Paola Garcia-Lizardi
Staff Writer
This year marks Saturday Night Live’s 50th year on air. This show has since become a staple in American television, but once upon a time, SNL completely revolutionized the comedy scene of 1970’s America.
Prior to Saturday Night, the most notable comedians of the era primarily used material that focused on the theme of marriage–specifically, the dislike that most men of the era had for their wives–and on mindless stereotypes.
However, the then-young generation of baby boomers did not find this exciting, instead, they opted for comedy that talked about sex, politics, and race. Saturday Night Live provided a space for a new generation of comedians to discuss the issues that the new age required, as many people during that era were discouraged by America’s politics and wars. Furthermore, this newfound comedy challenged the bigotry of previous generations, as it blatantly made fun of it.
The creators of the show, Lorne Michaels and Dick Eberson, set out to create a new television program that would be a “television show for the generation that grew up on television.” However, they struggled to bring their vision to life as most new comedians of the era found television to be a repulsive and restrictive medium, because the great majority of the comedic shows at the time were highly restrictive, or in their own words, “completely dishonest.”
Furthermore, the duo estimated that the cost of production would be $180,000 per episode but their budget was $134,600–nothing more, and NBC executives hoped for much less. The casting of the show took 10-months, but it secured the comedians and writers that would make SNL a nationwide phenomenon: Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Michael O’Donoghue, Anne Beatts, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, Al Franken, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris and John Belushi.
While numerous executives doubted the show’s success, a meeting with Herbert Schlosser, the president of NBC at the time, secured Saturday Night Live its spot in the late-night programming schedule.
Ultimately, Saturday Night Live was able to go on the air on October 11, 1975. The show was a success from the start, and it continues to be, even 50 years after it first went live.
Although it has not been without its turbulence, Saturday Night Live is a reflection of the spirit of artists–fighting against all odds for the idea that they believe in and making sure that all of that it is the best version it can be.
cutline: Photo courtesy of The New York Times
