“The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30.”

Lorne Michaels

If we think of a show that starts at 11:30 and Lorne Michaels, only one thing should come to mind: Saturday Night Live.  On October 11, 1975, Saturday Night debuted across America on NBC.  Frankly, no one knew that it was going to be a success.  Laraine Newman, one of the original cast members described Saturday Night in an interview with Today as “the redheaded stepchild of NBC.”

And you know what?  We can thank Johnny Carson.  In the 70s, he wanted more time off, so Carson requested that NBC run reruns of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on weeknights instead of weekends.  This left open late-night slots on Saturdays.  NBC President (at the time) Herbert Schlosser asked vice-president of late-night programming Dick Ebersol to think of something, preferably a live show, to put on at 11:30 on Saturday nights.  Ebersol looked to Lorne Michaels, who, at the time, was known for his comedic writing for shows in Canada.  In 1974, Ebersol and Michaels conjured up the idea for a live show that would include sketches and musical performances.  However, when they pitched this idea, their budget was too high and Smithsonian Magazine reports that NBC would only allow the show if the budget was $134,600 an episode at most (this would eventually increase).  They agreed.  Michaels started scouting out cast members and came up with what we would know as the original cast: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner.  The current cast of the 50th season of Saturday Night Live includes Michael Che, Mikey Day, Andrew Dismukes, Chloe Fineman, Heidi Gardner, Marcello Hernández, James Austin Johnson, Colin Jost, Michael Longfellow, Ego Nwodim, Sarah Sherman, Kenan Thompson, Devon Walker, and Bowen Yang.

There were some things that threatened the show’s first airing.  Chevy Chase was only contracted as a head writer and John Belushi never signed his contract until five minutes before the show aired!  The dress rehearsal for the first episode was disastrous, and it left executives at NBC questioning if the show should be aired.  Nevertheless, Saturday Night was given the green light, and on October 11, 1975, NBC’s longest-running show was born.  The episode was hosted by comedian George Carlin with musical guests Billy Preston (“Nothing from Nothing”) and Janis Ian (“At Seventeen” – The New York Times says that Janis Ian had strep throat!).  Initially, the show was called Saturday Night.  The “Live” part of the title wouldn’t be added until Season 3.

Through the decades, SNL has produced some amazing sketches.  Instead of talking about them, I’m going to create a list of some of the classics and include the links.  These are in no particular order, but they’re bound to make you laugh:

• Roseanne Roseannadanna on Smoking – Weekend Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hYGtXIqDa0
• Matt Foley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv2VIEY9-A8
• NPR’s Delicious Dish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPpcfH_HHH8
• Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood – Puppet Show: https://youtube.com/watch?v=5-3ckX-zSHw
  • Eddie Murphy came back in 2019 and did a sketch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whfQf3Pd5bU
• Debbie Downer – Disney World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfE93xON8jk
• More Cowbell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVsQLlk-T0s
• Chippendales Audition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stqG2ihMvP0
• The Iceberg on the Sinking of the Titanic – Weekend Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP5bu9hLH9E&t=146s
• Beavis and Butt-head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86qKgK0asGo

SNL‘s success has been recognized for decades and continues to be today.  To date, the show has the most Emmy wins with over 90!  For perspective, Game of Thrones trails behind in second with 59 wins.  The legendary show has also given America staples in pop culture: Debbie Downer, “More Cowbell”, Tina Fey’s impression of Sarah Palin, Chris Farley’s classic line of “IN A VAN, DOWN BY THE RIVER!”, and Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song.”  These are just a few of the hundreds of iconic moments Saturday Night Live has brought us.  SNL has also given us actors and comedians like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Tracy Morgan, and many, many more.

To start the celebration of this milestone season, former cast member Jimmy Fallon will be hosting a series of musical guests at Radio City Music Hall on Friday, February 14 at 8:00 PM EST.  On Saturday, February 15 at 11:30 PM EST, NBC will air the first episode of Saturday Night Live.  On Sunday, starting at 8 PM EST, a three hour special will begin.  Alumni from the decades will make appearance, perform sketches, and legendary musicians will perform.  NBC says that there will be “a half-century worth of sketches, cast members, hosts and other collaborators.”  Saturday Night Live is a show that will continue to live on, making the country laugh weekly.

“LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT!”