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Posts tagged as Tom Davis

Personal Histories

Saying Goodbye to Tom Davis and Letting Go of 'SNL'

by | December 7th, 2012

Studio 8H is a time warp.

I hadn't been there in 16 years, when I interviewed Lorne Michaels for Mr. Mike. Before that, I'd been in 8H many times, starting in 1983. It's the most famous studio on American TV, the recurring cast member of SNL.

When I first walked through those narrow hallways, the original shows came alive in me. I recognized the main doors, dressing rooms, and photo-lined walls. I stood where the first cast performed their backstage bits.

I strolled the studio as sets were built, lighting adjusted, sketches camera blocked. Once I went up on home base, took in the view, then got on all [...]

RIP

Al Franken Eulogizes Tom Davis

by | July 27th, 2012

This is beautiful and sad and tough and a bit fun. Franken spends a good bit of the speech talking about the process of writing and making comedy with Tom, focusing on SNL and the famous Julia Child sketch. It's a really great watch. While you're spending time with Franken, read this crazy story by a BoingBoing writer about the time he met with Franken for a job interview, minutes after Phil Hartman was killed. Then maybe watch the Julia Child sketch below, for something a bit more upbeat and Friday friendly.

RIP

Tom Davis Dies at 59

by | July 19th, 2012

Tom Davis, one of the original great writers of Saturday Night Live, passed away  today at age 59. Best known as part of the comedy duo Franken and Davis, with Al Franken, he wrote for SNL from 1975 to 1980 and then again from 1986 to 1994. He was responsible or partly responsible for many classic sketches like "Theodoric of York", "Nick the Lounge Singer", "The Coneheads", and "The Continental" (watch clips below) . He wrote about his experience during the early days of SNL in his 2010 autobiography, 39 Years of Short-Term Memory Loss. He was true legend and he will be missed. Below also watch [...]

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