Stream ‘Saturday Night’ to Celebrate SNL’s 50th!

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This week commemorates the golden jubilee celebrations for the long-running comedy show commonly known as SNL (Saturday Night Live). Over five decades on air, SNL has established itself as an unparalleled comedic institution in television history. Founded by visionary Lorne Michaels, who continues to lead the show today, SNL follows a distinctive format featuring a musical guest, sketches performed by the main cast, a weekend update news segment, and the iconic introduction, “live from New York it’s Saturday Night.

Many renowned figures in the entertainment industry launched their careers on SNL, such as Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Adam Sandler, Tina Fey, and Mike Myers. Yet, many are unaware of the tumultuous beginnings of SNL back in 1975, or how it nearly didn’t make it onto our screens at all. Fortunately, this is the essence of the recent movie Saturday Night, which delves into the pivotal night of SNL’s debut and creation. Here’s a rundown of Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night, preparing viewers to celebrate SNL’s milestone anniversary.

What Happens in ‘Saturday Night’?

On October 11, 1975, Lorne Michaels was presented with an exceptional chance to pitch his concept for a novel variety show, initially titled Saturday Night, in front of NBC executives. Michaels had a vague idea, abundant resources, and a tight deadline. If he couldn’t get the show ready by 11:30 p.m., when it was scheduled to air, his supervisor David Ebersol (played by Hoffman) warned him that David Tebet (Dafoe) might opt for re-running The Johnny Carson Show, instead of taking a risk on an unproven comedy program.

It appears that Michael’s worries about making the deadline are justified, as there seems to be quite a bit of confusion surrounding the show itself. For instance, everyone seems unsure about its theme or focus. The chaos begins when John Belushi (Matt Wood) refuses to wear his costume and suddenly vanishes. Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith) instigates a physical altercation with Milton Berle (J.K. Simmons) over his advances towards his girlfriend (Kaia Gerber). A censor is attempting to rewrite almost every sketch, yet there are far too many to fit within the show’s time frame. The host, George Carlin (Matthew Rhys), finds it all rather trivial and has no desire to participate. Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris) grapples with an identity crisis of operatic proportions. Jim Henson (Braun) struggles to communicate about the Muppets’ performance. By the first hour, things have already spiraled out of control.

Ebersol and Tebet are increasingly doubtful that Michaels can unite SNL before the deadline. Yet, when Belushi, Andy Kauffman, and Chevy Chase demonstrated what the authentic essence of SNL really was during rehearsals (with the stage’s bricks still being laid mere minutes before the show was set to start), they chose to allow the broadcast to proceed.

A Star-Studded Cast

The original cast of Saturday Night Live was a star-studded lineup featuring icons like Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and more. It was only appropriate that the cast for Saturday Night boasted a similar caliber of talent. The cast features Gabriel LaBelle, who earned a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Lorne Michaels, in addition to Cooper Hoffman, son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Other fresh faces, such as Cory Michael Smith playing Chevy Chase, Ella Hunt embodying Gilda Radner, and Matt Wood portraying John Belushi, are also part of the ensemble and deliver remarkable performances.

On every Saturday Night, you’ll come across friendly and recognized figures, such as Dylan O’Brien playing Dan Aykroyd, Lamorne Morris portraying Garret Morris, Kaia Gerber taking on Jacqueline Carlin, Rachel Sennott acting as Rosie Shuster, Finn Wolfhard assuming the role of an NBC Page, J.K. Simmons embodying Milton Berle, Nicholas Braun depicting Jim Henson, and Andy Kaufman by Willem Dafoe in his seemingly endless 20th film of the year – a performance we can’t get enough of, this time as David Tebet.

In Real-Time

The most intriguing aspect of Saturday Night might be its live broadcast feature, where the movie’s duration counts down like a clock until it airs on TV. The film is shot with extended, continuous shots to simulate the hectic atmosphere behind the scenes as Michaels and his team prepare for the live show. While it can induce some anxiety, it effectively immerses you in the details of putting together a television variety program.

In a similar vein, Saturday Night gives off an impression of being uniquely unique within its genre. If you’re even slightly intrigued by comedy, behind-the-scenes workings, or television lore in general, this is a crucial viewing experience for enlightenment. Furthermore, the excitement lies in observing these creative minds navigating their way through the production process, which seems more like a documentary than a typical film.

The timeless classic “Saturday Night” can now be streamed on Netflix. Meanwhile, the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary special is accessible on Peacock.

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2025-02-18 01:02