19/16
In reality, he arrived immediately
Synopsis
On October 11, 1975, at 11:30 p.m., a fierce troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. Find out what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the premiere of Saturday Night Live (1975). Matt Wood stars as John Belushi on Saturday Night, meet the rest of the cast and their real-life counterparts. Dan Aykroyd was the only original SNL cast member to read the script. As the show airs live, John Belushi enters the frame 39 seconds late through a door. Lorne Michaels: Listen, my name is Lorne Michaels, I’m the producer of “Saturday Night.” Doorman: All night?
Lorne Michaels: [sarcastically] Yeah, all night long
The movie opens with a quote from Lorne Michaels: “The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready, it goes on because it’s 11:30.” Starring in Eddie Murphy: The Black King of Hollywood (2023). Ixoo ‘Chickenweed’ ChawzWritten by Don Cento and Martin GarnerPlayed by Don Cento and Martin Garner. Growing up with Saturday Night Live (SNL) on in the background most Saturday nights, thanks to my parents, it’s no surprise that I developed a deep affection for the show. Over the years, the format and talent involved have only continued to improve. Even though I’m part of the era with names like Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, and Tina Fey, I’ve always looked back on the classic episodes with fondness. There are sketches from decades past that I still revisit because they’re just iconic.
The film delves into the behind-the-scenes madness that led up to the show’s October 11, 1975 premiere
Naturally, all of this got me curious about the movie Saturday Night Live , which is currently in theaters. And if you’re a fan of the show, especially those old enough to have known the original cast in the 1970s, here’s why you should definitely check it out. Most people see Saturday Night Live as a light, easy watch, a way to get a few laughs late at night. But what many don’t realize is just how chaotic and stressful it was to air the show, especially in the early days. Ninety minutes before it went live, filming was still unfinished, people were being laid off, mistakes were being made left and right. It was a whirlwind of confusion and stress, and the film puts you right in the middle of it all.
It’s a thrilling ride without a dull moment
From the moment you’re thrown onto the set, there’s an undeniable energy as everyone scrambles to get things ready. Directed by Jason Reitman, Saturday Night feels like his best work since 2009’s Up in the Air. His direction injects the film with a kinetic, almost frenetic energy, perfectly capturing the chaos of a live production on the verge of collapse. The cast delivers exceptional performances, each of them nailing the high-octane tone that Reitman has so clearly defined. Dylan O’Brien perfectly plays Dan Aykroyd, Cory Michael Smith captures the essence of Chevy Chase, and Nicholas Braun impressively balances two distinct characters throughout the film. By far the standout, however, is Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels, the mastermind behind it all.
I expected the conclusion, but I still felt like a few more beats could have been played before the credits rolled
LaBelle, who played a major role in Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, truly shines here, delivering a standout performance that anchors the entire film. His portrayal of Michaels is captivating, taking over the film almost entirely, with only a few scenes where he isn’t the focal point. Now, while Saturday Night excels at capturing the essence of its characters and injecting humor to make the audience laugh, it has one notable flaw: It stretches the credibility of how this could have all played out in just 90 minutes. While the film isn’t meant to feature sketches from SNL itself, I couldn’t help but feel that the story ends a little abruptly.