Michael Arlen

But then there was a crisply done parody of a TV news program concluding with a lunatic, news for the hard of hearing, which consisted of a newsman yelling items of news very loud.

Also, a takeoff of a Black Perspective program with the Black host attempting to interview a harebrained white girl on the subject of a book she had just written about Black ghetto life. Also, an amiable but fairly juvenile parody of Jaws. Also a skit by a fine young comedian Andy Kaufman about a TV guest who couldn't manage to perform properly or at all. And so forth.

Also, a takeoff of a Black Perspective program with the Black host attempting to interview a harebrained white girl on the subject of a book she had just written about Black ghetto life. Also, an amiable but fairly juvenile parody of Jaws. Also a skit by a fine young comedian Andy Kaufman about a TV guest who couldn't manage to perform properly or at all. And so forth.

Also, a takeoff of a Black Perspective program with the Black host attempting to interview a harebrained white girl on the subject of a book she had just written about Black ghetto life. Also, an amiable but fairly juvenile parody of Jaws. Also a skit by a fine young comedian Andy Kaufman about a TV guest who couldn't manage to perform properly or at all. And so forth.

For the most part, in the past 20 years, commercial television has largely ignored the important new trends in modern comedy. Whether as a result of the caution of advertisers or of the personal prejudices of network bosses, mass entertainment television comedy has been firmly rooted in the past.

For the most part, in the past 20 years, commercial television has largely ignored the important new trends in modern comedy. Whether as a result of the caution of advertisers or of the personal prejudices of network bosses, mass entertainment television comedy has been firmly rooted in the past.

For the most part, in the past 20 years, commercial television has largely ignored the important new trends in modern comedy. Whether as a result of the caution of advertisers or of the personal prejudices of network bosses, mass entertainment television comedy has been firmly rooted in the past.

a synthetic Hollywood-style show business past, despite the fact that the new forms of comedy have demonstrated a considerable popular appeal. It's not a matter of wishing to replace Bob Hope with an elitist, in-group kind of humor. The popular audience continues to adore Bob Hope.

a synthetic Hollywood-style show business past, despite the fact that the new forms of comedy have demonstrated a considerable popular appeal. It's not a matter of wishing to replace Bob Hope with an elitist, in-group kind of humor. The popular audience continues to adore Bob Hope.

a synthetic Hollywood-style show business past, despite the fact that the new forms of comedy have demonstrated a considerable popular appeal. It's not a matter of wishing to replace Bob Hope with an elitist, in-group kind of humor. The popular audience continues to adore Bob Hope.

But it is also true that for years, substantial segments of this same popular audience have been sneaking away in droves from its hoopla show business comedy hours, in order to commune with the rising number of lesser-known, more personal, more political, more sexual comedians.

But it is also true that for years, substantial segments of this same popular audience have been sneaking away in droves from its hoopla show business comedy hours, in order to commune with the rising number of lesser-known, more personal, more political, more sexual comedians.

But it is also true that for years, substantial segments of this same popular audience have been sneaking away in droves from its hoopla show business comedy hours, in order to commune with the rising number of lesser-known, more personal, more political, more sexual comedians.

Thus, what is noteworthy about Saturday Night and why I commend it is not the result of any spectacular, star-studded brilliance on its part. Indeed, it has no real stars, though I hope that the ensemble of actor-comics who perform most of the skits will make individual names for themselves. It is, as the saying goes, an uneven program with ups and downs and too many commercial breaks.

Thus, what is noteworthy about Saturday Night and why I commend it is not the result of any spectacular, star-studded brilliance on its part. Indeed, it has no real stars, though I hope that the ensemble of actor-comics who perform most of the skits will make individual names for themselves. It is, as the saying goes, an uneven program with ups and downs and too many commercial breaks.

Thus, what is noteworthy about Saturday Night and why I commend it is not the result of any spectacular, star-studded brilliance on its part. Indeed, it has no real stars, though I hope that the ensemble of actor-comics who perform most of the skits will make individual names for themselves. It is, as the saying goes, an uneven program with ups and downs and too many commercial breaks.

But it is a direct and funny show which seems to speak out of the real non-show business world that most people inhabit. And it exists. One wonders, without expecting an answer, what took it so long?

But it is a direct and funny show which seems to speak out of the real non-show business world that most people inhabit. And it exists. One wonders, without expecting an answer, what took it so long?

But it is a direct and funny show which seems to speak out of the real non-show business world that most people inhabit. And it exists. One wonders, without expecting an answer, what took it so long?

One wonders, too, what simple human pleasures the simple human TV viewer might someday conceivably experience if network television, that grinning, gun-toting, wisecracking, yet just a beautiful audience, still youthful courtesan, should ever start peeling off the rest of the cosmetics.