Saturday Night Live Saw Shreveport’s Future in the 1990s
We've all heard the conspiracy theory that someone who writes for The Simpsons is a time traveler, right? Because The Simpsons are the undisputed kings of predicting the future inside their show.
This is a real phenomenon with The Simpsons. That show nailed The Donald Trump Presidency, FIFA’s Corruption Scandal and World Cup Results, Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl Performance, just to name a few.
But other shows have had moments of predictive brilliance too.
This submission for "predicting the future" comes to us from Saturday Night Live, and one of their greatest sketches ever. One that featured the legendary comedian Chris Farley, and the city of Shreveport. Amazingly, it happened all the way back in 1991, 30 years ago. The sketch we're talking about absolutely predicted Shreveport's future...
This classic sketch is titled "Schiller Visions: Hidden Camera Commercials". It's such a classic, you've probably already seen it a dozen times in your life.
It features a Swedish TV host covering the early 90s crazy of "hidden camera TV commercials". They show a fake finished product commercial about coffee crystals, and then show an "outtake" version. This outtake features a man played by Chris Farley, who reacts in an absurdly violent way to being informed about the switch made to his coffee. Insanity ensues...
Some of you might be ahead of my already, and know why I feel like this predicted Shreveport's future. But if you're not there yet, here we go.
Fast forward a few years, and Shreveport develops a pretty regular issue with fights breaking out inside restaurants. From the classic Superior "cookie cake fight" to Waffle House Brawls, or the interruption of drinks at East Ridge. Fights at Happy Belly's and hot dog stands. If there's food or drinks being served, Shreveport is apparently ready to throw hands.
Which is something the people at SNL were apparently aware of back in 1991.