The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / NBC To Rerun 1st Ever "Saturday Night Live" From 1975

**Posted by RadioActive** January 30, 2025 12:22 pm

It was October 11, 1975 and NBC was about to change late night TV forever with the introduction of a brand new show - Saturday Night Live.

The network just aired an excellent three hour special on its musical guests and is clearing another full night of primetime for a celebration of the show's 50th anniversary. That will air on February 16th.

But the night before, NBC has carved out another hour of primetime for another special - the very first ever episode of the SNL, hosted by George Carlin and featuring music from Billy Preston and Janis Ian. It's a chance to see the original cast in their "not ready for" prime - John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase and Canada's Dan Aykroyd. (Plus, the Muppets made an appearance in those early days.)

This show is also the basis of a recent movie on the tense filled crazy moments that happened behind the scenes on that first episode.

The very first SNL hits the air on a Saturday night - when else? - February 15th at 10 PM on NBC. I'll be curious to see if Global also picks up the show.

NBC Is Airing SNL's Very First Episode Ahead of Its Anniversary Special

**Posted by paterson1** January 31, 2025 10:03 am

I am really looking forward to the three hour SNL 50th Anniversary special which is slated for Sunday February 16th. One day prior to running the very first program.

Program #1 of this remarkable show I have seen a few times. Comedy Network years ago ran SNL everyday and would play the shows in order. You need to make allowances for the first show, even many of the early shows, since they seem pretty tame and the humour is dated. But still worth watching.

If you missed SNL 50 Years Of Music this past Monday, Global has it this Sunday opposite the Grammy Awards on City and CBS.

**Posted by RadioActive** February 11, 2025 8:00 am

paterson1 wrote:
I am really looking forward to the three hour SNL 50th Anniversary special which is slated for Sunday February 16th. One day prior to running the very first program.

Many of the show's surviving stars from its earlier days are scheduled to make appearances, including:

"Adam Sandler, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell. It’s unclear what, exactly, these comedy greats will be doing during the Feb. 16 broadcast, but they’ll be joined by Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Chris Rock, Fred Armisen, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Kate McKinnon, Kenan Thompson, Laraine Newman, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Seth Meyers, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Will Forte and more."

‘SNL 50’ Sets Adam Sandler, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell and More Returning Cast Members

**Posted by mace** February 11, 2025 8:28 am

Trivia question. What did NBC air in the Saturday 11:30pm slot before SNL? Answer: Tonight Show reruns.

**Posted by Radiowiz** February 11, 2025 9:42 am

mace wrote:
Trivia question. What did NBC air in the Saturday 11:30pm slot before SNL? Answer: Tonight Show reruns.

I thought it was Laugh in?

**Posted by DX** February 11, 2025 11:13 am

The Saturday time slot came open for Lorne Michaels because Johnny Carson had negotiated a three-day-a-week taping schedule and they needed to spread his reruns over the other nights.

The SNL 50 returning cast members list is impressive but how can you have SNL 50 without Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd?

**Posted by RadioActive** February 11, 2025 11:33 am

DX wrote:
The SNL 50 returning cast members list is impressive but how can you have SNL 50 without Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd?

I wonder if they might turn up "unannounced." We'll find out next Sunday.

**Posted by RadioActive** February 12, 2025 7:43 am

Hard to disagree with the Top 2.

Well isn't that special? For the show's 50th anniversary, 'SNL's' 50 greatest characters

**Posted by Radiowiz** February 12, 2025 8:19 am

RadioActive wrote:
DX wrote:
The SNL 50 returning cast members list is impressive but how can you have SNL 50 without Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd?
I wonder if they might turn up "unannounced." We'll find out next Sunday.

I'm not sure about Dan, but does Bill still have CURRENT content with Netflix?
If he is still producing something there, he may have a contract that prevents him from showing up on anything NBC.
Then again, Steve Martin is with ABC, so maybe there's some exceptions...I honestly don't know.