A look at the 90 minutes leading up to the 90 minute live debut of an experimental TV show now known as SNL, October 1, 1975
Hijinx, low budgets, unknown talent, skeptical network execs, uptight network censors, egos, jealousies, and doubt all ensue ... along with some drugs.
Spoiler alert: They pull it off.
Saturday Night (2024)
- Frayed Knot
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- Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:12 pm
Saturday Night (2024)
Posting Covid-19 free since March of 2020
Re: Saturday Night (2024)
I'd kind of rather see a movie about the song.
I'm sure there's a lot of excellent stuff in there, but I'm certain that there's going to be a lot of playing fast and loose with the facts.
One thing if I'm not sure of (though I'm sure some reading could catch me up) is whether this should be read as a reminder of when the program was a truly subversive exercise, and therefore a call to arms, or an attempt to sell the notion that the show still is truly subversive.
Side question: How inevitable was it that the show would become just another institution that won't die despite itself?
Second side question that's already been asked: Is the first run of Saturday Night Live cocaine's greatest accomplishment?
I'm sure there's a lot of excellent stuff in there, but I'm certain that there's going to be a lot of playing fast and loose with the facts.
One thing if I'm not sure of (though I'm sure some reading could catch me up) is whether this should be read as a reminder of when the program was a truly subversive exercise, and therefore a call to arms, or an attempt to sell the notion that the show still is truly subversive.
Side question: How inevitable was it that the show would become just another institution that won't die despite itself?
Second side question that's already been asked: Is the first run of Saturday Night Live cocaine's greatest accomplishment?
- Frayed Knot
- Posts: 14903
- Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:12 pm
Re: Saturday Night (2024)
S-A-TUR-DAY ... NIGHT!
After that the script gets a little thin.
I'm sure there's a lot of excellent stuff in there, but I'm certain that there's going to be a lot of playing fast and loose with the facts.
Pretty much yes to both.
It is kind of a fun ride even if there are no groundbreaking reveals or insights.
But do I believe that everything shown actually went on in the 90 minutes leading up to air time? Oh hell no!
Did Belushi have doubts about whether what he was about to get himself into was going to let him fully sprout his wings? Quite possibly.
Do I think he worked it out just prior to air time out on the Rock Center skating rink? Paint me less than convinced.
I suspect the bits are a combo of things that did actually happen that night mixed with the type of stuff* that typically went on back stage.
And then there's the whole down-to-the-wire changes, tech issues, and cuts to be made which, while probably real, were likely exaggerated.
One thing if I'm not sure of (though I'm sure some reading could catch me up) is whether this should be read as a reminder of when the program was a truly subversive exercise, and therefore a call to arms, or an attempt to sell the notion that the show still is truly subversive.
It doesn't get into any of that. The movie ends as the debut shows begins.
It can largely be seen as a love letter to Lorne Michaels. But he/they don't really know what they've got yet except that they wanted a show that was different from what was on TV in that era. I mean, you don't hire Michael O'Donaghue as a writer if you don't want at least some subversion in your project. But one line Michaels uses as a pitch to network affiliate reps is that it's going to be a television show by and for the first generation that grew up with television. That's going to ruffle some feathers even if it falls short of full-on subversion.
Side question: How inevitable was it that the show would become just another institution that won't die despite itself?
I doubt anyone at the time would have predicted a ten year run much less fifty.
Second side question that's already been asked: Is the first run of Saturday Night Live cocaine's greatest accomplishment?
Possibly. There was more than a bit of it going on within the cast: Ackroyd, Belushi of course, someone from Billy Preston's band hooks Garrett Morris up. And George Carlin was the guest host so, 'nuff said.
* pretty much confirmed in public remarks by Lorraine Newman
Posting Covid-19 free since March of 2020