FEATURE STORY
A very subjective celebration of Saturday Night Live, America’s longest-running comedy show
BY JOEL STEIN
illustration by sean mccabe
LORNE MICHAELS knows your favorite seasons of Saturday Night Live. They were the ones that aired when you were in high school, right before you got a driver’s license, when you were stuck at home, with no money. Staying up until 1 a.m. was exciting. Seeing adults saying things no one is supposed to say—it blew your mind.
Then you graduated and the SNL cast members did, too, and the new ones somehow weren’t quite as funny. This is why it’s a rite of passage to quote SNL catchphrases to high school friends. They become a generational secret handshake, each demo laughing at its own nonsensical “cheeseburger, cheeseburger, Pepsi, Pepsi,” “makin’ copies” or “More cowbell!”
Michaels, 79, created the show in three weeks in 1975 (when it first aired, though SNL’s 50th season starts this fall) when Johnny Carson pulled weekend repeats of The Tonight Show so he could use them during the week to take days off. Since then—other than the five seasons Michaels left the show (1980–85)—he’s been in charge every week, leaving a bigger mark on American comedy than anyone since Mark Twain. SNL has not only won more Emmys (98) than any other show, it has also spun off 12 movies, three late-night TV hosts (Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers and Conan O’Brien) and many movie stars. Michaels has vowed to stay at SNL until the 50th anniversary, but he has talked about having his protégé, former head writer Tina Fey, take over when he leaves.
It’s hard to imagine the show without him. But it’s harder to imagine American culture without the show. To celebrate SNL’s big 5-Oh season, we’ve picked some of its best moments and characters. Feel free to tell us how wrong we were at facebook.com/aarp. And don’t forget to score your quiz for your SNL IQ!
UNFORGETTABLE SKITS AND CHARACTERS
WE ALL HAVE FAVORITES. HERE ARE FIVE OF OURS
Blues Brothers (1978–82)
Before John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd sang on SNL, their soul revue opened shows for Steve Martin. Their first album, Briefcase Full of Blues, was No. 1 on the Billboard chart and went double platinum.
Ed Grimley (1984–96)
Martin Short’s surreal creation, with his hiked pants, enormous cowlick, inability to play the triangle and love of Wheel of Fortune, was a human cartoon. He was completely mental, we must say.
Church Lady (1986–2016)
As the finger-wagging, judgy host of a Christian talk show, Dana Carvey displayed moral superiority by literally doing a “superiority dance” strut. Often she asked, “Could it be … Satan?” It really was special.
Wayne’s World (1989–2015)
The Illinois high school buddies with a public access show partied on in two movies, the first of which made the most money of the 12 films based on SNL sketches. Yes, including The Blues Brothers. Schwing indeed.
What’s Up With That? (2009–19)
Kenan Thompson is brilliant as a singing talk show host who cuts off his guests with singsong questions as dancers (most unforgettably the tracksuited Jason Sudeikis) and performers pour onto the stage.
HONORABLE MENTION Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker, Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood, Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey, Dooneese, MacGruber
SNL BY THE NUMBERS
WHO TOPPED THE SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE CASTING CHARTS?
Most years as a cast member
Kenan Thompson (21)
Darrell Hammond (14)
Seth Meyers (13)
Most times hosting
Alec Baldwin (17)
Steve Martin (16)
John Goodman (13)
Youngest when debuted as a cast member
Anthony Michael Hall (17)
Eddie Murphy (19)
Robert Downey Jr. (20)
MEMORABLE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
Neil Young (1989)
Young and a tight three-piece band roared their way through “Rockin’ in the Free World,” a song about the environment, President George H.W. Bush, poverty and the nature of “freedom” in North America. No stunts, no gimmicks, just raw power.
Taylor Swift (2021)
In 2009, Swift hosted for the first time. Then in 2021, SNL broke with its usual format so that Swift could play a 10-minute version of “All Too Well,” about a painful breakup.
The Replacements (1986)
On their only SNL appearance, guitarist Bob Stinson wore a unitard, singer Paul Westerberg (above) dropped an F-bomb and for two sloppy, magnificent songs, they carried the torch for reckless carousing.
Elvis Costello & the Attractions (1977)
Four bars into “Less Than Zero,” which he was expected to play, Costello shouted “Stop!” and burst into the scathing “Radio Radio,” then sped through the song as if trying to finish before the police came. Costello was banned from SNL, but returned in 1989.
The Funky 4+1 (1981)
When Debbie Harry of Blondie hosted SNL, she requested the rappers Funky 4+1 as her musical guest. The Bronx crew played their joyous single “That’s the Joint,” exposing the audience to hip-hop.
HONORABLE MENTION David Bowie (1979), B-52s (1980), Prince (1981), Sinead O’Connor (1992), Kendrick Lamar (2014)
CATCHPHRASES THAT CAUGHT ON
WRITERS’ DREAMS CAME TRUE WHEN THESE SAYINGS WENT VIRAL
“It’s always something.”
—Gilda Radner as Roseanne Roseannadanna
“Yeah, that’s the ticket.”
—Jon Lovitz as the Pathological Liar
“We are two wild and crazy guys!”
—Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd as the Festrunk Brothers
“We just want to pump ... you up!”
—Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon as Hans & Franz
“Makin’ copies.”
—Rob Schneider as Richmeister
“More cowbell!”
—Christopher Walken as Bruce Dickinson
“You look marvelous.”
—Billy Crystal as Fernando Lamas
“Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, Pepsi, Pepsi.”
—John Belushi as Pete Dionasopolis
HONORABLE MENTION “Isn’t that special?” —Dana Carvey as Church Lady; “We are not worthy!” —Mike Myers and Carvey as Wayne and Garth
WEEKEND UPDATES THAT KILLED
INTERRUPTING THE NEWS WITH WELL-CONSIDERED OPINIONS
Father Guido Sarducci (1978–95)
SNL writer Don Novello’s gossip columnist for the Vatican newspaper had already appeared on Laugh-In.
Hollywood Minute (1992–98)
David Spade showed up during Weekend Update to roast celebrities in a way that he’s still apologizing to people about.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2015–20)
The Supreme was 81 when Kate McKinnon first presented her as a hip-hopping, horny, insult-tossing badass.
Stefon (2008–18)
Bill Hader played a New York City nightlife correspondent who describes the weirdest clubs to Weekend Update.
Opera Man (1992–2019)
Dressed more like Dracula than Pavarotti, Adam Sandler would sing about the news in fake Italian, mostly by adding “o” to the end of words.
HONORABLE MENTION Point/Counterpoint (Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin), Garth and Kat (Fred Armisen, Kristen Wiig), Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy (Vanessa Bayer)
SNL TRIVIA DID YOU STAY UP?
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF FIVE DECADES OF SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
A Late-Night Pop Quiz
(1) Which was the highest-grossing movie based on a sketch?
a) The Blues Brothers
b) Wayne’s World
c) It’s Pat
(2) The first bandleader was ...
a) Howard Johnson
b) G.E. Smith
c) Buster Poindexter
(3) In this viral skit, Ryan Gosling plays a man obsessed with the Avatar film’s use of what font?
a) Times New Roman
b) Comic Sans
c) Papyrus
(4) What excuse do the Coneheads use to justify their strange behavior?
a) “We went to Oberlin.”
b) “We smoked a lot of marijuana.”
c) “We are from France.”
(5) This pitch-perfect NPR holiday spoof centered on Alec Baldwin’s ...
a) Plaid shirt
b) Schweddy balls
c) Mad singing skills
(6) Lorne Michaels says that “the show doesn’t go on because it’s ready, it goes on because it’s … ”
a) 11:30
b) Contractually obligated
c) Paying for my organic blueberry farm in Maine
(7) Name this skit with Chris Farley and pals
a) Deep Dishin’
b) Bill Swerski’s Superfans
c) Go Bears
(8) Toonces was a cat that could …
a) Express affection
b) Drive
c) Host the show better than Paris Hilton did
(9) In the fake ad for Taco Town, what is not included in the new menu item:
a) Sushi
b) A crepe
c) A deep-dish pizza
(10) How does First Citiwide Change Bank, which does nothing but make change, do it, according to the 1988 fake commercial?
a) “Embezzling.”
b) “Volume.”
c) “Oh, we didn’t think of that.”
(11) Which bit was sent to SNL on videotape by a recent high school grad?
a) Mr. Bill
b) Deep Thoughts With Jack Handey
c) The Ambiguously Gay Duo
Who Played Who?
MATCH THE CAST MEMBER TO WHO THEY PARODIED
(12) Kristen Wiig
a) Alex Trebek
(13) Maya Rudolph
b) Ed McMahon
(14) Will Ferrell
c) Mister Rogers
(15) Phil Hartman
d) Kathie Lee Gifford
(16) Eddie Murphy
e) Julia Child
(17) Dan Aykroyd
f) Beyoncé
True or False?
(18) Sarah Palin never said, “I can see Russia from my house.” Tina Fey made it up for her impression.
◯ TRUE ◯ FALSE
(19) For the first season, the show was called NBC’s Saturday Night because ABC had a comedy/variety show called Saturday Night Live With Howard Cosell, featuring Bill Murray and Christopher Guest.
◯ TRUE ◯ FALSE
(20) The Smithsonian museum displays Eddie Murphy’s Gumby costume.
◯ TRUE ◯ FALSE
(21) The Seinfeld episode “The Revenge” is based on Larry David angrily quitting SNL right before a taping and then returning to the office on Monday, pretending that he never quit.
◯ TRUE ◯ FALSE
(22) George H.W. Bush never said, “Not gonna do it. Wouldn’t be prudent.” Dana Carvey made it up for his impression.
◯ TRUE ◯ FALSE
Hair Flair
MATCH THE DO TO THE ROLE
a) Ed Grimley
b) Roseanne Roseannadanna
c) Buckwheat
d) Church Lady
e) Coneheads
f) Stuart Smalley
! Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know what you think at facebook.com/aarp.
First, the answers:
1. b); 2. a); 3. c); 4. c); 5. b); 6. a); 7. b); 8. b); 9. a); 10. b); 11. a); 12. d) Kathie Lee Gifford; 13. f) Beyoncé; 14. a) Alex Trebek; 15. b) Ed McMahon; 16. c) Mister Rogers; 17. e) Julia Child; 18. TRUE; 19. TRUE; 20. FALSE; 21. TRUE; 22. TRUE; 23. a) Ed Grimley; 24. d) Church Lady; 25. c) Buckwheat; 26. f) Stuart Smalley; 27. b) Roseanne Roseannadanna; 28. e) Coneheads
Now, score yourself and find out where you rank:
25–28 points 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 SUPERFAN Congrats! You have apparently paid close attention over the show’s thousands of hours of airtime.
20–24 points 🙂🙂🙂🙂 A Loyal Laugher Keep up the good work.
15–19 points 🙂🙂🙂 Poised for More Smileys or sumthin’. So close to being special.
10–14 points 🙂🙂 The Ambivalent Viewer Who could have made you take this quiz? Now, who could it be? Could it be … Satan?!
1–9 points ☹️ The Rookie SNLer, at Best Why did you even take this quiz? Do you just love quizzes? Stop taking quizzes and watch some SNL.