As a long-time fan of both Billy Crystal and Saturday Night Live, I found Jason Reitman’s latest film, Saturday Night, to be a captivating and emotional journey that delves deep into the untold stories of the show’s early days. The way it portrays the life experience of Billy Crystal on the fateful night of SNL’s first episode is nothing short of brilliant.
Lovers of comedy history are well aware that Saturday Night Live often involves backstage chaos and unexpected turns, particularly during its early days. Yet, Jason Reitman’s latest film titled “Saturday Night” offers a fresh angle on the debut episode of this iconic sketch show. The 2024 movie delves into the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast, revealing how a young Billy Crystal was abruptly removed from the airwaves just minutes before it went live. Now, the legendary actor is opening up about what truly transpired on that pivotal night in 1975.
What Saturday Night Showed Of Billy Crystal’s Experience On The First SNL Episode
In the film, Nicholas Podany portrays Crystal, a Broadway actor who demonstrates what the comedian did prior to the live broadcast. At that time, Crystal was a promising stand-up in his twenties with a knack for physical comedy. The movie depicts him practicing a sketch set on an African safari, where potato chips were used to mimic the sound of his footsteps. Unfortunately, Crystal couldn’t shorten his sketch to fit Lorne Michaels’ (portrayed by Gabriel LaBelle) desired runtime, resulting in the young comic being removed from the live broadcast.
On Saturday Night, Podany delivers an uncanny portrayal reminiscent of Billy Crystal’s character in “When Harry Met Sally…” His voice and attire perfectly mimic Crystal’s 1970s persona, showcasing the actor’s quick-witted charm. The emotional depth he brings to his performance is striking, as his character is one of the few unfortunate souls who didn’t find a happy ending in the film. Among the many talented SNL performers, this storyline stands out, particularly given Billy Crystal’s subsequent success in television and cinema after being rejected for this role.
What Actually Happened To Billy Crystal Before The First Episode of SNL
Just last night, I found myself on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” chatting about his fascinating new miniseries, “Before.” Seth graciously delved into my past as well, bringing up the iconic show, Saturday Night Live (SNL), and reminiscing about my time there before it went live. He even touched on a moment when I was unfortunately cut from the broadcast. I confirmed that yes, this really happened, and at the time, it felt like a crushing blow to my career. The anticipation surrounding SNL was immense, and being removed from the lineup seemed insurmountable.
In a surprising turn of events, I believed my journey in stand-up comedy had come to an end. With less than a year’s experience under my belt, I was just starting to find my footing at Catch A Rising Star, one of the pioneering clubs. Then, during that summer, I crossed paths with a young producer named Lorne Michaels who introduced me to this show and appreciated my act. I was given the opportunity to perform on the very first episode, which went well during the dress rehearsal. However, I couldn’t take the time off work to finesse my piece, as I was so new in this world. By 8 o’clock, I was informed that I wouldn’t be part of the show due to lack of preparation.
The account given here is quite similar to what transpired on Saturday Night Live as depicted in the film, but there are slight discrepancies. Billy Crystal was initially edited out of the first episode due to time constraints and his monologue being too long. However, contrary to the movie’s portrayal, he was removed from the show much earlier—at approximately 8:00 pm, which is over three hours before Saturday Night Live actually aired its premiere.
Making dramatic changes to the storyline is reasonable and tightening the schedule adds tension and a sense of urgency, as if the show is happening at the last possible moment. If the film stuck closely to reality, Crystal wouldn’t have been part of it, which would have deprived viewers of an engaging plotline. Given her rise to stardom following these events, this change in the storyline is all the more significant.
Experience this pivotal 1975 event from multiple angles, as depicted in the movie Saturday Night, now rentable on Amazon. For Billy Crystal enthusiasts, his latest venture, titled Before, is currently streaming and accessible with an AppleTV+ subscription. Additionally, don’t miss out on the 50th Anniversary special of SNL featuring Billy Crystal and other esteemed alumni, scheduled to air on NBC on February 16, 2025. The event will also be available with a Peacock subscription.
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2024-12-26 22:07