The SNL Companion

An Unofficial Guide to the Seasons, Sketches, and Stars of Saturday Night Live

Stephen Tropiano, Steven Ginsberg

• Publisher: Applause
• Year: 2024
• eBook ISBN: 9781493072613
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Television

"This is a comprehensive ticket to learning more about every aspect of the late-night comedy staple and its storied history." - Library Journal

Television history was made on October 11, 1975, when a new generation of young performers welcomed America to the first episode of a new late-night comedy and variety show. Combining cutting-edge humor with a satirical sensibility, Saturday Night Live would go on to become the longest-running series of its kind in television history, shining a light on pop culture as well as contemporary social and political issues. It also became a launching pad for many of the leading comedy performers of the last five decades, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Maya Rudolph, and Kate McKinnon
Celebrating the show's record-breaking 50 years on the air, The SNL Companion is a fun, fact-filled tribute to a television institution. From the show's creation by Lorne Michaels through all of the seasons leading up to its golden anniversary, it provides an in-depth look at SNL's comedic highlights and nadirs, its memorable hosts and musical guests, and its many controversies. Along with a complete episode guide, it explores the characters, sketches, politics, catchphrases, commercial parodies, and viral shorts that have made it a leader in American comedy for over five decades. Vastly revised, updated, and expanded since its original publication in 2013 and packed with photographs and rich encyclopedic detail, The SNL Companion is a one-stop resource for all things SNL.

Table of contents

• Prefaces
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• 1 “A Major Show in Television That People Will Talk About”: The Birth of an American Institution
• 2 “A Show That I Would Watch”: Lorne Michaels and SNL’s Creative Team
• 3 “No Television Experience Required”: The Not Ready for Prime Time Players
• 4 “Live from New York—It’s Saturday Night”: October 11, 1975, 11:30 p.m. (EDT)
• 5 Breaking New Ground: SNL’s Television Comedy Roots
• 6 One Samurai, Two Wild and Crazy Guys, and Three Coneheads: SNL in the 1970s (1975–1980), Seasons 1–5
• 7 Season 6—The Worst Season (So Far): The 1980s, Part 1 (1980–1981)
• 8 Starting Over (and Over): The 1980s, Part II (1981–1985), Seasons 7–10
• 9 Getting Into Character: The 1980s, Part III (1985–1990), Seasons 11–15
• 10 Saturday Night Alive (and Dead): The 1990s, Part I (1990–1995), Seasons 16–20
• 11 Resuscitating SNL: The 1990s, Part II (1995–2000), Seasons 21–25
• 12 Laughing Matters: Memorable Characters, Sketches, and Moments (2000–2013), Seasons 26–38
• 13 SNL Goes Digital (2013–2024), Seasons 39–49
• 14 A New Era in Political Comedy
• 15 Politics and the Presidency, Part 1: Richard Nixon to George W. Bush (1970s–2000s)
• 16 Politics and the Presidency, Part 2: Barack Obama to Joseph Biden (2000s–present)
• 17 Repertory and Featured Players: An SNL Cast Directory (1980–2024), Seasons 6–49
• 18 “No Comedy Experience Required”: Hosting SNL
• 19 Keeping Live Music Alive: SNL’s Musical Guests
• 20 An Unexpected Surprise: SNL’s Late-Night Cameos
• 21 “A Nonexistent Problem with an Inadequate Solution”: SNL’s Commercial Parodies
• 22 “And Here’s a Short Film By . . .”: SNL’s Original Shorts
• 23 Weekend Update: “Our Top Story Tonight . . .”
• 24 “Yeah, That’s the Ticket!”: SNL’s Catchphrases
• 25 “Well, Isn’t That Special?”: SNL’s Objectionable, Offensive, and Controversial Moments
• 26 From the Small Screen to the Big Screen: SNL Goes to Hollywood
• Appendix A: Episode Guide
• Appendix B: Awards
• Selected Bibliography