The Ancient Egypt Film Site

Production info

King Tut
USA, 1978 TV
TV-series Saturday Night Live
Steve Martin
"He gave his life for tourism!"
"I'd like to talk seriously just for a moment. One of the great art exhibitions ever to tour the United States is the Treasures of Tutankhamen - or King Tut. But I think it's a national disgrace the way we have commercialized it with trinkets and toys, T-shirts and posters. And three months ago I was up in the woods, and I wrote a song. I tried to use the ancient modalities and melodies. I'd like to do it for you right now. Maybe we can all learn something."
Comedy song performed by Steve Martin and the "Toot Uncommons" (actually members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). The original performance was telecast on the April 22, 1978 episode of Saturday Night Live. A live performance of the song was included on Martin's LP A Wild and Crazy Guy. The song paid homage to Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun and presents a caricature of the sensational Treasures of Tutankhamun travelling exhibit that toured seven United States cities from 1976 to 1979. The exhibit attracted approximately eight million visitors. In the Saturday Night Live version of "King Tut," loyal subjects appease a joyful King Tut with kitchen appliances. An instrumental solo is delivered by a moustached saxophone player (played by Lou Marini) who steps out of a sarcophagus to great laughter. (source: Wikipedia)

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