Original S.saturday night live broadcast star Laraine Newman told People creator Lorne Michaels did not expect the success of the series. He initially believed it would only last a few weeks at most.
“When Lorne pitched me the show, he said, '13 weeks with a five-year option,'” Newman recalled. “I thought it would happen one day.”
The birth of the legendary sketch show, which premiered its 50th season on Saturday, is the subject of the new movie saturday night. Emily Fairn plays Newman and Gabriel LaBelle plays Michaels. Reflecting on the show now, Newman admits that no one thought it would have a significant cultural impact.
“No one could have imagined it would take this long,” he marveled. “Nothing lasts 50 years!”
Newman's assessment is more or less correct. Saturday Night Live It was originally intended to replace Saturday reruns. The Tonight Show After Johnny Carson and NBC became involved in a dispute. Carson wanted reruns to air on weeknights so he could get more time off, and NBC wanted to show the talk show giant that he was replaceable.
Dick Ebersol, the network's executive vice president of late-night programming, approached Michaels about producing a variety show aimed at the 18- to 34-year-old demographic. Michaels and Ebersol developed the series in just three weeks; The cast consisted of a ragtag group of local improvisers, playwrights and actors. When the show premiered, it was an experimental curiosity that no one, least of all NBC executives, expected to last more than a few months at most.
Newman joined SNL Fresh off The Groundlings. She was the youngest member of the series, but quickly became one of the most valuable actors of the ensemble with characters such as Connie Conehead and Valley-Girl Sherry.
“It's surreal. Groundlings, it's like SNL“He shaped a lot of modern comedy,” Newman said of his improv group, which included his friends. SNL Alumni Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig. “I never imagined we would look back on fifty years of influence from both.”
from his time Saturday Night LiveNewman said: “It was such a unique experience that I'm proud to be a part of something that has made such a lasting impact… I've always thought about how TV reflects the concerns, beliefs and values of the culture. It also helps shape them. Presenting issues through storytelling can be really effective at a systemic level.”