Monday, March 05, 2007
Remembering Belushi
John Belushi died 25 years ago today.
Thinking about him brings back more fond memories than I can list. There were the countless characters on "Saturday Night Live" (the Greek diner proprietor, the samurai, the "But nooooooooooooo" commentator on "Weekend Update"); the wild man of "Animal House"; his Joe Cocker from "National Lampoon's Lemmings"; the weird gyrations of "Joliet Jake" Blues on stage. Belushi is generally thought of as a walking id, but he wasn't always a drunken guy yelling "Toga! Toga!" His performances in the SNL short "Don't Look Back in Anger," as a Mike Royko-like columnist in "Continental Divide" and playing against type as the strait-laced neighbor in the odd "Neighbors" showed a talented guy who could have had an even more interesting career than he was known for. What are some of your memories of Belushi? 31 Comments
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When I was younger, my mother worked at a video store and she often brought home "The Best of John Belushi" and I have grown up with his comedy in my home. I'll admit I wasn't alive when he originally performed on Saturday Night Live and was only two years old when he died. But he is someone whom I've always loved. My favorite thing to watch was his samauri character. Samauri Delicatessen remains my all-time favorite SNL sketch to this day. I also enjoyed his Weekend Update Commentaries. I remember laughing so hard every time I saw him as Elizabeth Taylor choking on the drumstick. He's one of the main reasons I'm a devoted SNL fan now and I'll always love his work.
Believe it or not, I went into labor with my son while watching SNL (Samarai Delicatessen) back in 1980. And my son turned out to be a John Belushi fan.
Just his body movements could make me bust out laughing. As funny as the Samurai was, his stuff in Animal House cracks me up to this day. From the motivational speech about the Germans and Pearl Harbor to smashing a guitar it's all great. The true gem is at the end of the movie when the parade is in chaos. He grabs a banner to rappel down to the street. When he hits the ground and looks around, check out his facial expressions. He didn't need to utter a word to make you laugh.
My dad always used to take me to this deli and the guy who owned it was Japanese. His Samurai deli character always reminded me of the owner. It was so Funny! Gotta love a guy who cuts his corned beef with a Sword. Genius. Love him on SNL.
One of a kind! Cannot believe that he's been gone that long. He's not gone in our memories.
What a baby boomer! He changed us for good. Him and Gilda Radner. We miss you.
There's no "one moment," but how about when he came out with Joe Cocker AS Joe Cocker? Or when he came out as Cocker, and rolled all over the stage?
The man was such a physical comic that he could've been a star in silent films. As Bluto, he said more with that legendary eyebrow than amost anyone else could say with a page of dialogue. The fact that he could go from serious to slapstick then back with no pause in between was another sign of his brilliance. He would've been one of the true masters had he lived.
I was a little kid when I remember seeing the news flash that John "the funny guy at night" had died. I was crushed. I made a decision right then and there, as a little kid, to not do drugs. I'd rather laugh than be get high.
I was barely 18 when John died, and he had an exteme impact on my life. When I was going through my cancer treatments, I watched his movies and videotapes of SNL to get through the pain with laughter. And by the time I was 28, involved with drugs and alcohol myself, it was a small voice in my head that told me that this is how John died and that I didn't want to end up like that. I have been clean and sober for over 13 years now, and I owe much of that to the example of John - he had to die, but I didn't.
Twenty-five years seems like a long time, but for me it was only yesterday.
I first met John during the Blues Brothers movie, and then I worked with him on the soundtrack of "Neighbors" for a few weeks. We rode around in Limos from recording studio to film studios to his bungalow at Universal that he shared with Danny...all around LA.
It was a thrill and frightening. He took excess to the limit. It was funny watching all the Columbia execs in suits jump to attention when this chubby guy in camp shorts spoke. That was power!
John Belushi's influence on my life is felt daily. I feel weach moment of laughter as a gift from someone who knew me like a brother. I miss him and look always to the bright side of his brilliant comedic talent. John touched our lives like no other. John, you are sadly missed.
Robin Rousseau, John Belushi Fan for Life
I loved John Belusi. I'm 39 years old and the closest person ever to John is Will Ferrell. John Belushi was extremely talented and so freaking funny! It saddens me even to this day the fact that he is gone. Continental Divide was a wonderful surprise. He was a multi-faceted actor. I remember when he died a woman he had been with gave him the cocaine which he ID'ed on and I just wanted to grab her and punch her! Because of her, a legend is gone way too soon!!
I remember a very funny guy on SNL, when it was funny. It remains his best work. I remember also two fairly funny movies in which he starred. Then I remember very unfunny movies and him wasting his life.
Why are we always so ready to declare anyone who flames out at an early age a "genius?" Belushi was funny, but he was no genius. The haze of 25 years makes us forget that his star was falling when he died. He had an overblown body and an overblown drug habit and an overblown ego. "Continental Divide" was a bomb and he and Ackroyd ruined "Neighbors," which was the work of a true comedy writer, Larry Gelbart, and not a couple of hacks who were high. He doesn't need to be enlarged in death. He had some gifts, but in the end, he was just a sad junkie who was still trying to get laughs long after he ceased to be funny. No matter how many times we look at the old shows, that will never change.
What people don't realize that John was actually a GOOD singer and performer on stage. I remember seeing him (the Blues Brothers) at Pine Knob in Metro Detroit. Best concert I ever been to (tied with Bob Seger). His Joe Cooker is the best.
While its fitting that we should celebrate Belushi as the Tasmanian Devil of the comedic pantheon, you can't ignore the subtle genius he also wielded. Accordingly, my nod goes to the "Little Chocolate Donuts" bit. In this Wheaties commercial spoof, not only does John cut a gloriously funny figure as a pudgy track and field champion, but check out the smoldering cigarette, wantonly dangled in the same hand he holds and endorses the "little chocolate donut" with.
I once read that great humor is not about opening "funny doors", but about opening doors funny. To this end, Belushi didn't just open doors funny- he barreled right through them. Thanks for all the donuts John! I'm still laughing.
Many great creations...
But who can forget him in the very first SNL sketch??? Historical!
I don't understand how people seem to forget that he OD'd. A big time drug user that now everbody idolizes. Great example for kids isn't it.
Belushi memories are funny and sad. In the mid 1980s I curated a NYC photo show of a whole roll of pictures by Marcia Resnick at an artsy downtown club. One of the last series ever taken of him, these odd shots had him duct tape a globe on his shoulder. We nailed the pics to the wall but in the course of the opening many were pried off the wall, and we found kids selling them on the street the next day for $5.
Continental Divide was an excllent and totally underrated movie - he had such promised. How sad that he wasted a life and potential that many poeple can only dream of.
Belushi could express more by raising one eyebrow than most people can by using words and hand gestures....the man was a comedic genius...i miss him big time.
"I don't understand how people seem to forget that he OD'd. A big time drug user that now everbody idolizes. Great example for kids isn't it."
So does that mean Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Bon Scott, Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrison were known more for their dependencies than their artistic contributions? Quit looking at just the negatives...EVERYONE has flaws. Belushi was a man who wanted to make people laugh and he did so very well even if only for a short time. I watched SNL every Saturday night with my uncle at the ripe age of 7 in 1978. I will never forget "Cheeburger Cheeburger". And Animal House is a classic.
John Belushi WAS a comedic genius. He was a humanitarian. He was charismatic. He was a solid actor. He was funny in the true sense of the word. And most important -- he was SO much more than a 'drug statistic' for those people who foolishly think so - do the research and read his widow Judy's latest book on him, 'Belushi'.
I miss John every single day. There will NEVER be another like him.
A favorite Belushi memory is him impersonating 'The Godfather,' at a therapy session run by Elliot Gould. (SNL)Laraine Newman was also funny as a dumb blond who encouraged 'Vito,' and told him to 'Stop blocking!'
I do miss him sorely...aaaaand I finally got over his brother Jim, that unknown James Person who just appeared out of nowhere when John died, and can watch his work without wanting to throw something at the screen.
I was just a teen when Belushi was at his peak, but thankfully my father was a big SNL fan and used to let me stay up on Saturday's to see John.
Does anyone remember the SNL short where Belushi is walking through a graveyard talking about all of his cast mates that passed on. Kinda eerie thinking back!
I was born after John's Death, but there is an obsession, growing up watching the " best of John Belushi" and other snl, I relialized there was something special about John, It doesn't matter to me about how he died, but he was one of the best and most interesting people I have ever experienced. I have had my drug years and I'm only 21, but theres somthing about John that makes him funny and a total experience every time you watch him. I just wish he was around to this day so eventually I could meet him, but otherwise, He is one personality I will try to understand and follow because his wit and person is more than anyone in the year 2007. Good luck John, I still see ya!
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