I’m trying to figure out why I was so psyched to read this morning that Tim Meadows will be co-starring with actors like Adam Sandler, Maya Rudolph, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Chris Rock, Norm Macdonald, and Colin Quinn in a film called Grown Ups. Part of it stems simply from my longstanding feelings regarding Meadows’ under-appreciated comic talents. There’s something special about this particular grouping of Saturday Night Live alumni, though — one that includes minor players like Macdonald and Quinn along with big-name stars. Then it hit me: I am totally nostalgic for the mid-90s years when many of those castmates overlapped on SNL.
It wasn’t the show’s finest era by a long shot. I remember staying up late to watch SNL at the time with my parents, who frequently lamented how far it had fallen from the ’70s and ’80s; they were right. But nevertheless, I spent those years watching Meadows and the rest of the gang most every Saturday night, and now I miss them. Most of all, I miss the way SNL had a full roster of straightmen/women back then to back up its more outsize comic talents. Adam Sandler and Chris Rock were and are hilarious, sure — but they’re so much funnier standing next to a perfectly deadpan Tim Meadows or Norm Macdonald. Not all of the comics who have been cast in Grown Ups are capable of carrying a movie on their own, but put them together and you’re guaranteed some extra laughs just from the reaction shots these old colleagues will give each other.
Check out a vintage clip below to see the kind of understated chemistry I’m talking about between Meadows and (in this case) Christopher Walken. Then tell me: Who else is looking forward to seeing these SNLers play, appropriately enough, a bunch of former high school friends reunited after 30 years apart in Grown Ups?
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Too bad they can’t get Will Ferrel in there somehow.
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/07/06/pack-of-90s-snl-alums-star-in-new-movie-grown-ups/
They should get some other people like Dave Attell, Sarah Silverman who were all writer/performers back in the 90s on SNL.
This item brings up a great point about straight men/women.
The idea of an all-star comedy (or an all-star anything) looks great on paper, but in practice, you have a bunch of outsize (and often clashing) personalities and fighting for screen time, usually resulting in a not-very-good movie.
I also like the idea that former SNL players that weren’t exactly the breakout stars are being brought back for this movie because, as Simon, mentioned, they’re just as essential to the funny.
I’m also nostalgic for this particular group of people. Yes, I realize the 70’s group was funny and pioneering, but the 90’s group are “my guys.”
Wasn’t there a similar show on CBS that aired last year and failed? I could have sworn there was.
I’m with Ceballos here – the 90’s casts will probably always be my favorites.
Tim Meadows is probably the most underrated NRfPTP ever. One of my favorite skits pops into my mind almost every night/morning – when I have to get up in the wee hours of the morning for a potty my mind always, without fail, says “it’s 4:16 in the a.m. and you’re watching ‘Perspectives.’”
I’m with Ceballos here – the 90’s casts will probably always be my favorites.
Tim Meadows is probably the most underrated NRfPTP ever. One of my favorite skits pops into my mind almost every night/morning – when I have to get up in the wee hours of the morning for a potty my mind always, without fail, says “it’s 4:16 in the a.m. and you’re watching ‘Perspectives.’”