SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night Showcases How SNL Became A Legendary Television Institution
Saturday Night Live has brought laughter to millions of living rooms since 1975. With its 50th anniversary special coming up, Peacock released a four-part docuseries showcasing SNL’s iconic rise to the television hall of fame and their incredible team that works tirelessly every week to prepare for Saturday night.
This fascinating documentary peels the curtain back on every facet of the show’s success. Whether it’s explaining how Lorne Michaels discovers incredible talent, an inside look at the countless hours spent in the writers room, the creation of legendary sketches, or even the adversity the show faced in its 50-year run, audiences get to hear everything that has made the sketch comedy program a beloved American institution.
Episode one is titled “Five Minutes” and treats viewers to never-before-seen footage of cast member auditions, as well as personal testimonies from talent executives, producers, and cast members from several generations of SNL. Former producer Michael Shoemaker shared how casting for SNL evolved as the show progressed. Rather than retire a full cast all at once, they began integrating new players into the preexisting team. If you weren’t intimidated to audition for SNL before, it’s safe to say auditioning five characters in only five minutes might scare most people away. Former talent executive Ayala Cohen explained that “if [talent] can’t handle five minutes in front of everyone live, then you’re wasting time.”
It’s jarring to see so many present and former cast members who are regarded as television legends admit how nervous they were to audition for SNL. There’s a vast pool of successful actors who didn’t receive a spot after auditioning including the likes of Jim Carrey, Jennifer Coolidge, and Kevin Hart. As Tracy Morgan watched his original audition tape, he commented, “I don’t know what Lorne Michaels and them saw. They saw something.”
Shoemaker, Cohen, and former talent executive and producer Marci Klein described the countless hours they spent at comedy clubs and showcases across the country searching for talented people to audition for SNL. As a viewer, I always thought talent came to the producers, but it’s the other way around. Their casting process is strikingly similar to how sports recruiters seek out players for their team. It’s truly fascinating to hear firsthand accounts of discovering esteemed SNL alumni including Adam Sandler, David Spade, Chris Farley, and so many more throughout this docuseries.
Shoemaker and the other producers explained how sometimes the tiniest quirk in an auditon could secure a coveted spot on the show. For example, Shoemaker recalled laughing at how Kenan Thompson pronounced “Camille” in his audition. There’s a distinct trait — almost like an indescribable “it” factor — that sets some talent apart from the rest during auditions.
Amy Poehler admitted that she’s still baffled that the producers picked her, especially since her audition wasn’t the standard “five characters in five minutes” routine that most applicants did. Instead, she did a bit that was strikingly similar to a “Weekend Update” segment. Hearing Poehler describe her audition sparked a sense of heartwarming irony as she would go on to become a “Weekend Update” host with Tina Fey and Seth Meyers during her time on the show.
Klein revealed that she and the other producers wanted to hire Poehler before she even auditioned. Her audition was merely a formality, which was unbeknownst to Poehler. She explained that Michaels trusts the recommendations of cast members and past hosts for finding talent. It’s revealed that Tina Fey recommended Poehler, Jimmy Fallon recommended Andy Samberg, George Wendt recommended Jason Sudeikis, and Gwyneth Paltrow told Michaels about Maya Rudolph.
A touching section of episode one was when Bowen Yang, Tracy Morgan, and Ego Nwodim spoke about their experiences on the show. They worked hard to make sure their talent was utilized for more than just their race and the producers championed this. Nwodim shared a beautiful story that she felt empowered by Black women who were on the show before her, like Maya Rudolph and Danitra Vance. “I felt like I could do the job in the way that could make it easier for the next Black woman,” she shared.
Episode one showcased the grit, determination, and talent it takes to make it onto SNL and I will admit, I teared up when Yang and Heidi Gardner admitted how much they truly cherish being on the team. Yang mentioned that he first saw Studio 8H on a NBC Studio Tour and he never imagined he’d one day be on that stage. He added, “It’s nuts that I’m here. It feels like this fantastic thing that was never supposed to happen, but I’m glad it did.”
Gardner’s final comment is truly an inspirational note of wisdom to end the episode on. “When you can just let go of that [pressure], just know that all the people you’re working with and working for do just want you to enjoy yourself,” she said, “and then you’re just like, ‘I can do this. I can be on SNL.’”
A common misconception is that the sketches are heavily improvised. Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Episode two is titled “Written By: A Week Inside The SNL Writers Room” and showcases a behind-the-scenes look at the countless hours writers spend fine-tuning ideas to make legendary sketches.
The episode is broken up from Monday through Saturday, with each day building upon the others to create the upcoming live show. Viewers are treated to a in-depth look into the making of Ayo Edebiri’s debut hosting episode from February 3, 2024. While several cast members pitch sketch ideas for the show every week, I appreciate that this episode showcased the writers who stay behind the camera. It’s great to see them get their chance to shine on screen and explain their writing process.
Writer Alex English explained that a lot of thought goes into the types of sketches that are written for hosts. The writing team will meet with the upcoming host and get a sense of their strengths, topics they’re willing to cover, hidden talents, and more. As a viewer of the show, I never thought about how much consideration is necessary to make the host feel comfortable hosting a live television show. The writers deserve endless praise for tailoring their work to fit a new host every single week. Seth Meyers joked that the initial pitch meeting with each host is “…absolute smoke and mirrors. We’re trying to trick the host into making them think we’ve been thinking about them for a long time.”
A surprising element mentioned by head writer Streeter Seidell is that all the writers come from wildly different backgrounds. The team consists of stand-up comics, playwrights, poets, dental receptionists, and so many more. The various backgrounds of every writer is a true testament to why the show remains hilarious every week. With so many different voices, talents, and view points working together, pure magic can be made every episode.
Once the Monday pitch meeting ends, writers immediately spring into action for Tuesday. Writer and member of the comedy group Please Don’t Destroy John Higgins explained, “There’s an anxiety after Monday pitch because the next day there’s going to be 40 to 50 sketches written by everybody and you hope that yours will be selected.” Each Tuesday, most writers don’t expect to go home until the early hours of Wednesday. Former writer Alan Zweibel commented, “When I got to work on Tuesday, I knew I wouldn’t get to sleep until Wednesday.”
Even though Tuesday night means a late night for the team, that doesn’t mean the writers have a terrible time. Former SNL writer Paula Pell described Tuesday night as “pure delirium” where iconic ideas were born out of utter chaos. “There was always just something going on in those middle of the nights that would make people laugh,” she said. “We’d all be crazy and then we’d go back to our room and be sitting there cooking.”
Wednesday is the home of the famous SNL table reads that are always showcased on the show’s social media. After an all-night marathon, the writers, cast, host, and producers meet in Studio 8H to read every sketch that was submitted for the episode. Usually around 40 to 50 sketches are read aloud to the entire room, where Lorne Michaels and the head writers pay attention to what sketches are working and which are not.
Once all the sketches are read — the table read featured in the episode lasted five hours — it becomes a waiting game to see what lineup of sketches will be picked for the show by Michaels. Once a piece is selected, producer Steve Higgins explained that “The person who creates the piece determines the set, the costumes. They’re in charge of everything. That’s the only way you get pure comedy.” It’s interesting to see how writers for SNL become jacks of all trades to make sure their sketch is successful. John Mulaney added, “You’re fully in charge of three to four minutes of live network television. Totally in charge.” No pressure, am I right?
Thursday and Friday consist of perfecting the sketches up until they go live, preparing the sets, and making sure the sketches pass NBC guidelines. The writers prepare for every tiny aspect to make sure their sketch goes on live television. The dress rehearsal that happens right before the live show will showcase every sketch to a live audience. After the dress rehearsal ends, the writers wait to see what sketches will actually make it to the live show.
One lesson I gathered from this episode is that these writers understand that decisions are made with the best interest of the show in mind. Even though some of their sketches get cut at the last minute, it’s still a tremendous feat they accomplished in the span of one work week. It truly takes a special kind of group with endless determination to make sure the show is perfect every week. Writer Celeste Yim commented, “Working here is tough, you know? But then on the other of side that, when I have a good week, […] millions of people are laughing, you know?” Writers are the true unsung heroes of SNL and I loved getting a front row seat to their work week in this episode.
Every family has lines that become regular lingo that’s integrated into their casual conversations thanks to the vast pool of sketches from SNL. Personally, my family has been quoting Rachel Dratch’s “Debbie Downer” for as long as I can remember. However, there is one sketch that the entire world knows, which episode three is titled after: “More Cowbell.” In the episode, they discussed how Will Ferrell’s random idea to use a cowbell in a sketch became a cultural phenomenon that’s still talked about today.
The episode cleverly leans into the wacky nature of the original sketch, embracing a rock-and-roll-style documentary where Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Parnell, and Chris Kattan reminiscence on the making of this iconic sketch. It was an idea Ferrell had after noticing that Blue Öyster Cult’s song “The Reaper” had a faint cowbell throughout the song. From that, Ferrell created Gene Frenkle, a fictional member of the band who was committed to using a cowbell as a musical instrument.
Would you believe me if I told you the original sketch didn’t have a cowbell? It initially included a wooden block and Ferrell revealed that the idea wasn’t picked to air. It’s fascinating to hear how one crucial change to a script can make a huge impact on a sketch’s success. Once again, audiences learn that with the right host, any sketch has potential. Ferrell revisited “More Cowbell” once Christopher Walken was set to host the show.
Fallon and Ferrell both commented that Walken’s mannerisms and speech rhythm helped the sketch come to life. I had never thought about how a host can essentially make or break a sketch. Luckily, Walken’s performance paired well with Ferrell, Fallon, Kattan, Parnell, and Horatio Sanz to create comedy magic.
Fallon explained how the energy of the room shifted once the sketch began. “When a sketch is going, when it’s cooking, the room shakes a little bit, and it was shaking that night,” said Fallon, even expressing some frustration he harbors for laughing during the sketch. It’s clear that the cast was trying so hard to not break, but I’d argue that some of the best and most memorable moments are when the audience can tell the actors are having fun. The cast breaking character foreshadows that perhaps the sketch will live on past just one Saturday night. Ferrell praised Fallon for his laughter during sketches — a thing that is usually critiqued by viewers. “I know that Jimmy would get flack for breaking all the time, but I loved it every single time,” shared Ferrell. “I think it just showed how much fun he was having.”
Perhaps one of the most quoted lines in SNL history is, “I got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!” Walken delivered that iconic line and its thrived for decades since the sketch originally aired. “You hope for these things. It’s lightning in a bottle. It rarely happens when you have a catchphrase that takes off,” Fallon marveled at the famous line, while Ferrell added, “There was no way of telling that it would be a thing that in anyway would be remembered from that point on.” However, the sketch is a cornerstone of sketch comedy history and is a true testament to the power of shared laughter and the community it creates.
While this episode is clearly a tribute to “More Cowbell,” I appreciate that it’s also an episode that praises Ferrell for his comedic genius and his time on SNL. “There’s no better feeling in the world than to see your buddies make everyone happy together. That is the point of that sketch,” shared Fallon. Meanwhile Ferrell ended the episode with a touching sentiment. “It can be really powerful to see a group of people pull on the same oar,” he said. The way episode three was structured was a genius way to tell the story of one of the greatest sketches of all time and I hope SNL does more showcases like this episode in the future.
It takes courage to embrace vulnerabilities and episode four didn’t shy away from that. “Season 11: The Weird Year” is the final installment of this docuseries, which explored the infamous season where Lorne Michaels returned to SNL to try to resurrect his show when it was on the brink of cancellation. Former cast member Kevin Nealon narrated the episode… with a twist. The episode mimicked Twilight Zone sketches with Nealon serving as the host as he cleverly asks audiences to imagine an alternate reality where SNL was canceled. This was a genius way to introduce the pivotal year that changed the course of SNL history.
“You can make a solid case for Season 11 being one of the most important inflection points in the entire history of SNL,” remarked historian James Andrew Miller. The episode features 2005 footage of Lorne Michaels explaining the weird year that is accompanied by recent footage of producers, writers, and cast members. Producers Al Franken and Jim Downey explained how it was a huge risk for Michaels to return, while former writer Andy Breckman eloquently stated, “[Michaels] came back to save his first love.”
Michaels brought in Franken, Downey, and Laila Nabulsi to produce with him. They each recounted how they went on the hunt for a younger cast. This led to the casting of Robert Downey Jr, Anthony Michael Hall, Terry Sweeney, Danitra Vance, Joan Cusack, Nora Dunn, Randy Quaid, Dennis Miller, Jon Lovitz, and Daman Wayans. “I had something to prove, which was that it had more to do with talent than anything else,” said Michaels. “I tried to find the poeple who were the most talented and I was starting from scratch.”
The first episode of the season wasn’t a huge success, even with Madonna hosting. The cast wasn’t meshing well yet and the show needed time to regain its footing. As the season progressed, the producers learned to hone in on what was working. Lovitz was a natural for sketch comedy, so he was in nearly everything and Miller’s demeanor was perfect for “Weekend Update.” John Lithgow’s episode seemed to be a turning point in the right direction. “[The cast was] trying to make their own identity rather than the identity of SNL,” he said. Anthony Michael Hall also commented that most of the writers struggled to write for the younger cast members, which led to a lull in the performances.
Tom Hanks was featured in this episode and he had nothing but respect for the hard work that went into saving the show that infamous season when he hosted for the first time. He remarked that the team’s determination was a life lesson for him, while the criticism from this season was a pivotal catalyst to save the show from cancellation.
While the content needed improvement, this season took risks that set forth immense changes in television. Michaels cast Terry Sweeney in full support of him being an openly gay actor, a rarity in the early days of live television. “Lorne always protected us and really supported the performers,” said Sweeney, praising Michaels for having confidence in him. Michaels isn’t afraid to take risks, which is a necessary bravery needed especially for live sketch comedy.
Even with the success of the Lithgow and Hanks episodes, the show was still struggling to improve their ratings. Michaels took a huge creative risk and brought in famed director Francis Ford Coppola to “direct” an episode. This genius move renewed some faith in the show because it leaned into the creation of SNL which fascinated audiences. The entire episode was an ongoing sketch where audiences get to imagine a reality where Coppola directed an SNL episode. As bizarre as the idea sounds, it was just what the season needed to regain its footing. Even though the episode was spectacular, it didn’t get many views due to the ongoing loss of viewership, but nevertheless, the cast had more confidence in themselves.
I never knew that the show actually got cancelled following the finale of Season 11. However, the television gods convinced NBC to give SNL one more shot. The performance of Season 11 motivated Michaels to save the show. “After having been beaten up for a year, I was completely determined that now I had something to prove again,” he said. It’s safe to say that Michaels and his team did save the show during Season 12. While most cast members didn’t come back, Jon Levitz, Dennis Miller, and Nora Dunn returned with new cast members, including Jan Hooks, Kevin Nealon, and Dana Carvey. Michaels explained that Season 12 focused on making audiences laugh again: “There had been a codification of a right way and a wrong way to do Saturday Night Live, and I think it had to be blown up, and the 1985 season allowed it to be blown up.”
The weird year changed the course of history for SNL, and fans are forever grateful that Michaels and his team didn’t give up. SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night is a magical ride that showcases the immense talent and determination that’s made SNL a true treasure of American television.
All episodes of SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night are now streaming on Peacock.
