Saturday Night Live
On the 11th of October 1975, a young comedy troupe took the stage in Studio 8H for the first time. The show was called NBC's Saturday Night and hosted by George Carlin. Lorne Michaels had spent three weeks crafting a vision that would attract viewers between eighteen and thirty-four years old. Dick Ebersol helped turn that idea into reality before leaving to pursue other opportunities. The original cast included Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, and George Coe. They were known as the Not Ready for Prime-Time Players, a name coined by writer Herb Sargent. Much of the talent came from The National Lampoon Radio Hour, including head writer Michael O'Donoghue. By the fourth episode, hosted by Candice Bergen, the show found its footing with most cast members appearing in every segment. Drugs became an integral part of the working process during the early seasons. Cocaine use peaked around the 1978, 1979 season according to Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad. Aykroyd and Belushi left after that season to make The Blues Brothers film. When the fifth season ended in 1980, Michaels asked executives to pause production so he could explore other projects. Jean Doumanian took over but faced immediate criticism. Her tenure lasted only ten months before she was dismissed following a February 1981 incident where cast member Charles Rocket used profanity on air. Dick Ebersol returned to save the show and removed all new cast members except Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo.
Kenan Thompson joined the cast in 2003 and remains the longest-serving performer as of the 2025, 26 season. The current roster includes sixteen members divided into nine repertory players and seven featured players. Names like Michael Che, Colin Jost, Chloe Fineman, and Bowen Yang appear alongside veterans such as Aidy Bryant and Kate McKinnon. Many performers come from improvisational groups like The Groundlings or The Second City. Chris Farley and Adam Sandler became known as part of the Bad Boys of SNL during the early 1990s for their outrageous style. Writers often transitioned into acting roles while actors moved behind the camera. Tina Fey served as head writer from 1997 to 2006 before becoming a Weekend Update anchor. She later created 30 Rock based partly on her experiences at the show. Seth Meyers worked as co-head writer from 2005 to 2014 before leaving to host his own program. Conan O'Brien wrote for SNL starting in 1988 and eventually hosted The Tonight Show. John Mulaney found success through stand-up specials and Broadway productions after departing. Mike Myers and Will Ferrell gained fame before leaving to pursue film careers. Contracts evolved over time allowing NBC to option cast members for sitcoms lasting up to six years. Starting with the 1999, 2000 season new hires faced rewritten agreements that could lock them into twelve-year commitments. By the late 1990s salaries ranged between five thousand and twelve thousand dollars per episode depending on tenure.
Studio 8H sits on floors eight and nine of 30 Rockefeller Plaza where the show has aired since its inception. Production begins each Monday with pitch meetings involving cast writers producers and guest hosts. Scripts are written Tuesday night often extending until early Wednesday morning. At 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday sketches are read aloud during round-table sessions attended by approximately fifty people including makeup artists and technical experts. Michaels decides which ideas move forward while others get cut. Writers rewrite selected pieces Thursday and Friday before rehearsals begin Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m. Live shows air from Studio 8H beginning at 11:29:30 p.m. Eastern Time ending around 1:02 a.m. The opening monologue is spoken by the host who introduces musical guests and performs in sketches. A cold open sketch usually ends with someone breaking character to declare "Live from New York it's Saturday Night!" Dave Wilson directed episodes from 1975 to 1986 followed by Paul Miller then Beth McCarthy Miller until 2006. Don Roy King took over directing duties from 2006 to 2021 before Liz Patrick assumed the role. Post-production involves mixing audio video elements stored digitally requiring about one point five terabytes per episode. Five Sony HDC-1500 cameras capture footage routed through Grass Valley switchers. Edie Baskin created the original title sequence using black-and-white photos of New York City taken at night. Mary Ellen Matthews has served as official photographer since 1999 creating distinctive layouts for commercial bumpers.
Chevy Chase's bumbling impression of Gerald Ford during the 1976 presidential election influenced voter perceptions according to historical accounts. Two-thirds of voters polled in 2008 said they saw politically charged content on SNL while ten percent admitted it affected their decision. Barack Obama benefited from this exposure with fifty-nine percent stating they voted for him after seeing related material. Tina Fey portrayed Sarah Palin in 2008 leading to a quote commonly attributed to Palin saying "I can see Russia from my house" actually spoken by Fey. The show reached fourteen million viewers when Palin appeared alongside Fey resulting in its largest audience in fourteen years. Donald Trump hosted the program in 2015 sparking controversy over his portrayal. Alec Baldwin played Trump repeatedly between 2008 and 2012 earning two Emmy nominations including one win in 2017. Kamala Harris made a guest appearance on the 2nd of November 2024 as the Democratic Party nominee for the 2024 United States presidential election. Political humor was reduced following the 11th of September 2001 attacks but returned strongly during subsequent campaigns. Writers abandoned political sketches briefly after the terrorist attack in New York City before resuming focus later. Several politicians have appeared on air including Hillary Clinton John McCain and Barack Obama himself.
Saturday Night Live has won 113 Primetime Emmy Awards as of 2025 breaking its own record with eleven Creative Arts Emmys that year. Total nominations reached 305 making it the most nominated show in Primetime Emmy Award history surpassing ER's previous record of 124. Twenty-five cast members received individual nominations mostly under Individual Performance categories now replaced by Supporting Actor or Actress designations. Four performers won awards: Chevy Chase (1976), Gilda Radner (1978), Dana Carvey (1993), and Kate McKinnon (2016, 2017). Alec Baldwin earned two nominations winning once in 2017 for his recurring role as Donald Trump. Six Writers Guild of America Awards and three Peabody Awards also recognize excellence within the program. In 2002 TV Guide ranked SNL tenth among fifty greatest shows while Time magazine listed it seventh in 2007. A 2015 Hollywood Reporter survey named it number seven favorite show among industry professionals. Variety placed it fifteenth on their 2023 list of hundred greatest television programs. The show holds the distinction of being the longest-running sketch comedy series ever broadcast on American television.
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Common questions
When did Saturday Night Live first air on NBC?
Saturday Night Live first aired on the 11th of October 1975 in Studio 8H. The show was originally titled NBC's Saturday Night and hosted by George Carlin.
Who created Saturday Night Live and what was their vision for the audience?
Lorne Michaels created Saturday Night Live with a vision to attract viewers between eighteen and thirty-four years old. Dick Ebersol helped turn that idea into reality before leaving to pursue other opportunities.
How many Primetime Emmy Awards has Saturday Night Live won as of 2025?
Saturday Night Live has won 113 Primetime Emmy Awards as of 2025. This total makes it the most nominated show in Primetime Emmy Award history with 305 nominations surpassing ER's previous record of 124.
Where is Studio 8H located and when does live broadcasting occur each week?
Studio 8H sits on floors eight and nine of 30 Rockefeller Plaza where the show has aired since its inception. Live shows air from this location beginning at 11:29:30 p.m. Eastern Time ending around 1:02 a.m.
Which international versions of Saturday Night Live have been produced and when did they start?
International versions include SNL Korea which premiered the 3rd of December 2011 on tvN and RTL Samstag Nacht which aired in Germany between 1993 and 1998. Russia's adaptation Суббота Вечер Шоу aired from the 13th of September 2013 to the 11th of January 2014.