Saturday Night Live Specials

My favorite TV show has always been Saturday Night Live. Well, that's not really truly, I really got into Batman when I was 6, then Gilligan's Island through high school and then there was the Rockford Files. Anyway I find SNL's irreverent humor and clever sketches to be fascinating and sometimes disturbing all at the same time. I don't watch it every week or even the entire show when it's on. I'm a wimpy fan, I usually fall asleep before the credits roll. Susan usually falls asleep before it even comes on. But I always look forward to watching whoever is hosting, who the musical guest is, the political satire sketches and anytime Christopher Walken is hosting I try to drink Coke or coffee and make it to the end. His franchised sketch, The Continental just kills me every time.

I remember watching if not the first episode, the first season as a, I don't know, 14 year old? I was sitting in my parents house on a Saturday Night, we were eating in the kitchen and this crazy show came on that was really funny. I think my dad was at work, he was a shift-worker and sometimes worked nights. And that was great because I'm sure his Southern, Pentecostal upbringing would have made him change the channel as soon as Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner or Dan Akroyoid began some "off color" skits.

As for Southern related comedy sketches, there have been many that have poked fun at the south of the mason Dixon lifestyle including Colonel Angus Comes Home, Appalachian emergency Room and Suel Forrester Southern Lawyer. And who can forget Dana Garvey's Church Lady who came back a few weeks ago and gave us a mini revival by interviewing Justin Beber and the Kardashina Girls. I know, I know, Church Lady is not really a Southern sketch, but I spent a lot of time in Southern churches as a kid and I can "testify" there's a lot of church ladies in the South y'all.

In celebration of my life time love for SNL, we here at Slippin' Southern have decided to offer a "Saturday Night Live Special" in my Etsy shop every week this summer. And here's how it works. Starting next Saturday night, 7-25-11, during the SNL program, I'll offer a percentage off your purchase when you make it during the program that night. Discount amounts will vary from week to week. During the week, leading up to Saturday night, I'll be giving hints via Twitter, Facebook and in my Etsy shop as to what the SNL discount code will be for that week. Finally at the beginning of the show each week, I'll offer a 10% Off code on my Etsy shop.

So enjoy SNL this week. It's going to be hosted by Jim Carrey and the musical guest is my wife Susan's favorite, The Black Keys (really, she has the CD and everything y'all). So that's where I'll be. Enjoy the show y'all! And to really kick things off. I'll give you 20% Off of your order TONIGHT if you email me at slippinsouthern@gmail.com or convo me on Etsy. Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!

Who do you call Big Daddy?

A couple of weeks ago I put up a new sign in my Etsy shop called "Big Daddy", It's sold several times now that Father's day is at hand and it's the one item in my shop that customers lovingly volunteer the reason they are purchasing the sign and many of them are quite charming. Here are a few...

- "I call my step dad big daddy so this is soo perfect! Thanks so much!"

- "Thanks so much ~ this will be perfect...my hubby has been Big Daddy since our first kiddo was born".

- "I love this! We've called my father Big Daddy ever since I can remember. I had to get this for Father's Day.

In case you didn't know, Big Daddy is a character from the 1958 film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof that was adapted from the Tennesee Williams play by the same name. It was directed by Richard Brooks and starred Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, and Burl Ives. It's a story about Brick, an alcoholic ex-football player who drinks his days away and resists the affections of his wife, Maggie. His reunion with his father, Big Daddy, who is dying of cancer, jogs a host of memories and revelations for both father and son.

Another more recent Hollywood film (1999) staring Adam Sandler was titled Big Daddy where he plays a lazy law school grad who adopts a kid to impress his girlfriend, but everything doesn't go as planned and he becomes the unlikely foster father.

My personal brush with the name Big Daddy has happened two times in my life.  Back in college at School of the Art Institute of Chicago I was the head resident at the Herman Crown Center Dormatory. That was in 1983, I was called Big Daddy by many of the residents on my floor. Actually they called me Big Daddy Bunny because my girlfriend at the time who is my wife and creative partner today had drawn a picture and pasted it to my door of a large Easter-ish bunny wearing jeans and a plaid shirt. At the top she wrote "Happy Birthday Big Daddy Bunny". Everyone on the floor saw it, got a big kick out of it and it kinda stuck for the rest of the year.

The second time was at a job I had in Washington D.C. at a publishing company. I was a creative director and my boss often called me Big Daddy since I was in charge of a staff of 10 people. It was kind of charming and an endering name.

Being called big daddy is a powerful title. When folks call you that, it is a sign of affection, respect and power. So who ever you call Big Daddy, give 'em a big hug when you do it and let them know you love them. Happy Fathers day to all of you Dad's and Big Daddys out there!