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sloppy seconds turned 11 today!

Thu, 21 May 2020 13:39:59 -0500

sloppy seconds turned 11 today!

Why “More Cowbell” is the perfect SNL sketch

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 13:54:18 -0500

With the release of the Fortnite emote “More Llama Bell” I’ve been thinking about this old SNL classic and what makes it so rememberable. My conclusion is it’s a perfect storm of a few things that make it a stand-out bit.

1. The talent! Christopher Walken is effortlessly funny across every hosting gig he’s ever had. He will go down as one of the greatest hosts the show has ever seen. Will Ferrell + Chris Parnell duo is a formidable one, Chris playing the straight man to Will’s animated style. Rounding it out, Chris Kattan and future Late Night host/serial breaker, Jimmy Fallon. Stacked lineup for sure.

2. The costumes. The costume and make-up department knocked this one out of the park. Every member of the band dressed and styled in 70′s rock star cliche is funny in and of itself. Will’s ill fitting clothes with midriff and deep-v exposed amplify whatever goes on in the sketch. I wonder if this inspired Will to explore more of the 70′s aesthetic later on in his career with Anchorman.

3. The premise. The sketch is a parody of VH1 behind the music series which was quite popular at the time. The song “Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult was also quite well known so the majority of people “got it” off the bat. While upon further inspection, the cowbell in Fear The Reaper is quite pronounced but something most casual listeners never picked up on. It delights me to no end that someone picked up on this and pitched a sketch based around how the cowbell came to be such an integral part of the song. Also the idea of a dedicated “cowbell” player funny in its own right.

4. The quoteables. “I have a fever, and my prescription is more cowbell” now usually shortened to “needs more cowbell” invaded pop-culture with force, typically accompanied by everyone’s best Walken impression. Would this be funny if anyone else but Christopher Walken had said it? I don’t think so. His other dialogue was just as good if not quite as memorable. While Ferrell’s physical humor in this sketch is nothing to diminish, Walken’s lines are why it’s remembered.

5. The breaking. Both Fallon and Kattan break during their dialogue but in this case I really can’t blame them. I’m sure Walken delivered his lines in a way they hadn’t heard before and it threw them way off, it was too goddamn funny. And we laughed right along with them.

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Thu, 10 Aug 2017 17:05:39 -0500

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Thu, 13 Jul 2017 11:01:59 -0500

the gods of the copybook headings

Mon, 27 Feb 2017 14:54:36 -0600

In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But, though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: “If you don’t work you die.”

Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and began to believe it was true
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.

As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool’s bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;

And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!

entertainmeweakly:I’m a working physician with a degree from the...

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 11:57:15 -0600

entertainmeweakly:

I’m a working physician with a degree from the Ho Chi Minh City School of Medicine.
- Dr. Leo Spaceman

agreed

Thu, 08 Dec 2016 13:56:36 -0600

agreed

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Wed, 30 Nov 2016 11:59:59 -0600

10-1 whaddup

Sat, 26 Nov 2016 16:52:44 -0600

10-1 whaddup

The Flat Earth Society is meeting here today.

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 10:54:57 -0600

The Flat Earth Society is meeting here today.

#NowPlaying Them And Us by Bad Religion

Wed, 09 Nov 2016 15:51:02 -0600

#NowPlaying Them And Us by Bad Religion

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Mon, 07 Nov 2016 10:00:32 -0600

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Tue, 04 Oct 2016 11:29:12 -0500

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Mon, 03 Oct 2016 10:56:40 -0500

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Tue, 06 Sep 2016 16:05:18 -0500

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Thu, 25 Aug 2016 15:11:07 -0500

what a dumb, great song

Wed, 10 Aug 2016 11:30:50 -0500

what a dumb, great song

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Tue, 02 Aug 2016 10:42:04 -0500

sloppy seconds turned 7 today!

Sun, 22 May 2016 00:36:38 -0500

sloppy seconds turned 7 today!

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Thu, 19 May 2016 13:54:59 -0500