Top SNLers Who Blew Up. Or Blew Out

By Dino Sossi Posted Oct 23rd 2009 12:40PM

Fame can be a b---h. One moment, as John Lennon once said, you're "more popular than Jesus." The next, no one is returning your calls. The transition from obscurity to popularity to invisibility can happen faster than a New York minute. And one place where that phenomenon has happened more often than most is at 'Saturday Night Live.' Some people quickly become big stars and then fizzle after they leave the show. Others simmer on the proverbial comedic backburner and later laugh their way to a box office bonanza.

Here are the Top 'SNL' cast members who blew up. Or blew out, starting with:

Blew Up: Tracy Morgan
Blew Out: Chris Kattan and Cheri Oteri
Let's let Morgan, who stars on NBC's '30 Rock,' was nominated for an Emmy Award and is releasing his first book, 'I Am the New Black', explain this one. "I had my finger on the pulse of urban comedy, but when I brought my act to 'SNL,' those mother--------- just felt bad for me. None of the cast I came up with saw this future for me. No, sir. All I have to say about that is, where's Chris Kattan now? Where's Cheri Oteri now? That b---- can't even get arrested." Not exactly eloquent, but possibly accurate.

Blew Up: Bill Murray
Blew Out: Brian Doyle-Murray
Bill replaced the highly popular Chevy Chase and was almost run off the show. Fans complained that he was a poor replacement for Chase who left SNL for a career, and a love interest, far away in Hollywood. But Billy, that little engine that could, kept at it, became an SNL favorite, and later starred in such box office powerhouses as 'Tootsie,' the 'Ghostbusters' sequels and 'Charlie's Angels.' He also became a critically acclaimed actor and was nominated for an Academy Award for 'Lost in Translation.' Older brother Brian followed him to SNL and later to Hollywood but couldn't get out from under his younger brother's long, dark and awesome shadow.

Blew Up: Eddie Murphy
Blew Out: Tony Rosato
Eddie Murphy almost single-handedly resuscitated a flagging SNL franchise suffering from the exodus of its original cast. But it turns out he was just getting started. With films like '48 Hours,' 'Beverly Hills Cop,' and 'The Nutty Professor,' not only did he define the role of street-wise smart-ass, but he also became the second-highest grossing actor in motion picture history. Cast mate Rosato? After an undistinguished career on SNL, he was arrested and charged with criminal harassment of his wife due to deteriorating mental health. We hope he recovers.

Blew Up: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Blew Out: Brad Hall
Let's be honest. These spouses were both relatively quiet during their time on SNL. But while Louis-Dreyfus has won two Emmy Awards starring in 'Seinfeld,' the defining sitcom of the 1990s, and 'The New Adventures of Old Christine,' Hall starred in, well, what did he star in again?

Blew Up: John Belushi
Blew Out: Chris Farley
The connections between these two comedians are eerie. Both started their careers in the Chicago Second City. Both were highly explosive performers with an intensity almost too great for the small confines of television. And they both died at age 33 of a cocaine overdose. But while Belushi left us with comedic masterpieces like 'National Lampoon's Animal House' and 'The Blues Brothers,' Farley's filmography and effect on comedy were much smaller. Both left too soon and are still sorely missed.

Blew Up: Adam Sandler
Blew Out: Dana Carvey
While Dana Carvey was coming to the end of an incredible run on SNL (his creations include The Church Lady, Hans from 'Hans and Franz', and Garth from 'Wayne's World'), Sandler was just starting out. Unfortunately, heart problems and a surgical mishap slowed Carvey's career down. After leaving SNL, Sandler quickly became Mr. Hollywood Box Office starring in 'The Waterboy,' 'Big Daddy,' 'Anger Management' and 'The Longest Yard.'

Comments

(20)

Friday 23 October

By jeri

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Your comment on Jim Belushi and Chris Farley is incorrect. I think you mean John Belushi..

By doremifah solatido

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What type of low-rent trash netmag can't tell the difference between John and Jim Belushi? Hire a copy editor, for chrissake.

By dj

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I second that jeri-let's not put out to the universe about Jim-who is still here with us, but I would believe it is Mr. Sossi's intent to mean John (writer could you please update or acknowledge the misprint for the sake of the Belushi families).

By crystal

wow, way to fail with your Farley comment there.

Tommy Boy was released in 1995 - grossing $32,648,673 (making $2,332,048.07 a year)

Blues Brothers (released 1980): $57,229,890 (making that $1,973,444.48 a year)

Unless, of course you DID mean Jim, in which case yeah...Life According to Jim is awesome. Vomit.

(way to do your research guys)

By Jim

What? What are you talking about, "per year." Per year average since the release of a movie makes absolutely no sense. In 1980, a 57 mil box office take was a MONSTER hit. 32 mil in 1995, is not. If you factor in population and ticket prices, Blues Brothers was over 5 times more succesful. Per year average...not too smart.

Saturday 24 October

By GEORGE

I'M GLAD IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO NOTICED THAT,WAY TO GO

Jim: look at any inflation calculator for the opening numbers of both the movies. compare the movies for 1995 (Tommy Boys release date).

While I negated inflation before, I think you can still see 900,000 does not a blockbuster make.

Crystal, Still not sure what you're talking about? In 2005 dollars, Blues Brothers was $136 mil and Tommy Boy was $48 mil. That's a direct comparison. Check Lee's Movies and it will give you adjusted box office totals and statistices. Blues Brother's was a HUGE blockbuster, Tommy Boy was not. Not sure what math your using to come up with $900,000 or what exactly that represents?

By Mike

Please tell me you had the brains to incorporate the difference in movie ticket prices with your movie "recap" . Also, did you include DVD sales?

By Sarah

You forgot Brad Hall's most important career move: marrying Julia-Louis Dreyfuss! Her family is worth gazillions!

By Belladonna

Blew Up: Jim Belushi? (AAAH when? was my back turned for a second?) If it only was John Belishi that was still with us!
Blew Out: Chris Farley! yeah, would have continued to make us laugh...if he hadn't idolized John so much.

By wildkatzaz

Yeah - geez - Jim has done pretty well for himself - and is still very much alive!

By markpasciscia

Okay first off, like several people said, don't confuse Jim Belushi (alive) with John Belushi (dead but legendary)

Secondly, a real pop culture fan cares very little about how many gigs an artist made or how much money they made. Chris Farley was the John Belushi of his time and was equally legendary and his untimely death was equally devastating. Shame on you for calling him a blow-out!

By Reena

now that was well said!
that is how I feel also.
I was around for Chris Farley and John Belushi -
they both were hilarious and will remain a legend in my heart forever!

By Christine

This type of mistake (Jim instead of John Belushi) does show up in print journalism as well, but I see far more of these mistakes on web articles. Having an editor or fact-checker may seem old school, but it makes a difference.

By nick

I hate to say this, but the unfunniest cast members of 30 Rock are Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski. Each falls into the category of grating characters (at least on that show) and were far better on their prior regular series.

If it weren't for Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, who ARE funny, I'm not sure I'd even tune in.

Thank God it's just your thoughts on it....Both Tracy, AND Jane are hilarious...30 Rock ( and the office) have to be the funniest written sitcoms on TV right now...hands down...also just my thought..

Have to agree about the Office. Easily my favorite comedy on TV.

By RKL

Never understood the Adam Sandler / Dana Carvey thing. Carvey is funny, Sandler is like watching a wet piece of cardboard dry in the sun. Of course the same can be said of John Revolta and for some inexplicable reason he's a "star" too.

By jas

I never found Morgan funny either. Without Fey, he would be knocking on doors with Cheri and Chris...his comedic equals.

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