NBC will air the inaugural episode of Saturday Night Live on February 15, just one day before the network’s three-hour special marking the show’s 50th anniversary.
The first episode, originally broadcast on October 11, 1975, was hosted by comedian George Carlin, with musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian. The show’s original cast, known as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players, included Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner. The premiere also featured a cameo by Andy Kaufman and a sketch by Muppets creator Jim Henson.
The 1975 broadcast is the focus of Jason Reitman’s 2024 film Saturday Night, starring Gabriel LaBelle as SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels, and it explores the hectic 90 minutes leading up to the show’s debut.
The re-airing of the premiere episode is part of NBC’s broader 50th anniversary celebration. In the weeks leading up to SNL’s anniversary, NBC has aired holiday specials featuring some of the show’s most iconic sketches, including Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music, a documentary directed by Questlove. The documentary will have an encore screening immediately following the 1975 episode. Additionally, a historical docuseries titled SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night premiered on Peacock in January.
The highly anticipated anniversary special, airing on February 16, will feature a star-studded lineup, including 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.
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