Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Funny Business
Twenty-six years ago, New York City introduced a weekly program that offered a range of live, staged satires and up-to-date humorous accounts and depictions of broad topics that built their foundations on contemporary issues, such as politics, the entertainment industry and promotions. This then-subtle program, Saturday Night Live, proceeded to light up the Neilson boards, despite it's awkward presentation of showtimes. After a promising half-decade of success, give or take, SNL opened it's arms to 19 year-old funnyman Eddie Murphy. For the next few years, the young adult worked his magic on sketches that include Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood, an irresistable laughfest that spoofed Mr. Roger's Neighborhood by placing a rude, self-centered young man in a lower class apartment, where he taught children how to be judgmental and critical of everyone. The two episodes of Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood featured on the videotape exemplify exactly what great comedy is: a well-thought dialogue with substance and dignity that leads the viewer(s) to laugh so hard, he/she may be prompted to shed tears or even choke. When it comes to the household characters that Eddie Murphy rewarded us with during his tenure on SNL, an older, more vocal Buckwheat of The Little Rascals stepped up to the plate and hit a home run in comedy. There was an uncanny resembelence in physical appearance and in age progression. One can't help but laugh at Buckwheat's ability to stammer and struggle with the English language. In the SNL History Book, Eddie Murphy's portrayal of Buckwheat will forever reign as the symbol of suitable and funny latenight comedy. When speaking of Eddie's latenight career, his imitation of Stevie Wonder ranks third. Eddie perfectly interprets the surreal and peculiar common movements and the musical brilliance of Stevie Wonder. During the real Wonder's days of fame, spectators globally adored his music, but questioned his unconventional movements. Some fans pondered what went on through his head, as he performed (did his motions help him or were they uncontrollable?, et cetera). Eddie showed us Stevie Wonder, from the inside and from the outside. Acting today struggles to be that convincing and effective when one actor portrays a public figure. And if these three practically flawless works of Eddie Murphy weren't enough, prepare to laugh consistently with his mocking of Gumby and Richard Simmons, just to identify a few. The vast majority of this videocassette delivers jokes that are appropriate for younger audiences, with occasional exceptions (Velvet Jones). The often offensive and utterly disgusting SNL of the 21st Century could learn much from Eddie Murphy's displays of talent that he fills us with in 'Saturday Night Live: The Best of Eddie Murphy.' In general terms of the comedy genre, this single tape is the Edmonton Oilers of humor.
Rating: - Eddie WAS Saturday Night Live!
Hands down, one of the funniest of the SNL alumni(if not THE funniest!), and this collection shows us why. His impressons of Stevie Wonder, Ali,Jesse Jackson and James Brown had me in hysterics! I first saw this video when i was 13, and 9 years later I'm still laughing! It's up there with "Raw" and "Delirious", minus the F-word. Definitely a must have for anyone who enjoys a good laugh or two...
Rating: - Good, but could be better
Although this video contains most of the good stuff, and eliminates some of the bad(most notably the jazz musician skit)
that was included in the original release, conspicuous in its absence is the Prose and Cons bit, featuring Murphy as inmate Tyrone Green, and his masterpiece C-I-L-L My Landlord. Buck wheat, James Brown, and Mr. Robinson are all accounted for, and Gumby is a new addition to this collection. The lesser known skits are quite hilarious, particularly White like me, The Tooth Fairy, and Murphy as Michael Jackson describing his sexual prowess with women, a skit which features an excellent Liberace impression by SCTV's Dave Thomas. Overall, an hysterical video which stands shoulder to shoulder with the other SNL vids.
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