Original ‘SNL’ Castmember Jane Curtin Initially Thought Viewers Watching the Show “Must Be Really Stupid”

Original ‘SNL’ Castmember Jane Curtin Initially Thought Viewers Watching the Show “Must Be Really Stupid”

As a gamer with a deep appreciation for the history and evolution of television comedy, I can only imagine the whirlwind that was Jane Curtin‘s life during the early days of Saturday Night Live (SNL). Her journey from a quiet, uncertain cast member to a beloved comedic icon is nothing short of inspiring.


In 1975, when Saturday Night Live debuted, Jane Curtin, one of its original cast members, openly expressed her doubts about the show’s success.

Prior to the opening of Saturday’s season 50 of the NBC comedy series, the actress-comedian reminisced with The New York Times about SNL‘s debut on October 11, 1975. She recalled that the entire event seemed like a whirlwind.

Curtin admitted he rarely considered the viewers before. In his mind, anyone tuning in must be rather unintelligent, causing him distress. To cope, he maintained a sort of isolation, focusing on our task at hand within this insulated space.

In the weeks prior to the premiere episode, the actress from “3rd Rock from the Sun” grappled with quite a bit of worry, often wondering if her presence on the show was justified at all.

During that period, I was rather reserved and seemed to go unnoticed. I hadn’t the slightest idea about how to make a strong first impression. In fact, I had never been in a situation where such a thing was necessary. But I believed that one day, I would get my chance on stage. Thinking logically, I reasoned, they hired me and are paying me, so it wouldn’t make sense for them not to utilize my talents.

After the show began to become popular, the actress from Kate & Allie shared that her life outside of SNL transformed significantly. She explained, “You’d encounter people and they would react physically, as if they could sense the energy emanating from 30 Rock. It was a very exhilarating experience.

Curtin, who was initially part of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players team, performed alongside Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, Michael O’Donoghue, and George Coe during the initial season. She continued with SNL until 1980 before achieving success in other productions.

In Jason Reitman’s movie, titled “Saturday Night,” Kim Matula takes on the role of Curtin. This film reenacts the pivotal 90-minute timeframe before the initial airing of the sketch comedy show. The film is set to be released widely on October 11.

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2024-09-29 03:54