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Unless you've been on an arctic expedition during all of 2025 or in a coma, you are no doubt aware that "Saturday Night Live" has celebrated its 50th anniversary. As part of the celebration, the comedy institution produced a series of documentaries, held a massive homecoming concert at Radio City Music Hall, and aired a live primetime special on NBC.

That this momentous event occasioned a spate of critical writing from just about every outlet worth its weight in clicks was hardly surprising. "SNL" has been a reliable generator of takes from tepid to scorching since it premiered on October 11, 1975. It has been accused of being too political or not political enough, too liberal or too conservative, and, worst of all, unfunny. At several junctures, critics have called for it to be cancelled (and it very nearly was after the disastrous season 11), while there have been stretches of time where it...

Raquel Welch and Saturday Night Live weren’t a match made in comedy heaven. The actress was assigned a “babysitter” to keep her out of Lorne Michaels’ hair when she hosted in 1976, according to Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live. Welch was attempting to make the transition from 1960s sex symbol to Vegas-style dynamo. What could SNL do with a talent like this?

Welch had ideas, like this bizarro, high-kickin’ musical number. SNL viewers must have felt like they were watching a hybrid of a Donny and Marie variety show and a late-night Skinemax movie.

Of course, SNL writers had their own pitches, mostly centered on her cleavage. Chevy Chase had a brilliant idea — every time Welch was on-screen, he wanted the camera to slowly drift from her face to her breasts. Even funnier (to Chase): No one would tell Welch this was happening, though she...

Netflix is adding over a dozen new titles to its inventory this week. From new seasons of current hits to topnotch sleeper movies, you can find something for everyone this week on your favorite streaming service.

No, there isn't anything coming this week that's likely to have the same impact as the number one show, Adolescence. By the way, it's every bit as good as the critics say it is. Okay, maybe one show will. But it really isn't likely that anything debuting this week will knock The Electric State out of its top spot among movies. I believe the critics are just as wrong about the sci-fi movie as they are right about the top-ranked drama.

But that's a discussion - or diatribe - for another time. For now, let's delve into the various worlds of zombies, hip-hop, reality shows, and comedy coming up this week. No, that's not all one show,...

In the annals of “things that have gone wrong on Saturday NIght Live” — Ashlee Simpson’s lip-synching disaster, Charles Rocket’s inopportune F-bomb, slam dancers destroying Studio 8H during a Fear performance — no individual episode can compare to the debacle surrounding the show’s live, prime-time special from Mardi Gras in 1977.

Saturday Night had become the hottest show on TV, and NBC was ready to cash in on that early success with a primetime special. Lorne Michaels was eager to take his show on the road, using iconic cities’ architecture as urban comedy sets. When someone suggested New Orleans as a possible destination, Michaels was all for it. “Let’s go get steeped in it!” he proclaimed, according to Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live.

The cast was stoked as well. Who wouldn’t want to escape New York’s winter for a week or two in the sunshine?...

For 50 years, Saturday Night Live introduced the world to some of the funniest people on the planet. As the years have gone on, several beloved cast members who shaped the show's legacy have passed away.

Countless comedians became household names thanks to Saturday Night Live. Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Kenan Thompson are just some of the names who audiences felt like they knew because of SNL.

That connection between the audience and the cast also means it especially hurts when a former SNL cast member passes away. Here's the complete list of the 15 Saturday Night Live cast members who have died.

Peter Aykroyd

Peter Aykroyd was the younger brother of original Saturday Night Live cast member Dan Aykroyd. The younger Aykroyd also got his start with Second City in Toronto.

Peter Aykroyd joined Saturday Night Live as a writer and cast member for season five...

Saturday Night Live weekend is officially in full swing, with the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert kicking off in epic fashion at Radio City Music Hall. Let’s check out some highlights!

Taking hosting duties for this start to SNL50 was Jimmy Fallon, who served as a cast member from 1998 to 2004. But Fallon went back much further than that, opening the show with an homage to The Blues Brothers, the suited up dudes played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd who first debuted on SNL in 1976.

Another musical throwback came soon after in the form of Nick the Lounge Singer, as reprised by Bill Murray. Other SNL recurring characters who popped in for a musical number were Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer’s The Culps, who did a medley of modern hits, including one by recent Super Bowl halftime performer Kendrick Lamar.

A number of SNL cast members both past...

The three-hour Saturday Night Live anniversary party on Sunday night not enough television for you?

Don’t worry, NBC has you covered. In the show’s regular time slot on Saturday night, the network will rebroadcast the very first episode from 50 years ago, hosted by comedian George Carlin. Because SNL was a topical show — and because this episode ran in the fall of 1975 — some of the jokes will not only be dated but incomprehensible thanks to long-forgotten cultural references.

Use this handy guide to get up to speed — only 55 miles per hour on the highway back then.

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That thing Michael O’Donoghue is reading in the cold open? That’s a print edition of a newspaper.

Carlin’s opening monologue describes football’s desire to eventually overtake baseball as our national pastime. Consider that goal mission accomplished.

Andy Kaufman’s musical ode to a childhood favorite is funny even if...

Actor and former “Saturday Night Live” star Bill Murray said performing on the famous sketch comedy show is very different and more difficult for talent today than when he was on the program 49 seasons ago, saying screen time is limited now and everyone is vying for their moment to shine.

“People talk about ‘Saturday Night Live,’ and I still hear people say, ‘Oh, the only good time was the first group.’ And I say, ‘Well, that’s not true,” Murray said while on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” Tuesday. “The first group was the most exciting group because it was brand new. But there’s a learning curve that goes with doing the show, and it takes you about a year or even more to learn how to do it.”

The comedian went on to tell Meyers, who is also an “SNL” alum, that not only do you have to...

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, NBC will re-air its very first episode on Feb 15, 2025 at 11:30 p.m. Et/Pt. The landmark sketch comedy variety show premiered on Oct. 11, 1975, then titled NBC's Saturday Night. Created by Lorne Michaels, the show was imagined as a hip, late-night comedy hour for young people. 2024's film Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman, covers the chaotic minutes leading up to the historic premiere, and would make a great complementary watch with the re-aired premiere. The series would officially be named Saturday Night Live in September 1977 after the network acquired the rights, which were previously owned by ABC for Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell.

The series would star an ensemble cast of up-and-coming writers and performers from the comedy scene, known for the first three seasons as the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players." The first performers in the show included head writer,...

Saturday Night Live is getting nostalgic ahead of its 50th anniversary.

NBC will air the first ever episode of the show on February 15 at 11:30pm Et, the night before it premieres SNL50: The Anniversary Special.

Originally titled NBC’s Saturday Night, the episode aired on October 11, 1975 with George Carlin as host and Billy Preston and Janice Ian as musical guests.

The episode featured a cast including Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner.

It was this episode that served as the entrance to Jason Reitman’s recent feature film Saturday Night.

The cold open feature Belushi as a foreign man learning English, being taught by writer Michael O’Donoghue, before Chase appeared with a headset on to shout “Live From New York, It’s Saturday Night” for the first time.

Carlin performed stand up including three monologues but did not appear in any sketches,...

It's hard to believe, but this year, Saturday Night Live turns 50 years old. Created by Lorne Michaels, the show premiered on Oct. 11, 1975 and while it didn't go quite as smoothly, it certainly became a cultural phenomenon. Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, George Coe, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Michael O'Donoghue, Gilda Radner, and host George Carlin were the first to appear on the legendary show. And now, as its 50th anniversary special approaches, NBC has released a partial list of major A-list actors, musicians, and celebrities who will appear.

SNL50: The Anniversary Special will feature a who's who of major celebrities, per Variety. They include Sir Paul McCartney, Tom Hanks, Kim Kardashian, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Scarlett Johansson, Dave Chappelle, Miley Cyrus, Paul Simon, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Pedro Pascal, Bad Bunny, Quinta Brunson, Peyton Manning, Woody Harrelson, Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, and John Mulaney. More stars will be announced soon.

Saturday Night would make for a very solid double-bill with a Muppets movie. And not just because there are Muppets in it — well, primitive Muppets, at least, in the form of early Jim Henson creations King Ploobis and Vazh. Because much like one of Kermit and co’s capers, it’s all about putting on a show, and how much stress, anxiety and arm-flapping goes into playing music and lighting lights. At the centre of Jason Reitman’s movie, essentially playing the role of the frog, is the cardigan-wearing Lorne Michaels (Gabriel Labelle), young Canadian TV producer and wannabe revolutionary of the medium. He’s the sensible one. Around him swirls chaos, in many forms. There’s even an Animal stand-in, in the burly shape of John Belushi (Matt Wood), cocaine appreciator and walking tornado.

This is, however, far from family viewing. NBC’s sketch-comedy series Saturday Night Live (known...

There are never enough slots in an Oscar lineup. For performers in films that haven’t been seen by enough voters, breaking through the hustle and bustle of awards season is nearly impossible. Enter a few reminders for voters to watch these six standout performances, each deserving a place in the conversation before ballots are cast.

Michele Austin – “Hard Truths” (Supporting Actress)

In Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths,” Michele Austin shines as Chantal, a single mother and hairdresser, trying to bridge an emotional chasm between herself and her depressed sister, Pansy (Marianne Jean-Baptiste). Austin brings warmth and empathy to the role, offering a vibrant, hopeful counterpoint to her sister’s unrelenting bitterness. Her nuanced performance captures people’s helplessness when someone they love is in crisis. It’s an unforgettable turn in an intimate character study filled with moments of unexpected joy.

Carrie Coon – “His Three Daughters” (Best Actress)

Emmy...

2024 was a packed year for several actors working in Hollywood, whether they are continuously rising stars or already well-established names in the industry. The year had plenty of noteworthy character-driven dramas, animated features, chaotic comedies, and big-budget blockbusters to keep audiences entertained. More importantly, these actors proved their capability of playing two different types of characters.

For example, multiple actors from the enthralling and visually stunning Dune: Part Two, like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Austin Butler, also appeared in acclaimed and award-worthy dramas in the same year. They are just a few of many actors who stole the show in 2024 with their commanding screen presence and shockingly good versatility. From newcomers like Cailee Spaeny to big-name stars like Chris Hemsworth, 2024 was a spectacular year for these particular performers.

Gabriel Labelle Ran a Food Stand & Portrayed The Iconic Lorne Michaels Snack Shack & Saturday Night

Movie

Character

Snack Shack

Moose

Saturday Night...

While Bill Murray’s Scrooged has become required holiday viewing, it wasn’t universally beloved upon its release in 1988. Noted film critic Roger Ebert, for one, wasn’t a fan.

“Scrooged is one of the most disquieting, unsettling films to come along in quite some time,” Ebert wrote in his scathing one-star review. “It was obviously intended as a comedy, but there is little comic about it, and indeed, the movie’s overriding emotions seem to be pain and anger. This entire production seems to be in dire need of visits from the ghosts of Christmas.”

Bad reviews are part of the business, but that doesn’t mean Murray couldn’t question them. Two years later, Murray was scheduled for a sit-down with Ebert to discuss his directorial debut, Quick Change, according to Far Out.

Ebert wrote about their initial interaction. Murray popped into a bathroom to get camera-ready, only...

Santa Claus is very much one of the main characters when it comes to the holiday, but some Christmas films feature people who aren't fond of Old St. Nick. Also known as Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and many, many more, the big guy in red has cropped up in many a holiday celebration, and therefore, many a holiday movie. Whether he's the actual Santa from the North Pole, or simply a representation of the idea of the Christmas spirit, his presence is what adds to the magic of the season.

There have been plenty of characters in Christmas films that have ended up on the Naughty List who didn't believe in his existence or refused to embrace the meaning of the holiday. Whether they're robbing houses and stealing presents from right under the tree, or spoiling the fun for everyone around, there are definitely quite a few characters who need...

Even if you haven’t watched a single second of Saturday Night Live, you must be aware of the existence of the phenomenon. That is, of course, if you are into American pop culture. If you’re not, then Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night is not for you, and I don’t mean to be rude. Of course, it still might not be your thing unless you actually enjoy watching chaos unraveling on screen for almost two hours. Because Reitman’s SNL biopic is not something that tells you the story of how Lorne Michaels gathered all the people for years who made the show what it was. Instead, it focuses on the wee hours before the first ever episode actually went live. It’s chaos from the get-go, and that’s what you get for the next one hour and fifty minutes. The vibe is much similar to the...

If you’re interested in American comedy, you must have heard of SNL at some point in your life. Launched in 1975, this NBC sketch comedy show became a cultural touchstone, crafted by baby boomers and adored by Gen X and millennials throughout their formative years. Now, five decades after its inception, people understand its influence on the American comedy. While the SNL sketches impacted other forms of comedy like movies and sitcoms for decades, it is now borrowing its style of humor from other formats to satisfy another generation of viewers. Be that as it may, it is fascinating to learn about its foundation through Jason Reitman’s exhilarating “Saturday Night” (2024). While calling it a formative moment in American comedy will be reductive considering the history of this form, it is certainly a milestone that shaped generations of comedic minds to come. Find the film’s ending explained here.

Spoilers...

Saturday Night's digital release date has been revealed.

Saturday Night will be available to buy or rent on digital platforms on November 12, followed by Blu-ray and DVD on January 7.

More to come...

Source: Sony Pictures

Saturday Night 4/10

Saturday Night (2024) is a forthcoming film with an undisclosed director. The movie centers on the vibrant nightlife of a bustling city, capturing the intertwining lives and stories of a diverse ensemble cast navigating personal and social challenges over the course of a single evening.

Director Jason ReitmanRelease Date October 11, 2024Writers Jason Reitman, Gil KenanCast Presley Coley, Abraham Hsu, Justin Matthew Smith, Ellen Boscov, Naomi McPherson, Kirsty Woodward, Mcabe Gregg, Leander Suleiman, Corinne Britti, Rowan Joseph, James Logan, Drew Scheid, Parker Wierling, Jon Batiste, Matt Wood, Emily Fairn, Kim Matula, Brian Welch, Kaia Gerber, Andrew Barth Feldman, Nicholas Podany, Billy Bryk, Gabriel Labelle, Rachel Sennott, Catherine Curtin, Robert Wuhl, Tracy Letts, Brad Garrett, Cory Michael Smith,...

Everybody loves Catherine O’Hara, so it’s no surprise that Saturday Night Live attempted to hire her as a cast member back in the ‘80s, although they lost her after only one week on the job.

Contrary to rumors, her departure had nothing to do with the inhospitable environment fostered by writer Michael O’Donoghue, she simply left to go back to her Sctv “family” after the iconic Canadian sketch show landed a new deal with NBC.

But O’Hara did return to host SNL twice in the early ‘90s, and she was surprised to see just how wasteful the show was, comedically speaking.

The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice actress recently guested on Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast Wiser Than Me, and naturally, the subject of SNL came up. Louis-Dreyfus recalled the “grueling” schedule, which was driven by “late-night partying.” O’Hara described how, when she returned to SNL as a host in 1991, she “was...

Writer-director Caroline Lindy makes her feature film directorial debut with 2024's Your Monster, an original project that blends horror, comedy, and romance. The genre-defying movie follows a young aspiring actor named Laura Franco, whose recent injury has waylaid her Broadway dreams, and whose heart is shattered after her boyfriend broke up with her while she was in the hospital and went on to stage a play they worked on together. In the midst of her grief, she discovers a monster living in her closet with a mission in mind to teach her self-love.

Lindy's casting is one of Your Monster's strengths, in large part thanks to leading lady Melissa Barrera (Scream & Scream VI) portraying vulnerability and repressed rage in equal measure as Laura. Tommy Dewey (who recently brought Michael O'Donoghue to the big screen in Saturday Night) is also a revelation as Monster, while The White Lotus star Meghann Fahy...

2024 has been a year packed with great cinema from all different genres. Some of the years biggest hits have also been the most financially successful, like Dune: Part Two, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Deadpool & Wolverine. However, unfortunately, many other great films have fallen by the popularity wayside.

Every year brings a number of films that dont live up to financial or critical expectations, but there are also a lot of films that simply dont spark huge love from audiences. These films are absolutely not failures; they are completely underrated and deserve a second look.

Watch the Chaotic Origin Story of Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live is one of the longest-running TV shows of all time, but its premiere episode was filled with production problems that should have doomed the series from the start. And this year, Jason Reitman tells the story of that tumultuous and chaotic night with Saturday Night.

Just as its female lead is letting her inner rage come bubbling to the surface, the movie Your Monster, about this young woman, is also crying out from the inside to become a full-blown Broadway musical and not just the cult midnight movie it inevitably will be.

A sometimes awkward combo of horror/rom-com/musical elements that don’t always mesh perfectly but still blend well enough makes writer-director Caroline Lindy’s own feature-length adaptation of her short film a fun ride, as well as a terrific showcase for its stars Melissa Barrera and Tommy Dewey. In some ways it is also reminiscent of the current Demi Moore-Margaret Qualley horror comedy The Substance from director Coralie Fargeat, which also finds its main character going deep into herself in order to change the trajectory of her life all the way to a desperate and stunning denouement on a theatrical stage (albeit...

Jason Reitman's new movie Saturday Night is a hilarious and fascinating recounting of the 90 minutes ahead of the very first episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live. As such, several references are made to the sketches and performances that ended up being featured in this premiere that aired back in 1975. While not every sketch landed as well as intended, others would instantly become crucial parts of SNL's 50-year history.

The first episode of NBC's Saturday Night aired on the evening of October 11th, 1975. Featuring two musical acts, a short film by Albert Brooks, and multiple monologues from host George Carlin, each sketch only lasted an average of about 2 minutes (with a few notable exceptions). However, there are some truly great jokes and bits that are just as funny now as they were 50 years ago. To that end, here's every sketch from the very first episode of SNL, ranked from worst to best.

Michael O’Donoghue’s second go-around as a writer for Saturday Night Live didn’t go as well as the first. Brought back after Lorne Michaels and the original cast headed out for parts unknown, O’Donoghue, the show’s new head writer, wanted to give it a flaming Viking funeral. In other words, “he wanted to destroy the show,” explained Tim Kazurinsky in the SNL oral history Live From New York.

One reason O’Donoghue believed the show should die, according to Mr. Mike: The Life and Work of Michael O’Donoghue: He thought the cast was horrible. He particularly hated Kazurinsky for his relatively tame, unassuming style (O’Donoghue believed Kazurinsky’s Second City was well past its prime) and deemed most of the cast “losers” and “shit.” There were only two performers O’Donoghue liked — Eddie Murphy, for obvious reasons, and Christine Ebersole.

Ebersole is more of a puzzle.

Censors are played for comic relief in Saturday Night, the new movie detailing SNL’s early days. Hey, how was she supposed to know what “golden shower” meant?

But while the show’s writers snuck a lot of questionable content past the gatekeepers, they weren’t always successful. Here are five sketches that were rehearsed but never aired — mostly because good taste prevailed…

[subtitle]1Jesus of Nashville [/subtitle]

When NBC produced a 1970s mini-series called Jesus of Nazareth, SNL writers came up with their version: Jesus of Nashville. In the SNL script compilation book Saturday Night Live, a scribble indicates it was written by J.D. and J.B. — James Downey and… John Belushi?

The book version of the script features a Censored stamp with a large red cross “crossing out” the offending words. If the fake promo had run, Dan Aykroyd would have played the eponymous savior, singing this ditty:

I got...

The first Saturday Night Live cast premiered on October 11, 1975, kicking off an everlasting comedy legacy and launching the careers of some of the most beloved entertainers of all time. Dubbed the "Not Ready for Primetime Players," the first SNL cast ushered in a new era of television.

Now, that cast is the focal point of 2024 movie. SNL 1975 examines the lead-up to the first episode of Saturday Night Live. Dozens of famous comedy names are portrayed in the movie.

As the movie fills out its cast, it's worth looking back at just who was in the first Saturday Night Live cast. And it's just as interesting to see what they're doing now, nearly 50 years after they made television history.

George Coe

George Coe has one of the more unusual Saturday Night Live careers among the hundreds of cast members in the show's history. Yes, he was in the original "Not...

As Saturday Night Live marks a landmark season, the NBC sketch comedy show threw it back to 1975.

Celebrating the 49th anniversary of SNL‘s first broadcast, with Season 50 continuing this weekend, the show shared its original opening credit sequence Friday on social media.

“SNL premiered on October 11, 1975!” they wrote on X with the intro clip for what was then titled Saturday Night.

The lineup included George Carlin, Janis Ian, Billy Preston, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, George Coe, Michael O’Donoghue, Valri Bromfield and Andy Kaufman, with a film by Albert Brooks and Jim Henson’s Muppets.

In honor of the anniversary, Jason Reitman‘s Saturday Night premieres Friday in theaters. The film is set on Oct. 11, 1975, as a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers change television forever. Formerly titled SNL 1975, the film tells the true story of what happened...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Saturday Night.

Jason Reitman's new Saturday Night movie features several classic songs as well as an innovative original score by Jon Batiste. Saturday Night has one of the most stacked ensemble casts of 2024, including plenty of young star actors such as Gabriel Labelle (The Fablemans), Rachel Sennott (Bottoms), Dylan O'Brien (The Maze Runner), and Emmy winners (The Americans), Nicholas Braun (Succession), and Lamorne Morris (Fargo). Oscar winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) and 4-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe (Poor Things) round out the talented ensemble in Saturday Night. Batiste also portrays legendary musician Billy Preston in the film.

Saturday Night opened in theaters on October 11, 2024, after it premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2024. The biographical comedy-drama premiered with a Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (critic) score of 80% and an impressive Popcornmeter (audience) score of 92%. The film chronicles the true story events in the 90 minutes...

It was no small feat to get “Saturday Night Live” off the ground at NBC, and as a result, the cast of “Saturday Night” is pretty huge. In many cases, the actors also look eerily similar to the people they’re playing.

Hitting theaters everywhere on Oct. 11 after a limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles, Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night” tells the story of the 90 minutes right before the first-ever episode of “SNL.” It’s chaotic and at the time, even Lorne Michaels couldn’t explain what the show was going to be.

Below, you’ll find the cast of “Saturday Night” alongside what their real-life counterparts looked like back then.

Sony/Getty Images Lorne Michaels (Gabriel Labelle)

Lorne Michaels is the creator and, to this day, producer of “Saturday Night Live.” He’s played in “Saturday Night” by Gabriel Labelle, who had his breakout role in Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans.

This article contains spoilers for "Saturday Night."

By the time the credits roll on the fantastic "Saturday Night" (read our review here), you've experienced a complete story that unfolds across the chaotic 90 minutes before the first episode of "Saturday Night Live" aired on NBC back in October 1975. 

After Lorne Michaels (Gabriel Labelle) has proven to the network brass that his chaotic sketch comedy show deserves to go live on NBC, the final sequence recreates the first sketch that debuted in the series premiere, featuring cast member John Belushi (Matt Wood) and writer Michael O'Donoghue (Tommy Dewey) engaging in an English lesson with the famous line, "I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines." When it ends with O'Donoghue's character having a heart attack and Belushi's character feigning the cardiac arrest in response, with the cast and crew looking on with pride and laughter, Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith...

Saturday Night Live wasn’t Saturday Night Live, both literally and spiritually, when it premiered on Oct. 11, 1975. Weeks earlier, ABC had debuted a prime-time variety show called Saturday Night Live With Howard Cosell. So Lorne Michaels’ late-night creation had to go by, simply, Saturday Night — the same title of the Jason Reitman film (out now) about the sketch-comedy institution’s very first telecast. But that inaugural season was different from what we think of as Saturday Night Live in ways that go much further and deeper than the name. In that first year,...

Plot: In the ninety minutes before the live airing of the first episode of Saturday Night Live, a young Lorne Michaels (Gabriel Labelle) desperately tries to keep NBC from pulling the plug while dealing with a cast, writers and crew in open rebellion.

Review: Comedy would be very different nowadays if not for Saturday Night Live‘s impact. Most noteworthy comedy film stars of the last four decades emerged from their ranks, and nearly fifty years since its premiere, it remains as vital as ever. Yet, the making of the show itself had become an almost mythological tale, with it a known fact that the young Lorne Michaels had to overcome overwhelming odds to make the show in the first place.

What Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night does is that it distills most of the big challenges Michaels had to overcome into one ninety-minute period. It’s a conceit that...

What can we say about Chevy Chase on his 81st birthday that we haven’t already said before?

Here’s the good news: We don’t have to say it. After decades of burning down every bridge in sight, it was no problem to find 81 burns to light the candles on his cake. Below is a birthday portrait of the man of the hour, courtesy of the co-workers, directors and other unfortunates who’ve worked with Chase over the years.

1 Will Ferrell

“The worst (SNL) host was Chevy Chase.”

(Live From New York: The Complete Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live)

2 Buck Henry

“I thought Chevy shouldn’t have left (SNL). I thought it was really stupid.”

(Live From New York: The Complete Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live)

3 John Carpenter 4 Director Kevin Smith

“Chevy went on to claim he invented every funny thing that ever happened in the history of not just comedy,...

When I first heard about the premise of Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night” — the entire film takes place in the 90 minutes leading up to the late-night comedy landmark’s first episode in 1975 — I confess that I found the idea to be a head-scratcher. Sure, it seemed like there would be a backstage let’s-put-on-a-show “What can go wrong? Everything can go wrong!” real-time frenetic bustle to the thing. And that sounded like fun.

More to the point, though: The show that came to be called “Saturday Night Live” — in the first season, it was just called “Saturday Night” — didn’t come together overnight, or in 90 minutes. A universe of pitching and planning and casting and writing, along with an infinite number of decisions large and small, went into the formation of a revolutionary new television comedy spirit and form. How was “Saturday Night” created? How was it dreamed up? How did it all come together?...

Hannah Einbinder made a surprise cameo in Saturday Night Live’s landmark 50th season premiere on Saturday, September 28, joining host Jean Smart in introducing musical guest Jelly Roll’s performance of the song “Liar.” Einbinder’s appearance shouldn’t be that much of a surprise: She and Smart are the lead stars of the Max comedy Hacks, but Einbinder is also part of the SNL family as the daughter of original cast member Laraine Newman. Newman joined Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, George Coe, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Michael O’Donoghue, and Gilda Radner in the SNL Season 1 cast in 1975 and stayed on the NBC sketch-comedy show for five years. She married voice actor Chad Einbinder in 1991, and the couple welcomed Einbinder in 1995. Newman will be played by Emily Fairn in the upcoming movie about SNL‘s very first episode, Saturday Night, coming to theaters on October 11. Hannah Einbinder is here!

In general, I don’t have a problem when movies based on actual events fudge the facts. Filmmakers should be allowed some leeway when trying to craft a compelling story, and besides: If they make things up, you can always research the true story to find out what’s been exaggerated or left out. It’s hardly a mortal sin.

But in the case of Saturday Night, the backstage comedy-drama that follows a young Lorne Michaels (Gabriel Labelle) in the 90 minutes before the launch of his new variety show Saturday Night — it would later be renamed Saturday Night Live — it’s a history so many people think they know. There have been multiple books about SNL’s early days, as well as countless interviews over the years from the show’s many cast members. To be a fan of SNL is to be obsessive about its legacy, conversant in all...

To the joy of comedy fans, and the horror of families who were just looking for a nice cartoon about jazz-playing felines, the 2005 documentary The Aristocrats delved into the history of the notoriously filthy joke about a family pitching a vulgar stage show to a talent agent. While we all know the punchline — “The Aristocrats!” — it’s the uniquely grotesque nuances of each comedian’s version that makes the movie so interesting.

The Aristocrats featured interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy — from Chris Rock, to Sarah Silverman, to George Carlin. Also Carrot Top. But the most memorable version of the joke was probably the one told by the late Gilbert Gottfried. Note: The clip is not safe for work, unless you work in the talent agency from the joke.

One celebrity you won’t see in the movie is Chevy Chase, which is odd because Chase is...

Jason Reitman’s SNL origin story, Saturday Night, hasn’t even hit movie theaters yet, but it’s already sparking an explosion of online opinions. Most recently, Muppet devotees have been wading into the discourse, due to the film’s depiction of Jim Henson, as played by Cousin Greg from Succession, who, confusingly, also plays Andy Kaufman in the film.

Over on the Muppets subreddit, fans have been responding to a recent Slate article that makes mention of the film’s “dismissive” treatment of Henson. One user noted that this news is “disappointing if true.” Another Muppet fan pointed out that “it makes no one look good to treat Muppets as badly as (the SNL cast and crew) apparently did. Good biopics should capture the magic of their target.”

But others defended the film, suggesting that the “Muppet SNL skits are probably the worst thing Henson ever did,” and reminding...

Before each Saturday Night Live performance, Kristen Wiig would light a candle, she once told Kelly Clarkson. Amy Poehler shared her own pre-show ritual with Clarkson this week. “When Don Pardo would say my name,” Poehler explained, “I used to just take a moment and close my eyes for about a split second. Because that's about all the time you have at SNL. Molly Shannon used to do that — she told me about it so then I did it.”

Aww, sweet. But not as fun as another SNL tradition that Poehler revealed. It turns out the Parks and Rec star got Shannon’s office after she left the show, a fact evidenced by the scribbles Shannon left on the room’s walls. “Everyone would just kind of leave their name like summer camp,” Poehler said. “You'd write your name on the wall.”

Defacing SNL property is a long-standing tradition that...

Director Jason Reitman’s new movie about the origins of Saturday Night Live premiered at the Telluride Film Festival to mostly favorable reactions. The movie, titled Saturday Night, focuses on the chaotic onset of the first episode in 1975. It shows the 90 minutes leading up to the premiere broadcast.

The film had a big crowd for its first screening, with around 300 people reportedly turned away due to limited space. Critics enjoyed Reitman’s direction and the acting performances. Gabriel Labelle earned praise for his portrayal of Lorne Michaels, creator of SNL. Variety called his acting “electric” and noted his energy. The Hollywood Reporter said the 21-year-old actor handled the role of befuddlement well.

Other standouts included Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris and Tommy Dewey as Michael O’Donoghue. However, some felt the roles of women like Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin had less development. The Reporter said these cast members got “short shrift.

Live from Telluride, Sony Pictures’ biographical dramedy “Saturday Night” has officially entered the Oscar race thanks to its superb ensemble, sizzling script and expert craftsmanship. The film drew significant attention at the festival, where nearly 300 people were turned away, and the first attendees arrived as early as 2:30 p.m. for the 7:15 p.m. screening. Jason Reitman’s crowd-pleasing romp is now positioned as a strong contender across several Oscar categories, including best picture.

Directed by Reitman, who introduced the film along with former “SNL” cast member Bill Murray, it’s set in 1975 and chronicles the 90 minutes leading up to the premiere of NBC’s long-running sketch show, “Saturday Night Live.”

With a cast of more than 20 actors who deliver outstanding performances in their respective roles, “Saturday Night” is in the running for one of the five slots for the best-cast ensemble at the SAG Awards. If nominated, it...

A top director once told me 90% of the success of his movies is casting. If you get that right, you are on your way.

If that is the case then Saturday Night director and co-writer Jason Reitman nailed it — and then some. With a killer ensemble of more than 80 speaking roles (John Papsidera was the casting director) helping to bring to life this film detailing the chaotic and quite astounding 90 minutes before Saturday Night Live began its first broadcast on October 11, 1975, this is a masterful movie comedy firing on all cylinders. With no time to breathe in its tight 103-minute running time, Reitman (with his co-writer Gil Kenan) has mined comic gold in telling the incredible tale of how producer Lorne Michaels navigated a nervous network, bruised egos, an unpredictable cast, a suspicious censor and a whole lot of disasters as the clock ticked down to 11:30 p.m., when it still wasn’t certain,...

It was never going to work. They couldn’t give enough tickets away to fill the seats. There were sound issues, lighting issues, drug issues, ego issues. Some of the crew walked out. A key cast member wouldn’t sign his contract, then went missing right before the show was supposed to air live. The host oozed contempt. The Teamsters didn’t like the long-haired freaks. The two alpha males in the ensemble didn’t like each other. Writer Michael O’Donoghue didn’t like anybody. They had three hours of...

It’s hard to overstate just how much Saturday Night Live has permeated popular culture in America over nearly 50 years on the air. Week after week, the long-running sketch show has minted comedic stars and debuted characters that feel instantly familiar even today. Now, filmmaker Jason Reitman shines a light on the chaotic genesis of this television phenomenon in his latest picture, Saturday Night.

Focusing on the frantic hours and minutes leading up to the very first episode’s live broadcast in 1975, Reitman transports viewers backstage as the unproven troupe struggles to bring their unconventional vision to the small screen.

With its counterculture spirit and young, fresh voice, SNL aimed to speak directly to the generation that grew up on television. But whether viewers at home would tune in, let alone understand this strange new kind of show, was very much in doubt. At NBC headquarters in Manhattan on the night of October 11th,...

Live from Telluride, it’s Saturday Night! Appropriately enough, Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night debuted on, well, Saturday Night at the Telluride Film Festival. For fans of SNL, this is one of the most anticipated films of the year and, judging by the initial reactions, it could now be in the Oscars discussion.

Check out some of the first reactions below:

Saturday Night just blew the roof off #Telluride. One of Jason Reitman’s best films! Perfectly captures the chaotic energy, camaraderie & backstage shenanigans of putting together the first SNL in real-time. Crisp editing, long takes, a witty script with big laughs and a… pic.twitter.com/NvBB1iZ3eN

— Matt Neglia @Telluride (@NextBestPicture) September 1, 2024

The sneaky #Telluride programmers waited till Saturday night to share Jason Reitman's Saturday Night, and it's been the highlight of my festival so far: a crowd-pleasing re-creation of SNL's first episode that gets the daunting casting challenge right.

There was a noticeable energy inside the Palm Theater on Saturday night at the Telluride Film Festival before the world premiere of Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night.” In a lineup of several heavy dramas and art house titles – some of which, at least anecdotally, have left attendees disappointed despite pre-festival buzz – the Oscar-nominated filmmaker’s new film about the launch of “Saturday Night Live” felt like something of a unicorn: a mainstream studio movie about one of the most important comedy institutions ever created. So when Reitman – who has been coming to Telluride for years – took the stage to introduce the film, the crowd was already primed to erupt. And when Reitman brought “SNL” legend Bill Murray, in town to support “The Friend,” up to the stage to surprise the audience, they did to the tune of a standing ovation.

But that all happened before the movie started. So in some ways,...

Next year, ‘Saturday Night Live' will be celebrating its 50th anniversary, after making its premiere on October 11, 1975. The famed late-night comedy’s beginnings are also in the process of being captured in a new film, aptly titled ‘SNL 1975’. While little details have been released about the plot or script, casting information, behind-the-scenes pictures, as well as history can give us information on this anticipated origin story.

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Live From New York, It’S 1975 Though it may seem that the plot of ‘SNL 1975...

Bob Tischler, the writer and producer known for his work on Saturday Night Live, has died. He was 78.

The former SNL head writer, who is largely credited with helping revive the NBC sketch comedy show after its infamously panned 1980-81 season, died on July 13 at his home in Bodega Bay, California.

His son Zeke told The New York Times that the cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

Born June 12, 1946 in Englewood, New Jersey, Tischler attended Ithaca and Franconia Colleges in the 1960s before working as a sound engineer in radio and television.

After working together on a radio ad, Christopher Guest recommended him to National Lampoon, for which he produced the albums Radio Dinner (1972), Gold Turkey (1975) and That’s Not Funny, That’s Sick (1977), as well as The National Lampoon Radio Hour in 1973.

Saturday Night Live Producer Dick Ebersol, writers Bob Tischler and Michael O’Donoghue and improvisation expert Del Close.

"We're 90 minutes of live television by a group of 20-year-olds who have never made anything. Did you ever stop and wonder why they said yes? A counterculture show starring total unknowns with zero narrative and even less structure. They want you to fail."

That's how producer Dick Ebersol (played by Cooper Hoffman of "Licorice Pizza") describes the comedic experiment that was "Saturday Night Live" in the first trailer for Jason Reitman's new movie "Saturday Night." The film chronicles all the chaos, fighting, drama, and hilarity that unfolded behind the scenes before the premiere of what would become one of the most iconic comedy shows of all time. 

When Vanity Fair debuted a first look at "Saturday Night" earlier this week, Reitman described it as a comedy-thriller where time was the villain, and that's exactly what we get in the trailer you can watch above. There's a literal ticking clock...