Live From New York... It's the First Season of SNL!

I couldn't believe it last night when I saw (with my own two eyes) that Columbia House had listed an eight-disc Complete First Season box set of Saturday Night Live. Obviously, I thought it must have been some sort of a mistake... However, the news has spread over the web today that Universal Studios has officially announced this set. Now, this is the type of news that can make me start blogging again. All 24 episodes from the very first season of one of the most popular and groundbreaking TV shows of all time are being released on eight single-sided DVDs on December 5!! Full suggested retail price is only $69.98. Want to know the greatest part? Wait for it... All of these episodes, according to Universal, will include all of the original musical performances and sketches. NOTHING HAS BEEN EDITED. These are the rare, full-length episodes. Set my face to stunned.

This set features original cast auditions as a bonus feature and even comes with a 32-page limited edition photo booklet. The only thing that could possibly make this news even better would be an announcement of audio commentaries with Lorne Michaels and some of the cast members. But beggars can't be choosers. What will collectors do with the many previous best-of volumes that are currently available on home video? Maybe the real question is, when will future seasons be released? Yes, I'm greedy. I want to see all 31+ seasons on DVD. Granted, I'll probably be old and grey before it happens. Universal can't be slow with these sets like they have been with the Law & Order releases (or just about any other show they release). They need to release two or three sets a year if the first one sells well enough (and even if it doesn't), and I know that I would not mind ending the best-of releases if more seasons are released.

I'm actually hoping for these sets to be released out of order (as long as all of the seasons are eventually released). I'd love to see the seasons from the mid-to-late-80s and the early 90s. I'd also give anything to see more from the Lorne-less early 80s era. Heck, I want more Jon Lovitz, Anthony Michael Hall, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, and so many more. I want the episodes hosted by Macaulay Culkin, Drew Barrymore (as a kid), Michael Jordon, John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, etc. How much longer until I own every Coffee Talk, Wayne's World, or Spartan cheerleader sketch? Yes, even though the show hasn't been all that great in the last decade or so, I still want to see these later years on DVD. Oh, and I just remembered, I think I'll faint on the day that I can say I actually own every Weekend Update segment featuring Kevin Nealon and/or Norm MacDonald on DVD! Those two were my favorite WU hosts, although Chevy Chase, Dennis Miller, and Colin Quinn were great as well. Man, I'm getting way ahead of myself right now. These future seasons might never be available, and I'm already clearing shelf space for them.

Src: http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6503