Saturday Night Live (also known as SNL) is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol. Michaels currently serves as the program's showrunner. The show premiere was hosted by George Carlin on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title NBC's Saturday Night. The show's comedy sketches, which often parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers the opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, with featured performances by a musical guest. An episode normally begins with a cold open sketch that ends with someone breaking character and proclaiming, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!", properly beginning the show.
In 1980, Michaels left the series to explore other opportunities. He was replaced by Jean Doumanian, who was replaced by Ebersol after a season of bad reviews. Ebersol ran the show until 1985, when Michaels returned. Since then, Michaels has held the job of show-runner. Many SNL cast members have found national stardom while appearing on the show, and achieved success in film and television, both in front of and behind the camera. Others associated with the show, such as writers, have gone on to successful careers creating, writing, and starring in television and film.
Broadcast from Studio 8H at NBC's headquarters in the Comcast Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, SNL has aired 915 episodes since its debut, and concluded its 46th season on May 22, 2021, making it one of the longest-running network television programs in the United States. The show format has been developed and recreated in several countries, meeting with different levels of success. Successful sketches have seen life outside the show as feature films including The Blues Brothers (1980) and Wayne's World (1992). The show has been marketed in other ways, including home media releases of "best of" and whole seasons, and books and documentaries about behind-the-scenes activities of running and developing the show.
Throughout four decades on air, Saturday Night Live has received a number of awards, including 86 Primetime Emmy Awards, four Writers Guild of America Awards, and two Peabody Awards. In 2000, it was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. It was ranked tenth in TV Guide's "50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time" list, and in 2007 it was listed as one of Time's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME." As of 2018, the show had received 252 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, the most received by any television program. The live aspect of the show has resulted in several controversies and acts of censorship, with mistakes and intentional acts of sabotage by performers as well as guests.
Cast[]
Repertory players (as of season 50)[]
- Michael Che (Weekend Update anchor)
- Mikey Day
- Andrew Dismukes
- Chloe Fineman
- Heidi Gardner
- Marcello Hernandez
- James Austin Johnson
- Colin Jost (Weekend Update anchor)
- Michael Longfellow
- Ego Nwodim
- Sarah Sherman
- Cecily Strong
- Devon Walker
- Kenan Thompson
- Bowen Yang
Featured players (as of season 50)[]
- Ashley Padilla
- Emil Wakim
- Jane Wickline
Former cast members[]
- Fred Armisen (2002–2013)
- Aristotle Athari (2021–2022)
- Dan Aykroyd (1975–1979)
- Peter Aykroyd (1980)
- Morwenna Banks (1995)
- Vanessa Bayer (2010–2017)
- Jim Belushi (1983–1985)
- John Belushi (1975–1979)
- Beck Bennett (2013–2021)
- Jim Breuer (1995–1998)
- Paul Brittain (2010–2012)
- A. Whitney Brown (1986–1991)
- Aidy Bryant (2012–2022)
- Beth Cahill (1991–1992)
- Dana Carvey (1986–1993)
- Chevy Chase (1975–1976)
- Ellen Cleghorne (1991–1995)
- George Coe (1975)
- Billy Crystal (1984–1985)
- Jane Curtin (1975–1980)
- Joan Cusack (1985–1986)
- Pete Davidson (2014–2022)
- Tom Davis (1977–1980)
- Denny Dillon (1980–1981)
- Jim Downey (1980)
- Robert Downey Jr. (1985–1986)
- Brian Doyle-Murray (1980, 1981–1982)
- Rachel Dratch (1999–2006)
- Robin Duke (1981–1984)
- Nora Dunn (1985–1990)
- Christine Ebersole (1981–1982)
- Dean Edwards (2001–2003)
- Abby Elliott (2008–2012)
- Chris Elliott (1994–1995)
- Jimmy Fallon (1998–2004)
- Siobhan Fallon (1991–1992)
- Chris Farley (1990–1995)
- Will Ferrell (1995–2002)
- Tina Fey (2000–2006)
- Will Forte (2002–2010)
- Al Franken (1977–1980, 1986, 1988–1995)
- Janeane Garofalo (1994–1995)
- Ana Gasteyer (1996–2002)
- Gilbert Gottfried (1980–1981)
- Mary Gross (1981–1985)
- Christopher Guest (1984–1985)
- Bill Hader (2005–2013)
- Anthony Michael Hall (1985–1986)
- Brad Hall (1982–1984)
- Rich Hall (1984–1985)
- Darrell Hammond (1995–2009)
- Phil Hartman (1985–1994)
- Lauren Holt (2020–2021)
- Jan Hooks (1986–1991)
- Yvonne Hudson (1980–1981)
- Melanie Hutsell (1991–1994)
- Victoria Jackson (1986–1992)
- Leslie Jones (2014–2019)
- Punkie Johnson (2020–2024)
- Chris Kattan (1996–2003)
- Tim Kazurinsky (1981–1984)
- Molly Kearney (2022–2024)
- Laura Kightlinger (1994–1995)
- Taran Killam (2010–2016)
- David Koechner (1995–1996)
- Gary Kroeger (1982–1985)
- Matthew Laurance (1980–1981)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (1982–1985)
- Jon Lovitz (1985–1990)
- Norm Macdonald (1993–1998)
- Gail Matthius (1980–1981)
- Michael McKean (1994–1995)
- Mark McKinney (1995–1997)
- Kate McKinnon (2012–2022)
- Tim Meadows (1991–2000)
- Laurie Metcalf (1981)
- Seth Meyers (2001–2014)
- John Milhiser (2013–2014)
- Dennis Miller (1985–1991)
- Jerry Minor (2000–2001)
- Finesse Mitchell (2003–2006)
- Alex Moffat (2016–2022)
- Jay Mohr (2002–2013)
- Kyle Mooney (2013–2022)
- Tracy Morgan (1996–2003)
- Garrett Morris (1975–1980)
- Bobby Moynihan (2008–2017)
- Eddie Murphy (1980–1984)
- Bill Murray (1977–1980)
- Mike Myers (1989–1995)
- Kevin Nealon (1986–1995)
- Laraine Newman (1975–1980)
- Don Novello (1979–1980, 1985–1986)
- Luke Null (2017–2018)
- Mike O'Brien (2013–2014)
- Michael O'Donoghue (1975)
- Cheri Oteri (1995–2000)
- Chris Parnell (1998–2006)
- Nasim Pedrad (2009–2014)
- Jay Pharoah (2010–2016)
- Joe Piscopo (1980–1984)
- Amy Poehler (2001–2008)
- Emily Prager (1981)
- Randy Quaid (1985–1986)
- Colin Quinn (1996–2000)
- Gilda Radner (1975–1980)
- Chris Redd (2017–2022)
- Jeff Richards (2001–2004)
- Rob Riggle (2004–2005)
- Ann Risley (1980–1981)
- Tim Robinson (2012–2013)
- Chris Rock (1990–1993)
- Charles Rocket (1980–1981)
- Tony Rosato (1981–1982)
- Jon Rudnitsky (2015–2016)
- Maya Rudolph (2000–2007)
- Andy Samberg (2005–2012)
- Adam Sandler (1991–1995)
- Horatio Sanz (1998–2006)
- Tom Schiller (1980)
- Rob Schneider (1990–1994)
- Paul Shaffer (1979–1980)
- Molly Shannon (1995–2001)
- Harry Shearer (1979–1980, 1984–1985)
- Martin Short (1984–1985)
- Sarah Silverman (1993–1994)
- Jenny Slate (2009–2010)
- Robert Smigel (1991–1993)
- David Spade (1990–1996)
- Pamela Stephenson (1984–1985)
- Ben Stiller (1989)
- Cecily Strong (2012–2022)
- Jason Sudeikis (2005–2013)
- Julia Sweeney (1990–1994)
- Terry Sweeney (1985–1986)
- Chloe Troast (2023–2024)
- Danitra Vance (1985–1986)
- Melissa Villaseñor (2016–2022)
- Dan Vitale (1985–1986)
- Nancy Walls (1995–1996)
- Michaela Watkins (2008–2009)
- Damon Wayans (1985–1986)
- Patrick Weathers (1980–1981)
- Noël Wells (2013–2014)
- Brooks Wheelan (2013–2014)
- Kristen Wiig (2005–2012)
- Casey Wilson (2008–2009)
- Fred Wolf (1996)
- Sasheer Zamata (2014–2017)
- Alan Zweibel (1980)
International versions[]
| Country | Title | Network |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Saturday Night Live | RedeTV! |
| Canada | SNL Québec | Tele-Québec |
| China | 周六夜现场 | Youku |
| Egypt | ساترداي نايت لايف بالعربي Saturday Night Live bil Arabi |
OSN, ONtv |
| Finland | Saturday Night Live Suomi | MTV3 |
| France | Le Saturday Night Live | M6 |
| Germany | RTL Samstag Nacht | RTL Television |
| Italy | Saturday Night Live from Milano | Italia 1 |
| Saturday Night Live | TV8 | |
| Japan | サタデーナイトライブ JPN Saturday Night Live Japan |
Fuji TV |
| Poland | SNL Polska | Showmax |
| Russia | Суббота. Вечер. Шоу Сегодня. Вечер. Шоу |
NTV |
| South Korea | SNL 코리아 Saturday Night Live Korea |
Current: Coupang Play Former: tvN |
| Spain | Saturday Night Live | Cuatro |
International broadcast[]
| Country | Network |
|---|---|
| United States | NBC, Comedy Central, E!, Nick at Nite, VH1, Logo TV |
| Arab World | OSN First |
| Australia | Fox8 |
| Brazil | MTV, Sony Channel |
| Canada | Global |
| France | Comédie+ |
| Germany | Sat.1 Comedy, ProSieben Fun |
| Israel | yes Comedy |
| Italy | Jimmy, FX |
| Philippines | Jack TV |
| Poland | Comedy Central |
| Portugal | SIC Comédia, FX |
| Russia | MTV |
| Sweden | MTV, ZTV, TV3, SVT24, Kanal 5, Kanal 9 |
| United Kingdom | Sky Comedy |