|
A tribute.
What do both Gerald Ford and James Brown have in common?
Saturday Night Live.
In the 1970s, SNL rose on the back of Gerald Ford, or, more specifically, Chevy Chase’s impression of Gerald Ford. Chevy made no attempt to look even remotely like Ford. In fact, he didn’t sound much like Ford either.
Indeed, the only thread that Chase hung his impression on was Ford’s clumsiness. It was a brilliant impression in its own way - and one of the things that made the first season of SNL successful.
Eddie Murphy’s impression of James Brown, on the other hand, was a work of sublime genius. His sketch, “James Brown Celebrity Hot Tub,” was a spot on imitation of Brown’s dance moves, tics and personality. He even sounded a bit like Brown. Indeed, Murphy parlayed his imitation of Brown into a major role in this months’ big screen adaptation of “Dreamgirls.”
I would not go so far as to say that Brown and Ford made Murphy and Chase stars, but their imitations of these figures certainly contributed to their rise to success.
It is interesting to me that the big thing from SNL right now is Justin Timberlake imitating, well, Justin Timberlake (singing ‘Dick in a Box’). Culture has shifted in such a way that people parody themselves - presumably before somebody else can parody them. Is that a sign that we are still in some sort of ironic age? I have no idea.
Anyhow, here’s to Eddie Murphy and Chevy Chase, who are no doubt experiencing some profoundly unusual feelings right now.
| 
Radio X show
Filed under 
[ 
