Two Beetlejuice stars reunite 36 years after the film’s release (and you didn’t notice)

Two Beetlejuice stars reunite 36 years after the film's release (and you didn't notice)

As a gamer who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I can honestly say that seeing the reunion of Michael Keaton and Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live was like a dream come true! I still remember the thrill of watching Beetlejuice for the first time at the local cinema, and the sequel has only solidified its place as a cult classic.

Once more, the eccentricity of Betelgeuse has captivated the world. This larger-than-life bio-exorcist graced our movie screens last month for a long-awaited sequel spanning almost four decades, and it surpassed all anticipations.

Michael Keaton continued to charm with his performance as the eerie demon, causing chaos in the Deetz family’s life again in another Tim Burton-crafted gothic tale. This film sequel garnered tremendous acclaim, earning over $430 million at the box office – a staggering four times more than the original 1988 movie. Isn’t it exhilarating to witness a cult favorite transform into a worldwide sensation?

The phrase “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” represented a significant moment, one that was definitely worth the wait. It brought together Keaton and Burton once more, as well as Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara. However, not every star from the original film made a comeback. Nevertheless, two of them managed to share screen time on television screens this month.

Michael Keaton and Alec Baldwin reunite on Saturday Night Live

Without much fanfare, the original stars of Beetlejuice, Michael Keaton and Alec Baldwin, recently came together on Saturday Night Live. On this particular October 19th episode, which was Keaton’s fourth time hosting, an unexpected surprise happened – Alec Baldwin also graced the SNL stage once more in the same show.

The meeting of the stars from “Beetlejuice” went unnoticed during the event since they didn’t engage with each other until the finale. Michael Keaton made several appearances throughout the night in various skits, but Eddie Murphy (Baldwin) was associated with the show’s opening sketch. This sketch imitated a Fox News interview between Vice President Kamala Harris and Brett Baier, the news station’s host who frequently interrupted her. In the popular skit, Eddie Baldwin played Baier while Maya Rudolph portrayed Harris.

Appreciation to Michael Keaton, Billie Eilish, Maya Rudolph, Alec Baldwin, Dana Carvey, and Andy Samberg! It’s time to wrap up for the night!
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) October 20, 2024

Instead of leaving Alec Baldwin out of Michael Keaton’s opening monologue during SNL, some fans believe that it was a missed chance. Given how popular the Beetlejuice sequel is currently, it would have been exciting to see Baldwin and Keaton interact on-screen as their characters did, discussing Beetlejuice.

1988 saw Baldwin’s portrayal of Adam Maitland, a character who, along with his wife Barbara Maitland (depicted by Geena Davis), found themselves ghostly inhabitants of their home. Unbeknownst to them, a fresh family moved in and began renovating, unintentionally disturbing the peace. In desperation, they turned to an infamous bio-exorcist for help in reclaiming their residence, only to discover that the eccentric Betelgeuse was far from a solution to their problems.

In the 2024 sequel, directors Tim Burton chose to tell a fresh story since Baldwin and Davis wouldn’t be reprising their roles as the Maitlands. This was because their characters, being ghosts, don’t age, but more importantly, because there was a plot device written into the movie that enabled the Maitlands to discover a way out, allowing them to find peace and move on.

Reflecting on this, the simultaneous appearance of Keaton and Baldwin on SNL in the same year was quite meaningful to fans of the classic film, despite the show perhaps lacking a more innovative approach to blend these two stars. Although they’ve met before – most notably when Keaton appeared as a guest on 30 Rock in 2011 – this encounter could have been made more impactful than it turned out to be.

2024-10-23 21:02

Justin Timberlake, suffering from laryngitis and bronchitis, postpones six concerts