Every day since December 29, we have revisited 50 Seasons in 50 Days. And finally, hours ahead of SNL50: The Anniversary Special, we give you the final sketch in the countdown: Season 1’s “Bass-O-Matic,” starring original cast members Dan Aykroyd and Laraine Newman.
The iconic “Bass-O-Matic” sketch debuted on April 17, 1976. In it, Aykroyd parodies an infomercial spokesman as he drops a whole bass into the blender to whip up a frothy, fishy beverage (yum!).
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Dan Aykroyd’s “Bass-O-Matic” parodies a real informercial for the Veg-O-Matic
“How many times has this happened to you? You have a bass. You’re trying to find an exciting new way to prepare it for dinner,” Aykroyd told the camera, with rapid-fire delivery. “You could scale the bass, remove the bass tail, head and bones, and serve the fish as you would any other fish dinner. But why bother now that you can use RalphCo’s amazing new kitchen tool, the Super Bass-O-Matic ’76?”
“Yes, fish eaters: The days of troublesome scaling, cutting and gutting are over. Because Super Bass-O-Matic ’76 is the tool that lets you use the whole bass with no fish waste without scaling, cutting or gutting!” Finally, a problem you’ve never had is solved.
“Wow, that’s terrific bass!” Newman raves, after taking a big sip of what we hope was actually carrot juice. Watch “Bass-O-Matic” from Season 1 above.
Aykroyd told Fresh Air‘s Terry Gross that the Super Bass-O-Matic was inspired by the cooking of his aunt, Canadian cookbook author and TV personality Helen Gougeon and her fish soup. As Aykroyd remembered it on Fresh Air, he pitched the concept to musician Paul Simon, Lorne Michaels, John Belushi, and Chevy Chase.
“When [Simon] started to snort, I said, man, I got something if I can make Paul laugh this easy. And I went away, and I wrote the scene based upon that night and my aunt’s real experience with the fish in a blender,” Aykroyd recounted.
It spawned a “Bat-O-Matic” sequel
Aykroyd and Newman donned much spookier getups to sell the Super Bat-O-Matic ’77 to all “witches, warlocks, conjurers, sorcerers” in Season 2’s Halloween episode.
“Wow, that’s great bat — and a great potion, too!” Newman exclaimed after taking a sip. “I’m in love, and my hives are cured!”
Aykroyd recreated “Bass-O-Matic” on the SNL40 anniversary show
Read a full recap of SNL‘s 2015 40th anniversary special here.
