Saturday Night Live
The late-night live sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live has left an indelible mark on American culture for five decades, making it not only one of the longest running shows in television history, but also one of the most significant. What began simply as a need for NBC to fill weekend programming hours turned, over the ensuing decades, into nothing short of a cultural institution—a breeding ground for new comedic talent; a critical voice of political satire and humor; an experimental lab for animated shorts, musical videos and parody commercials; and an important national stage for musical performances from buzzy newcomers and megawatt superstars alike.
In 1975, NBC’s vice president of late-night programming, Dick Ebersol, hired comedy writer and director Lorne Michaels to create a live sketch comedy show that would feature weekly guest hosts and live musical performances. For a cast, Michaels recruited largely unknown comedians (including several from the National Lampoon Radio Hour and the Second City comedy group) that collectively became known as the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players.” The gamble on young unknowns paid off as the show capitalized on the late-night hours and the countercultural moment to develop a devoted following of young viewers through its first several seasons.
Some of the biggest stars of film and television began as SNL cast members, including Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Kristen Wiig, and many others. And many of its catchphrases embedded themselves in the American lexicon: “strategery,” “cheeburger-cheeburger,” “You look mah-velous,” “Party on,” “Well, isn’t that special?” At times, characters or skits developed on the show have gone on to be major motion pictures (The Blues Brothers, Coneheads, Wayne’s World).
More than any other entertainment show, SNL has played a major cultural role in shaping perceptions of politicians and political events for many Americans. It has helped define politicians the public knew little about (from Gerald Ford to Sarah Palin and Ross Perot), and also routinely skewered the foibles of well-known political actors (Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump) through its timely, events-driven “cold opens” to the show each week.
The show has also been a major performance platform for popular music, featuring almost every major musical star—as well as a bevy of up-and-coming artists—across its 50-year history. It is precisely this mix of the familiar with the cutting-edge that has made these musical performances such a cornerstone of the show’s popularity and success, as well as a reason for audience tune-in each week.
Across its long history, the show has not been exempt from typical television ups and downs, nor exempt from controversy. But, in fact, that makes it all the more impressive and unique; at a time in television history when most programming has become as slick and highly produced as films, SNL offers a space that welcomes risk-taking, imperfection, and the surprises that only live TV can offer. Under Michaels’ leadership, what began as an experiment in live late-night programming has become one of the most beloved and dependably enjoyable programs to appear on American television, remaining as relevant as ever. And for that, Saturday Night Live is honored with the Peabody Institutional Award.