February 2025 – Gary Bennett Publishing

Breakup songs to drive home the message

By Gary Bennett

If you’re celebrating National Breakup Day on Feb. 21,sorry and good luck.

This article appears in the February 20, 2025, issue of Frederick-News Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

Valentine’s Day is nice, but because real life happens, Feb. 21 is National Breakup Day. It should be no surprise. It comes only one week after the big day because, you know, love can be fleeting.

This anti-est of Valentine’s Day is sad, sure, but necessary. Who among us has never had trouble ridding ourselves of that certain someone who seems to just hang on and won’t take no for an answer?

Despite your protests, you might need help in this area. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but the day might come when you’ll find yourself hiding in the bushes rather than spending another evening with Mr. or Ms. Wrong.

Here are my Top 10 Breakup Songs for your life-skills pleasure. I know what you’re thinking, but no, I’m actually happily married. Keep in mind, though, I’m an older guy who enjoys rock and pop tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ’80s, so that’s what you’re getting here.

As I’m sure you know, breakup songs come in two flavors. There are the “I’m so sad we broke up, I’m just going to wallow in it” songs and the “please go away” songs. This list is comprised of the latter. Enjoy your breakup!

1. HIT THE ROAD, JACK

Ray Charles, 1960

This classic from a legendary artist is a verbal jousting match between a frustrated woman and a no-good man.

“Now baby, listen baby, don’t ya treat me this way, ‘cause I’ll be back on my feet someday, don’t care if you do ‘cause it’s understood, you ain’t got no money, you just ain’t no good.”

2. DON’T GO AWAY MAD (JUST GO AWAY)

Motley Crue, 1990

The hard rockers were at their peak with this gleeful, sleeper hit.

“Seasons must change, separate paths, separate ways, girl, don’t go away mad, just go away.”

3. ONE LESS SET OF FOOTSTEPS

Jim Croce, 1973

The mustachioed, blue-collar rocker shows the door to his old squeeze in no uncertain terms.

“If that’s the way that you want it, well that’s the way I want it more, ‘cause there’ll be one less set of footsteps on your floor in the morning.”

4. GO YOUR OWN WAY

Fleetwood Mac, 1977

Lindsey Buckingham wrote the song about his breakup with fellow band member Stevie Nicks.

“Tell me why everything turned around, packing up, shacking up is all you want to do, you can go your own way.”

5. IT’S OVER

Boz Scaggs, 1976

Scaggs writes about a fed-up lover who has had enough … but not really.

“Why can’t you just get it through your head, it’s over, it’s over now, yes, you heard me clearly, now I said it’s over. It’s over now.”

6. IT’S TOO LATE

Carole King, 1971

This classic from the great ‘60s and ‘70s songwriter tries to gently (maybe too gently) explain why their relationship just isn’t working.

“And it’s too late, baby, now it’s too late. Though we really did try to make it, something inside has died, and I can’t hide, and I just can’t take it.”

7. ALREADY GONE

The Eagles, 1974

The most successful American band struck gold with an early hit that declared victory over a failed relationship.

“So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the key, but me — I’m already gone and I’m feelin’ strong.”

8. SMOKE FROM A DISTANT FIRE

Sanford-Townsend Band, 1976

A terrific, rollicking, one-hit wonder song with the best breakup line ever (involving a screen door). It tells the story of an unfaithful girl who is now getting her comeuppance.

“This lying and cryin’ is upsettin’ and gettin’ nowhere. It don’t stack up, so slack up and pack up, I just don’t care. Don’t let the screen door hit you on your way out.”

9. YOU’RE NO GOOD

Linda Ronstadt, 1974

This bluesy version, from early ’70s queen of pop Linda Rondstadt, congratulates herself for finally coming to her senses. She really lets her ex have it.

“Feelin’ better now that we’re through, feelin’ better ‘cause I’m over you. I learned my lesson, it left a scar, now I see how you really are: You’re no good.”

10. RAMBLIN’ MAN

Allman Brothers Band, 1973

These Southern rockers explain they will be leaving soon because it’s in their DNA and can’t be stopped.

“And when it’s time for leavin’, I hope you’ll understand, that I was born a ramblin’ man.”

American R&B and Soul musician and band leader Ray Charles (born Ray Charles Robinson, 1930 – 2004) plays piano as he performs during a JVC Jazz Festival concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, New York, June 29, 1994. (Photo by Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• The All American Rejects’ “Gives You Hell”

• Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”

• Greg Kihn Band’s “The Breakup Song”

• J. Geils Band’s “Love Stinks”

• Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing”

• Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”

• Marshall Tucker Band’s “Heard it in a Love Song”

• Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”

• Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May”

• Styx’s “Babe”

• Taylor Swift’s “Picture to Burn”

• Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats”

• Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know”

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Retired and Inspired: FCC’s ILR offers courses that pique interest

By Gary Bennett

People takes notes and listen during a class at the Institute for Learning in Retirement.

This article appears in the Winter 2025 issue of Frederick News-Posts “Prime Time” magazine.

Think back to your high school or college days. Do you fondly remember opening textbooks, considering issues and exploring the world through history and literature? I sure do. Back then, our brains were like sponges, soaking up every bit of information made available.

As we grow older, the pace of learning changes. Research shows that by the time we reach adulthood, many of us notice certain mental tasks, like quickly processing new information or tackling a complex problem, become more challenging. Scientists have identified physical changes in our brains that help explain this shift as we age.

But there’s good news: While the speed of learning might slow as we age, the ability to learn never stops. Research also shows that we can continue to expand our minds and acquire new skills as long as we’re willing to put in the effort.

COURSES FOR EVERYONE

Luckily for us, seniors in Frederick can rely upon the Institute for Learning in Retirement for a professionally organized and reliable destination for mature intellectual discovery.

Kelli Ackiewicz, the ILR program manager and a civil engineer by trade, came on board in 2016. She jumped at the chance to lead this program after assisting with women-to-women mentoring at FCC. She jokes that she helped “engineer some issues they had going on at the college” and then brought her prowess to ILR.

Linda Funsch instructs a class at the Institute for Learning in Retirement at FCC.

No one knows for sure how many Frederick County seniors have been served since 1998, but Ackiewicz did share that the Institute has served an average of 700 students annually over the past 10 years, resulting in more than 18,000 enrollments during this time. On average, students take about three courses per year.

Offered in conjunction with Frederick Community College and mostly on its campus, the Institute offers a wide range of diverse, college-style courses. Enroll and you’ll get lectures, handouts, slides and vibrant discussion, but the one thing you won’t get (thankfully) are tests and grades. Courses are designed for adults by adults. They are fun but can also be described as “no-nonsense.” More than 175 courses are offered each year.

The IRL curriculum team offer courses for just about anyone. Each course is designed to be casual, fun and with the needs of older adults in mind, though there is no age minimum requirement. Those not yet retired are more than welcome to join.

Included in the curriculum are courses in arts, crafts and music; computers and technology; food and drink; health and wellness; history, culture and current events; home and hobbies; learning a language; life planning and finances; philosophy, religion and exploration; photography; science and nature; and writing. A full list of the spring 2025 courses is at ILRFCC.org.

According to Ackiewicz, some of the more popular courses are in the history realm, current events and their “learning on location” bus trips.

There are also many unique courses you might not expect to find, like Discover Your Past Lives, Why is a Ghost a Ghost?, Crochet for Beginners, Writing Your Life Story, Maryland Whiskey 101, Successful Aging in Place, Chickenology (how to raise chickens), Beeconomics (how to make money as a beekeeper!) and Introduction to Ballroom Dancing.

A typical course is held in person, although some are virtual and others are offered on location. Most include 8 to 12 sessions, span one or two months, last for an hour or two at a time, and can occur on any day of the week. Offerings vary widely, so it is advisable to check online or ask for a printed catalog to see what best meets your personal interests and schedule.

In general, most winter/spring courses begin in late January or early February (although others may begin later in the year) and finish by late May or early June.

Richard Kaplowitz of Frederick types notes during a class at the Institute for Learning in Retirement at FCC.

Tuition and fees are reasonable. Most of the course costs are comprised of fees that can range from free for courses that last only one session to just over $100 for multi-session courses. Course costs average $59 to $69. If you try a course and find it is not for you, you may be able to transfer into another course or request a refund.

Some courses are free, made possible through the FCC Foundation. The Institute partners with Frederick County Public Libraries, Frederick County Senior Center and others to offer free courses at those locations.

Instructors are usually passionate experts with lived experience in the subject area. IRL does welcome new instructors with new course ideas (if interested, submit a course proposal form at ILRFCC.org). Ackiewicz promises that all new courses selected are given every chance to succeed, offering them at least two or three times before re-evaluating.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

Margie Shattuck has taken ILR courses since she moved to Frederick in 2011. She’s studied a number of subject areas and most enjoys courses on subjects she knows little about.

“It’s a great way to learn a few things and see if I would like to study it further,” she said.

She is currently an ambassador for the program, helping to get the word out about the Institute and staffing booths at expos, festivals and meetings.

Shattuck highly recommends ILR.

“It’s helped enrich my life,” she said. “I’ve learned about a lot of subjects I had a slight interest in, such as learning about past lives, technical things like Photoshop, photography on my phone and medical things. There’s a great program called Medically Curious, where a doctor comes in and talks about things like how to research medical issues online and how to avoid incorrect info on the web.”

Curious students can try a wide swath of courses, although it would behoove you to choose areas of interest. If you have a change of heart, partial refunds can be requested after a class begins, but they are not promised.

Also, be ready for a few know-it-alls who seem to know the teacher and the subject matter inside and out. Laugh it off and remember, some things never change.

The author (far right) and some new friends at a Learning on Location class on the Appalachian Trail.

Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.

Get (way) out of town for Valentine’s Day

By Gary Bennett

This article appears in the February 13, 2025, issue of Frederick News-Post’s “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

Folks, you don’t need to surprise your honey with a romantic trip to Paris, Venice or Rome for Valentine’s Day. Oh no, that’s too expensive anyway. Believe me, you’ll feel right at home at one of these romantic destinations I’ve carefully curated for you right here in the good old U.S.A.

When you arrive in one of these dreamy destinations, your significant other will be overcome with emotion. In fact, they won’t look at you the same way again. Plus, some of these towns are so inexpensive to visit, they will actually pay you to come!

I must warn you, though, not all of these towns are large enough to have a romantic bed and breakfast (or running water, for that matter.) But I can assure you, they all have “Welcome to” signs that will be just right for that selfie.

Please note that all these places are real! Only the descriptions have been changed to protect the town leaders and, of course, the innocent. Plus, the real descriptions are lame.

Accident, Maryland

A charming burg in nearby Garrett County. You may want to skip this one, though, if you don’t wish to have one of those kinds of romantic mishaps.

Bangor, Maine

Our northernmost destination (pronounced Bang-er) is snow covered at Valentine’s Day and action-oriented (I mean skiing! C’mon, get your mind out of the gutter!).

Boody, Illinois

This restful, bootylicious heartland community will make you feel like sitting down and taking a load off.

Butternuts, New York

This tiny upstate enclave is named after the tasty squash that is plentiful here (what did you think?). Be advised, you may come away from here with a new nickname, if you play your cards right.

Climax, Georgia

You’ll burst with excitement when visiting this small but satisfying Southern town.

Cockeysville, Maryland

A close-by Maryland destination that specializes in goofy little pet names. Your honey pie will love it!

Conception, Missouri

Like Accident, this one is not for the faint of heart. Skip this one if you’re not feeling lucky.

Conquest, New York

A delightful upstate borough perfect for the goal-oriented, won’t-take-no-for-an-answer folks. (You know who you are.)

Diamond, California

Now we’re talking. This one is for the big spenders among us, or at least folks who appreciate syrupy pop songs from a ‘70s icon.

Flowers, Mississippi

If you’re not ready for Diamond (and who is?), this is your next best bet.

French Lick, Indiana

Home of NBA legend Larry Bird. Townsfolk will be glad to show you around and provide an oral history.

Fertile, Minnesota

If you’re not going to Accident or Conception, I doubt you’ll go here. But I say take a chance! What could go wrong?

Heart Butte, Montana

I can see you snickering out there, but it’s pronounced Byute. You know, like a lovely, shapely mountain.

Heartwell, Nebraska

This destination sounds nice but I’m sorry to say it’s actually full of cardiologists. I include it here for the over-70 readers.

Hell, Michigan

This is the final, frozen-over destination for those love-on-the-rocks, can’t-be-saved relationships. Heck, you can even be mayor here for a day if you pay the price.

Honeyville, Utah

Take your honey to this little hamlet in the Mormon state. Be advised: If you’re not married, a church leader might harangue you about going back home.

Hooker, Oklahoma

Maybe not the best choice for a romantic weekend, but I say give it a try. Be sure to take advantage of the welcoming committee found on most street corners. Bring cash and low expectations.

Intercourse, Pennsylvania

Finally! Slip into the most famous romantic getaway on the list. And, because it’s positioned just up the road from us in Frederick, you’ll be thrust into a great time. Trust me.

Love, Arizona

This is what’s it’s all about, right?

Lovers Leap, Cumberland

This nearby attraction beckons lovers to show how much they really care. Perfect for the nothing-to-lose folks just a step ahead of an angry, shotgun-toting father.

Pee Pee Township, Ohio

If Cockeysville is just too cutesy for you, there’s always this surprisingly tiny community in Ohio that is folded into its southern region. Blink and you could miss it.

Romance, Arkansas

Be sure to visit the world’s largest thesaurus factory in this exciting, joyful, dreamy, starry-eyed, romantic village in the Ozarks.

Roses, Pennsylvania

This burg in the Keystone State is not far from Intercourse. Everyone knows it’s hard to visit Intercourse unless you do Roses first.

Rough and Ready, California

Named after California’s proud gold-mining past (sure it was), lovers here must be open-minded and up for just about anything.

Screamer, Alabama

An obvious choice for you overachievers. But unless you’ve been here before, you’ll marvel at how noisy this town can be, especially on Saturday nights.

Sweet Lips, Tennessee

If Butternuts is not your cup of tea, I wholeheartedly recommend Sweet Lips.

Surprise, New York

There are lots of Surprises in the U.S., but the one in New York was founded by the same folks who settled Conception, Missouri. They got out of there fast.

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

You can’t get away with anything in this well-named community, so don’t even try.

Valentine, Indiana

Finally, a town worthy of this list that has gone terribly off the tracks. Fun fact: This town was just recently renamed from Greeting Card, Indiana, to honor the handsome agent on the television show “FBI.”

Weiner, Arkansas

Last but not least, this tiny town is pronounced the way you think, and they are damn proud of it. Home to world-famous Chihuahua races and snow birds from Pee Pee Township, Ohio.

A new way to finance affordable housing in Frederick County

By Gary Bennett and Hugh Gordon, members, Frederick County Affordable Housing Council.

Affordable Housing Crisis newspaper headline and related economic news, with coins

This article appears in the February 2025 issue of the Emmitsburg New-Journal, page 46.

In our last affordable housing column, we talked about all they ways developers scramble to fully fund affordable housing projects. This is important because a project is not feasible unless it covers 100% of its funding gap.

That is why Frederick County and the State of Maryland try to be aggressive when helping affordable housing developers. The county and state often step in with funding options such as:

Waivers or deferrals of impact of fees charged to buyers that meet income requirements for affordable housing purchases from a developer.
Loans from Frederick County’s Housing Initiative Fund’s (HIF) Deferred Loan Program. The purpose of this fund is to provide flexible loans to support affordable housing in Frederick County.
Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) nearly $24 million in federal funding to provide gap financing to affordable housing projects statewide in the form of HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP).
County guidance in using “rental housing works,” a fund through DHCD providing $3.5 million in gap funding.
The use of some county owned-land for affordable housing projects combined with a federal loan for pre-development costs thereby reducing two key costs.

Other funding possibilities in various stages of discussion and could come online in the future include:

Implementing a Frederick County Rental Registration and Inspection Program to mimic the one Frederick city has in place and using the proceeds for rental assistance and affordable housing projects.
Waiving development fees for housing projects meeting certain income requirements.
Increasing the portion of the County Recordation Tax revenue going into the Housing Initiative Fund, which is then used to support affordable housing projects.

IDAs and TIFs

Even more creative help may be on the way soon.

The Affordable Housing Council wholeheartedly supports a push for enabling legislation to allow Frederick County to expand the use of funds under the State of Maryland’s Industrial Development Authorities (IDAs) to include affordable housing.

IDAs were created long ago to establish an entity that captures future tax growth for an area slated for development and reinvests it. It has been used mostly for industrial parks. It was never intended for affordable housing but could be used for that purpose in the future. Prince George’s County has this authority now.

If enacted, the County Council would create the tax capturing entity, adopt a project area plan and how the funds can be used in that area. The board of the new entity would then approve specific projects like affordable housing.

This would be an important new revenue source for affordable housing projects. It has the possibility to be the gap financing that allows new projects to happen faster.

IDAs are based on well-established tax increment financing (TIF) districts. TIFs have been used in the past as a mechanism to fund public infrastructure improvements in connection with private development projects.

In the affordable housing realm, TIFs could be used for infrastructure needs for site readiness such as water, gas, and sewerage. Items like these need to be ready and paid for before an affordable housing project kicks off. As we’ve said before, tax credits are fine but developers need money upfront.

How do TIFs provide financing?

Under the TIF process, special obligation debt would be issued by the county to provide funding for infrastructure improvements benefiting a certain district. The incremental future real property tax revenues are pledged to the repayment of the special obligation debt. There will be incremental real property taxes created because the assessed value of the TIF district properties increases as a result of the planned new infrastructure.

Because only a portion of the future incremental tax revenue is pledged to repay the debt service, the TIF structure allows the county to continue to receive the tax revenue today that existed prior to the new development and to also receive today the future tax benefit of the project to fund the project.

It is important to note that this is not a new tax on citizens. The plan takes the place of issuing bonds.

Currently in Frederick County, commercial entities are responsible for 22% of the tax base. Citizens pay the rest. We cannot bring in more commercial development unless we have more affordable housing.

The plans for future housing development in the South Frederick Corridor is a specific example where this could work well since developers know the county plans to add value by creating affordable housing there.

Frederick is not alone. Many Maryland counties have expressed interest in this type of affordable housing funding.

A bill has been drafted to allow TIF districts in Frederick County and other counties to be used for more than industrial development. It is before the legislature’s Ways and Means Committee right now. Delegate Fair and Senator Lewis-Young are supportive now. Maryland Secretary of Housing Day and Maryland’s Affordable Housing Coalition are also supportive of this.

Financing for affordable housing projects is intricate and arcane, but the more you know, the better you can help us advocate for creative financing that gets these critical projects off the ground. If we don’t, we’ll have few options for our children and parents to live in Frederick County, and economic development will suffer as a result.

Live from New York, it’s 50 years!

By Gary Bennett

Saturday Night Night Main Stage, Rockefeller Center, New York

This article appears in the Fredrick News-Post’s February 6, 2025, “72 Hours” entertainment insert.

It’s difficult to overstate the cultural significance of Saturday Night Live. It may not seem so today, but the show literally changed the way young people approached Saturday nights in the 1970s.

Saturday Night Live will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025 with a three-hour prime time special on NBC on Feb. 16. As of this writing, a host has not been named, but one thing is certain, the show will be chock full of hilarious clips from its 50-year reign.

Much about Saturday Night Live, especially the early years, has passed into legend. But when the show hit the airwaves in October 1975, no one knew what to expect. A young writer named Lorne Michaels talked NBC executives into taking a chance on a live, late-night, weekend comedy show. This had not been tried before.

He wanted nothing less than to redefine comedy the way the Beatles, 10 years earlier, had redefined pop music. “That required not pandering, and it also required removing neediness, the need to please,” Michaels says in the book “Live from New York” by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller. “We were only going to please those people who are like us, and that’s what we did.”

The show aired at 11:30 on Saturday night. If you were a college student at that time, like I was, 11:30 was prime time for parties, drinking, dancing and blowing off steam. Many of us didn’t even head out until that time. Once word got around that you had to see this new show, it didn’t take long for us to adjust our loose schedules accordingly. NBC banked that we would do both — stay in to watch the show but still go out before, after or both — and we did.

A little known fact is that Johnny Carson is largely responsible for the airing of Saturday Night Live. Carson ruled late-night TV during the week. By 1975, he had had enough of NBC airing his reruns on Saturday night; he wanted to use the reruns himself during the week so he could take more time off. NBC had the option of returning this weekend time to the local affiliates, and thereby giving up a chunk of ad revenue, or trying to fill the time with other programming.

It was no surprise when word went out from NBC executives to develop a late-night weekend show. Had the powerful Carson never made this demand, it’s quite possible there would never have been a Saturday Night Live. After all, Carson did not retire until 1992.

The man NBC took a chance on, 30-year-old Lorne Michaels, gave them much more than I’m sure they bargained for: an adventurous, topical, satire series with a live studio audience that, had executives and advertisers known of its content in advance, might never have seen the light of day.

Michaels wanted the show to be the first one in the history of television to talk the same language being talked on college campuses, streets and everywhere else young people gathered. In this, he succeeded wildly.

The show was originally called NBC’s Saturday Night. It was the first show the television generation — baby boomers, as we are now called — could call their own. It was unlike anything else on the air, and it would be years before rivals even tried to imitate it. It was new, unusual, surprising and boy, did it make us laugh. It had the proverbial inmates running the asylum, and it showed.

The show made stars of unknowns and superstars of stars. The brash young players that comprised the Not Ready for Prime Time Players in those first few seasons are now household names. Belushi, Chase, Aykroyd, Radner, Murray, Murphy, Piscopo and more delighted in trashing TV taboos.

Many of these would-be stars wanted no part of TV but took on the gig anyway because they could look down on even the most successful prime-time show — because their show was different. It was one of a kind. It made fun of television. John Belushi made his feelings about television known at the time by famously saying, “My television has spit all over it.”

And who in the boomer generation can forget the Coneheads, Mad Samurai, Nick the Lounge Singer, Fred Garvin (Male Prostitute), the Wild and Crazy Guys, Killer Bees, Blues Brothers, Roseanne Roseannadanna, Wayne and Garth, Mr. Bill, Fernando, Hans and Franz, Lisa Loopner and Todd, The Church Lady, Pete Schweddy and the Greek deli owner selling “chee-burger, chee-burger, and Petsie.”

The very first show featured a “cold opening” that portended of things to come. Belushi appeared as a semi-literate immigrant dutifully keeling over with a heart attack because his English teacher suddenly dies of one. With that, Chevy Chase, as stage manager with clipboard in hand, looks in at the dead bodies and flashes that fake Hollywood smile and says, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” Then cue the saxophone-infused music. Those words from Chase, the music and the accompanying scenes from New York’s shady underbelly had an exciting feel to them. We were hooked.

Another instant hit from the early shows was Chase as the bumbling but cooler-than-you newscaster for Weekend Update, an absurdist view of the goings-on in Washington and around the country. The segment was so topical and up-to-date that writers tell stories of being under Chase’s desk live on air handing notes up to him.

His goofy but sincere opening line of the newscast — “Good evening. I’m Chevy Chase and you’re not” — became a national catchphrase that even President Ford used. Because of this segment and the stage manager schtick when opening the show, Chase became the first breakout star, leaving after only one season to act in movies.

He was replaced by none other than Bill Murray in season two. The show barely skipped a beat. In short order, Belushi and Dan Aykroyd became major stars, too.

Feuds, fights and romances among staff members were in the paper seemingly every week. Boozy after-parties were legendary. Sex and drugs were rampant backstage. Network executives tended to steer clear of the 17th floor, where the show was written and performed, not wishing to be enmeshed in marijuana smoke and other strange aromas that would be hard to explain. Better to not know.

By the beginning of the second season, Saturday Night Live was the talk of television, a national phenomenon.

Even the performers who joined the cast later are legendary in their own right: Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Mike Meyers, Dana Carvey, Chris Rock, Darrell Hammond, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Jon Lovitz, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, Tracy Morgan, Amy Poehler … the list goes on and on. Big stars like Hanks, Martin, Baldwin and Timberlake fell all over themselves wanting to host.

For better or worse, Saturday Night Live lives on as a testament to what you can accomplish if you really believe in something — and “don’t give a flying f— if it fails,” as Chase put it in 1975, when a reporter asked him how the show succeeded.