Are you old enough to watch the evening news?

David Muir on ABC

Now THAT, my friends, is a trick question.

First off, every newscast starts with "BREAKING NEWS" and we older like that. (Hint number 1) We want to know what is happening now so we can be up to date. Will the future never happen if we don't worry about it? Sadly, so much of BREAKING NEWS recently is about the really bad weather that has earned its prominence. 


Most of us older people are already obsessed about the weather, good, bad or foggy. (Hint number 2) When we were young, apparently there was no weather... or at least, not 24/7 as it is today.

Rising or dropping gas prices across the nation (Hint number 3) is also fodder a little later in the broadcast and outrage comes quick to those who will drive 30 miles to save 5 cents a gallon. But fear not, there is enough outrage in the news to give every watcher a target or two.

The reason all of this is true is because old people care on a global/universe scale. Thus we are self-selecting. That's why we see all those icky ads at dinner time... because we are the best market for those advertisers and they aim right between the eyes and into the caring brain of the "the older." ... of which I am one, or better said... of which I am one.

So the evening news has most of the elements for 'older' interests... immediacy, core issues, pet interests, bile baiters, etc. Now it is safe for me to be judgmental because I have come clean...but maybe not Charmin clean, heaven forbid...  and old people can't read that small type anyhow so they don't know I am making fun of us.  So just think of me as 28 years-old (wink-wink ok?) as I continue on my rampage of, as you will see, advertising to the older generation... or, as we say in the business, demographics

We are 'self-selecting' by our interests and certain advertisers want us... need us!

They mostly target the less-desired demographic with products/things that would interest someone skewing "oldish." (Actually a smart strategy, and the reason Nike or Speedo don't.)

So we get:

• Charmin toilet tissue (my favorite) because I do desire "a better clean." "A Charmin clean... Now that feels good," "Whether I sit or squat."

• Depends, "for a better fit," of course.

• Ducolax, "Dependable relief" asking if I am "Constipated?" or "Stuck?"

• Cologuard, where I can "send poop through the mail."

• Linzess, because "not everyone poops."

• Bath Fitters, because "a walk-in shower is safer for the less agile than a bathtub."

• Hearing Aids, because "Eh?"

• And many of the medicines with strange, made-up trade names and a list of possible side effects from upset stomach to death, but all helpful or vital when needed... like now for some who watch.

If you watch the evening news, you are quite probably interested in these products. Actually, it does work as advertisers spend big money to reach their best audience of users or potential users. Facebook also chases the gold by recognizing who wants what and instantly flooding those 'feeds' with like product. That's no accident.

So, news watchers, the message is clear... if you want to be seen as demographically younger, and who doesn't, watch Saturday Night Live, now in it's 44th year. You'll see none of the above advertisers but you must use discretion lest you be tempted to go for a racy Speedo or new pair of very expensive Nikes ("Just Do It!"),  As a bonus though, with SNL you will get a slice of America as it is currently seen through younger comedic eyes, some funny stuff and some that will make you cringe. But hey, that's what time-shifting is all about. Record the stuff you want to watch later and fast forward with gusto until it feels just right. And, as a bonus, you can still get to bed before 10 pm and no one will know how old you are, you sly fox.

Older is a joy if blessed with the important stuff (not money, but if so burdened, try your best to live with it.) but you know what I mean. We are as old as we see from our eyes but sometimes, if we are seen as older by others, it  is a drag. Be free as life allows... watch SNL if only in disgust, but enjoy a semi-forbidden laugh (with absolutely no disclaimers) at ourselves once in a while... and maybe, worry less about what you can't control. Did you just say "NOPE!"

SNL has lasted 43 years... and continuing. Why? Here's the real reason.

Saturday Night Live aired for the first time on October 11, 1975 and is now in its 44 year and counting. SNL has proven itself to be a lot of things to a lot of people...  and it remains today the most poignant show ever on television.

poingnat, adjective,, evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret, "a poignant reminder of the passing of time." Synonyms: touching, moving. sad, affecting, etc. AND FUNNY, sometimes... or not.

If you think much hasn't changed since 1975, you are probably eight years old, but just imagine, we didn't even have the internet, for God's sake! And Pong was the TV game that had us all agog at how far we had come.

Times change so fast with no way to to socially feel then from now unless we look backward. 

SNL has the only format that, for 43 years and continuing, keeps us current, lampooning life of the moment. It's not funny if it's not current.  SNL has skewered every president since Ford and many of them  and other important figures of the day have even made cameos and more to ride with the jokes and skits. Sarah Palin was there with Tina Fey and Barack Obama appeared several times. If you haven't seen Kate McKinnon do Hilary Clinton at the piano playing and singing Hallelujah just days after she lost the Presidency, (no matter what your politics) that was poignantly perfect.

SNL has had its tender moments to help us reflect, like days after 9/11 and other momentous happenings. John McCain has been on numerous times and even hosted once in 2002 and in memoriam, SNL replayed many of those bits.

It is the timely humor that often gives us a grounding of who we are and where we are at the moment. And if we ca't laugh at ourselves, then we are in even worse shape today than it actually feels.

SNL often does political humor from all sides and occasionally uses material that touches the edges but that's what happens when you go at life with few limitations. We are sometimes irreverent and over the borderline ourselves as a people. There is no "hands off" in life as we have plainly seen these past few years.

There have been 151 "regulars" on the show since John Belushi's time and a large number of "Not

ready for prime time" supporting them. There have been more than 850 skits not counting the fabled "News" segments, all about us.

Lorne Michael at Emmy time

Lorne Michael has been the head genius from day one,44 years ago. He must be to pull an incredible
different kind of cast nd writers week after week to produce every show "live," not counting the reruns and various repeat  combinations.


How hard it must be to do that over time with every year bringing updated ideas to production and hold an ever changing audience of fans... and non-fans as well. 

I actually saw a show a number of years back and was amazed as how it all came together.

But, like it or not, SNL is the only one of all in the public domain that has occupied this poignant stage for 43 years and counting. It's a poingnat lampoon of who we are and where we are by a brassy, funny, evolving cast that makes a living pretending to be us, figuratively, with our cloths off.

Here's to the watchers who can laugh. I truly wish there were more who could laugh more often. But it's hard to laugh when you are mad. 

Want more? GO HERE and enjoy.

VIOLINS! We need more violins!

Remember This?
Go back to Saturday Night Live, 1975 to see Emily Litella's commentary to Chevy Chase's SNL news:
 

Chevy Chase: And now with tonight's commentary; Miss Emily Litella.
Emily Litella: Thank you, Cheddar. What's all this talk about violins on TV? I think we need more violins and less of that loud rock music. And furthermore...
Chevy Chase: Uh, excuse me; Miss Litella. It's violence on TV, not violins.
Emily Litella: Oh. Never mind.

And this one too:

Emily Litella: What is all this fuss I hear about the Supreme Court decision on a "deaf" penalty? It's terrible! Deaf people have enough problems as it is!
Chevy Chase: That's death penalty, Ms. Litella, not deaf ... death.
Emily Litella: Oh, that's very different.... Never mind.

But she made a very good point. We really do need more violins... LOTS MORE! And less of the things that make us less human.

She also almost got it right on "saving Soviet jewelry" [Jewry], "endangered feces" [species], "conserving natural racehorses" [natural resources], "firing the handicapped" [hiring], and "making Puerto Rico a steak" [state].

Gene Wilder & Gilda Radner

Emily Litella was the incredibly talented Gilda Radner, one of the SNL originals. She was not quite 33 when she died of ovarian cancer, just four years after she married talented actor and writer Gene Wilder (who played Willie Wonka among other great roles). When asked by comedian/friend Gary Shandling why she did not appear in public more often, she replied, "Oh, I had cancer. What did you have?" Shandling's reply: "A very bad series of career moves ... which, by the way, there's no cure for whatsoever."

She wrote a book, It's Always Something, which, by title alone, gave hint to her admired character and courage. It you've never seen any of these things, Google Emily Litella and have a look at some of what made us laugh.

PS: SNL is now in its 40th season. With many up and down years, it remains today as something very "save" worthy for later viewing (and fast forwarding when required). Lots of great new performers and funny stuff amidst some less-so. It is worth your discerning eye. A history of SNL is a perspective to the changing face of humor over four decades of skits and talents.