TOP 9 FAVORITE JOHN BELUSHI SKITS FROM SNL

Yes I was working on a list earlier this year on my Top 11 Favorite Bat-Episodes From Batman (Adam West) Season 2 and have published it in parts as well.  However, there was some major difficulties when making the list and on top of it, I didn't like the order that I put some of the Bat-Episodes.Yeah, it's a major muck up that I did and I apologize completely for it but now and I have an idea and sense on how to do a list. Don't worry though you'll see it get repost again once I can fix the problems and complete it in it's entirety. Sorry once again and as a young aspiring film critic, I will not let this muck up slip up again. So with that out of the way, here's the real first list of the year. Last year I just picked my favorite skits from the pilot episode of SNL, so from here on out, I'm going to pick my favorite skits from each compilation DVD of SNL. I'll get to the seasons (If I can find them) for last. I figured the best way to start a count down with a compilation DVD is to start with my all time SNL favorite SNL cast member...






Just know this. For each complication with a cast member, I will NOT be choosing a skit where the cast member makes a short appearance as a supporting character! I'm only picking the skits where the star is the focus then the supporting character. So sit back, relax and enjoy...

MY TOP 9 FAVORITE JOHN BELUSHI SKITS FROM SNL

NUMBER 9

THE WOLVERINES

First off, it's the first sketch ever and a really funny one as well. John Belushi is hysterical with his foreign accent, funny mannerisms and how he pretends to fake the heart attack is hysterical! I talked a lot about it in my first SNL list so all I'm going to say is, casting the great John Belushi was a wise choice. On top of it, the other actors in the sketch are great as well.

NUMBER 8

STAR TREK: THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE

This is a really funny great skit from start to finish that "Star Trek" fans love! This is SNL's take on the final episode to the "Star Trek" series made back in the 60's. The ship is being followed by a 1968 Chrysler Imperial and it turns out that the Aliens in that car are NBC executive Herb Goodman (Elliot Gould) and the Head of NBC stage crew Curtis (Garrett Morris) who come to cancel the show and take down the set as the cast of "Star Trek" try to fight back but can't since they're stuck in character thinking their lasers and powers actually work. I just love how the skit starts out as a typical parody of the show to getting into something beyond our expectations, it works really really well here, a bit confusing but still works. I also love the casting of Chevy Chase as Mr.Spock who becomes a nervous wreck during cancellation, Dan Aykroyd as Dr.McCoy as well as serving as the voice of Scotty and John Belushi as Captain Kirk who's an actor that's so attached to his role that he'll never break character no matter what. There are also references to when Shattner became a commercial spokesman for "Promise" margarine. So for being a really laugh out loud skit, why is the skit second lowest on the list. It's not bad at all, in fact it's one of the most well remembered skits on the show, it's just the other skits on the list show more of John Belushi using more of his comedic talents than he does here.

NUMBER 7

John Belushi was nicknamed "America's Guest" because he'd get into the habit of wandering over to a locals house, grab something from the fridge and fall asleep on the couch which not many people didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, if Belushi was alive and made a visit to my house, he's welcome to come in any time. Do to this reputation and habit, a skit made fun of his habit called "The Thing That Wouldn't Leave". It was in the style of a horror trailer movie and John Belushi in the skit visits a strangers house and would help himself with food (Which he does ask if there's "Anything in the fridge"), listen to albums (Which he loved to do for a past time), watch late night movies, invite over friends and he wouldn't leave no matter how much the people who lived in the house pleaded. The skit sadly is only on the VHS of "The Best Of John Belushi" and I was kind of disappointed that it was left out on the DVD. This skit is a representation of "America's Guest" over staying his welcome and I'm sure it did scare people from ever inviting him in.

NUMBER 6

DON'T LOOK BACK IN ANGER

While being a funny skit at the time, this actually makes me cry. The skit is about John Belushi in his old age being the only surviving member of SNL crying at the graves of his dear friends and telling stories about their life after the show and how they died. The skit makes me cry for this reason, sadly John Belushi wouldn't be the only survivor from the original cast, he's actually the first one to go and why, because of drugs. He was a talented man and drugs killed him, he's the reason why I stay away from drugs, god rest his soul. On top of it, he was going to be James Woods's character in "Once Upon A Time In America" but died before they can start filming and his acting here is phenomenal and Oscar worthy if this was presented as a full length film. This skit makes me moan over the death of the greatest SNL cast member and his dancing at the end always brings a smile to my face.

NUMBER 5

SAMURAI


The Samurai character was one of John Belushi's most memorable characters and to be honest no list or volume of the best of John Belushi isn't complete without at least one skit of him as the Samurai. John Belushi developed the character from constantly watching Samurai films and he would watch them so close on the TV and get so sucked into them that he would start making mimicking the voices and facial expressions to the point where he would tie his hair up in front of the mirror while wearing his bathrobe and pretend to be a Samurai. His wife Judy suggested that he'd do it on the show and he did. His over the top behavior, energy and stereotypical mannerism (But not as insulting as you think they would be) made this character an SNL legend. There's only two skits of the Samurai on the DVD and one on the VHS. The one on both versions is "Samurai Delicatessen" as the Samurai would make a sandwich for Buck Henry with his sword which is both cool and hysterical. The other one on the DVD is "Samurai Night Fever" which was the Samurai being the star of the film "Saturday Night Fever", who would be a mix between Travolta and his Samurai character which is funny but the Delicatessen skit was better. I hope there's a compilation video of more skits with John Belushi as the Samurai because there's like 16 skits and appearances of this memorable character.

NUMBER 4

OLYMPIA CAFE


If you thought John Belushi's accent and mannerisms were funny in "The Wolverines" skit or as his Samurai character, for me this one beats them all. He plays a Greek owner of a Greek Cafe and with a long menu and all they serve is  "Cheezborger" (Cheeseburger), "Cheep" (Chips) and "No Coke! Pepsi!". This is a skit that speaks for it self. John Belushi's accent and mannerisms are priceless, it's quotable, it has a great cast and the tempo and harmony of how they deliver their lines is perfect. It's a great skit and once you see it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

NUMBER 3

GODFATHER IN THERAPY


John Belushi got people laughing and cracking up as he did an incredible Marlon Brando impersonation on his audition tape and it was only a matter of time until he did a skit impersonating Brando. I'm not sure if this is his first skit on SNL doing Brando but either way, this skit is pretty hard to top. His impersonation of Brando as Vito Corleone is perfect. The voice is perfect, his facial expressions are perfect, man is he perfect for the role. Yeah, it's a silly scenario seeing "The Godfather" in therapy and talking about his business and blood shed from the other families to strangers as well as getting a few of the names of the characters wrong ("LUCA BRASI SLEEPS WITH THE FISHES" NOT CLEMENZA)  but it doesn't matter because it's still hysterical and I love how Elliot Gould as the therapist and Laraine Newman as the group member Sherry think he's "Blocking" as he's really opening up and telling the truth. It's silly but it's parody of "The Godfather", the supporting cast and Belushi's spot on impersonation and performance are what make it so great.

NUMBER 2

JOHN BELUSHI'S OUT BURSTS


One of the many great talents that John Belushi had was his over the top energy and sudden out bursts. He would go all out whenever he had an over dramatic moment and his spot on the classic recurring skit "Weekend Up Date" is where he truly shines. He starts out all calm, collected and professional like any other person in a News room but then as he got further on in the topic he's discussing, he would start to get emotional and start ranting to suddenly going into a complete out burst of yelling and screaming like a maniac thus ending with him falling out of his chair. He would also start talking about things he's trying to support to suddenly shouting out "BUTTTTT NNNNNNOOOOO" which actually Belushi fans putted a new epitaph on his tombstone reading "He could have given us a lot more laughs, but NOOOOOOO!". There's only two skits that can be found on the DVD and one skit on the VHS. His rant on the demolishment of "The Radio City Musical Hall" can be only found on the DVD while his famous subject "The Luck Of The Irish" can be found on both. John Belushi is defiantly the type of guy you do not want to piss off.

NUMBER 1

EVERY TIME HE SINGS





Before he was on SNL, he was picked along with Chevy Chase as he was doing a show by National Lampoons called "Lemmings" which was a parody of "Woodstock" and during the show he did a Joe Cocker impersonation which was so good and funny at the same time that he was able to do it on the show. He sings "With A Little Help From My Friends" and just like Cocker, he would not only sing like him but he would also act as drunk as he was as he performs by bringing over the top facial expressions, drinking and pouring himself with beer and than spewing it out to fallin' all over the place. Later on, Belushi would indeed get the opportunity to perform with the real star but sadly that performance is on NEITHER the VHS or the DVD.



John Belushi would also play Beethoven who of course can't hear his servants; has never eaten his food; and is hooked on his music and snuff box. As he would actually play a Beethoven song, he would actually play a modern tune way past the years that Beethoven lived. My favorite out of the three skits (They only show 2 on the DVD) is when he puts on a pair of sunglasses and starts singing and acting like Ray Charles as he would sing "What'd I Say" with his confused singing servants.


Than there's the time where John Belushi sang a classic Blues tune called "King Bee" as he, Dan Aykroyd and the rest of the band dressed up as Bees. Belushi sang the vocals and danced around as well as falling and collapsing on the floor while Aykroyd played Harmonica. Why does this skit sound familiar because it lead to one of the most iconic characters of all time on SNL...

THE BLUES BROTHERS


Who can forget these well dressed cool Blues players. John Belushi was phenomenal at singing those rock, blues and R&B tunes with his Bluesy voice while Aykroyd danced around, played Harmonica and sung in his deep cool voice; and the rest of the band that played with them were all great and very talented. While appearing only a few times on the show, they did manage to make some albums, perform concerts, and have a kickass movie! I was a big Blues Brothers fan growing up and I still am. Sadly the only performance we get on the DVD of the "Blues Brothers" (With the exception of "King Bee") is their classic performance of "Soul Man" while the VHS has them performing "B Movie Boxcar Blues" as well as having a reprise of their "Soul Man" performance complete with a montage of clips of Belushi on SNL during the credits. John Belushi is not only a gifted comedic performer but he was also indeed a gifted singer.

Other features you may find on these volumes of "The Best Of John Belushi" is "Celebrity Corner" with John Belushi as Liz Taylor; The party where Superheroes from Marvel and DC come together to have a party with John Belushi as The Hulk; Wilderness Comedian; and of course the famous Little Chocolate Donuts commercial. I feel bad leaving most of these out but I had to make a decision and I'm satisfied with mine. John Belushi is indeed one of the greatest performers of all time and he'll always be my number 1 favorite SNL cast member.