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Atlantic
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Atlantic
The Secret to Longevity, According to Saturday Night Live
As Saturday Night Live nears its official 50th anniversary, the pageantry and buildup around the big event has reminded me of something fairly unfunny: a royal jubilee. It's fascinating to consider how an anarchic weekly comedy show has developed the backstage air of a British royal drama, between the often-hagiographic retrospectives, the many 'best of' lists appraising its hallowed cast and most revered sketches, and the constant speculation over who might succeed its 80-year-old creator, Lorne Michaels, as executive producer. But what occurred to me as I took in two recent examinations of SNL history—the four-part Peacock miniseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, and the music-focused special Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music —was that the show's five-decades-deep lore is as important to its long-running success as the comedy itself. Full credit to these undertakings; each one is an incredibly meticulous, self-reflective work that avoids an easy, by-the-numbers approach. Documentaries recounting the show's famous moments and scandals have littered the airwaves over the years, and the book Live From New York already offers an authoritative history. But these new looks back delve into SNL 's greater legend in ways both whimsical and sometimes genuinely surprising, even for a devotee. Somehow, they mine new territory on what is possibly the most over-discussed TV series in American culture. The common theme for all of these works? Just how impressive it is that the show gets made, week after week, year in and year out, despite the seeming impossibility of the enterprise. SNL50 does this by appealing to the highest rank of SNL lovers. The first level of the fandom is the simplest; it entails enjoying new episodes, glomming onto the stars of the current ensemble, and rewatching favorite sketches. The second involves plumbing the history and acknowledging the legendary cast members of yore, such as Phil Hartman, Gilda Radner, and Dana Carvey. But the level after that comprises studying the traditional, Rube Goldbergian process that creates everything behind the scenes. It's a delicate dance of gathering material for a mix of cast members and celebrity guests while incorporating Michaels's remote dispensations of wisdom. This sensitive practice accounts for the peaks and valleys of perceived quality that SNL has experienced throughout its tenure. SNL50 cleverly lays out that cycle in its four distinct installments, which dig into a particular niche of how SNL has ticked along for half a century. The first, 'Five Minutes,' is about the auditions; it's particularly enamored with the show's mythos, as any dedicated viewer (or aspiring cast member) might be with this peek behind the curtain. It takes advantage of an incredible archive of audition footage from cast members young and old, as well as some recognizable figures who inexplicably didn't make the final cut—Stephen Colbert, Kevin Hart, Jennifer Coolidge. There are lovely, nostalgic moments in which current cast members watch their shaky, nervous first steps, but I was struck by how little 'Five Minutes' actually explains why the people who make it through get picked. The lack of definitive reasoning is where I felt the sphinxlike figure of Michaels looming. The placid Canadian has run SNL for 45 of its 50 years (he took a five-season break in the '80s). He's seen his reputation shift several times over the eras, from revolutionary shit-stirrer to staid comedy gatekeeper to the grandfatherly charmer he is today. But he's also, somehow, kept himself and his machinations a little opaque; he's largely absent from the various new documentaries. 'Five Minutes' puts the spotlight on other crucial, less heralded names in the SNL production system over the years, such as the former longtime producers Marci Klein and Lindsay Shookus. But when discussing what makes for a good audition, many of their answers boiled down to something ineffable: It's either an obvious yes, or it isn't. That's the tricky balance these new anniversary specials have struck: going behind the scenes without fully puncturing the mystique. SNL50 's third chapter, 'Written By: A Week Inside the SNL Writers Room,' assumes a fly-on-the-wall position to reveal a single episode's genesis. It portrays the ideation and writing process for the actor Ayo Edebiri's debut hosting gig in February 2024. Any deep fan knows some of the stressful basics here, but it's fun to see them play out—writers throwing concepts to the guest while they squat on the carpet in Michaels's cavernous office; Tuesday's maddening, all-night scripting rush; and then the miraculous alchemy that somehow turns their grab bag of notions into full-fledged pieces for TV, some rewritten just before airing. Edebiri's appearance was, in my memory, a perfectly ordinary edition of SNL —a couple of good sketches, others more forgettable, with the actress an energetic and game emcee. Watching the herculean, possessed frenzy of making it was much more entrancing, like producing it seems to be. It was hard not to get swept up in the mythmaking on display: The institution's survival seems to hinge on the staff's belief in its fabled scrappiness, compelling it to keep doing an absurd amount of work. Sure, the chaos seems like a bizarre way to put together a live TV show, but can you come up with a better method? The most fascinating section of SNL50 is 'Season 11: The Weird Year,' which lays bare how easily the flow can be disrupted. It focuses on what's regarded as one of the oddest and worst runs in SNL history, so bizarre that Madonna opened Season 12 by reading a statement purportedly from NBC: 'It was all a dream—a horrible, horrible dream.' Somewhat tellingly, it's the only entry of the miniseries with much on-screen involvement from Michaels himself. He recounts returning to SNL in 1985 after a half-decade hiatus and deciding to completely overhaul the cast with young, buzzy talent; he brought on actors such as Robert Downey Jr., Randy Quaid, and Joan Cusack, along with the cast's first openly gay performer, Terry Sweeney, and the first Black woman to star, Danitra Vance. A few of the new hires worked: Michaels retained Jon Lovitz, Nora Dunn, and Dennis Miller for Season 12, which was otherwise a total teardown. But overall, what's interesting about Season 11 is how the producer deviated from his established formula—of drawing unknown talent from the stand-up circuit and the country's best improv and sketch groups—to go bigger and bolder, only to be left with a cast that lacked chemistry and was tougher to mold. Once more, I realized that the miniseries is, inadvertently or not, arguing for the cloistered way Michaels and company operate. It's a noble and in-depth examination of one of the series' biggest failures, which saw Michaels fire two cast members halfway through and the writers undermine the season on-screen before it had even ended. Yet for all the dysfunction it lays bare, 'The Weird Year' also makes a stealthy case for what keeps SNL otherwise stable. The remaining installment further breaks down the show's humor, as opposed to just its creation, by fleshing out in wonderful detail the famous ' More Cowbell ' sketch—in which Will Ferrell and the guest host Christopher Walken crack up their castmates during an absurd recording session of Blue Öyster Cult's '(Don't Fear) the Reaper.' Meanwhile, 50 Years of SNL Music is a gorgeously edited repository of SNL 's music history. Interviewees discuss major moments in-depth, such as Sinead O'Connor's shocking protest of the Catholic Church, Ashlee Simpson's lip-synching, and the punk band Fear bringing a group of moshers onstage. Better still, the co-directors Questlove and Oz Rodriguez also illuminate how the musical guests have broken ground. Avant-garde musicians appeared early on, including Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa, along with the first rap group to perform on national TV (Funky 4 + 1, in 1981). Even segments as seemingly divorced from the comedy as the musical acts can become part of the lore—just as a one-off routine can have an hour-long backstory. There's an underlying triumphalism to all this watchable, well-done anniversary media. They're a procession of clips, interviews, and behind-the-scenes tidbits that assure the viewer that SNL is not going anywhere. Yes, the auditions are hell, the schedule is exasperating, and sometimes whole episodes don't connect. But I'm reminded of Winston Churchill's oft-mangled quote about democracy being the worst form of government, except for all the other ones. SNL is a beautiful, if strangely shaped, comedic edifice. But after 50 years, it's still standing. *Illustration sources: Alan Singer / NBC / NBCU Photo Bank / Getty; Will Heath / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal / Getty; Dana Edelson / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal / Getty; Yvonne Hemsey / Getty; Alison Hale / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal / Getty.
The Independent
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
SNL 50 unveils celebrity-filled cast list — but one missing star causes uproar
Saturday Night Live is preparing to bring the house down with its forthcoming 50th-anniversary special, featuring a stacked cast of comedy legends old and new. NBC 's long-running late-night sketch show will celebrate the impressive milestone on February 16 with a three-hour special beginning at 8 p.m. EST. On Monday, the series released a list of former cast members who will once again take the famed 30 Rock stage — with one surprising omission. In the clip, a car drives along the streets of New York City, passing by massive blue post-it notes bearing the names of the comedy legends who will be returning for the noteworthy occasion. The cast includes a mix of original cast members such as Laraine Newman, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin and Garrett Morris to more recent alumni Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, Eddie Murphy, Fred Armisen, Molly Shannon, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Maya Rudolph, Pete Davison, Tracy Morgan, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kate McKinnon, Andy Sandberg, Seth Meyers, Kenan Thompson, Jason Sudeikis and Chris Rock. The special will also feature celebrities who have previously graced the stage as guest hosts: Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Martin Short, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, Sabrina Carpenter, Scarlett Johansson, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks and Woody Harrelson. While many X/Twitter users reacted joyously to the list of returning stars, others couldn't help but notice a major name was missing from the roster. 'Where is Bill Hader? i want a stefon comeback,' one commented. 'Show us Bill Hader,' a second demanded, while a third added: 'i'm going to crash out if they don't announce bill hader soon.' 'GIVE ME BILL HADER OR GIVE ME DEATH,' another begged. In the lead-up to the anniversary episode, on Friday, February 14, Peacock will livestream a segment titled SNL50: The Homecoming Concert. Presented by late-night host Fallon, the music special will see performances from Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Bad Bunny, Post Malone and more. NBC has additionally released a four-part docuseries named SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night Live, which spotlights the audition process, writing, infamous sketches, and the pivotal 11th season. Last month, the network also aired a documentary special from Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson and Oz Rodriguez called Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music. SNL first premiered on October 11, 1975, and has aired nearly 1,000 episodes to date, making it one of America's longest-running broadcast network television shows ever.
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'SNL' music documentary spills thrills and tea with Prince, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley and more
'SNL' music documentary spills thrills and tea with Prince, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley and more Show Caption Hide Caption 'Saturday Night Live' celebrates 50 years of comedy Live from New York, it's the 50th anniversary of "Saturday Night Live." Six and a half minutes. That's all it will take to entice you to watch NBC's three-hour documentary 'Ladies & Gentlemen ... 50 Years of SNL Music" (Monday, 8 EST/PST, and streaming Tuesday on Peacock). Yes, the deep dive into the genre-hopping performances from Billy Preston, the late-night sketch comedy show's first musical guest in 1975, to current pop sensations including Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo, is a romp. But the brilliantly edited opening montage featuring an encyclopedia of music stars performing on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" is jaw-dropping in its execution. A clip of Run-D.M.C. singing 'Walk This Way,' segueing to Cher singing 'And you walked away when I needed you most' from 'I Found Someone.' *NSYNC 'Bye Bye Bye'-ing across the stage melding on the beat to Destiny's Child's 'Survivor.' The slashing guitar of U2's 'Vertigo' meshing flawlessly with Eilish bopping through 'Bad Guy.' It's an electrifying collage and a fitting opening to the three-hour documentary, part of "Saturday Night Live"'s 50th anniversary celebration. How Questlove steered the 'SNL' music documentary The architect behind 'Ladies & Gentlemen' is Roots drummer and music aficionado Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson, who co-directed the special with Oz Rodriguez, an "SNL" producer from seasons 38 to 44. Questlove, 54, who DJs in clubs and plays with The Roots, the house band for NBC's 'Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon,' believes that people mostly remember the first and last five minutes of anything they watch. So when his editor suggested blending Vanilla Ice's performance with Queen's 'Under Pressure' (famously sampled in 'Ice Ice Baby') for the opening of the documentary, Questlove knew they were about to create history. Eleven months later, the chills-inspiring introduction was complete. 'I mean, the Captain Obvious thing would have been to do, like, the 50 best performances in the past 50 years on 'SNL.' That would have been easy,' Questlove says on a recent video call. 'But I don't do things easy.' Questlove watched every episode of 'SNL' over three years 'SNL' executive producer Lorne Michaels pitched Questlove on a documentary about the show's music in early 2021, shortly after Questlove won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance for his documentary 'Summer of Soul' (which also would nab an Oscar that year). Questlove and Rodriguez were granted access to every episode of the show, including dress rehearsals, audio from the control room and the filming of promos. For almost three years, Questlove watched three to seven full episodes a day, on an endless loop. Despite the avalanche of material, the pair wasn't interested in churning out a clip show. So, Questlove says, 'it became 'What is the story I want to tell?'' That story ranges from a funked-up Prince making his first appearance in 1981 with 'Partyup' to Rodrigo confessing she had a panic attack before her first appearance in 2021 with 'Drivers License.' The performance that co-director Rodriguez spotlights as a possible best-of-all-time is David Bowie's avant-garde depiction of 'The Man Who Sold the World,' which fit the experimental vibe of the show circa 1979. 'The first five years of the show they were throwing stuff against the wall to see what stuck," Rodriguez says. Miley Cyrus says 'SNL' does what 'no other show can do' The show, as Miley Cyrus observes, 'changes the way you're seen in a way no other show can do.' And for proof, consider a baby-faced Adele, who says in a vintage clip that her 2008 performance of 'Chasing Pavements' sent her album from No. 45 to the top of the charts almost overnight. 'SNL' was also instrumental in promoting hip-hop. Debbie Harry, an unlikely ambassador for rap, pushed for Funky 4 + 1 to perform with her on an episode she hosted in 1981, marking the first national TV appearance by a hip-hop group. Decades later, Kanye West created controversy, whether sporting a MAGA hat and giving a rambling political speech in 2018 or stomping off set because he was unhappy with lighting changes. 'Every time Kanye went on it was chaotic,' Rodriguez says. 'The performances were always cool, but there was always chaos.' More: The best Season 50 'SNL' sketches from Season 50, from Nancy Grace to 'Sabado Gigante' 'SNL' doc explores Sinead O'Connor and Ashlee Simpson controversies Two other frenzied moments in 'SNL' lore are explored thoroughly in the documentary: Sinead O'Connor ripping up a photo of Pope John Paul II at the end of her striking performance of Bob Marley's 'War' in 1992 and Ashlee Simpson's 2004 lip-syncing debacle. O'Connor essentially tricked producers, holding up a photo of a child at the song's end during dress rehearsal and requesting only a tight camera shot in the live show. "I saw this as a chance to put history in its proper context," Questlove says. "Because that was a heroic act." The Simpson controversy also stems from dress rehearsal, where she lip-synced her second song to preserve her voice. Between rehearsal and air time, it was determined Simpson would lip-sync both songs. Her first song unspooled uneventfully, but in the second performance her drummer accidentally re-cued the vocals for the first. Hearing the audio from the director's microphone while watching the scene unfold is a case study in the stress of live TV. Questlove, who calls such frantic moments "teachable lessons," said he reached out to Simpson − 'and everyone who had a controversial moment on the show' − to be interviewed for the documentary. He understood when she declined, but says, 'I would like my fellow musical peers and creatives to see the type of storyteller that I am and that I'm not in the gotcha journalism business.' In "Ladies & Gentlemen ... ," Questlove is firmly in the lively documentary business.
