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SNL Premieres
October 11, 1975
America's weekends got a major update 46 years ago today. A watershed variety sketch series filmed at Manhattan?s Rockefeller Center, ?Saturday Night Live? was originally called ?NBC?s Saturday Night.? The cast ? known for the first three seasons as ?The Not Ready for Prime Time Players? ? included future Television Academy Hall of Fame inductees Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner, who was the first hire made by executive producer Lorne Michaels. Legendary comedian George Carlin hosted the premiere, riffing on football versus baseball before introducing two musical guests, Billy Preston and Janis Ian.
Prior to Carlin?s monologue, episode one began with ?The Wolverines.? In the 90-second sketch, Belushi portrays a determined European immigrant who mimics his wolverine-obsessed English tutor (head writer Michael O?Donoghue), repeating phrases like, ?I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines.? When the tutor clutches his heart and collapses, Belushi?s character imitates him again. With both actors playing dead, Chevy Chase enters the frame, dressed as a stage manager, to deliver the now-famous opening catchphrase: ?Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!? Once an after-hours experiment, SNL has evolved into a television mainstay, winning 81 Primetime Emmy Awards and serving as today's most venerable showcase for emerging comedy talent.
October 11, 1975
America's weekends got a major update 46 years ago today. A watershed variety sketch series filmed at Manhattan?s Rockefeller Center, ?Saturday Night Live? was originally called ?NBC?s Saturday Night.? The cast ? known for the first three seasons as ?The Not Ready for Prime Time Players? ? included future Television Academy Hall of Fame inductees Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner, who was the first hire made by executive producer Lorne Michaels. Legendary comedian George Carlin hosted the premiere, riffing on football versus baseball before introducing two musical guests, Billy Preston and Janis Ian.
Prior to Carlin?s monologue, episode one began with ?The Wolverines.? In the 90-second sketch, Belushi portrays a determined European immigrant who mimics his wolverine-obsessed English tutor (head writer Michael O?Donoghue), repeating phrases like, ?I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines.? When the tutor clutches his heart and collapses, Belushi?s character imitates him again. With both actors playing dead, Chevy Chase enters the frame, dressed as a stage manager, to deliver the now-famous opening catchphrase: ?Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!? Once an after-hours experiment, SNL has evolved into a television mainstay, winning 81 Primetime Emmy Awards and serving as today's most venerable showcase for emerging comedy talent.
