| 1 | %% |
| 2 | %% |
| 3 | %% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are commented out. Do not uncomment them without adding sufficient context. |
| 4 | %% |
| 5 | %% |
| 6 | %% |
| 7 | %% |
| 8 | %% |
| 9 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/snl_season_48_logo.jpg]] |
| 10 | [[caption-width-right:350:''"Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"'']] |
| 11 | |
| 12 | ->''"It was like the ComicBook/XMen school for comedians, y'know? All these guys with superpowers, together!"'' |
| 13 | -->-- '''Creator/ChrisRock''' |
| 14 | |
| 15 | [[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere Live from New York, describe Saturday Night Live here!]] |
| 16 | |
| 17 | ''Saturday Night Live'' is a ground-breaking Creator/{{NBC}} SketchComedy VarietyShow, broadcast live from New York City in what had been, until its premiere in 1975, [[ItWillNeverCatchOn TV's "graveyard shift" slot]]. According to Website/{{Wikipedia}}, it was originally created at the request of the network's then-president and CEO Herbert Schlosser as a replacement for reruns of ''Series/TheTonightShowStarringJohnnyCarson,'' which ran in the Saturday late-night slot previously. Creator/JohnnyCarson himself decided to end the practice when he made the decision to reserve his rerun shows for weekdays when he was unable to record a new show himself, and didn't want to bother with getting a guest host. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Often shortened to ''SNL'' for ease of reference, the show was specifically designed by its creator and executive producer, Creator/LorneMichaels (who was once a writer on ''Series/RowanAndMartinsLaughIn''), as a showcase for young and edgy talent as a direct reaction to the older comedians who then dominated prime time but were fundamentally clueless about the tastes, styles, and preoccupations of younger Americans circa 1975. Rotating celebrity hosts and musical guests added to the "fingers on the pulse of pop culture" vibe the show strived for. During its early years, ''SNL'' reveled in a feeling of being just shy of completely out of control, and pushed the boundaries of television far beyond what anyone had ever seen before - thus earning the unofficial nickname "The Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players." By design the show's regular cast is continually shifting, with veterans departing for solo careers and young performers being recruited regularly. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | The number of stars that emerged from this show is mind-boggling in itself: |
| 22 | |
| 23 | !!''SNL'' Cast Members (Past & Present): |
| 24 | [[folder:Cast Members A–Z]] |
| 25 | [[index]] |
| 26 | * Creator/FredArmisen (2002-13) |
| 27 | * Creator/AristotleAthari (2021-22) |
| 28 | * Creator/DanAykroyd (1975-79) |
| 29 | * Creator/VanessaBayer (2010-17) |
| 30 | * Creator/JamesBelushi (1983-85) |
| 31 | * Creator/JohnBelushi (1975-80) |
| 32 | * Creator/BeckBennett (2013-21) |
| 33 | * Creator/PaulBrittain (2010-12) |
| 34 | * Creator/AidyBryant (2012-22) |
| 35 | * Creator/BethCahill (1991-92) |
| 36 | * Creator/DanaCarvey (1986-93) |
| 37 | * Creator/ChevyChase (1975-76) |
| 38 | * Creator/MichaelChe (2013-) |
| 39 | * Creator/GeorgeCoe (1975-86)[[note]]Only credited as a castmember during season 1 (1975-76)[[/note]] |
| 40 | * Creator/BillyCrystal (1984-85) |
| 41 | * Creator/JaneCurtin (1975-80) |
| 42 | * Creator/JoanCusack (1985-86) |
| 43 | * Creator/PeteDavidson (2014-22) |
| 44 | * Creator/MikeyDay (2016-) |
| 45 | * Creator/DennyDillon (1980-81) |
| 46 | * Creator/RobertDowneyJr (1985-86) |
| 47 | * Creator/BrianDoyleMurray (1979-80, 1981-82) |
| 48 | * Creator/RachelDratch (1999-2006) |
| 49 | * Creator/RobinDuke (1981-84) |
| 50 | * Creator/NoraDunn (1985-90) |
| 51 | * Creator/ChristineEbersole (1981-82) |
| 52 | * Creator/DeanEdwards (2001-03) |
| 53 | * Creator/AbbyElliott (2008-12) |
| 54 | * Creator/ChrisElliott (1994-95) |
| 55 | * Creator/JimmyFallon (1998-2004) |
| 56 | * Creator/SiobhanFallonHogan (1991-92) |
| 57 | * Creator/ChrisFarley (1990-95) |
| 58 | * Creator/WillFerrell (1995-2002) |
| 59 | * Creator/TinaFey (1997-2006) |
| 60 | * Creator/ChloeFineman (2019-) |
| 61 | * Creator/WillForte (2002-10) |
| 62 | * Creator/AlFranken [[note]]making ''SNL'' the only late-night entertainment show to produce a ''United States Senator''[[/note]] (1977-80, 1986, 1988-95) |
| 63 | * Creator/HeidiGardner (2017-) |
| 64 | * Creator/JaneaneGarofalo (1994-95) |
| 65 | * Creator/AnaGasteyer (1996-2002) |
| 66 | * Creator/GilbertGottfried (1980-81) |
| 67 | * Creator/MaryGross (1981-85) |
| 68 | * Creator/ChristopherGuest (1984-85) |
| 69 | * Creator/BillHader (2005-13) |
| 70 | * Creator/AnthonyMichaelHall [[note]]the youngest cast member to date at 17 years old when he was cast[[/note]] (1985-86) |
| 71 | * Creator/BradHall (1982-84) |
| 72 | * Creator/DarrellHammond (1995-2009)[[note]]Later became the announcer after Creator/DonPardo's passing in 2014.[[/note]] |
| 73 | * Creator/PhilHartman (1986-94) |
| 74 | * Creator/JanHooks (1986-91) |
| 75 | * Creator/YvonneHudson (1980-81) |
| 76 | * Creator/MelanieHutsell (1991-94) |
| 77 | * Creator/VictoriaJackson (1986-92) |
| 78 | * Creator/PunkieJohnson (2020-) |
| 79 | * Creator/LeslieJones (2014-19) |
| 80 | * Creator/ColinJost (2005-) |
| 81 | * Creator/ChrisKattan (1996-2003) |
| 82 | * Creator/TimKazurinsky (1982-84) |
| 83 | * Creator/TaranKillam (2010-16) |
| 84 | * Creator/DavidKoechner (1995-96) |
| 85 | * Creator/JuliaLouisDreyfus (1982-85) |
| 86 | * Creator/JonLovitz (1985-90) |
| 87 | * Creator/NormMacdonald (1993-98) |
| 88 | * Creator/AdamMcKay (1995-2001) |
| 89 | * Creator/MichaelMcKean (1994-95) |
| 90 | * Creator/MarkMcKinney (1995-97) |
| 91 | * Creator/KateMcKinnon (2012-22) |
| 92 | * Creator/TimMeadows (1990-2000) |
| 93 | * Creator/SethMeyers (2001-14) |
| 94 | * Creator/JohnMilhiser (2013-14) |
| 95 | * Creator/DennisMiller (1985-91) |
| 96 | * Creator/JerryMinor (2000-01) |
| 97 | * Creator/FinesseMitchell (2003-06) |
| 98 | * Creator/AlexMoffat (2016-22) |
| 99 | * Creator/JayMohr (1993-95) |
| 100 | * Creator/KyleMooney (2013-22) |
| 101 | * Creator/TracyMorgan (1996-2003) |
| 102 | * Creator/GarrettMorris (1975-80) |
| 103 | * Creator/BobbyMoynihan (2008-17) |
| 104 | * Creator/EddieMurphy (1980-84) |
| 105 | * Creator/BillMurray (1977-80) |
| 106 | * Creator/MikeMyers (1989-95) |
| 107 | * Creator/KevinNealon (1986-95) |
| 108 | * Creator/LaraineNewman (1975-80) |
| 109 | * Creator/EgoNwodim (2018-) |
| 110 | * Creator/MichaelODonoghue (1975-86) |
| 111 | * Creator/CheriOteri (1995-2000) |
| 112 | * Creator/NasimPedrad (2009-14) |
| 113 | * Creator/ChrisParnell (1998-2006) |
| 114 | * Creator/JayPharoah (2010-16) |
| 115 | * Creator/JoePiscopo (1980-84) |
| 116 | * Creator/AmyPoehler (2001-08) |
| 117 | * Creator/RandyQuaid (1985-86) |
| 118 | * Creator/ColinQuinn (1995-2000) |
| 119 | * Creator/GildaRadner (1975-80) |
| 120 | * Creator/ChrisRedd (2017-22) |
| 121 | * Creator/JeffRichards (2001-04) |
| 122 | * Creator/RobRiggle (2004-05) |
| 123 | * Creator/TimRobinson (2012-13) |
| 124 | * Creator/ChrisRock (1990-93) |
| 125 | * Creator/CharlesRocket (1980-81) |
| 126 | * Creator/TonyRosato (1981-82) |
| 127 | * Creator/MayaRudolph (2000-07) |
| 128 | * Creator/AndySamberg (2005-12) |
| 129 | * Creator/AdamSandler (1990-95) |
| 130 | * Creator/HoratioSanz (1998-2006) |
| 131 | * Creator/RobSchneider (1990-94) |
| 132 | * Creator/MollyShannon (1995-2001) |
| 133 | * Creator/HarryShearer (1979-80, 1984-85) |
| 134 | * Creator/SarahSherman (2021-) |
| 135 | * Creator/MartinShort (1984-85) |
| 136 | * Creator/SarahSilverman (1993-94) |
| 137 | * Creator/JennySlate (2009-10) |
| 138 | * Creator/RobertSmigel (1990-93) |
| 139 | * Creator/DavidSpade (1990-96) |
| 140 | * Creator/PamelaStephenson (1984-85) |
| 141 | * Creator/BenStiller (1989) |
| 142 | * Creator/CecilyStrong (2012-22) |
| 143 | * Creator/JasonSudeikis (2005-13) |
| 144 | * Creator/JuliaSweeney (1990-94) |
| 145 | * Creator/TerrySweeney (1985-86) |
| 146 | * Creator/KenanThompson [[note]]The first person hired as a cast member to be born after ''SNL''[='s=] 1975 premiere, as well as the longest-tenured cast member, having been with the show since 2003.[[/note]] (2003-) |
| 147 | * Chloe Troast (2023-) |
| 148 | * Creator/DanitraVance (1985-86) |
| 149 | * Creator/MelissaVillasenor (2016-22) |
| 150 | * Creator/MichaelaWatkins (2008-09) |
| 151 | * Creator/DamonWayans (1985-86) |
| 152 | * Creator/NoelWells (2013-14) |
| 153 | * Creator/BrooksWheelan (2013-14) |
| 154 | * Creator/KristenWiig (2005-12) |
| 155 | * Creator/CaseyWilson (2008-09) |
| 156 | * Creator/BowenYang (2019-) |
| 157 | * Creator/SasheerZamata (2014-17) |
| 158 | [[/index]] |
| 159 | [[/folder]] |
| 160 | |
| 161 | \ |
| 162 | Not coincidentally, many of these cast members are also veterans of Creator/TheSecondCity, a world-class improv theatre troupe in Chicago and Toronto. Others are veterans of the Groundlings, a similar improv troupe based in Los Angeles. |
| 163 | |
| 164 | Every episode features the guest host delivering an opening monologue and participating in most of the evening's sketches. Actors, musicians, and comedians are the most common selections. They have always had a standing band for various musical numbers, but often with a guest musician to perform a piece or two in the middle of the program. If the host is a well-known musician, they will often fill both roles, and sometimes guest musicians participate in skits too, though not as often as the host. And that's not counting the occasional unannounced surprise guests that can show up, from a brief cameo to a whole scene alongside the guest host. Creator/SteveMartin, Creator/JohnGoodman,[[note]]who'd auditioned for the show prior to its sixth season[[/note]] and Creator/AlecBaldwin all have hosted the show over a dozen times, while Music/DaveGrohl holds the record for musical appearances, with 11.[[note]] Performing with not just his main bands Music/{{Nirvana}} and Music/FooFighters, but also with Music/TomPetty, Music/ThemCrookedVultures and Music/QueensOfTheStoneAge.[[/note]] |
| 165 | |
| 166 | Several sketches from the show have been turned into feature films, mostly in the 90's. Quality ranged from good: ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'', ''Film/WaynesWorld'', ''Film/WaynesWorld2'', ''Film/MacGruber'' to middling: ''Film/{{Coneheads}}'', ''Film/BluesBrothers2000'', to terrible: ''Film/ANightAtTheRoxbury'' and ''Film/Superstar1999'', ''Film/TheLadiesMan''. Two, ''Coneheads'' and ''Film/StuartSavesHisFamily'', have been VindicatedByHistory. Most infamous though would be ''Film/ItsPat'', which garnered a 0% freshness on Website/RottenTomatoes. |
| 167 | |
| 168 | Widely viewed as always having been better when [[NostalgiaFilter one was younger,]] whenever that happened to be. In fact, the show seems to operate in cycles -- it starts out outrageous and fresh and stays that way for a few years, then when its outrageousness becomes the norm the show gets panned for "not being funny anymore". The claims are solidified when a favorite cast member leaves, and the show goes through a down period as it transitions to a new cast. Then when the right cast members are found, the show becomes funny again and finds a new audience. |
| 169 | |
| 170 | ''SNL'' has essentially become a New York City treasure, despite the years of turmoil (both on the show and in the world) that threatened to end the show and tarnish its legacy, and has proved time and time again that it can survive anything thrown at it, from fickle fans to national crises. |
| 171 | |
| 172 | Thank you, and... |
| 173 | |
| 174 | '''LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!''' |
| 175 | |
| 176 | ---- |
| 177 | !!"LIVE, FROM TV TROPES, IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!": |
| 178 | |
| 179 | [[index]] |
| 180 | * SaturdayNightLive/TropesAToC |
| 181 | * SaturdayNightLive/TropesDToH |
| 182 | * SaturdayNightLive/TropesIToP |
| 183 | * SaturdayNightLive/TropesQToZ |
| 184 | [[/index]] |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext Series / SaturdayNightLive
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
