“Live from New York… it’s Saturday Night.” This movie is a fresh, humorous and suspenseful joyride into the art of television production that audiences can’t help but love.
Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman, takes viewers through the chaotic 90 minutes before the first airing of NBC’s Saturday Night Live in 1975. The film specifically follows Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle), the show’s creator and producer, as he navigates how to put on a live variety show, the first of its kind at the time. He encounters conflicts between cast members, the sets breaking and having more sketches than time allows for the show.
The movie’s central conflict revolves around David Tebet (William Dafoe). Tebet, an NBC executive, did not believe in SNL’s longevity, which caused several complications and raised questions about whether the show would go live or be shut down.
The film also features the first actors featured on the show, such as Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith), John Belushi (Matt Wood) and Dan Aykroyd (Dylan O’Brien). These actors play a vital role in the dynamics shown in the film, illustrating the tensions and chemistry that characterized the early days of SNL. For example, Chase and Belushi get into a physical altercation about an hour before the show starts because Chase makes fun of Belushi’s bee costume, which he had to wear for one of the sketches. This leads to Belushi almost walking off the show, highlighting the intense rivalries and creative pressures the cast faced, especially when their spot on the air wasn’t guaranteed.
Saturday Night is suspenseful and fascinating, but it also successfully incorporates comedy into all the drama and mayhem. One of the film’s best features is how it turns intense moments into humor. Whether through a witty line or a funny action, the actors keep the audience laughing and lighten the drama on screen.
The film also guides the audience with the help of an engaging musical score. Composed and performed by Jon Batiste, the music in the background of the scenes is jazzy, yet chaotic, mirroring the happenings that could be seen on screen. It helps viewers maintain the feel of the 1970s and emphasizes the focus on using live bands seen on the show.
While the movie captures the spirit of the early moments on SNL, it becomes difficult to keep track of who all the characters are. The film formally introduces only a few characters, such as Micheals, Tebet and Belushi, leaving the audience reliant on the dialogue. Although it may be inconvenient, preliminary research before viewing the film could enhance the viewing experience.
Saturday Night is a dramatic portrayal of the exact events before the first episode and it does a fantastic job demonstrating how rushed and hectic the first SNL show was to convince executives they could make it happen.
In the words of Lorne Michaels, “The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30.”