Saturday Night Live: The Best of Tracy Morgan

OK, I know what everyone really wants to know is the contents of the disc but before I do that, I just wanted to say that this is a near perfect overview of this comedian's work on SNL--there are only two weak or filler sketches included and there is only one edited sketch, which is suprising as whoever is compiling these DVD always seems to include some kind of quick edited run through of the featured comic's sketches (Will Ferrell, anyone?) when all you want to see is the complete, original versions and if you have to compile a Vol. 2, OK then do it! I said near-perfect as it doesn't have my favorite pick of the character's appearances (i.e.: Homeless Sewer Guy and Astronaut Jones), but the ones included are pretty close in laughs and quality--again, there are two kinda dead sketches that I feel could've been replaced with something else, but I think the compilier was looking for variety at that point--anyway, here is the contents in NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

-Brian Fellows (talking parrot and tarantula)

-Brian Fellows (porcupine and pot-bellied pig--guest Matt Damon)

-Astronaut Jones (guest Britney Spears)

-Hardball (plays Harry Belafonte--with guest Sen. John McClain)

-Homeless Sewer Guy (guest Kate Hudson--this is one of the ones where I thought another could've been picked, I believe the Britney Spears one was funnier, if my memory serves)

-Astronaut Jones (guests Nelly, Garrett Moris and Brittany Murphey--again, I would've preferred the one with cast member Maya Ruldolph, when he tells her he wants to get her pregnant!)

-Dissin' Chris Gaines (with guest Garth Brooks and producer Lorne Micheals)

-Chat With Rachel and Tracy (with guest Jon Stewart)

-Weekend Update (as "Lamont" Bond)

-Weekend Update (as Maya Angelou)

-Weekend Update (as Dominican Lou talking about Sammy Sosa)

-Weekend Update (as Colin Quinn's friend Larry Smith picking the Oscars)

-Pimp Chat (I forget the guest--Vince Vaughn?)

-Shaq's Dad

-King Kong Director's Cut (guest Salma Hayek)

-The View (as Star Jones--guest Claire Danes--this is the only one drastically edited)

-Wong and Owens, ex-porn stars (guest Alec Baldwin--this was one of the weak ones)

-Barflies (that's what I call it, featuring mainly him and Maya Rudolph as drunks at a bar with a musical number--this was the other weak one)

The extras are 2 Conan O'Brien spots (haven't watched yet), 1 audition spot (OK) and 1 cut sketch (again, just OK, with guest Queen Latifah)

Before I end, I would like to add my opinion to several other reviewers' concerning the SNL DVD releases that they should make ones for the previous cast members (Belushi, Ackroyd, Radner, etc.), as well as the most popular hosts (Baldwin, Goodman)...

...now take off that costume so I can see those giant green space -------!

Tracy Morgans best of SNL is one of the best. I dont know what these other cornballs are talking about. PULL THE STICK OUT!!! My favorite sketch was with him and Shaq. The one where he play Bernard(Shaq) father, and tries spanking him and yell at him even though he's like 2 feet taller than his dad. Shaq being Shaq had a hard time keeping from cracking up. I like the sketch with him and Vince Vaughn, playing the playas.."PIMPS IN THE FRONT, HO'Z IN THE BACK AND CHUMPS IN THE TRUNK!!!". Astronaut Jones, Woodrow- that was really funny, too! I like him and Jim Breuer, where they play two ex-porn stars trying to get an office job. Oh man, and the extra credits with him and Queen Latifah, when she plays his girlfriend and those all his stuff out of the apartment window. She eventually start throwing embarrassing things out- even tapes AND TAPES of his porn collection! I hope they come out with another Best of Tracy Morgan soon!!! WHEN CAN WE GET TRACY MORGAN 2???

For someone who was on "Saturday Night Live" for seven years, the producers of "Saturday Night Live - The Best Of Tracy Morgan" certainly did an average job at best compiling his best moments. It's funny and all, but it's nowhere near as comprehensive or funny as the best - of's for say, Will Ferrell or Dana Carvey.

The dvd focuses mostly on Tracy's most popular characters, but it's obvious that the producers just decided to toss on a random sketch featuring this character rather than watching the sketches again and listening to the audience reaction and then deciding which appearance was the best. This means that while the Brian Fellow and Astronaut Jones sketches (to name a few) are funny but not necessarilly their best sketches (thogh I did laugh a lot when the porcupine wanted to show Brian Fellow his weener).

The only real laugh - out - loud sketch on the dvd is the "Hardball" bit with Tracy as Harry Belafonte. There are also a lot of moments missing. For example, during his early years, he did a very funny Mike Tyson impression that I thought was hysterical. But it's not included. Also, in his last season, he often did an Al Sharpton bit on "Hardball" that was very funny. But again, it's been excluded. But the most glaring omission of all is what has been judged as Tracy's breakthrough sketch. How the heck could they leave off the "Behind The Music" sketch with Fat Albert". That's like leaving "Wayne's World" off "The Best Of Mike Myers"!

What's sad about this dvd is that Tracy is really a hilarious talent. I watched the Conan O'Brian interviews and he's very funny. Unfortunately, this dvd does not do him justice. I hope that they will release a volume 2 of his best work.

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