Comedy Legend Dan Aykroyd on the 50th Anniversary of “SNL”

Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin

iHeartPodcasts

Tv & Film, Music, Music Interviews, Arts, Performing Arts, Film Interviews

4.4 • 8.4K Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2024

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This year marks the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live” – and while many of the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” have gone on to achieve remarkable careers, few have had as fascinating a journey as Dan Aykroyd’s. As the youngest member of the 1975 original cast, Aykroyd quickly became known for his iconic sketches, including parodies of Julia Child and Richard Nixon, the beloved “Two Wild and Crazy Guys,” and the absurd “Bass-o-Matic.” His sketch “The Blues Brothers” not only became a cultural touchstone, but evolved into successful feature films and a live musical act. Aykroyd’s talents also extend to behind the camera, as he wrote and starred in the comedy classics “Dragnet,” “Coneheads,” “Spies Like Us” and “Ghostbusters.” Aykroyd’s career has earned him numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award and Grammy and Academy Award nominations. He is also an entrepreneur and co-founder of the House of Blues music venues and Crystal Head Vodka. In this conversation, host Alec Baldwin speaks with Aykroyd about the early days of “SNL,” the evolution of his career into music and dramatic roles, and how his upbringing helped shape the creation of “Ghostbusters.”

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Job. And I go by the name, Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle.
0:20.9	We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other.
0:23.5	So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or
0:28.2	wherever you get your podcast.
0:31.8	This is Alec Baldwin, and you're listening to Here's the Thing from IHeart Radio.
0:38.3	On Here's the Thing, we'd like to draw attention to the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live.
0:45.3	In those 50 years, some of the most famous names in comedy films and television have passed through Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
0:55.4	However, as is evidenced by Jason Reitman's film Saturday night,
0:59.4	the most enduring names who performed on the show
1:01.9	are the original cast from 1975.
1:05.6	Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin,
1:09.8	John Belushi, and Lorraine Newman.
1:12.7	And after 50 years of SNL, the one who has had arguably the most interesting career of them all
1:19.2	is my guest today, Dan Aykroyd. Whether conjuring the stay-puffed marshmallow man, jamming an entire
1:27.3	fish into the bass-o-matic,
1:30.1	or dancing wildly to soul man few people are more enjoyable to watch than Dan Aykroyd.
1:37.0	His prolific career skyrocketed when he became the youngest cast member of the inaugural season
1:43.1	of Saturday Night Live at just 23 years old.
1:48.0	Akroyd's tenure at Studio 8H birthed iconic sketches about Julia Child, Richard Nixon, and of course the Blues Brothers, which evolved into feature films and a touring live band.
2:02.4	Dan Aykroyd is also the screenwriter behind the classic comedic films Dragnet,
2:07.8	cone heads, spies like us, and of course, Ghostbusters.
2:12.1	He repriezed his Ghostbusters role of Ray Stance just this year in Ghostbusters' Frozen Empire.
	...

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