Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, as Told By Its Stars, Writers and Guests

Rating:
Summary: A total page-turner, especially for SNL fans
Review: This is a fun book, though not nearly as important a contribution to pop culture as some would like to think it is. The book is littered with great gossip and juicy tidbits: Milton Berle's large "package"; Chevy Chase's apathy towards the show and its cast members; the cocaine use by the cast members and writers during the 70s and 80s; Chris Elliott and Janeane Garofalo's inability to to gel with SNL; Lorne Michaels' shift from laissez faire manager in the 70s to corporate work-horse in 80s, 90s, and 00s, etc. The book pails in comparison to another NYC-related gossip-tome: McCain and McNeil's "Please Kill Me" (about the punk rock scene). Because SNL is still going, access to the REAL gossip will not be granted (i.e. the real nature of the drug abuse, nasty pranks and sexual proclivities of the cast members). Also, there are some glaring omissions here. There's barely any mention of Danitra Vance, (I think) the first African American female cast member and the third SNL alumni to die (yes, to date, 5 SNL alumni have died: Belushi, Radner, Vance, Farley and Hartman; she died of breast cancer in 1994), or Tracy Morgan. There's barely any mention of Ben Stiller, either. Also, the book reinforces the stereotypes of SNL as a "boys club" by having very few contributions from Jane Curtin, less representation of Gilda Radner, Nora Dunn, nor any of the women cast members from the not-so-popular years of '80-'83. Eddie Murphy is treated well despite not making himself available for the book. Despite all my criticisms, it is a very fun read, and it is particularly insightful as to how show business works, particularly the huge networking and talent scouting that goes on to find these great comedic talents.

Rating:
Summary: Stayed up all night reading it
Review: This is a terrific oral history of the show. Gives you a sense of how it got off the ground, the insane competition for performers and writers to get sketches into the show, and gossipy stuff like politics, obnoxious hosts, and drug use. Reflections on the deaths of Belushi, Gilda, Farley, and Hartman are tremendously moving. I started this book at about 9:00 p.m., did not put it down until 6:30 a.m. the next morning.

Rating:
Summary: This is a wild and crazy book
Review: This is an excellent oral history of one of the seminal programs in television history. I have watched the program off and on since junior high and have witnessed many of its ups and downs, but this book delves much deeper into the program then what is actually shown the viewer every Saturday night. I think the gossipy details of cast romances, drug use, office politics and the tragic deaths of some of the show's alums are interesting, but what really makes this book unique are its insights into the production of a television program and the television business. I have no interest in pursuing a career in tv, but I think this would be a great introduction for anyone who does. The style of the book, being an oral history with only a loose chronology, fits well with its subject matter and it is nice that the voices in the book are those of the people actually involved--the real talent--rather then the author's manipulating interviews and filtering information to fit their own opinions. It is a very quick read that will entertain any reader and is very insightful. I would recommend it to any fan of Saturday Night Live, people interested in the entertainment industry or readers who enjoy good stories and story tellers. This is one of the best books I've read this year.