‘Saturday Night Live’ Docuseries From Morgan Neville Premieres in January

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As a movie reviewer with over three decades of entertainment journalism under my belt, let me tell you that the upcoming docuseries “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” is a must-watch for any comedy enthusiast. With my formative years spent glued to the small screen during Saturday nights, I can’t help but feel nostalgic about the iconic moments and unforgettable characters that graced our screens thanks to this groundbreaking sketch comedy show.

As a die-hard fan of sketch comedy, I can hardly contain my excitement! Gear up, because you’re about to uncover secrets behind the scenes like never before. In commemoration of Saturday Night Live (SNL) reaching its golden milestone of 50 seasons, NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock, is all set to debut SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night – a four-part docuseries that pays homage to the enduring legacy of this comedy institution. The series is scheduled to make its grand entrance on January 16, 2025.

On Wednesday, Peacock revealed details about their upcoming four-part documentary series in a press statement. This series will offer an intimate look into the captivating history of Saturday Night Live, as well as provide glimpses behind the scenes, such as the audition process, writer’s room antics, the beloved “More Cowbell” skit, and the influential season 11.

This upcoming series is executive produced by Morgan Neville, a renowned filmmaker who has won Emmy and Academy Awards for his documentaries like “20 Feet From Stardom,” “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”, and “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.” The series boasts contributions from more than 60 individuals, including veterans from “SNL,” delving into various facets of the iconic Lorne Michaels-created show’s illustrious history and enduring influence on American comedy.

Here’s The Episodic Breakdown For ‘SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night’

Four independent episodes, each focusing on distinct elements and significant instances from the series’ illustrious past, will simultaneously debut on that day. Neville made this announcement in a statement.

Ever since I can recall, I’ve been deeply captivated by ‘Saturday Night Live’. For the 50th anniversary, I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to join forces with several independent filmmakers whom I admire, to explore more profound narratives about ‘SNL’. Collectively, these individual episodes offer a fresh viewpoint on ‘SNL’ and what keeps it thriving.

Each of the episode’s synopses are outlined below:

  • Episode 101, “Five Minutes” – A showcase of the SNL audition process, with never-before-seen audition footage and firsthand accounts from some of the show’s most iconic names as they reflect on their preparation and journey to the SNL stage.
  • Episode 102, “Written By: A Week Inside The SNL Writers Room” – A behind-the-scenes look at the SNL writing process from script to screen, capturing the creativity and chaos of a week inside the writers’ room at SNL.
  • Episode 103, “More Cowbell” – A deep dive into the making of SNL‘s iconic “More Cowbell” sketch, exploring how a simple idea became a cultural phenomenon and offering a tribute to the lasting impact of sketch comedy.
  • Episode 104, “Season 11: The Weird Year” – An exploration into SNL’s 11th season, examining the pivotal year that reset the show’s direction and cemented its enduring DNA with Lorne Michaels at the helm.

The influence of Saturday Night Live on popular culture is immeasurable, providing a stage for countless comedy greats such as Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, Adam Sandler, Bill Murray, Bill Hader, Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Andy Samberg, Chris Rock, and numerous others.

We’re particularly intrigued by analyzing the controversial eleventh season of the series, where Michael took over as showrunner again after being absent for five years, pursuing different career paths. Upon his return, he significantly changed the cast that was under Dick Ebersol, bringing in well-known actors like Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey Jr., and Joan Cusack, most of whom had little comedy background. Essentially, this led to a major revamp or restart of the show.

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night will premiere all four of its parts on January 16, 2025.

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2024-12-11 23:32