The true story of Saturday Night and what happened in the first episode of SNL, explained

Saturday night tells the true story of the first episode of Saturday Night Livewhich recreates the beginning of the long-running series. NBC launched the first season of Saturday Night from NBC In 1975, after Dick Ebersol hired Lorne Michaels to create a new late-night program. The sketch comedy show’s importance and legacy grew in the decades that followed, with many famous comedians such as Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler and Adam Sandler becoming stars.

While several Saturday Night Live Sketches have been made into films over the years, it took until 2024 for a film to be made specifically about the show itself. Directed by Jason Reitman, Saturday night deals with the true story of the creation of the showwith a cast of young, up-and-coming stars for some of the SNLThe main cast, creators and more. The film is about the 90 minutes before the debut of Saturday Night Livewhich means the film assumes responsibility for portraying the true story and events as accurately as possible.

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“Saturday Night” is based on the true story of the first episode of SNL

The debut took place on October 11, 1975

The true story that Saturday night revolves around the events of October 11, 1975. This is the night the first episode of the show aired, which became known as Saturday Night Live broadcast on NBC. At that time it was said Saturday Night from NBC because ABC already Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell on air. NBC’s need for Saturday Night Live came from Johnny Carson’s request not to do live shows on some weekdays and from the company not allowing repeats of previous episodes of The Tonight Show in these slots.

The original goal for Saturday Night from NBC was supposed to be a 90-minute variety show for the late-night audience, and Lorne Michaels worked on its development in the mid-1970sThe show was finally ready to go in 1975 after a cast of young comedians known as The Not Ready for Prime Time Players and a team of talented writers were assembled. Although Saturday Night Live evolved into a pure sketch show with a celebrity presenter taking part in the sketches and a musical guest; originally the show was more divided between the presenter’s skills, the sketches and the musical performances.

Who was part of the first SNL episode in 1975?

The first actors and guests

The first episode of Saturday Night Live included the main cast, most of whom would remain for the entire first season or beyond. The “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” initially included Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, George Coe and Michael O’Donoghue. Coe did not return after the first episode. There were also a number of uncredited cameo appearances by Richard Belzer, Tom Davis, Audrey Peart Dickman, Al Franken, Neil Levy, Don Pardo, Tom Schiller, Paul Simon, Akira Yoshimura, Alan Zweibel, Jaqueline Carlin, Wendell Craig and Clifford Einstein.

Several other people were also involved in Saturday night‘s first episode that is not part of the main Saturday night Performers. Comedian George Carlin was the host, while Billy Preston and Janis Ian were the musical guests. Comedians Valri Bromfield and Andy Kaufman also appeared, performing solo skits and routines. Originally, an appearance was planned for Billy Crystal. as well, but his was cut from the live show.

What sketches were done in the first episode of SNL?

An iconic sketch began

Saturday nightThe first episode of was very different from the show itself, as the sketch comedy was lightened up by various comedic and musical performances. There were still a few typical sketches. O’Donaghue and Belushi did the cold open called The Wolverines. Sketches known as New father, Attempt, Victims of shark bites, Jamitol, Triopenin, Bee Hospital, Academy for better careers, Home SecuritiesAnd Triple-Trac were all included. Jim Henson and the Muppets even participated by The Land of Gorch. Pre-recorded sketches with Albert Brooks and one entitled Show us your weapons were also broadcast.

The most notable sketches of the first episode of Saturday Night from NBC is the first edition of Weekend updateChevy Chase and Herb Sargent were responsible for the creation. Chevy Chase was the Weekend update Host for the entire first season and some in season 2. The segment became a staple of the show and appeared in every single episode of Saturday Night Live since.

Did NBC want Lorne Michaels and Saturday Night Live to fail?

The film suggests this

A point of action in Saturday night is the suggestion that NBC wanted Lorne Michaels and Saturday Night Live fail. Although the film tells the true story of SNL‘s origins, There is no evidence that the studio wanted anything other than a success for Lorne Michaels’ show.. NBC required Saturday Night Live to fill a large gap in his programming schedule following Johnny Carson’s request.

While it was certainly a risk to give a relatively inexperienced producer and an unknown cast the responsibility of replacing a time slot that Carson had filled, the suggestion that NBC was secretly opposed to the show’s success serves only narrative purposes. It gives Lorne Michaels and the entire success of Saturday Night Live a bit more of an underdog success story feel. However, NBC probably had some doubts about the long-term viability of the show and did not believe that it could run for half a century and make a movie like Saturday night.

Saturday Night (2024)

director

Jason Reitman

Release date

October 11, 2024

Authors

Gil Kenan, Jason Reitman

Pour

Finn Wolfhard, Willem Dafoe, Dylan O’Brien, JK Simmons, Ella Hunt, Rachel Sennott, Matthew Rhys, Lamorne Morris