History of Tunnel Vision: Comedy That Led to SNL

Tunnel Vision is a 1976 movie that tried to predict what television would be like in 1985. It also laid the groundwork for the humor of early Saturday Night Live.

Basically, it’s a sketch comedy movie that features cameos from such future comedy stars before they were famous: John Candy, Chevy Chase, Joe Flaherty, Laraine Newman, and Al Franken.

Much like SCTV, the movie follows a typical day's programming on the network - while the president of Tunnel Vision has to defend his network in front of a Senate sub-committee.

History of The Groove Tube: Comedy That Led to SNL

The Groove Tube is a 1974 comedy film that gave both Chevy Chase and Richard Belzer their first screen roles. It’s also a film that laid the groundwork for the humor of early Saturday Night Live.

The low-budget movie, which satirizes TV and counterculture of the early 70s, began as an innovative theater show in NYC’s Lower East Side - with the Channel One Theater Company.

Directed by Ken Shapiro, The Groove Tube was the brainchild of the humor of the first generation of comedians coming to age in the TV generation.

History of the Biggest Flop in TV Comedy History

Turn-On is considered the biggest flop in TV comedy history. The sketch comedy show was created in 1969 by George Schlatter - who was trying to capitalize on his other show, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.

Only one episode ever aired. In fact, some stations pulled the show after the very first commercial break. A young Albert Brooks was one of the staff writers and the first episode of Turn-On was hosted by Tim Conway. Perhaps the show was too ahead of its time, or perhaps it was truly awful? We’ll just never know…