{"id":2608,"date":"2022-04-27T10:33:48","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T14:33:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/nyc-history\/?p=2608"},"modified":"2022-04-27T10:33:48","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T14:33:48","slug":"saturday-night-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/nyc-history\/2022\/04\/27\/saturday-night-live\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday Night Live"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saturday Night Live is a late-night variety and sketch comedy show that first aired on NBC on October 11, 1975 and continues to air on Saturday nights at 11:30 to this day. Saturday Night Live, or SNL as it\u2019s commonly referred to, consists of live sketches, an opening monologue by the week\u2019s celebrity host, two musical numbers by the week\u2019s musical guest, a mock news segment called \u201cWeekend Update\u201d, and a goodnight message led by the host featuring the entire cast. Of course, each episode is also filled with silly parodies and topical commentary on politics, pop culture, and other current events. Countless famous comedians, characters, and catchphrases have gotten their start at SNL, and the show\u2019s ability to influence American comedy, politics, and culture at large only contribute to its already legendary status. Saturday Night Live is one of the longest running programs in television history, all the while, the show has remarkably been able to maintain its distinct New York identity and keep its city roots close to its heart. SNL famously opens each episode with the words, \u201cLive from New York, it\u2019s Saturday Night!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Saturday Night Live\u2019s original cast, \u201cNot Ready for Primetime Players\u201d From left to right Chase, Newman, Belushi, Radner, Morris, Curtain, and Aykroyd. 1975<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The idea for SNL came when NBC staple, Johnny Carson, wanted to tape one less episode of his show, The Tonight Show each week and instead air a rerun; leaving NBC to come up with new original programming for the Saturday 11:30 slot that had previously been filled with Tonight Show reruns. Saturday Night Live creators, Dick Ebersol and Lorne Michaels, pitched what would become SNL to NBC and it was picked up under its original name, Saturday Night, which it held for the show\u2019s first season. The original cast, dubbed \u201cThe Not Ready for Primetime Players\u201d consisted of Laraine Newman, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtain, and Garrett Morris, many of whom are still fan favorites to this day.<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Standout sketches and characters include Samurai Futaba, Emily Litella, Roseanne Roseannadanna, The Coneheads, Baba Wawa, Two Wild and Crazy Guys, and The Blues Brothers all of which are wacky, wild, and fun. The show was off to a great start until season 6, when creator and executive producer, Lorne Michaels left SNL after disputes with the network. The following seasons were not very successful, and without the saving grace of breakout star, Eddie Murphy, the show would likely have been canceled. It was not until season 11 that Lorne Michaels returned, and he has remained executive producer ever since.<\/p>\n

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Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey as Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar as part of the recurring \u201cWayne\u2019s World\u201d sketches. 1989<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SNL\u2019s next era was one of redeeming stability. New cast members like Dana Carvey, Kevin Nealon, Phil Hartman, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Chris Rock, David Spade, Rob Schneider, and Adam Sandler are most associated with this era, and for that reason contribute to some characterizing it a \u201cboys club\u201d.<\/span>2<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Returning sketches and characters like Matt Foley, Opera Man, Wayne\u2019s World, Church Lady, and Pumping Up with Hans and Franz came out of this cast. These characters often misspeak, mispronounce or overenunciate their words and have silly accents that will make you laugh. Unfortunately, this period of success had to come to an end, and seasons 19 and 20 (1993-94, and 1994-95) are the culmination of that reality. Often hailed as SNL\u2019s worst seasons, it was obvious that once again, a new era had to begin. This new era, lasting form the mid-90s to the mid-2000s was the energized revival the show was desperately looking for. New cast members included Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond, Sherri Oteri, Molly Shannon, Ana Gasteyer, Tracy Morgan, Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, and Will Forte.<\/span>3<\/sup><\/a><\/span> This group is remembered for characters and sketches like Mary Katherine Gallagher, The Spartan Cheerleaders, \u201cSchweddy Balls\u201d, Celebrity Jeopardy, Boston Teens, and \u201cThe Lovers\u201d.<\/p>\n

Tragically, the 9\/11 attacks that occurred largely in New York City took place as season 27 was set to begin. As shows like SNL and The Late Show with David Letterman were such constants in American culture and respected New York institutions, many people looked to them for a response, a signal that normal life can and should go on. SNL\u2019s September 29th, 2001 episode famously opened with the Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, standing shoulder to shoulder with members of the New York Police Department, New York Fire Department, Port Authority Police Department, Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, and Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik. He recognized the heroes beside him and spoke about moving forward. After Paul Simon performed \u201cThe Boxer\u201d a song representative of the city\u2019s resilient spirt, Lorne Michaels took center stage with Mayor Giuliani where Giuliani explained, \u201cHaving our city\u2019s institutions up and running sends a message that New York City is open for business. Saturday Night Live is one of our great New York City institutions, so that\u2019s why it\u2019s important for you to do your show tonight.\u201d To which Michaels asked, \u201cCan we be funny?\u201d, and Giuliani quipped, \u201cWhy start now?\u201d<\/span>4<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Finally, Giuliani uttered the famous words, \u201cLive from New York, it\u2019s Saturday Night!\u201d with a little extra emphasis and meaning behind them.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.nbc.com\/saturday-night-live\/video\/911-tribute-with-mayor-giuliani\/2750172<\/a><\/p>\n

As the city moved forward, so did Saturday Night Live, with its next era SNL entered the Digital Age. This shift in the show is largely associated with new cast member Andy Samberg and his group The Lonely Island who were behind SNL\u2019s Digital Shorts, the most famous being, \u201cLazy Sunday\u201d, \u201cDick in a Box\u201d, \u201cI\u2019m on a Boat\u201d, and \u201cI Just had Sex\u201d.<\/span>5<\/sup><\/a><\/span> This shift coincides with the rise of YouTube and digital content, as SNL\u2019s \u201cLazy Sunday\u201d was the first video to go viral on YouTube. Outside of Samberg, other new cast members during this era include Bill Hader, Kristin Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson, Bobby Moynihan, Vanessa Bayer, Taran Killam, and Jay Pharoah. There is a large overlap between the casts of this and the previous era, and it is largely associated with its tremendous female star power.<\/span>6<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Tina Fey was a cast member from seasons 26 to 31 (2000-2006) and was Head Writer from seasons 25 to 31 (1999-2006). She also anchored \u201cWeekend Update\u201d during her tenure, first with Jimmy Fallon and next with Amy Poehler, becoming the first female duo to do so. Fey in particular led the association of the era with its strong female leads like Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, and Maya Rudolph. Some characters and sketches of this era include The Target Lady, Dooneese, Gilly, The Californians, and Stefon. Many of these roles are completely ridiculous and outlandish, and many of them are portrayed by Kristen Wiig who is clearly very comfortable being silly. Seasons 37 and 38 (2011- 2012 and 2012-2013) were the last for many cast members, so once again, a new era was ushered in with a largely new cast.<\/p>\n