48/30
Doorman: All night?
Synopsis
At 11:30 p.m. on October 11, 1975, a fierce troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. Find out what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes before Saturday Night Live (1975) first aired. Dan Aykroyd was the only original SNL cast member to read the script. As the show goes live, John Belushi walks into the frame 39 seconds late through a door. He actually walked right in.
Lorne Michaels: [sarcastic] Yeah, all night
The film opens with a quote from Lorne Michaels: "Featured in Eddie Murphy: The Black King of Hollywood (2023). Ixoo ‘Chickenweed’ ChawzWritten by Don Cento and performed by Don Cento and Martin Garner. Growing up with Saturday Night Live (SNL) playing in the background most Saturday nights, thanks to my parents, it’s no surprise that I’ve developed a deep affection for the show. Over the years, the format and the talent involved have only gotten better. 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 fondly. There are sketches from decades ago that I still revisit because they’re so iconic.
Naturally, all of this has intrigued me about the movie Saturday Night, out now
And if you’re a fan of the show, especially those old enough to have experienced the original cast back in the ’70s, here’s why you should definitely check it out. Most people see Saturday Night Live as a lighthearted, easy-to-watch way to get a few laughs late at night. But what many don’t realize is how chaotic and stressful it was to get the show on the air, especially in the early days. The film delves into the behind-the-scenes madness that led up to the first episode on October 11, 1975. Ninety minutes before the show aired, the set was still unfinished, people were being fired, 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.
It’s an emotional ride without a single dull moment
From the moment you step onto the set, there is an undeniable energy as everyone rushes to get things ready. Directed by Jason Reitman, Saturday Night feels like his best work since 2009’s Up in the Air. His direction gives the film a kinetic, almost frenetic energy, perfectly capturing the chaos of a live production on the brink of collapse. The cast delivers stellar performances, each embracing the energetic tone that Reitman has clearly set. Dylan O’Brien is a perfect Dan Aykroyd, Cory Michael Smith captures the essence of Chevy Chase, and Nicholas Braun does an impressive job of balancing two distinct characters throughout the film. However, the standout by far is Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels, the mastermind behind it all.
It’s only 90 minutes long
LaBelle, who was solid in Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, really shines here, delivering a stellar performance that anchors the structure of the entire film. His portrayal of Michaels is captivating, carrying the film almost entirely, with only a few scenes where he isn’t the focal point, but it does have one notable flaw: it stretches the believability of how this could have all played out in the future. While the film isn’t meant to showcase SNL sketches itself, I couldn’t help but feel like the story ends a bit abruptly. I was expecting the conclusion, but still, it felt like a few more jokes could have been squeezed in before the credits rolled.