokes fell flat, then Will Forte came out as a character called Alaska Pete and did a commentary about Sarah Palin, which was quite funny. Again, Forte's focus is really great. The second section of news jokes went much better than the first. Then Fred Armisen came out and did his Nicholas Feihn character, the stand up improv comic. It's really a one joke character (Feihn can't ever really begin a thought, much less complete one) but honestly, Armisen does halting speech so well it doesn't matter because it's funny. The third set of news jokes marks the third and final meth reference of the night, then Andy Samberg did a commentary as the notoriously lame newspaper comic strip character Cathy. There's not much to it beyond Cathy's frazzled hair cliches. Even with the first set of jokes and the Cathy commentary bringing it down, this Weekend Update still scores a solid - 3

"The Charles Barkley Show" - Kenan Thompson as Charles Barkley in the standard celebrity talk show format so familiar to SNL. Thompson makes it work well, though. His lines are funny, especially his "werewolf like fear of silver." The TV production crew composed entirely of small children was also another funny, surreal touch. I liked the sketch.- 3

"T Mobile" - A rare live commercial parody, written in much the same structure as the "Jar Glove" earlier in the night. Despite the same "take it to the extreme" humor approach, it was a hit with the audience and I found it very funny as well. - 4

"Digital Short - Space Olympics" - A music video by Andy Samberg, this is another impeccably produced original comedy song and one of the best produced cheap special effects segments so far on Samberg's series of shorts. The humor of the song recalled Adam Sandler as well as classic Weird Al Yankovic, but is distinctly the ever improving musical work of Samberg. The skewed ridiculousness of the lyrics and fresh concept are very entertaining. As far as I'm concerned, it was easily the high point of the night. Well done! - 4

"Uno Pizza"- Bobby Moynihan, the new guy on the show, who is already being hyped because of his slight resemblance to founding SNL player John Belushi, takes the center stage for the first time as an obnoxious waiter who has many different ways of describing a strange pepper smell in the air. In truth, it sounded basically like Moynihan was doing a stereotypical loud black woman. It was mildly received by the audience, but I'm sure the SNL staff is going to relentlessly press this character upon us, so prepare to see him again, and again, and again. As for me, I didn't think the sketch was all that great, or the character all that intrinsically funny. - 2

"Musical guest Lil Wayne" - Lil' Wayne's second song sounded too much like the first, he even starts it with the same vocal effect on his mic. I thought it was pretty weak.

"The Michael Phelps Diet" - Phelps stumbles and coughs through an unfunny one joke sketch. Phelps consumes a lot of calories, so for non athletes, his diet is entirely inappropriate! The cast tries gamely to generate laughs, and this would have rated a 2 for their efforts, but, as a Shatner appearance giveth, a Jared from the Subway commercials appearance taketh away. - 1

Final thoughts - A great Digital Short and a solid Weekend Update are high points, but the rest of the mostly mixed bag of sketches bring it down and make this overall a pretty mediocre season opening show.

Final rating - 29.5 out of a possible 48 61% Funny

STILL NO CLIP-JUST THIS

rubypearl - Sep 15, 2008 - 03:39 AM
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CaptJTK wrote:

Nothing up on YouTube as of yet, but as soon as it is, I'll link it here.

You & I must have posted at the same time......a link to Bill S on SNL last night.....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... &hl=en

Gornman - Sep 15, 2008 - 03:54 AM
Post subject:

rubypearl wrote:

CaptJTK wrote:

Nothing up on YouTube as of yet, but as soon as it is, I'll link it here.

You & I must have posted at the same time......a link to Bill S on SNL last night.....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... &hl=en

Thanks rubypearl, I watched last night but looked in late and missed it.

Obama was scheduled to do a skit on the same show before he canceled.

When Paul gave us the hint, I got my hopes up for for some kind
of SNL Kirk/Obama Trek skit. Too bad, a fascinating idea lost forever Idea

SMB - Sep 15, 2008 - 04:30 AM
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oops. I mentioned Phelps in Speedo Cop, when it was actually Swim Cop.

OK, I will just call it a senior moment.... but hey with a bod like Phelps, one's mind does tend to get miscomboobalated at times. Cool

Cat - Sep 15, 2008 - 10:51 AM
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SMB wrote:

Sue! That's quite a Freudian slip you pulled there.......... Laughing

Now I'm sure when you watched Phelps, it was only his powerful stroke you watched........

SMB - Sep 15, 2008 - 11:03 AM
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Cat wrote:

SMB wrote:

Sue! That's quite a Freudian slip you pulled there.......... Laughing

Now I'm sure when you watched Phelps, it was only his powerful stroke you watched........

Oh, but of course! Laughing

angel - Sep 15, 2008 - 01:18 PM
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SMB wrote:

"miscomboobalated"? I like that one! Laughing

Actually all I could keep on staring at were his eyebrows! Big distraction from that long lanky body of his. Laughing

CaptJTK - Sep 15, 2008 - 01:50 PM
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rubypearl wrote:

CaptJTK wrote:

Nothing up on YouTube as of yet, but as soon as it is, I'll link it here.

You & I must have posted at the same time......a link to Bill S on SNL last night.....

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... &hl=en

Yep, we sure did, 10 minutes apart. Thank you for finding the link. I didn't stay up on Saturday, so I was curious as to what all the fuss was about. Very Happy

DOC - Sep 15, 2008 - 04:17 PM
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Yep, that was lame.... Evil or Very Mad

Bill should have passed up the appearance/skit; a man with his integrity should not sell himself short (imo) Sad

~Doc

Cat - Sep 15, 2008 - 04:25 PM
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DOC wrote:

Yep, that was lame.... Evil or Very Mad

Bill should have passed up the appearance/skit; a man with his integrity should not sell himself short (imo) Sad

~Doc

Are you hinting (priceline) that the skit (priceline) did not show (priceline) integrity? (priceline) Shocked

Why I (priceline) am shocked (priceline) at you! (priceline) Shocked

DOC - Sep 15, 2008 - 04:45 PM
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Cat wrote:

DOC wrote:

Yep, that was lame.... Evil or Very Mad

Bill should have passed up the appearance/skit; a man with his integrity should not sell himself short (imo) Sad

~Doc

Are you hinting (priceline) that the skit (priceline) did not show (priceline) integrity? (priceline) Shocked

Why I (priceline) am shocked (priceline) at you! (priceline) Shocked

You thought that skit made his image more robust? Confused

~Doc

Mirizor - Sep 15, 2008 - 06:51 PM
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Did Elizabeth enjoy the sketch? Or did she feel he could have had more lines?
The audience seemed to love seeing Bill there.

DOC, an actor with INTEGRITY likes to make extra spending pocket money or perhaps donate it to a good cause.

Johnny_Turbo - Sep 15, 2008 - 06:56 PM
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morgram wrote:

rdb wrote:

I want to closely align myself with your comments, rdb. SNL of the past 10 years is the worst! Remarkably and incredibly bad! It`s almost beyond comprehension that it is still on the air.

This reminds me of something. Something like a show...or maybe a network that used to be good but went down the tubes. Can't put my finger on it...GOT IT!

SNL = TV Land! The worst, most pathetic, tasteless garbage I've ever witnessed on television!!

HEY! Let's start a thread bashing SNL! What is worse? TV Land or SNL?

Pre-1920 would cure both!

Bill's part was funny! I did like the Charles Barkley skit, too! Thanks, Paul!

Cool thing is, no one from another country could tell us what to think about it!!

Mirizor - Sep 15, 2008 - 07:00 PM
Post subject:

Happy and I'm smiling,
Walk a mile to drink your water.
You know I'd love to love you,
And above you there's no other.
We'll go walking out
While others shout of wars disaster.
Oh, we won't give in,
Lets go living in the past.

Once I used to join in
Every boy and girl was my friend.
Now there's revolution, but they don't know
What they're fighting.
Let us close out eyes;
Outside their lives go on much faster.
Oh, we won't give in,
We'll keep living in the past.

Piglet - Sep 15, 2008 - 07:23 PM
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Johnny_Turbo wrote:

morgram wrote:

rdb wrote:

I want to closely align myself with your comments, rdb. SNL of the past 10 years is the worst! Remarkably and incredibly bad! It`s almost beyond comprehension that it is still on the air.

I wouldn't dare. Bill's part was funny. I didn't see the rest.

I wish Bill would do a comedy film though....What's happening to The Shiva Club does anyone know Question

littlestar - Sep 15, 2008 - 07:51 PM
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Thanks Ruby....it was a bit....lame.... Embarassed

Johnny_Turbo - Sep 15, 2008 - 09:53 PM
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Mirizor wrote:

Meanwhile back in the year one (uno)
when you belonged to no one ---
You didn't stand a chance son
If your pants were undone.
cause you were bred for humanity and sold to society ---
One day you'll wake up in the present day , Tanner
A million generations removed from expectations
Of being who you really want to be.
Skating away --- The Tanner
Skating away --- The Tanner
Skating away on the thin ice of the new day.

So as you push off from the shore,
Won't you turn your head once more
and make your peace with everyone, Tanner?
For those who choose to stay,
Will live just one more day
To do the things they should have done.
And as you cross the wilderness, spinning in your emptiness:
You feel you have to...pray.
Looking for a sign
That the universal mind has written you into the passion play.

Skating away on the thin ice of the new day.

And as you cross the circle line, the ice-wall creaks behind
You're a rabbit on the run, Tanner.
And the silver splinters fly in the corner of your eye
Molly's shining in the setting sun.
Well, do you ever get the feeling that the story's
Too damn real and in the...present tense?
Or that everybody's on the stage, and then it seems like
Tanner's the only person sitting in the audience?

Skating away, The Tanner, HEY!

Skating away on the thin ice of the new day.

Mirizor - Sep 15, 2008 - 10:02 PM
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Johnny_Turbo wrote:

Mirizor wrote:

Does The Tanner also do nursery rhymes? Wink

Paul - Sep 16, 2008 - 05:55 AM
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DOC wrote:

Yep, that was lame.... Evil or Very Mad

Bill should have passed up the appearance/skit; a man with his integrity should not sell himself short (imo) Sad

~Doc

Don't judge this quite yet...there's a cool backstory to this. I'll get it next week when I see Bill and have him tell it to the camera.

Johnny_Turbo - Sep 16, 2008 - 02:51 PM
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Mirizor wrote:

Does The Tanner also do nursery rhymes? Wink

Only the Andrew Dice Clay versions.