Live From New York

Ever since I can remember, and mostly during my teen years, Saturday nights were reserved to watch) Saturday Night Live (SNL), an iconic American television show that has had a profound impact on popular culture, comedy, and television since its debut – it first aired today on October 11, 1975… can you believe almost 50 YEARS!! Created by Lorne Michaels and originally titled NBC’s Saturday Night due to a naming conflict, it was envisioned as a live comedy show that would blend sketch comedy, political satire, and musical performances, presented by a guest host each week. Like many of you growing up, there are SO many skits and characters I’ve fallen in love with. But there’s still something about the original cast, referred to as the “Not Ready for Prime-Time Players”, including comedy legends like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman.  What they did on live TV had never been done before. They set the standard for what would become a launching pad for comedic talent and a fixture on Saturday nights.  As you can imagine, there is a “ton” of information and memories about the show (Wikipedia alone lists twenty separate write-ups broken into 5-year segments. I’ll do my best to hit some of the highlights of the “early” days. Special thanks to Google, Wikipedia and YouTube for the info.  Enjoy!!

Listen to the original theme song open as you read the rest of the blog!

• In 1974, NBC Tonight Show host Johnny Carson requested that weekend “Best of Carson” reruns of his show (known as The Weekend Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson) come to an end. As Carson’s show was extremely popular, NBC heard his request as an ultimatum, fearing he might use the issue to move to another network. To fill the gap, NBC brought in Dick Ebersol to develop a late-night variety show for airing on Saturday nights. Ebersol’s first order of business was to hire a young Canadian producer named Lorne Michaels as the showrunner.
• Lorne Michaels talked NBC executives into taking a chance on a new weekend late-night comedy series, but nobody really knew what to expect-not even Michaels. Saturday Night Live introduced brash new stars with names like Belushi, Radner, Chase, and Murray; trashed taboos that had inhibited TV for decades; and had such an impact on American life, laughter, and politics that even presidents of the United States had to take notice.
• As New York City television production was in decline in the mid-1970s, NBC decided to base the new show at their studios in 30 Rockefeller Center. Michaels was given Studio 8H, a converted radio studio that was most famous for having hosted Arturo Toscanini and his orchestra in the 1950s. The studio had fallen into disuse and was largely being used for election coverage by the mid-1970s.
• The 1975–76 season began on October 11, 1975, with host George Carlin. The show was originally called NBC’s Saturday Night, and would not be called Saturday Night Live until near the end of the 1976–77 season. The show was also intended to have just six episodes, and to be hosted by a permanent guest host instead of a rotating celebrity host (Albert Brooks was apparently picked as a permanent host).
• In its first season, SNL featured a recurring segment called “The Land of Gorch,” which included Muppet characters created by Jim Henson. These Muppets were very different from the ones on Sesame Street, often more adult-themed and surreal. However, the segment didn’t resonate with audiences or the cast, leading to its removal from the show.
• Gilda Radner, was the first person cast on the show. Radner’s quirky, fearless comedic style became a cornerstone of SNL’s early success, with characters like Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella becoming fan favorites.
• In the early days, many musical guests were wary of appearing on SNL due to its live format and the irreverent nature of the show.
• The first cast members hired were Second City alumni Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, National Lampoon “Lemmings” alumnus Chevy Chase (whose trademark became his usual falls and opening spiel that cued the show’s opening), Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris and George Coe.
• Early stars include Mike Myers, Chris Rock, Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Steve Martin, Jon Lovitz, Jane Curtin, Billy Crystal, Martin Short, Dana Carvey, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Garrett Morris, Molly Shannon, Damon Wayans, Chris Elliott, Julia Sweeney, Norm Macdonald, and Paul Simon-plus writers like Al Franken, Conan O’Brien, Larry David, Rosie Shuster, Jack Handey, Robert Smigel, Don Novello (Fr. Guido Sarducci), and others who got their big breaks as part of the SNL team. What an amazing alumni.
• Some of my favorite skits – The Coneheads, the Blues Brothers, Buck-wheat, Wayne and Garth, Hans and Franz, Gumby, the Cheerleaders, Todd DiLaMuca and Lisa Loopner, “Cheeseburger Cheeseburger,” the Church Lady, Ed Grimley and the ever popular show staple “Weekend Update” where stars were born.
• Chevy Chase was the first to deliver the iconic “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” line. He became the show’s first breakout star, known for his physical comedy (he actually got hurt falling) and sarcastic wit, particularly as the original host of the “Weekend Update” segment. Chase left after the first season, but his influence remained.
• Comedian Andy Kaufman was a frequent guest on the early seasons and became known for his unconventional and bizarre performances. One of his most famous bits was lip-syncing to the Mighty Mouse theme song. Kaufman’s unpredictable humor was a perfect fit for early experimental tone.
• The original head writer was Michael O’Donoghue, a writer at National Lampoon. The original theme music was written by future Academy Award-winning composer Howard Shore, who, along with his band (occasionally billed as the “All Nurse Band” or “Band of Angels”), was the original bandleader on the show.
• John Belushi’s samurai character, who appeared in several sketches, was a fan favorite. However, what many people don’t know is that Belushi had no idea how to speak Japanese. He would often make up sounds and words that sounded vaguely like Japanese, which added to the character’s absurdity. Despite this, the sketches were popular, and the character became one of Belushi’s signature roles.
• Over the years, SNL has been a breeding ground for comedic talent. Many former cast members have gone on to have successful careers in film and television, including Bill Murray, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, and Amy Poehler. The show has also launched the careers of influential writers and directors like Conan O’Brien, Adam McKay, and Tina Fey.
• In 1978, the Rolling Stones appeared on SNL as both the host and musical guest. The band’s performance is infamous for being chaotic and controversial. Mick Jagger, in particular, was criticized for being visibly under the influence during the show. The performance has since become one of the more talked-about moments in SNL history.
• One of the most famous stories from the early days is Lorne Michaels’ on-air plea for The Beatles to reunite on SNL. In 1976, Michaels offered the band a comically low $3,000 to perform together on the show. Unbeknownst to Michaels, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were watching the show together in New York and briefly considered going to the studio to accept the offer as a joke, but they ultimately decided against it.
• Despite its eventual success, SNL was not an instant hit with NBC executives. There was serious consideration of canceling the show after its first season due to concerns about its edgy content and inconsistent ratings. However, the show’s growing popularity among young viewers convinced the network to give it another chance, and the rest is now what we call history!

Image Credits: Kristen Wiig as Target Lady, Eddie Murphy and Chevy Chase, 1992 Cast, Coneheads, Close Encounter