Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live

( 97 )

Overview

The "New York Times" bestselling oral history of "Saturday Night Live" that finally reveals what really went on backstage, on the set, in the writers' offices and on the town is now in paperback.
Read More Show Less
... See more details below
Paperback (Reprint)
$12.01
BN.com price
(Save 29%)$16.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (26) from $3.02   
  • New (16) from $10.40   
  • Used (10) from $3.02   
Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for Web

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook)
$9.99
BN.com price

More About This Book

Overview

The "New York Times" bestselling oral history of "Saturday Night Live" that finally reveals what really went on backstage, on the set, in the writers' offices and on the town is now in paperback.
Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble
Live from New York is a titillating bonanza of behind-the-scenes tales from the legendary Saturday Night Live. Tom Shales, the Pulitzer Prize–winning television critic for The Washington Post, and his coauthor, James Andrew Miller, interviewed all the surviving writers and cast members -- with the exception of Eddie Murphy -- and culled from them a fascinating and page-turning oral history of the groundbreaking show.
Publishers Weekly
SNL fans, beware: this audiobook, while chock full of dishy dirt on everybody from Chevy Chase to Jimmy Fallon, requires a little playing along on the part of the listener. Shales and Miller went to great lengths to compile this work, but unfortunately, for this audio version, the oral history is read by stand-ins masquerading as Bill Murray, Lorne Michaels, Jimmy Fallon and others. So listeners have to imagine that it's really Chevy Chase speaking, not an audiobook reader who sounds nothing like him. A narrator introduces each chapter, helping listeners orient themselves, and then reads each person's name before that person speaks. Hearing the narrator pronounce, "Dan Aykroyd, actor:" and then hearing the voice of a complete stranger (there are no liner notes explaining who's reading which parts) tell of his memories of the show is somewhat disconcerting. The actors' deliveries range from the lackadaisical to the high-strung. Despite the obvious troubles of not having the book's contributors read their own parts, the book's content is terrific, with tons of behind-the-scenes gossip and juicy tales of backstage goings-on. Simultaneous release with the Little, Brown hardcover (Forecasts, Sept. 9). (Oct.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
The story of Saturday Night Live (SNL) is well known-its unique blend of live comedy and popular music broke the mold of network programming when it began in 1975. Yet this history of the program isn't repetitive. Shales, a TV critic at the Washington Post, and Miller (Running in Place) interviewed SNL's former and current cast members, writers, musical guests, and other associates and compiled their quotes to forge an illuminating oral account that offers a unique perspective on the inner workings of the show and its stars' many interactions. The book is organized into eras, which allows readers to skip around, as does an index of cast members by season (though a list of writers associated with each season is missing). Written with the cooperation of longtime producer Lorne Michaels, this is highly recommended for all public and academic libraries.-David M. Lisa, Wayne P.L., NJ Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780316735650
  • Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
  • Publication date: 10/28/2003
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Pages: 656
  • Sales rank: 69,831
  • Product dimensions: 8.06 (w) x 5.50 (h) x 1.60 (d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi
Preface to the Paperback Edition 3
Prologue 7
1. Exordium: 1975-1976 15
2. Heyday: 1976-1980 106
3. The Stars Come Out: 1980-1985 203
4. Behemiel Rising: 1985-1990 309
5. Overpopulation: 1990-1995 376
6. Still Crazy After All These Years: 1995- 448
7. Lorne 557
SNL Cast Lists 603
Index 609
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 97 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(34)

4 Star

(23)

3 Star

(26)

2 Star

(9)

1 Star

(5)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 97 Customer Reviews

  • Posted April 22, 2011

    This is not a book

    This is a collection of very short interviews and comments, with no narrative thread holding them together. Very disappointing.

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 15, 2008

    Absolutely Loved This Book

    When I first ordered this book I didn't know what I was in for. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I even found myself laughing out loud during parts of this book, which rarely happens when I'm reading. I love Saturday Night Live, I watch it all the time, and on DVD's too. But I imagine someone who doesn't know the show as well might not enjoy it as much as me, because all of the names they wouldn't reconize, but I still reccomend it to everyone. The preface was good, I quite like the authors way of summing up the story. I loved the book. I really did, I can't say much more because I don't want to ruin it... I found some of the quotes really funny, did anyone else? I wasn't expecting to be laughing so hard. The way everybody has their own memories, I just loved hearing about what they thought of it. Some of my favourite skits were mentioned, and some of my favourite people talked or were talked about. It was a really enjoyable book. Saying that, Live From New York, is probably my favourite book, I definately enjoyed it the most, and you know what, yeah its for sure my favourite book. I don't think I've ever read for so many consecutive hours. So in conclusion, I reccomend to any SNL fan, and everyone else, become an SNL fan and then read this book.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 17, 2011

    Gets Stale

    There are some interesting stories and accounts but the style the book was written really stagnates the story. The book is told through an endless stream if first hand accounts that sometimes seem to contradict the account before. There are some very interesting parts and sections, though. I would recomend this, not as a main book, but as a reading break from something heavy.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 16, 2011

    SERIOUSLY

    what a waste of money and time!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 3, 2004

    Excellent Read

    Short but sweet: this book was a wonderful read. If you a SNL fan of any kind, you will enjoy this book greatly.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 9, 2003

    Saturday Night Live in the Raw

    This is a great look at the inner workings of the nation's best comedy/ music tradition of all time. If you're an SNL fan, and even if you're not, you'll enjoy hearing about the ups and downs of SNL from those who were there through it all.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 5, 2013

    Entertaining, great format.

    Oral history is a great format for recent events.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 6, 2012

    COOL BOOK

    IT WAS A GREAT BOOK

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted June 12, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Not what I expected

    Thought this would be a fun read. Did not really like it. Just a bunch of thoughts from past cast members. I think I skipped as much as I read. Giving it 1-star due to the maybe 40 pages I thought were interesting.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 24, 2011

    It's like knowing the man behind the curtain.

    great overview of the insanity that births the hilarity.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 15, 2011

    Very telling

    Confirms decade of sick, self absorbed, irresponsible, writers,producers, actors who have no remorse for the damage they do to others and to this contry in the name of comedy. Shame on you all. People wake up!

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 4, 2011

    Meh.

    This review isn't of the book but of the Nook. Not as easy to use as I had hoped. I had downloaded this book and though it shows up on my computer it doesn't in my Nook library. Somewhat like buying a paperback and finding all of the pages to be empty.

    0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 20, 2003

    Still A-Live...but not in this book

    I read this book thinking it would be about the show, how it's progressed over the years, and so on. But what I got instead was a broken record of former cast members talking about how certain sketches didn't make it "past dress" over and over again. I did like the retelling of the Andrew Dice Clay situation from all the people involved. But again, very few major or minor sketches were even discussed, just the whole idea of making it past rehearsal with a sketch. Don't bother reading Chapter 7--it's all about Lorne Michaels--from all the past and present cast members. Talk about Chapter Brown Nosing... Ugh!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 20, 2003

    Very Good

    I am a big fan of SNL, and I've been watching it ever since I can remember. I even watch all of the re-runs on Comedy Central and E!. So I decided to go out and buy this book as soon as I heard about it. I do admit that it's a little spendy, but it's worth it. There is a lot of things I didn't know and I read it all from former cast members themselves! That's what makes it even better! Plus the fact that you get to read a lot from the man, Lorne. I was very pleased with the book and hope you are too if you choose tho buy it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 21, 2002

    Funny. Insightful. SNL castmembers portrayed with dignity.

    Lorne Michaels helped put this book together. Anyone who is a SNL fan will truely enjoy this backstage look into OUR cast members lives. Very well written!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 19, 2002

    If you like interviews, you like this book

    Basically, its a compilation of interviews of almost everyone from the cast of SNL. You get to read some dirt, but not much that you already know. So it was so so. I wouldnt give it as many stars as almost everyone else put. But if you wanna know how hard it is to make a show, read this book.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 30, 2002

    Wow what a book.

    I can't believe this book. First, I thought it was a book. Then, I read it. It was filled with pages and words. After reading this book, I can honestly say it was a book.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 30, 2002

    good read

    Being a long time fan of SNL, I enjoyed reading a lot of the behind the scenes scoop. However, I was somewhat disappointed in the fact that as the chronological time moved closer to the present, the real dirt on people seemed to subside or people were unnamed and you had to guess who they were talking about. The first 10 years or so of cast members, the authors had a "no holds barred" attitude. This cutting and biting edge waned as the book went on. But overall I enjoyed the read.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 28, 2002

    I began reading with much anticipation, but......

    I preordered this book because I was so excited to read about a program I've been watching since its inception. There are some interesting anecdotes, behind-the-scenes information, etc.; however, about halfway through the book the bits of conversation taken from interviews was starting to sound like whinning and back-biting. I would have preferred more of a story format, with more background on the players.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 13, 2002

    Live From New York

    This book was awesome. I loved it. It was so funny what happens behinde the scenes. What the cast, writers, and hosts have to say about the show that started a 1000 laughs.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 97 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)