April 20, 2026 by Haley Hammer (‘29)
Picture: Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker sketch. David Spade, Chris Farley, Julia Sweeny. S18, E19
At 11.30 pm every Saturday night, millions of people grab the remote and turn to NBC to watch one of the most beloved shows of our time, Saturday Night Live. A 1.5-hour late night sketch comedy show that has constantly changed attitudes towards certain geopolitical issues and everyday scenarios, all with humor, wit, and lightness. As SNL approaches its 51st anniversary, I thought it would be fun to explain more about the show’s history that has shed fame on many, is beloved by millions, and changed the comedy world forever.
SNL every Saturday (with some off weeks) from October to May produces a one and half hour show with a Monologue and Musical Guest that are changed weekly, 3-4 sketches, and a Weekend Update hosted usually by Colin Jost and Michael Shea.
SNL has produced many big hit Blockbuster names such as Will Farrell, Jim Carrey, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Marcello Hernandez, Pete Davidson, Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso), Maya Rudolph, and Tina Fey; although how did those stars get their claim to fame? And how did the show even begin in the first place?
Well, we begin in the year 1974 where we had some notable events such as President Richard Nixon resigning due to the Watergate Scandal, Hank Aaron beating Babe Ruth’s home run record. Johnny Carson, the host of “The Tonight Show” and a worker of NBC walked up to the desk of his producer and asked to stop airing Tonight Show reruns on weekends, wanting to save them for weeknights, which left a vacant time slot. NBC president Herbert Schlosser then asked Dick Ebersol to create a new show to fill the now vacant 11.30 pm time slot. Ebersol then approached Lorne Michaels, and they developed a new concept of live, unpredictable comedy.
The show drew inspiration from British satire (That Was the Week That Was), as well as Chicago’s Second City and The Compass Players improv groups. Michaels wanted to create a show that represented his generation’s sense of humor, music, and fashion. The original cast was known as the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players,” consisting of relative unknowns at the time: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, and Chevy Chase. SNL was intentionally designed to be chaotic and live.
On October 11th, 1975, and the cast and crew of SNL were anxiously awaiting to begin the show that little did they know would change comedic history. Behind the scenes, the premiere was barely held together by “tape and instinct.” Michaels reportedly had a backup movie ready to roll in case the live broadcast collapsed. As the first host, Comedian George Carlin, Musical Guest Billy Preston, and the original cast appeared on stage, viewers were largely “confused, delighted, and a little stunned”. Younger viewers immediately recognized the show’s “hip and counterculture” vibe, often gathering watch parties to experience its unpredictability. From that moment on Loren Michaels knew they had a hit.
But why is SNL so popular? To put it into simple terms, personally, I think it is because it appeals to every audience and is so relatable. There are always moments in the human experience that are stressful, awkward, or uncomfortably political, and SNL has an amazing way to shed light on these problems and address them, all while making you laugh. SNL remains popular because it acts as a living time capsule for American culture. It stays relevant by constantly evolving its cast and humor to match whatever is happening in the world today. The people hosting the show every week are from different areas of life, such as athletes, musical artists, actors, and former castmates, and they have an amazing time because there is no better comedy than live comedy. Even with practice all week, everyone ends up breaking character and laughing in the end.
If you’re looking for a good laugh, I recommend checking out a few of their hysterically funny skits on YouTube such as;
- Season 51, Episode 7 Ariana Grande and the Grinch, Love is Blind Comedy
- Season 51, Episode 15 Emoji Weekend Update with Marcello Herandez, Colin Jost, and Mikey Day
- Season 21, Episode 20 Will Farrell, Jim Carrey Lifeguard Hot Tub sketch
- Season 16, Episode 4 Chris Farley, Patrick Swayze Chippendales Dancers Audition
Live from The Lightning Rod, I hope you enjoyed this article about the history of one of my favorite shows, and gained some more information about this beloved classic!