“Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” The phrase that started it all for Saturday Night Live, almost 50 years ago. This Friday, Oct. 11 will be the debut for the new movie, “Saturday Night,” which will take the audience through the lead up to the first ever Saturday Night Live show.
Lights, Camera, Action?
Almost 50 years to the day SNL premiered on NBC, will be the release of the “Saturday Night” movie. Directed by Jason Reitman, the film will show the challenges faced all the way up to the premiere of the first SNL. The movie showcases the original cast from 1975 and their struggles to come together and bring this iconic show to life.
The movie’s star studded cast will consist of Dylan O’Brien who will play Dan Aykroyd, Matt Wood who is John Belushi, Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase, Kim Matula playing Jane Curtin, Lamore Morris is Garrett Morris, and Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman.
50 Years In The Making
Originally airing on Oct. 11, 1975 under the name NBC’s Saturday Night marked the first of 970 episodes, and counting, of SNL. Over the course of its 50 seasons, “SNL” has had over 600 different celebrity hosts and over 800 different musical guest performances. The very first episode of “SNL” to air actually had two musical guests, Billy Preston and Janis Ian, and cut Billy Crystal, the celebrity host, because of time constraints.
Each episode of “SNL” has consisted of comedy sketches that often parody real world events and pop culture, that are performed by the cast and special guest stars. Some of these skits have gone on to become hall of fame moments in SNL history, such as More Cowbell, Close Encounter and Weekend Update.
Transforming Comedy One Saturday At A Time
Over its 50 seasons, “SNL” has not only become a household name, but has revolutionized the way we view comedy. The show’s unique setup with celebrity star hosts and musical guest performances has set it apart from other comedy shows. “SNL” not only uses its humor to poke fun at current events, but also encourages its audience to be a part of these political conversations.
Although many did not believe the show would be successful during its early years, “SNL” has now won 103 Emmy Awards. The most of any television series ever. Being a host or musical guest on the show now has become a sign of “making it” in the entertainment world.
The success of the show is also testament to how talented the team of writers and cast members are. Many of the cast members, including all of the original seven, have all gone on to have successful acting and comedy careers outside of SNL.
“SNL” has become the standard for sketch comedy and launched the careers of many iconic comedians, all while keeping their finger on the pulse of current events, and we here at VALLEY cannot wait to see what SNL has in store for us this season!
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