Jeanne Meldahl:
CLASS OF 1979
Booker T. Washington High SchoolClass of 1979
Tulsa, OK
Oklahoma City Community CollegeClass of 1992
Oklahoma city, OK
University of Oklahoma - Arts & SciencesClass of 1990
Norman, OK
University of Oklahoma - Arts & SciencesClass of 1985
Norman, OK
University of Oklahoma - Arts & SciencesClass of 1983
Norman, OK
Jeanne's Story
Fleeting Fame Flashback: My SNL Skit with Eddie Murphy
Until very recently, I never got to see this: my letter read by Eddie Murphy on SNL's "NewsBreak" (the stupid name for "Weekend Update" during the '80s) because I was in Tulsa for my dad's birthday, where the show was not aired (because it was the devil's work). I knew about it only because S.k. Duff called me from NY that night to tell me he saw it. And then my OU friends told me about it when I got back to school after the weekend. Given the "racist" humor in my letter (at about 1:25), I should probably explain... (This might be a good time to watch the video. Since Classmates won't allow me to post a link, you'll have to Google LARRY THE LOBSTER'S FATE and choose the yahoo link - none of the other video results work since they don't have the rights.)
The seafood comment came from an actual experience from my Booker T. Washington High School days. I don't remember the exact field trip, but I *think* it was to the Nelson Art Gallery in Kansas City. Our bus stopped at a Podunk roadside diner/gas station, and we (a group of kids of all races) filed in to get some grub. You placed your order with the old white guy behind the counter, and there was some sort of fish special scrawled on a chalkboard. It was the cheapest, so a bunch of us (again, of assorted races) ordered that, and the guy looked up with great surprise and exclaimed (not in a mean way), "Huh! I didn't think you people liked seafood." His comment was NOT directed at the white kids, and for just a second, we all just stood there in stunned silence. Then we all burst into laughter. Yeah, it was a racist thing to say, but the guy was so innocent and good-natured about it - like he was actually pleased to learn something new - that we couldn't help but crack up. Besides, that kind of "laugh about it" spirit was what made BTW such a cool experience. Given how segregated Tulsa was then, a lot of us kids hadn't been regularly exposed to kids of other backgrounds and races. It was okay to be curious and ask ignorant questions of each other because we truly were innocent and we really did want to learn and grow and strive to NOT be ignorant. But I digress.
It cracks me up to see this clip, but it kind of makes me sad, too. It makes me sad that it's necessary to explain the humor, that we seem to have progressed so little regarding race in this country. Back then it was normal and okay to point out and make fun of bigotry - even, and possibly especially, on network TV. (Thank you, Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, Norman Lear, etc.!) Now, well, it feels like we're su...Expand for more
pposed to pretend that everything is fixed, and anyone who attempts to discuss issues honestly and intelligently is accused of playing some "card" or another. I suspect this is because our shame is so great - or so greatly buried - that shining light on issues that need to be confronted and resolved hurts our eyes too much. We don't like to hurt. We like to feel good and proud and get trophies and awards for minimal effort, so it's much easier to avoid and evade and get mad when someone dares to address such topics, which are better left as "those we don't speak of."
When I was at BTW I remember feeling such excitement about what our country and the world would look like in the future. I would've thought that by now such a ludicrous line in a letter (to a COMEDY show) would elicit riotous laughter simply because of its sheer absurdity. Hell, that's what I thought back then! Sadly, I've learned over the years that it isn't so. Even with technology that allows us contact with virtually every corner of the world (and, thus, the opportunity to allay fears, extinguish stereotypes, and overcome ignorance), some of us still choose to isolate ourselves, foster suspicion, and cling to antiquated myths about fellow human beings. And even more disturbing to me is the sad fact that some of that same vile bigotry that existed in our day is coming out of new generations - and with new targets always available to replace the old.
But wow! Talk about digressing. That was a TWO soapbox digression! So back to ME and MY two-and-a-half minutes of fleeting fame on Saturday Night Live...
I'm quite impressed that Eddie Murphy ALMOST pronounced my name right - "Maydahl" instead of "Meldahl" and "Jean" instead of "Jeanie." Big deal - he was way closer than most of my profs at the time. And that really is my letter he's reading, though I don't remember my handwriting ever being that neat, so I think they may have typed it up while editing it for length (how dare they!). I only wish I could see the "OUCCCLLL" (my abbreviation for the made-up organization I cite) on the return envelope. I remember being super proud of that endless initialism. (Fun Fact: An abbreviation formed from letters of other words is an "acronym" IF it is pronounceable as a word, like OPEC or NASA. If it is NOT pronounceable, it's called an "initialism.") And I love, love, LOVE that Eddie Murphy finishes the bit with a fake quote from Booker T. Washington. Aaah, the circle is complete!
Oh, and finally (though it's probably obvious), my subsequent letters to SNL pleading for a job went unanswered. What a bunch of users. ;-)
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