Can you believe “Saturday Night Live” is turning 50 this year? In celebration of its golden anniversary, the show is taking it back to basics. And we mean all the way back to its very first episode from October 11th, 1975.
The first episode of “Saturday Night Live” was called “Saturday Night,” and hosted by the late comedy legend George Carlin. The musical guests for the night included Billy Preston and Janis Ian. Alongside skits done by icons like comedian Andy Kaufman and Muppets creator Jim Henson. Not to mention a core cast that included comedy greats Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner.
The very first sketch is actually available on YouTube.
This is a pilot that launched an empire so monumental that Jason Reitman recently made the film, “Saturday Night,” dramatizing the lead-up to the first taping.
This rebroadcast will air on Saturday, February 15th, at 11:00 PM ET/PT as a part of a much larger celebration for “SNL”’s 50th anniversary. On the 14th, there will be a concert at Radio City Music Hall in honor of the series.
Then on Sunday the 16th, there will be a three-hour live primetime special featuring Five-Timers Club members Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Simon, Martin Short, and Woody Harrelson.
Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Bad Bunny, Dave Chappelle, John Mulaney, Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Sir Paul McCartney, Pedro Pascal, Peyton Manning, Quinta Brunson, Robert De Niro, and Sabrina Carpenter are also slated to appear.
