Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Let's Boil The Wolverines

The amazing John Belushi died 25 years ago this week at the age of 33. We all know that the influence of The Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players and the first five seasons of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE on Hollywood, even to this day, cannot be overestimated. But it is worth wondering in what direction Belushi's career would have gone if he had survived past 1982. Would he have become Bill Murray or Chevy Chase? I suspect, given his enormous talent (and he was a very good actor, in addition to his skills as a physical comedian), he would have by now become an in-demand character actor, but hopefully one with more accomplished tastes than Dan Aykroyd. Yes, I realize that Aykroyd was once nominated for an Academy Award, but I think it's safe to say that most of his post-SNL roles are pretty forgettable.

I'm sure that if you go to YouTube, you'll find plenty of Belushi videos there, including tribute clips and SNL sketches and scenes from ANIMAL HOUSE. It certainly wouldn't hurt you to check a couple out and be reminded of what an electrifying performer he could be.

What I found of interest is this, which is the obituary VARIETY wrote for Belushi on March 5, 1982.

No comments: