Retro Database: 50 Years of SNL

So another RetroDb reference for you tonight. And the honorary guests are the comedians in general that found themselves at one point or another in it’s stage; at some point Dan Aykroyd and co did manage to produce an even larger than life studio comedy sketches that managed to surpass the reigning supreme Flying Circus of Monty Pythons. Since then SNL still produce some awesome funny stuff while giving a chance to once unknown, yet still recognizable actors as Jim Carrey, Chevy Chase, The Belushi Bros, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Melissa Mc Carthy and probably all of the well known today, actresses and writers of comedy. Why now you’d say? It is two day prior to the launch of their 50 Years Anniversary Special @ NBC thus becoming the longest - running television program in the US

But what do experts say about SNL?

Legendary S2 Murray, Aykoryd, Belushi

“Saturday Night Live (SNL) is an American late-night live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The show's premiere was hosted by George Carlin on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title NBC's Saturday Night. The show's comedy sketches, which often parody contemporary American culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers the opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, with featured performances by a musical guest. An episode normally begins with a cold open sketch that is usually based on political events and ends with someone breaking character and proclaiming, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!", properly beginning the show.

In 1980, Michaels left the show to explore other opportunities. He was replaced by Jean Doumanian, who was then replaced by Ebersol after a season of bad reviews. Ebersol ran the show until 1985, when Michaels returned. Since then, Michaels has held the job of showrunner. Many SNL cast members have found national stardom while appearing on the show, and achieved success in film and television, both in front of and behind the camera. Others associated with the show, such as writers, have gone on to successful careers creating, writing, and starring in television and film.

Broadcast from Studio 8H at NBC's headquarters in the Comcast Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, SNL has aired 980 episodes since its debut and began its 50th season on September 28, 2024, making it one of the longest-running network television programs in the United States. The show format has been developed and recreated in several countries, meeting with different levels of success. Successful sketches have seen life outside the show as feature films, including The Blues Brothers (1980) and Wayne's World (1992). The show has been marketed in other ways, including home media releases of "best of" and whole seasons, and books and documentaries about behind-the-scenes activities of running and developing the show.

Throughout five decades on air, Saturday Night Live has received a vast number of awards, including 84 Primetime Emmy Awards, six Writers Guild of America Awards, and three Peabody Awards. In 2000, it was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. It was ranked tenth in TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time" list, and in 2007 it was listed as one of Time's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME." As of 2022, the show had received more than 305 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, the most received by any television program. The live aspect of the show has resulted in several controversies and acts of censorship, with mistakes and intentional acts of sabotage by performers and guests”

It is rather nostalgic paying a visit to those early days with J. Reitman’s “Saturday Night” flick. So without any further a due Kokdi presents one of the largest playlists ever (having only a glimpse)

SNL Tribute

All RetroDb HERE