When “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) returns for its 51st season on October 4, it will once again remind audiences how a late-night experiment in 1975 reshaped American comedy.

Created by Canadian producer Lorne Michaels in just three weeks, SNL was pitched as a hip NBC alternative to Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” reruns. The idea behind Michaels’ clever brainchild was to channel the counterculture, revive the variety-show format and lure a generation of disaffected young viewers back to television. The show was also designed to keep baby boomers awake past midnight with edgy sketches and a weekly rotation of big-name hosts and top-selling musical guests. 

Rather than recruit costly, established performers, Michaels sought out fresh faces from comedy troupes unknown to most TV audiences. His first cast—dubbed the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players”—featured Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman and Chevy Chase.

The show’s debut on October 11, 1975, featured George Carlin as host with Billy Preston and Janis Ian providing music. 

It was a winner right out of the gate. During the first season, the SNL cast members rose from obscurity to national prominence as the weekend broadcast promptly became a “must see” for its roiling stew of satirical humor and celebrity impressions. Characters like Belushi’s samurai and Radner’s Roseanne Roseannadanna quickly entered the pop-culture lexicon. Advertisers quickly noticed the program’s reach among 18- to 34-year-olds.

Behind the scenes, SNL was far from smooth sailing. While some cast members dabbled in drugs, the bigger challenge came from Belushi. Michaels had worried about the performer’s unpredictable behavior—and for good reason. Curtin later recalled, “John felt as though it was his duty to sabotage pieces written by women. He believed women should not be there.” 

Writers sometimes disguised female sketches as male-written to get them performed.

Despite the turmoil, the show proved to be a launchpad for numerous comedian careers and franchises. Aykroyd and Belushi parlayed their Blues Brothers act into a blockbuster film and hit records. Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Dana Carvey, Tina Fey and dozens more alumni have gone on to shape film, TV and even politics. SNL has inspired a dozen movies and collected nearly 100 Emmys.

Critics may question its relevance, but SNL’s 51st season launch is proof that for 50 years it has mirrored—and mocked—American culture like nothing else. 

SNL Trivia

• The very first words spoken on Saturday Night Live came from Michael O’Donoghue: “I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines.”
• Chevy Chase was the show’s first breakout star but left after just one season.
• Alec Baldwin holds the record for most times hosting with 17 appearances.
• Kenan Thompson is the longest-running cast member—returning for his 23rd season this fall.

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