Lorne Michaels Movies
Producer Lorne Michaels is almost solely responsible for introducing a staggering number of current celebrities into the world spotlight through his immensely popular weekly sketch-comedy series, Saturday Night Live: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers, Jane Curtin, Bill Murray, Phil Hartman, and Will Ferrell, just to name a few.A native of Canada, Michaels earned an English degree from the University of Toronto and proceeded to leave the country for a stint as an automotive salesman in England. He returned to Canada in 1966 and became half of a popular comedy duo, with fellow writer/comedian Hart Pomerantz who performed on a CBC satire show. The duo's success led to the start of a new show entitled The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour. In the late '60s, the pair headed south to the States and found themselves writing for The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show. While the show didn't last beyond six weeks, it did lead to assignments writing for such shows as Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. In 1975, Michaels was approached to create a pilot for a late Saturday night spot that had been airing reruns of The Tonight Show. He gathered some unknown writers and comedians together and Saturday Night Live began its first season. Michaels stayed with the show until 1980, left for five years, and returned in 1985 at the request of Brandon Tartikoff, then the NBC chief of programming, in order to save what had since become a failing show. Saturday Night Live has received over 60 Emmy nominations, has won more than a dozen of them, and Michaels has himself earned no less than eight of the awards, five of which were the result of Saturday Night Live.
In 1979, Michaels founded his production company, Broadway Video, through which he developed another sketch-comedy television series called The Kids in the Hall. First attaining success in Canada, the show launched the careers of David Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Scott Thompson, Mark McKinney, and Kevin McDonald, and later aired in the US where it gained a huge cult following. With 1992's Wayne's World, a big-screen adaptation of a popular SNL sketch, Michaels added box-office blockbuster film producer to his resumé. Over the ensuing years, he continued to work on feature film projects while remaining the head-honcho of Saturday Night Live. His films have been a mixture of hits (Tommy Boy) and bombs (The Ladies Man).
In 2006 Michaels scored yet another small screen hit as Executive Producer of 30 Rock, the Emmy-winning NBC sitcom starring SNL alumni Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan as the head writer and star, respectively, of a popular television sketch comedy show (as well as featuring frequent SNL host Alec Baldwin as their arrogant boss), with additional producing duties on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Portlandia (featuring active SNL cast member Fred Armisen) serving to keep the television veteran active during the work week. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
Al Franken brings his Saturday Night Live character Stuart Smalley to the big screen in this unexpectedly downbeat comedy about a man desperately trying to overcome his dysfunctional upbringing. Stuart hosts a TV show on public access TV in which he offers bits of New Age wisdom on self-help, often incorporating his trademark affirmation, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!" Too bad Stuart's advice doesn't work so well for himself; he barely supports himself as a waiter, his self-esteem is shaky at best, and his family is dominated by depressive alcoholics sunk in denial (for all his quirks, Stuart is the only Smalley willing to admit he has a problem). One day, Stuart's friend Julia (Laura San Giacomo) tells him that a cable network is looking for programming, and suggests he should pitch his show to them. Soon Stuart has a nationwide audience and is actually able to support himself, but that's small comfort when his family falls into another crisis. By turns a goofy comedy and a serious look at a dysfunctional family, Stuart Saves His Family does feature a few strong dramatic performances by Laura San Giacomo, Vincent D'Onofrio and Shirley Knight, and a distinctive comic turn by Julia Sweeney as a guest on Stuart's show. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Al Franken, Laura San Giacomo, (more)
The story of an intelligent, heroic collie and his young owner, previously featured in numerous films and a successful 1950s television series, was updated for the 1990s in this family feature. This time, Lassie is determined to help a cynical city boy named Matt (Thomas Guiry), who turns even more resentful when his family relocates to a small town in rural Virginia. Soon after this move, a bright collie enters the family's life and winds up with the name Lassie because of the television show, which Matt's younger sister (Brittany Boyd) watches passionately. Lassie sets out to cheer Matt up and introduce him to the wonders of nature, while also helping the family stand its ground against rich, unpleasant neighbors. There are also run-ins with vicious wild animals and a daring rescue over river rapids, but the main focus remains on the emotional relationship between Matt and the dog, a story that will seem old-fashioned and charming to some viewers while familiar and sentimental to others. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Guiry, Helen Slater, (more)
- 1993
Former Simpsons writer Conan O'Brien is your host for one of the most irreverent and innovative late-night talk shows ever to hit the airwaves. An impressive list of well-known celebrities, cutting-edge comedy sketches, and musical guests have made the Emmy-nominated Late Night With Conan O'Brien the show of choice for insomniac viewers who long for a little something different. Veteran drummer Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg Seven provide the backdrop for the show that has birthed such notorious characters as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the Masturbating Bear, and Pimpbot 5000. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Conan O'Brien
"The Coneheads" were a sketch on the Saturday Night Live television show of the late '70s which were expanded to feature-length proportions with this film. The story concerns Beldar (Dan Aykroyd) and Prymaat (Jane Curtin), who leave the planet Remulak to prepare for an invasion of Planet Earth. But due to a malfunction, they find themselves plunged into the Hudson River and forced to take up residence in Paramus, New Jersey where Beldar gets work as an appliance salesman and makes a deal for a phony social security card. Before long, all thoughts of invading Earth are left behind as Beldar and Prymaat quickly adapt to suburban life -- except for their coneheads and metallic-sounding voices, they become a typical middle-class suburban family. The Coneheads have a child, Connie (Michelle Burke) and Beldar becomes a New York cab driver and starts up his own driving school. Connie grows into a teenager and a neighborhood boy, Ronnie (Chris Farley), develops a crush on her because he likes to rub her conehead. But a nefarious INS agent, Gorman Seedling (Michael McKean), and his toady assistant, Turnbull (David Spade), are hot on The Coneheads' trail because of Beldar's false social security card. Not only that, but the Remulakian Highmaster (Dave Thomas) is beginning to wonder what ever happened to Beldar's invasion of the third rock from the sun. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, (more)
- 1993
Upon taking to the airwaves, the Lorne Michaels-produced series The Kids in the Hall quickly joined the likes of Monty Python's Flying Circus as one of the edgiest and funny sketch comedy shows on television. Featuring five Canadian men in the majority of the roles, the program aired on HBO and CBC from 1989 to 1995. This collection from Columbia/Tristar Video features Mark McKinney, Dave Foley, Scott Thompson, Bruce McCulloch, and Kevin McDonald in two complete episodes, portraying such popular characters as The Chicken Lady, The Head Crusher, and Buddy Cole. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
Everyone's favorite headbangers from Aurora, Illinois, are back in this sequel to the 1992 hit comedy Wayne's World. The success of their TV show allows Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers) and Garth Algar (Dana Carvey) to finally move out of their parents' homes, but now they have to figure out what to do with their lives. Wayne's girlfriend, up-and-coming rock star Cassandra (Tia Carrere), is enjoying a career boost thanks to her new manager Bobby Cohn (Christopher Walken), but Garth thinks that Bobby is more interested in her body than her place on the charts. Meanwhile, Wayne is visited in a dream by the late Jim Morrison (Michael A. Nickles), who convinces him to promote a massive rock festival, "Waynestock," featuring Aerosmith as headliners. Garth, on the other hand, is finally relieved of his pesky virginity by femme fatale Honey Hornee (Kim Basinger), though it turns out that Honey has a hidden agenda. Drew Barrymore, Harry Shearer, and Charlton Heston play cameo roles in Wayne's World 2, and Jay Leno, Rip Taylor, and Todd Rundgren appear as themselves. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, (more)
Based on the Saturday Night Live sketch of the same name, Wayne's World is a wacky, irreverent pop-culture comedy about the adventures of two amiably aimless metal-head friends, Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey). From Wayne's basement, the pair broadcast a talk-show called "Wayne's World" on local public access television. The show comes to the attention of a sleazy network executive (Rob Lowe) who wants to produce a big-budget version of "Wayne's World"--and he also wants Wayne's girlfriend, a rock singer named Cassandra (Tia Carrere). Wayne and Garth have to battle the executive not only to save their show, but also Cassandra. Director Penelope Spheeris, Myers and Carvey hang a lot of silly, but funny, jokes on this thin plot, and the energy of the cast--as well as the wild pop-culture references--make Wayne's World a cut above the average Saturday Night Live spin-off movie. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, (more)
- 1989
- Add The Kids in the Hall: The Pilot Episode to Queue Add The Kids in the Hall: The Pilot Episode to top of Queue
Eagerly-anticipated and long unavailable on video, this pilot episode of the famous Canadian sketch comedy series Kids in the Hall prompted a half-decade run for the SNL and Flying Circus-inspired program. Sketches include: 'Buddy Cole,' Cabbage Head,' 'Brian's Bombshell,' 'Hey You Millionaires!,' 'Guys on a Break,' 'Crying Guy,' and 'Crush Your Head' Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, (more)
- 1987
"Good evening, I'm Chevy Chase-and you're not!" Maybe no one would want to be Mr. Chase these days (not with his recent string of box-office flops), but in 1975 and 1976, the world was Chevy's oyster. Those are the years that he rose to stardom on NBC's Saturday Night Live, and these are the years covered in this 60-minute video. Included are such classic bits of Chase-i-ana as Gerald Ford, the Land Shark, "Weekend Update" and innumerable precipitous falls. The next time your kids ask you "why does Chevy Chase get work?", show them this vintage video. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This slapstick farce features Dusty Bottoms (Chevy Chase), Lucky Day (Steve Martin), and Ned Nederlander (Martin Short), as three silent movie cowboy stars who get the axe from their Hollywood studio. Just at that opportune moment, a woman named Carmen (Patrice Martinez) asks them to come to her forgotten little town south of the border and do some work for her, for a tidy sum. The three "stooges" agree, thinking they are going to perform their singing cowboy routine, but instead Carmen wants them to get rid of the nasty El Guapo (Alfonso Arau) who is running roughshod over the good citizens of the town. Not the kind of heroes they appear to be in the movies, they have a difficult time helping out the distressed townsfolk. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, (more)
- 1986
The Best of Dan Aykroyd is a 60-minute compilation of highlights from the first five years of TV's Saturday Night Live. As indicated by the title, the emphasis is on the multitalented Dan Aykroyd. Arguably, Aykroyd's most memorable solo routine is his glib-tongued "Bass-o-matic" pitch; the collection's biggest laughgetter is Aykroyd's "Two wild and crazy guys" bit with Steve Martin. Best of Dan Aykroyd was assembled under the watchful eye of SNL mentor Lorne Michaels. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1985
Assembled long after John Belushi's death in 1982, The Best of John Belushi is at once hilarious and melancholy. From 1975 to 1979, Belushi was a member in excellent standing of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on NBC's Saturday Night Live. This 60-minute video covers those amazing years, offering such highlights as "Samurai Delicatessen" and "The Honeybees." Best and most poignant of all the scenes is the elegiac "Don't Look Back in Anger". This is the one wherein an aged John Belushi strolls reflectively past the graves of all his SNL costars-then breaks into an exuberant dance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Belushi
- 1984
- PG
Tom Schiller, best known for the short subjects he wrote and directed for Saturday Night Live's early seasons, made his feature film debut with this offbeat fantasy. In the future, the city of New York is governed by the Port Authority, and aspiring artist Adam Beckett (Zach Galligan) is depressed because the powers that be refuse to grant him a creative license. Instead, Adam is assigned to direct traffic in the Holland Tunnel, where he meets a woman named Mara Hofmeier (Apollonia Van Ravenstein). Adam offers to show Mara a side of New York's underground that few people know about; however, they mistakenly board the wrong bus and find themselves on a trip to the moon, which has been turned into a shopping center. In time, Adam finds his way back to Earth, where at long last he finds artistic success and the love of his life, Ely (Lauren Tom). Incorporating clips from a number of classic silent films, Nothing Lasts Forever also features an interesting supporting cast, including Bill Murray, Sam Jaffe, Eddie Fisher, Dan Aykroyd, Lawrence Tierney, Imogene Coca, and Calvert Deforest (aka Larry "Bud" Melman). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Zach Galligan, Apollonia Van Ravenstein, (more)
- 1980
- R
Director Mike Nichols makes no effort to inject camera trickery or "mise en scene" in Gilda Live. This is a live comedy concert by the peerless Gilda Radner, and that is enough; Nichols merely records this wonderful lady in action. All of Gilda's standard characterizations -- Emily Latella, Roseanna Roseannadanna et. al. -- are here in full force, a lot raunchier than when seen on TV. Everyone's favorite bit in this comedy catalogue is Gilda's specialty number "Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals." On hand to allow Gilda to take a breather once in a while is Don Novello, aka Father Guido Sarducci. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gilda Radner
Michael O'Donoghue, a writer for the original Saturday Night Live, was the mastermind of this collection of bizarre and often raunchy sketches featuring SNL cast members and numerous celebrity cameos. Originally intended as a late-night television special, network hesitation led to the special's release as a theatrical film. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael O'Donoghue
- 1978
- Add The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash to Queue Add The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash to top of Queue
A mockumentary of a Beatles-like singing group called the Rutles, The Rutles is a collaboration between Monty Python alumnus Eric Idle and Saturday Night Live filmmaker Gary Weis. The members of the "pre-Fab Four" are Nasty, Barry, Stig, and Dirk. There really isn't any plot, just a series of vignettes, unctuously narrated by Idle, which mercilessly skewer the Beatles mythology. Under the guidance of agent Leggy Mountbatten (before he tragically takes a teaching post in Australia), the Rutles rise to the top with such hit songs as "Please Please Let Me Hold Your Hand" and "I Am the Waitress." Mention is made of the Rutles' film successes: "A Hard Day's Rut," "Ouch!," "Tragical History Tour," "Yellow Submarine Sandwich," and "Let It Rot." We also see such career highlights as Nasty's declaration that the Rutles are more popular than God (he meant "Rod," as in Rod Stewart), the rumor that Dirk is dead (whereupon Stiggy starts his own rumor that he is dead), and Nasty's unfortunate liaison with a Yoko Ono counterpart (depicted as a Neo-Nazi dominatrix). The Rutles gains an added veneer of verisimilitude through the participation of such rock stars as Paul Simon, Mick Jagger, and Ron Wood, as well as George Harrison himself, who shows up as a BBC commentator. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eric Idle, Neil Innes, (more)
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