The 411 Top 5 06.06.08: Week 116

Posted by Trevor Snyder on 06.06.2008

The Top 5 Post-SNL Careers

Today, You Don't Mess with the Zohan is unleashed upon audiences worldwide, ready to spread its vile wrath of un-funniness. OK, maybe that was a little harsh, but I can't help it – the trailers have given me little indication that the film has any chance of not sucking, but then again, it probably doesn't matter. Adam Sandler is one of those guys who people just seem to genuinely like, enough so that they continue to usually make even his blandest efforts box-office successes. Perhaps that's because, like other comedy stars who come from Saturday Night Live, we feel like we know the guy. Former SNL stars have a distinct advantage when they make the leap to the big-screen, in that they already have a built-in fanbase, eager to see what they can do now that they are no longer confined to the world of TV. But who has made the most of this advantage? It's an interesting debate; a debate we'll tackle right here and now, as we present our choices for:


THE TOP 5 POST-SNL CAREERS



Trevor Snyder

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Tina Fey - I freely admit that my inclusion of Fey is mostly due to my wanting to make sure the women of SNL are given some representation in this column. For a long time, SNL was thought of as a sort of "boy's club," and with the untimely passing of Gilda Radner, there was a long period of time where it appeared that Julia Louise-Dreyfuss would end up being the most successful female cast member. But this modern era of SNL has finally seen a rise in prominence of amazingly talented women, the most important one certainly being Fey, who made history by becoming the first female head writer. You might argue that it's far too soon to judge Fey's post-SNL career, but she's already proven herself as a successful screenwriter, and has created and stars in a television show which has already won an Emmy for Best Comedy Series. Not too shabby. She might not be as famous as the likes of Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, or other cast members who missed my list, but I would argue that her success is much more important in regards to comedy history. Let the debate begin.

Robert Downey Jr. - No, really, Robert Downey Jr. was a cast member. It's easy to forget this fact, as he starred on the show during its worst era, and most profiles written about him today simply glance over the fact that he was once a "Not Ready for Primetime Player." Still, he was there, and so he's just as eligible as anyone else. Even in the midst of all of his personal problems (which we don't really need to get into anymore), he was still thought of as one of the best actors of his generation, and the recent mega-success of Iron Man has finally started to make him the star he always should have been. Iron Man 2 and The Avengers will obviously be huge hits, and as long as he capitalizes on his newfound fame in other worthwhile projects, it's possible that he could someday arguably be considered the most successful former SNL cast member. There's still time for him to become recognized as a great comedic star, as well, which could very well start later this summer when he appears in Tropic Thunder, alongside my next honorable mention…

Ben Stiller - I was pretty torn between giving this last honorable mention to Chris Rock or Ben Stiller, but in the end I went with Stiller because of Rock's inability to translate his "Funniest Man in America" reputation to big-screen success (that's not a huge knock, though – his career is doing just fine the way it is and, if I was him, I wouldn't even worry about trying to break into the movie world anymore). Stiller, meanwhile, has starred in numerous massive box-office successes, and is even likable enough to help fairly lame fare like Night at the Museum find an audience. He's had his missteps, but overall I think most people are always eager to see his next project.

THE TOP 5

5. Mike Myers - Sure, The Love Guru looks like a big bag of suck, but even if it bombs I doubt Myers will have much time to notice, as I assume he spends much of his time counting his Austin Powers and Shrek money. Even though both of those franchises went progressively downhill with each entry (quality-wise, at least) they are still huge enough to guarantee Myers' spot in the box-office hall of fame. And let's not overlook Wayne's World, the most successful SNL movie ever (even if it's not considered quite the "classic" that The Blues Brothers is). Because Myers doesn't make movies as often as other comedic stars of the day, it's easy to forget just how big a deal he is. But when you really think about it, you have to admit he's one of the bigger stars of this era.

4. Will Ferrell - Probably the biggest comedic star of the moment, Ferrell has shown an amazing ability to draw a lot of mileage out of the same basic formula, time and time again. What's more, he's incredibly prolific, which also works to his benefit – you barely have time to feel bad for him after one of his bombs (like Kicking & Screaming or Bewitched) before he releases another mega-hit a few months later. Working with Woody Allen and a strong turn in Stranger Than Fiction has also shown that Ferrell is smart enough to know he has to branch out from time to time to keep his career alive in the long-run, but for right now he seems to be doing just fine, even if many complain his films are too similar to one another. I also give Ferrell bonus points for being one of the first major comedic stars to fully embrace the "viral video" and online phenomenon, which might do more for his long-term career than any of us realize right now.

3. Eddie Murphy - SNL in the ‘80s can pretty much be summed up in two words: "Eddie Murphy." Murphy's era on the show was probably the only time in history when the majority of the show's audience was tuning in for just one cast member, and so there was not much doubt that any post-SNL career he attempted would at least be initially successful. And, oh, it was. Murphy was the reigning king of American comedy for a pretty good chunk of that decade, and could easily be considered the most successful "R-rated" comedian of all time. His career took a pretty bad downturn in the ‘90s, but in recent years he has re-invented himself as family film star. That might not much for me, but there's no doubt it pays the bills, and probably softens the blow of his still occasional full-out embarrassments like Norbit. Plus, let's not forget that Academy Award nomination for Dreamgirls. Murphy has said he'd like to end his career by returning to stand-up, and I would imagine that if he does so it will be a pretty big deal, and perhaps allow him to finally exit the spotlight once again on top of the comedy world.

2. Adam Sandler - Every generation has that one comedy which somewhat defines it, and for people my age I'd be willing to say that movie is Billy Madison, a flick which almost everyone I know can recite from beginning to end (and I know this is not exclusive to my group of friends). In fact, Sandler's first initial batch of films (Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy) all became modern classics to today's audiences. Together with his more adult-themed comedy albums, these films ensured Sandler a dedicated following, many of whom will probably stick with him for as long as he keeps churning flicks out. Personally, I feel like Sandler's films have been mostly misses since the travesty that was Big Daddy, but even I have not completely given up on the guy. After all, Punch Drunk Love showed a willingness to dive into darker comedy that he has not yet further capitalized on, but one hopes he eventually will. And then there's the fact that, even though I think You Don't Mess with the Zohan looks terrible, I've heard enough people say they're looking forward to it to be reminded that Sandler is not exactly hurting for fans. He's found a niche, he's found an audience, and he's sticking with it. If it keeps working for him, then more power to him.

1. Bill Murray - No offense to some of my fellow 411 writers, but how anyone could not have Murray as their #1 choice is mind-boggling to me. Sure, numerous other cast members all had their moments in the sun, but I would argue that (with the possible exception of Murphy), Murray is the only one on this list who could already truly be considered a comedy legend. He has appeared in some of the funniest comedies of all time, but unlike his co-stars in some of those films (Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd), he has managed to sustain his career with an eventual transformation into "serious actor" territory. He probably should have already won at least one Academy Award, if not two (both Rushmore and Lost in Translation are definitely Oscar-worthy performances), and I have no doubt he'll get his chance again.



Shawn S. Lealos

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Ben Stiller (1988) – He is only an honorable mention because he was a cast member for only five episodes, leaving because the show refused to air any more of his short films. His career since then has been spectacular, though.

Bill Murray (1976-1979) – He is a legend. With movies such as Meatballs, Caddyshack and Ghostbusters, he could be Top 5 on anyone's list and I would not complain. His recent output in films such as Rushmore, Lost in Translation and Broken Flowers has allowed him to reinvent himself, proving that Bill Murray is greater than the man he replaced on the show, Chevy Chase.

Chevy Chase (1975) – He was the only original cast member that had a contract that allowed him to leave after one season, and he left. I argue that if John Belushi had not crashed and burned he would be on the list in place of Chevy Chase, the man he always felt he had to compete with during that first season. However, Caddyshack, Fletch, the Vacation movies. He is a legend but he's a relic now and is no longer relevant in today's comic society.

THE TOP 5

5. Chris Rock (1990-1992) – Rock was a cast member of three seasons, but was rarely used on the show. Despite his absence in many sketches, he became known as one of the Bad Boys of SNL (along with Chris Farley, Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider). Thanks to his national exposure in his limited role on SNL, he was able to transition to comedy albums (Born Suspect would be his first) and earned acting jobs, such as a crack addict in New Jack City. Rock would leave the show in frustration and took a reoccurring role on In Living Color instead. When that show was cancelled, he wrote and started in CB4, a entertaining mockumentary of rap music. It was in his role as an HBO talent that he would finally hit his peak. He won two Emmy Awards for his 1996 stand-up special Bring the Pain and an Emmy nomination for his role as a commentator during the 1996 Presidential elections on Comedy Central's Politically Incorrect. He would be called the funniest man in America after HBO specials Bigger & Blacker and Never Scared and ended up starting a very popular talk show on HBO called The Chris Rock Show. More recently he has helped create the show Everybody Hates Chris, which was a surprise success and based loosely on his childhood. Unlike other comedians on my list, it is not a movie career that made Rock a star, but his talents as a stand-up comedian that made him one of the most influential stars from SNL.

4. Will Ferrell (1995-2001) – Give him a few more years and he might move to the top of this list. While on SNL, he appeared in a number of other comedian's movies including the Austin Powers films, Superstar, The Ladies Man, Zoolander and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. He also made a movie out of one of his more annoying sketches, A Night at the Roxbury. However, a look at his work since SNL is an amazing collection of some of the best comedies of the last five years: Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory. Semi-Pro hit DVD this week and Step Brothers is on the way. Add in some great cameos in movies such as Wedding Crashers and The Producers and a very good turn in the film Stranger Than Fiction, and I challenge you to find a more successful comedian in that time frame. There are blemishes (Bewitched, Kicking and Screaming), but on average he has been on a hot streak. We'll have to wait to see what Step Brothers gives us this year. After that it's Land of the Lost.

3. Adam Sandler (1989-1994) – Adam Sandler has not changed much since his roles on Saturday Night Live as a man child, either prone to epic fits of anger or bouts of singsong performances. His first post-SNL starring role was in the film Billy Madison, which also starred his SNL chums Chris Farley and Norm McDonald. After a quick movie with Damon Wayans (Bulletproof), he would star in the movie that would help him break out as a major comedy player – Happy Gilmore. The success of Gilmore would ensure Sandler would have a solid stream of work and for the most part, he starred in movies that would capitalize on his rising popularity, one that would rival even that of Jim Carey at the time. I have always argued that Sandler made three types of movies: Movies for the Guys, Movies for the Girls and his outside projects, which I never really considered to me "Adam Sandler" movies anyway. To categorize the films – Guy's Movies: Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, Little Nicky, Anger Management, The Longest Yard; Girl's Movies: Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, Mr. Deeds, 50 First Dates, Click; Other's: Punch Drunk Love, Spanglish, Reign Over Me. I will also admit, I am relatively biased and like almost every movie on that list. Like him or not, his movies guarantee an audience and he is still relevant today, almost fourteen years since leaving the show. I'd argue he outlasted Jim Carey in relevance to audiences today.

2. Eddie Murphy (1980-1983) – Unlike many of the actors on this list, Murphy had a rough edge to his comedy that made him an instant stand up celebrity. His stand up routines in Delirious and Raw are both near perfect comedy shows and a successful career in film was almost a certainty. His career indeed started off as raunchy as his standup act, with standout performances in 48 Hrs alongside Nick Nolte and his signature role in Beverly Hills Cop and its sequels. Beverly Hills Cop became the third highest grossing R-rated film of all time (following The Exorcist and The Godfather) and made Eddie Murphy a star. He also had tamer roles, such as with his SNL co-star Dan Aykroyd in Trading Places. He hit a career stump in the 90's, starting with the disappointing Beverly Hills Cop 3 and released a string of movies that were neither financially successful nor critically acclaimed. Looking back over his earlier successful career, one movie could be pinpointed for the direction that Murphy's career would go from here. Coming to America gave Murphy a chance to try his hand at a number of various roles, oftentimes playing in the same scene together. Taking this idea and moving away from the R-rated roles that had forsaken him, Murphy began a career revival by making movies aimed towards families and kids. The Nutty Professor, Doctor Doolittle, Daddy Day Care ended up being Murphy's greatest successes and his new career, like it or not, had earned him a new lease on life. He added his voice talents to Mulan and the multi-billion dollar Shrek franchise and Murphy had finally morphed from a raunchy, standup comedian into a family friendly funny man, and one of the most successful filmmakers to come from Saturday Night Live. I would be remiss in failing to mention his Oscar nomination for his role in Dreamgirls, a career highlight in a role very dissimilar to any of his current output.

1. Mike Myers (1988-1994) – Mike Myers has had the most success financially of anyone to ever come out of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players. Like most cast members, his first foray in the cinemas was with a character he honed on the TV show, Wayne Campbell, and Wayne's World proved to be a financial success for the Canadian funny man. It would spawn a sequel and Myer's career was guaranteed. He would appear in the wonderful So I Married an Axe Murderer before creating a new franchise for himself with the Austin Powers movies. Each would be more successful than the previous one and the two sequels made close to $300 million a piece worldwide. While his Dr. Seuss adaptation of The Cat in the Hat was an epic misstep, he would go from Austin Powers to an even greater financial goldmine with his voice performance in the Shrek movies. The three Shrek movies have profited close to $3 billion worldwide with a fourth on the way in 2010. This month brings him back to live action with The Love Guru, and like him or not, Myers has proven to be the most financially stable name to come out of the Saturday Night phenomenon



Owain J. Brimfield

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Dan Aykroyd - just a comedy legend, even if he hasn't always had the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to his career choices.

Will Ferrell - pretty much the poster-boy for the current generation of comedic actors.

Adam Sandler - I really don't understand why people find him funny, but he's undeniably popular and plus, my girlfriend would be annoyed if I didn't at least mention him.


THE TOP 5

5. Harry Shearer - Probably the most underrated SNL alum, Shearer has built an undeniably solid career, founded principally in his roles in the legendary Spinal Tap and as arguably the most talented of the voice actors on the world's favorite television show, The Simpsons, and punctuated by solid supporting roles in the likes of The Truman Show, A Mighty Wind and The Fisher King. Shearer is always undersung but consistently top quality and, as one of the highest paid voice actors in living memory, deserves all the plaudits and success he gets.

4. Christopher Guest - After nailing one of the most iconic characters in comedy history, alongside his buddy Harry Shearer, as Spinal Tap's Nigel Tufnel, Guest has gone on to prove himself the foremost exponent of the 'mockumentary' genre with such fantastically detailed directorial outings as Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and the cult legend Waiting for Guffman. Although his most recent effort, For Your Consideration, wasn't quite up to his usual quality, the fact remains that Guest has an eye for comedic detail unrivalled in the business.

3. Mike Myers - For as much as his recent career seems to have stalled, Myers has had a large hand in fashioning three of the most prevalent characters in pop-culture over the last fifteen years in the shape of Wayne Campbell, Austin Powers and Shrek. While your preference for any stage of his career is most likely to be rooted in whichever of those franchises you grew up watching (I'm a Wayne's World man myself), it's hard to begrudge the man his successes as he's been an integral part of movie-comedy fabric since the 90s. Oh, and who can forget his marvelous supporting role as the straight man in Kanye West's racist-comedy sketch from a few years back?

2. Robert Downey Jr. - I think we're officially done delving into Downey Jr's drug-addled past now, aren't we? The guy has brought himself back into the limelight gradually, through amassing a filmography of genuine quality and comprised of some wonderfully nuanced performances. He's hit the big leagues this year with Iron Man and looks to cement that position with Tropic Thunder, and even his minor roles on comeback road have been riveting (you'd never catch me watching an Elton John music video if it wasn't for his part in 'I Want Love'). Downey has been one of my favorite actors for years and deserves immense credit.

1. Bill Murray - I'd be willing to put Murray on this list just for his post-2000 work (Garfield aside, even if his voicework was the only redeeming feature) - Lost in Translation, Coffee and Cigarettes, Broken Flowers and the three Wes Anderson films he's been in have all been excellent roles (and I'm not even a fan of Anderson's work). However, when you add movies like Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters and Caddyshack into the picture, you have surely one of the finest movie comedians of all time on your hands. Sure, there have been a few missteps along the way, but it's to Murray's credit that you can easily overlook those and concentrate on the genuine quality of the work he's put in over the last thirty years.



Bryan Kristopowitz

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Chris Rock - I remember seeing Rock on "SNL," but besides the great "Nat X" skits I can't remember anything he did on the show. Of course, after leaving "SNL," he became a huge stand up comic, did his own talk show on HBO, started directing and starring in his own movies, and now he's got a hit sitcom (he produces it) and is often proclaimed the funniest person in America or the world every few months. I'd say that's pretty decent.

Bill Murray - Again, much like Rock, I know that Murray was on "SNL," but besides the lounge singer character who sang "The Star Wars" I can't tell you anything else he did on the show. He's managed to become quite the hip and edgy artist the last few years, but we all still remember him as a bit of a goofball, and that's what likely got him on the show, replacing Chevy Chase. And that's what we still remember. Oh, sure, he may go do a Wes Anderson movie and impress the New York Times arts section people, but he'll always be either Carl Spengler or Pete Venkman.

Adam Sandler - I'm not a fan of Sandler. I thought he was okay on "SNL," and his movies, for the most part, have been hit or miss. But there's no denying that he's got a considerable fanbase, that people want to see him in movies and on television, and you just can't argue against that kind of following. Again, I may not think he's all that funny, but, as John Cleese once said, if people aren't laughing it isn't funny. Lots and lots of people laugh at him and with him, so he must be funny.

THE TOP 5

5. Chevy Chase - Granted, Chevy hasn't done much the past few years besides some kids movies, a great guest spot on Law & Order and a few episodes of Brothers & Sisters. But, really, Chevy did more by 1992 than most actors/comedians do in their entire career. Everyone remembers his great Gerald Ford impersonation, his "Weekend Update" bit, and the fact that he was there when the show started. He then went on to become Clark W. Griswold, and the rest is history. He will always be one of the greats.

4. Will Ferrell: I didn't like Ferrell on "SNL." For the most part, I thought he spent his many years on the show overacting, and while you can definitely get away with that in a movie (it's his calling card. Watch Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory, and Semi Pro to see him in action) I don't think you can get away with it as much on live television. You just come off as a total douchebag. But, the fact that, after the relative flop of Semi Pro, we're all waiting to find out what he's going to do next, and when we find out what that project is we can't wait to see it. He's gotten to the point in his career where it doesn't really matter if he flops because he is Will Ferrell. He's managed to franchise himself.

3. Dan Aykroyd - What's great about Aykroyd, who was there at the beginning of "SNL" and helped get it up and running, is that, after all of these years, he still shows up every now and then, either as a character or in the audience for a cameo. It's kind of like he never left in that sense. But then you have to look at his mega success in the 1980's, where he was one of the top comedy performers, along with Chase and Murray and Eddie Murphy, then to his character work and television work (he did a sitcom where he played a priest, and he hosted that Canadian science fiction show. I can't remember the name of it, but TNT used to air reruns of the show in the wee hours all of the time). People are always talking about Bill Murray (as they should, because he's done quite well for himself) and how he has sort of reinvented himself. Aykroyd did the same thing, he did it sooner, and, I think, he's had a slightly bigger impact because he's always in demand, he's always doing something. And, I just want to say that Aykroyd's Bob Dole is a million times better than Norm MacDonald's.

2. Mike Myers - Besides maybe the Blues Brothers, Myers has been the only cast member who has taken a character from the show, Wayne, and made a successful movie out of it (not to mention a sequel, which was much better than the first movie, in my opinion). He took that success and moved on to his own movies (Austin Powers franchise) and made oodles of money. And he's still making oodles of money, even as we speak. He hasn't had as much monetary success as Adam Sandler (Sandler has created his own genre of movies), but he's created a character, Powers, that will live on forever in pop culture. Austin Powers beats Happy Gilmore every day of the week.

1. Eddie Murphy: Eddie Murphy wins this contest because, out of all of the major players that have come out of the show, absolutely no one has been on top as long as he has in terms of star power and financial success. From his stand up career to his first string of major movie blockbusters to his lame music career to his recent sort of reinvention into a family movie comedian and serious actor, the man has never left the top of the mountain. Even when it looked like it was only a matter of time before he crashed and burned (the music career, the whole transvestite hooker thing, his divorce) he still came out of it smelling like a rose. Now, plenty of people can't stand his few recent movies (Norbit, the Nutty Professor movies, Daddy Day Care and Dr. Doolittle, among others), but more people like him than hate him, and he's still drawing a crowd. He's still a major star. Now, when he eventually leaves acting (I think he told Barbara Walters that he only had a few years left in acting), he'll probably do stand up again. He will once again be the biggest thing in comedy.

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