"Best of" = the culmination of years of hard labor on SNL

Other than Eddie the great, African American cast members continue to struggle for airtime on Saturday Night Live. Sure, Chris Rock hit it big, but had a hard time fitting in on SNL. Like Tim Meadows before him, Tracy Morgan remained in the background for a long time, having to be content with little scraps and stereotypical characters thrown his way. I would not go so far as to call SNL prejudice, but does seem to be a huge difference between the predominate 'White' sketches and the occasional 'Black' one. Having paid his due in the background for almost five years, Tracy finally got the chance to create some memorable recurring characters, with the emphasis on recurring (watch any two Astronaut Joneses' or Woodrow skits and you know what I mean). Indeed, Astronaut Jones appears twice in this collection (once guest starring Garret Morris), as does Tracy's best known break through recurrer, Brian Fellow. Thankfully Woodrow only pops up once.

Now when Tracy would only appear once or twice a show, he often came over as a bit of a one-note performer. This compilation, however, featuring TM continually, proves otherwise. It makes clear to me that Morgan would not be misplaced heading one of those old fashioned comedy-variety shows they don't make anymore. His impressions of the likes of Harry Belafonte and Maya Angelou may not be spot on, but they certainly are laugh-out loud funny. His weekend update characters (Dominican Lou, Larry Smith), although usually just an excuse to do some stand-up, are different enough to disassociate him from the times he plays 'himself' (as in "Talkin' to the stars"). When playing a supporting part, as in the 'King Kong' sketch or 'Wong and Owens' (with Jim Breuer), Tracy adds a lot without claiming the spotlight. Still, his star shines brightest when accompanied by another colored guest star (Shaquille O'Neal) or host (Bernie Mac). The fact that a lot of these skits and bits were new to me also added to the enjoyment.

Ironically, the sketch shown under the end credits features poor Dean Edwards in a (joke free) supporting role. There's another one who never made it.

7 out of 10

The dark comedy subgenre, also known as black comedy, combines humor with elements of tragedy, morbidity, or darker themes. Dark comedies often explore serious or taboo subjects, such as death, crime, dysfunction, and societal issues, while infusing these topics with humor to create an unusual and often thought-provoking contrast. The humor in dark comedies is typically edgy, satirical, and often unsettling, challenging traditional comedic norms.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)

The parody subgenre imitates, exaggerates, and satirizes the style, themes, characters, or conventions of another work, genre, or cultural phenomenon. Parodies often involve taking well-known elements from the original source and presenting them in a humorous and exaggerated manner to create a comedic effect.

Bill Pullman, John Candy, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga, and Lorene Yarnell Jansson in Spaceballs (1987)

The satire subgenre uses humor, irony, exaggeration, and parody to critique and comment on various aspects of society, culture, politics, institutions, and human behavior. Satires aim to provoke thought, highlight absurdities, and expose hypocrisy by presenting familiar situations in a distorted or exaggerated manner. They entertain while also providing social commentary and encouraging viewers to reflect on the subjects being criticized.

Peter Sellers in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

The sketch comedy subgenre consists of a series of short, self-contained scenes or sketches, often connected by a common theme, style, or recurring characters. Each sketch typically lasts a few minutes and presents a humorous situation, scenario, or interaction that delivers a punchline, comedic twist, or funny observation.

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele in Key and Peele (2012)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

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The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tracy Morgan

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tracy Morgan (2004)

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Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tracy Morgan

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