As a die-hard Saturday Night Live (SNL) enthusiast, who’s seen more episodes than I can count and have been following its evolution since my college days, I am beyond thrilled about the upcoming film, “Saturday Night,” set to hit theaters in October 2024. The tantalizing peek into the early days of SNL provided by original cast member Laraine Newman has only fueled my anticipation.
As someone who’s been a devoted (yet still young) fan of Saturday Night Live for quite some time, I’ve often pondered about what the early days of this iconic show must have been like. It looks like many share my curiosity, as a film about the first season titled Saturday Night is slated for release in October 2024. But we don’t have to wait that long to catch a glimpse of the energy and camaraderie in Studio 8H during that groundbreaking debut season. One way to do this is by learning about cast dynamics and some of the playful banter experienced by original cast member Laraine Newman, especially from John Belushi.
It appears that Newman has consistently been at the forefront of emerging trends. She was among the youngest original members of Saturday Night Live (SNL) and remained a regular cast member for the initial five seasons from 1975-1980, most notably portraying Connie in the Coneheads sketches. However, prior to this, she was one of the first students at The Groundlings, an improv school based in Los Angeles that has since gained widespread fame. This institution’s alumni list is brimming with comedians and actors who later became prominent figures in their respective fields.
When Newman moved to New York to join SNL, she hadn’t realized she was laying the groundwork for a wave of Groundlings alumni. At that point, it was simply another improv group, relatively unknown even across the nation, as she explained in an interview with the LA Times: “It was just another improv troupe, not something famous all the way over here.”
By the time we moved to Melrose, I had already gone to SNL. Nobody there had heard of the Groundlings, and I got endless teasing from Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. John Belushi was like, ‘What’s that group you’re from, the Groundhogs.’
Will it be possible that some of those comments will appear in the upcoming movie about Saturday Night Live? It’s uncertain if the humor was well-intentioned, but I sincerely hope so. As we know, being part of Saturday Night Live can be demanding, as previously stated by cast members like Andy Samberg. I assume there was a lot of joking and banter among the group back then. Yet, they probably didn’t realize that this improv group would nurture the talents of numerous talented Saturday Night Live performers in the future.
As a longtime fan of improv comedy and a connoisseur of the performing arts, I am absolutely thrilled to hear that Groundlings is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! Having had the pleasure of attending several performances at this esteemed institution over the years, I can attest to the incredible talent and creativity that has emerged from its hallowed halls.
As a die-hard fan, delving into the history of sketch comedy shows is always a thrill, but nothing beats hearing personal accounts from those who were there during the early seasons. It’s like getting a backstage pass to the golden era! And as for SNL, it’s heartening to know that they have a rich talent pool to draw from, with the Groundlings school providing fresh, promising comedians for the future.
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2024-08-04 02:37