History of Saturday Night Live in Timeline
Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a late-night American sketch comedy show airing on NBC, created by Lorne Michaels. Premiering in 1975 as NBC's Saturday Night, the show features comedy sketches parodying popular culture and politics, performed by a repertory cast and newer members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest who delivers the opening monologue and participates in sketches, alongside a musical guest. Episodes typically begin with a cold open, often based on current events, culminating in the catchphrase, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"
1965: NBC Broadcasts Tonight Show Reruns
Beginning in 1965, NBC network affiliates broadcast reruns of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on Saturday or Sunday nights.
1974: Development of Saturday Night Live Begins
In 1974, after Johnny Carson requested that NBC pull weekend reruns of 'The Tonight Show,' NBC executives approached Dick Ebersol and Lorne Michaels to create a new show for the Saturday night time slot, leading to the development of Saturday Night Live.
October 11, 1975: SNL Premiere with Host George Carlin
On October 11, 1975, Saturday Night Live, originally titled NBC's Saturday Night, premiered on NBC. Hosted by George Carlin, the show introduced a new format of sketch comedy, political satire, and musical performances.
October 1975: George Carlin Hosts First Episode
In October 1975, George Carlin was the first host of Saturday Night Live in the debut episode.
1975: Study Reveals Lack of Racial Diversity on SNL
A 2016 study of Saturday Night Live episodes from 1975 to 2016 revealed that over 90% of episodes had white hosts, highlighting a lack of racial diversity.
1975: Howard Shore First Musical Director
From 1975 to 1980, Howard Shore served as the first musical director for the Saturday Night Live Band, appearing in many musical sketches.
1975: ABBA Lip-Syncs on SNL
In 1975, ABBA's performance on Saturday Night Live was the first and only act to feature lip-synching, until 2004.
1975: Initial SNL Cast Assembled
In 1975, Lorne Michaels assembled the initial cast for Saturday Night Live, including Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, and George Coe.
1975: First Cold Open
Since the first opening in 1975 with Michael O'Donoghue, Chevy Chase, and John Belushi, the show has normally begun with a cold open sketch which ends with one or more cast members breaking character and proclaiming "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!", followed by the opening credits.
1975: Scripts for Several Sketches by the 1975-80 Cast
The oversized illustrated paperback included the scripts for several sketches by the 1975–80 cast.
1976: Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford Impression Impacts 1976 Election
Chevy Chase's bumbling impression of then-president Gerald Ford during the 1976 presidential election was cited as an influence on the election.
1976: Cancellation of 'Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell'
In 1976, 'Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell' was cancelled on ABC, allowing NBC to later purchase the rights to the 'Saturday Night Live' title.
1976: Cast Album Released
In 1976, a cast album was released on the Arista label, featuring the song "Chevy's Girls" and comedy bits from the show like Weekend Update, "Emily Litella", and "Gun Control". It was later re-issued on CD and MP3 download.
1976: President Gerald Ford Appears on SNL
In 1976, during the show's first season, President Gerald Ford appeared on Saturday Night Live.
1976: Shows Shot in Brooklyn
In 1976, three of the shows of the 1976–77 season were shot at the former NBC Studios in Brooklyn, due to NBC News using Studio 8H for presidential election coverage.
1976: Steve Martin begins hosting SNL
Steve Martin began hosting Saturday Night Live in 1976, and hosted fifteen times.
1977: Saturday Night Live Book Published by Avon Books
In 1977, "Saturday Night Live", the first authorized book about the series, was published by Avon Books and edited by Anne Beatts and John Head, with photography by Edie Baskin.
1977: Jim Downey Joins Writing Staff
In 1977, Jim Downey joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live during the show's second season.
1977: Official Title Change to Saturday Night Live
In 1977, NBC purchased the rights to the name and officially changed the show's title to Saturday Night Live at the start of the 1977–1978 season, its third.
1978: Cocaine Use on SNL
By the 1978-1979 season, cocaine had become an "integral part of the working process" on SNL.
1978: Third Season of Saturday Night Live
In 1978, the official title change to Saturday Night Live took place at the start of the 1977–1978 season, its third.
1979: Cocaine Use on SNL
By the 1978-1979 season, cocaine had become an "integral part of the working process" on SNL.
1979: Georg Wadenius Joins Band
In 1979, Georg Wadenius joined the Saturday Night Live Band.
May 1980: Michaels requests a hiatus for SNL
In May 1980, As the fifth season ended, Michaels asked executives to place the show on hiatus for a year in order to allow him time to pursue other projects.
May 24, 1980: Almost Entire Cast and Writers Leave SNL
After the May 24, 1980, season finale, almost every writer and cast member, including Lorne Michaels, left Saturday Night Live.
1980: Howard Shore Ends Tenure as Musical Director
Howard Shore's tenure as musical director ended in 1980. He served as the first musical director for the Saturday Night Live Band from 1975 to 1980.
1980: Lorne Michaels Leaves SNL
In 1980, Lorne Michaels departed from Saturday Night Live to pursue other career opportunities. Jean Doumanian then replaced him as showrunner.
1980: The Blues Brothers Film Release
In 1980, The Blues Brothers, a film based on a successful Saturday Night Live sketch, was released.
1980: Denny Dillon Becomes First Gay Cast Member
In the 1980-81 season, Denny Dillon became the first gay cast member on Saturday Night Live, though she was in the closet at the time.
February 1981: Charles Rocket Uses Profanity on Air
In a February 1981 episode, cast member Charles Rocket used the profanity "fuck" during a sketch, leading to controversy and contributing to Jean Doumanian's dismissal.
1981: Mel Brandt and Bill Hanrahan Announce
Between 1981 and 1982, Mel Brandt and Bill Hanrahan filled the announcing role when Michaels had left.
1981: Tom Malone Becomes Musical Director
Tom Malone took over as musical director for the Saturday Night Live Band from 1981 to 1985.
1982: Mel Brandt and Bill Hanrahan Announce
Between 1981 and 1982, Mel Brandt and Bill Hanrahan filled the announcing role when Michaels had left.
1983: Lou Marini and Ray Chew Leave Band
Lou Marini (1975–1983), Ray Chew (1980–1983) left the Saturday Night Live Band.
1984: The Folksmen appeared on SNL
During the 1984-85 season, the fictitious American folk music trio The Folksmen, including cast members Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest, appeared on SNL and performed the song "Old Joe's Place".
1984: Hiring Established Comedians
In 1984 during the 1984–1985 season, producers hired established comedians such as Billy Crystal and Martin Short for SNL.
1985: Michaels Returns and Recasts SNL
In 1985 during the 1985-1986 season, Lorne Michaels returned to SNL and recast the show, initially seeking established actors.
1985: Ebersol requests a hiatus for SNL
In 1985, Dick Ebersol informed NBC that he would only return if the show took a hiatus to recast and rebuild, and diverge significantly from the established live format.
1985: Jim Downey Becomes Head Writer
In 1985, Jim Downey became the head writer for Saturday Night Live, a role he held for 10 years until 1995.
1985: Lorne Michaels Returns to SNL
In 1985, Lorne Michaels returned to Saturday Night Live as showrunner, after Dick Ebersol had managed the show for a few years.
1985: Steve Ferrone Joins Band and Tom Malone Ends Tenure
In 1985, Steve Ferrone joined the Saturday Night Live Band and Tom Malone's tenure ended after being musical director from 1981 to 1985. G. E. Smith also became musical director from 1985 to 1995.
1985: Terry Sweeney Becomes First Openly Gay Male Cast Member
In the 1985-1986 season, Terry Sweeney became Saturday Night Live's first openly gay male cast member and the first openly gay series regular on network television.
October 25, 1986: Episode Postponed Due to World Series
The episode of Saturday Night Live scheduled for October 25, 1986, hosted by Rosanna Arquette, was not aired until November 8 due to NBC broadcasting game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The game ended late, causing that night's broadcast of SNL to be canceled.
1986: Michaels Recasts SNL Again
In 1986 during the 1986-1987 season, Lorne Michaels cleaned house again and recast Saturday Night Live, seeking unknown talent such as Dana Carvey and Phil Hartman.
1986: Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live Authored by Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad
In 1986, Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad authored Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the first ten seasons.
1986: Terry Sweeney Appears in the 1985-1986 season
In the 1985-1986 season, Terry Sweeney became Saturday Night Live's first openly gay male cast member.
1987: Success of New Cast
In 1987 during the 1986-1987 season, the new cast of Saturday Night Live successfully revived the show's popularity.
1988: The Best of Saturday Night Live on Nick at Nite
In 1988, Abbreviated thirty- and sixty-minute versions of the first five seasons aired as The Best of Saturday Night Live on Nick at Nite.
1988: Conan O'Brien Joins SNL Writing Staff
In 1988, Conan O'Brien joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live after being brought in from The Groundlings.
1988: Rob Schneider Joins SNL Cast
In 1988, Rob Schneider, who has a Filipina grandmother, joined the cast of Saturday Night Live.
July 26, 1990: The Saturday Night Live Movie Screenplay Abandoned
On July 26, 1990, the screenplay for a sketch anthology feature film titled The Saturday Night Live Movie, written by the show's writing staff, was abandoned after reaching a Revised First Draft.
1990: Alec Baldwin begins hosting SNL
Alec Baldwin began hosting Saturday Night Live in 1990 and achieved a record of seventeen hosting appearances.
1990: Comedy Central Reruns
From 1990 until 2004, Comedy Central and its predecessor Ha! aired reruns of Saturday Night Live.
1992: Dave Grohl First Appears as Musical Guest
Dave Grohl first appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live in 1992, marking the beginning of his record-setting fourteen performances.
1992: Departure of Dana Carvey
In 1992, Dana Carvey, one of SNL's biggest stars, left the show.
1992: Wayne's World Film Release
In 1992, Wayne's World, a film based on a successful Saturday Night Live sketch, was released.
1992: Sinéad O'Connor Rips Up Pope Photo on SNL
In 1992, singer Sinéad O'Connor ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II during her Saturday Night Live performance to protest the Catholic Church, leading to controversy.
1992: Bob Roberts Character Originates on SNL
In 1992, the character Bob Roberts from the Tim Robbins film of the same title first appeared on Saturday Night Live in a short film about the conservative folk singer.
1993: Coneheads Film Released
In 1993, Michaels revived 1970s characters for Coneheads, which was based on a popular sketch character.
1993: RTL Samstag Nacht Premiere
In 1993, a German version of Saturday Night Live named RTL Samstag Nacht aired on RTL Television.
1993: Office Space Animated Shorts Aired on SNL
In 1993, a series of animated short films by Mike Judge, which later inspired the 1999 comedy film Office Space, aired on Saturday Night Live.
1993: Jay Mohr on SNL
In 2004, former cast member Jay Mohr released his memoir, Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches of Saturday Night Live, about his struggles during his two seasons on the show between 1993 and 1995.
1994: Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years Released
In 1994, Michael Cader's "Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years" was released, presenting information about the cast, characters, and memorable moments from 1975 to 1994.
1994: Departure of Phil Hartman
In 1994, Phil Hartman, one of SNL's biggest stars, left the show.
1994: Rob Schneider departs SNL
In 1994, Rob Schneider departed from the cast of Saturday Night Live.
1994: It's Pat Film Released
In 1994, the film It's Pat was released, but it performed so badly at the box office that Touchstone Pictures pulled it only one week after releasing it.
1995: Criticism of the Show's Writing
By the 1994–1995 season, criticism of Saturday Night Live's writing increased, with the season considered one of the series' worst.
1995: Cast Overhaul with New Talent
In 1995 during the 1995-1996 season, the cast of Saturday Night Live was largely overhauled with names such as Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri.
1995: G. E. Smith Ends Tenure as Musical Director
In 1995, G. E. Smith's tenure as musical director for the Saturday Night Live Band ended.
1995: Jim Downey Ends Tenure as Head Writer
In 1995, Jim Downey's tenure as head writer for Saturday Night Live ended.
1995: Stuart Saves His Family Film Released
In 1995, the film Stuart Saves His Family was released, but it lost $14 million.
1995: Jay Mohr on SNL
In 2004, former cast member Jay Mohr released his memoir, Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches of Saturday Night Live, about his struggles during his two seasons on the show between 1993 and 1995.
1996: Competition from Mad TV
In 1996 during the 1995-1996 season, Saturday Night Live faced new competition from Fox's sketch comedy show Mad TV.
1997: Tina Fey Joins SNL
In 1997, Tina Fey joined Saturday Night Live as a cast member and head writer, and stayed with the show until 2006.
1998: Schweddy Balls Sketch
In 1998, the "Schweddy Balls" sketch starring Alec Baldwin, Ana Gasteyer, and Molly Shannon aired on SNL.
1998: A Night at the Roxbury Film Released
In 1998, the film A Night at the Roxbury was released, based on a popular sketch character.
1998: Production tracking system migrated to digital
In 1998, the production tracking system for Saturday Night Live was migrated from primarily analog to digital. Live shows typically required 1.5 terabytes of digital storage, consisting of audio elements and visual elements from five cameras.
1998: Comedy Central Reruns
Reruns of the series, after which E! signed a deal to carry reruns, began airing from 1998 onward.
1998: RTL Samstag Nacht End Date
The German version of Saturday Night Live named RTL Samstag Nacht aired between 1993 and 1998 on RTL Television.
1999: Tina Fey Becomes First Female Head Writer
In 1999, Tina Fey became the first woman to be an SNL head writer, a year before she joined the cast and became a Weekend Update anchor.
1999: Release of the film Office Space
In 1999, the comedy film Office Space was released, originating from a series of animated short films by Mike Judge that aired on Saturday Night Live in 1993.
1999: Superstar Film Released
In 1999, the film Superstar was released, based on a popular sketch character.
1999: Mary Ellen Matthews becomes official photographer
Since 1999, Mary Ellen Matthews has been the official photographer of Saturday Night Live, devising distinctive photo layouts and aesthetics for still imagery used on the show. Matthews creates photo portraits of the hosts and musical guests of each episode.
1999: NBC Rewrites SNL Cast Contracts
Starting in 1999, new SNL cast members were subject to rewritten contracts that allowed NBC to place them in NBC sitcoms, after at least their second year on the show. Cast members had to accept a sitcom offer after rejecting the first two, with the sitcom contract potentially lasting up to six years. Additionally, the contract optioned the cast member for three feature films produced by SNL Films.
2000: Induction into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
In 2000, Saturday Night Live was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
2000: The Ladies Man Film Released
In 2000, the film The Ladies Man was released, based on a popular sketch character.
2000: Revised SNL Cast Contracts Take Effect
In 2000, the rewritten contracts for SNL cast members were in full effect, allowing NBC to place cast members in sitcoms and optioning them for feature films. The new contracts drew criticism from talent agents and managers who believed a cast member could be locked into a contract with NBC for twelve years—six on SNL and then six on a sitcom.
2000: Spoofing of Presidential Campaign
The 2000–2001 season was notable for its well-received spoofing of that year's presidential campaign between Al Gore and George W. Bush.
February 10, 2001: Episode Airs Late Due to XFL Game
The episode of Saturday Night Live scheduled for February 10, 2001, hosted by Jennifer Lopez, aired 45 minutes late due to an XFL game. The show was rerun a mere three weeks later.
September 11, 2001: SNL Writers Abandon Political Content Following 9/11
Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack in New York, Saturday Night Live writers briefly abandoned political content due to the sensitivity of the situation.
2001: Will Ferrell Becomes Highest Paid SNL Cast Member
In 2001, Will Ferrell became the highest-paid cast member, earning $350,000 per season, which was approximately $17,500 per episode.
2001: SNL Responds to September 11 Attacks
In 2001, the New York City cast and crew of Saturday Night Live were highly affected by the September 11 attacks, and returned on September 29 with an acclaimed appearance by Rudy Giuliani.
2002: Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live Released
In 2002, "Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, as Told By Its Stars, Writers and Guests" was released, written by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller, featuring interviews with people who have worked on the show.
2002: Fred Armisen Joins SNL Cast
In 2002, Fred Armisen, who has a Korean grandfather, joined the cast of Saturday Night Live.
2002: John McCain Appears on SNL
In 2002, Senator John McCain appeared on Saturday Night Live.
2002: TV Tales Episode on SNL
In 2002, an episode of TV Tales on E! covered the production process of Saturday Night Live.
2002: Release of A Mighty Wind
In 2002, the film A Mighty Wind was released, featuring The Folksmen, who had previously appeared on SNL. The film starred Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, and Christopher Guest.
2003: Eretz Nehederet Debuts
In 2003, Eretz Nehederet (A Wonderful Country), an SNL-esque Israeli show, debuted and continues to garner high ratings.
October 2004: 60 Minutes Report on SNL
In October 2004, a 60 Minutes report depicted the intense writing process leading up to an SNL show, highlighting the guest host's involvement.
2004: Weekend Update Joke Writing Process
According to an interview with Tina Fey in 2004, the three- to four-member dedicated Weekend Update writing team will write jokes throughout the week. The host(s) of Weekend Update will normally not work with or read the scripts from the team until Thursday evening after the main show sketches have been finalized.
2004: Alex Baze Writes for Weekend Update
Alex Baze wrote for the Weekend Update segment from 2004 to 2014.
2004: Comedy Central Reruns End
From 1990 until 2004, Comedy Central and its predecessor Ha! aired reruns of Saturday Night Live.
2004: Ashlee Simpson Lip-Syncing Controversy on SNL
In 2004, Ashlee Simpson's performance on Saturday Night Live led to controversy when she appeared to lip-sync and left the stage mid-performance after the wrong song was played.
2004: Ashlee Simpson's Controversial Performance
In 2004, Ashlee Simpson's performance on Saturday Night Live was controversial, due to lip-synching issues.
2004: Don Pardo Announces Initial Retirement
In 2004, Don Pardo announced that he would step down from his position as announcer, but then continued in the role.
2004: NBC Universal Formed
In 2004, Universal Studios merged with NBC to form NBC Universal, which also has a joint venture with Paramount for international distribution of the two studios' films.
2004: Jay Mohr Releases Memoir Gasping for Airtime
In 2004, former cast member Jay Mohr released his memoir, Gasping for Airtime: Two Years in the Trenches of Saturday Night Live, about his struggles during his two seasons on the show between 1993 and 1995.
October 2005: Show Broadcasts in High-Definition
In October 2005, with its thirty-first-season premiere, Saturday Night Live began broadcasting in high-definition television.
2005: Switch to High-Definition Broadcasting
In 2005 during the 2005–2006 season, Saturday Night Live switched to high-definition broadcasting.
2005: Seth Meyers Becomes Co-Head Writer
In 2005, Seth Meyers became a co-head writer for Saturday Night Live.
2005: The Lonely Island's "Lazy Sunday" Debuts
In 2005, The Lonely Island (Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone) gained national exposure after debuting their comedic music video "Lazy Sunday" on SNL, which became a surprise hit and popularized YouTube.
2005: Tina Fey's Salary for Dual Role
In 2005, Tina Fey was paid $1.5 million per season for her dual role as head writer and performer.
2006: Don Pardo Pre-Records Announcements
In 2006, Don Pardo pre-recorded his announcements at his home in Arizona for a brief period.
2006: Tina Fey Leaves SNL
In 2006, Tina Fey left Saturday Night Live, after being a cast member and head writer since 1997.
2006: Budget Cuts and Smaller Cast
In 2006, before the start of the 2006–2007 season, Saturday Night Live suffered budget cuts that led to a smaller cast.
2006: VH1 and Logo Reruns
Starting in February 2016, VH1 and Comedy Central's sister channel Logo began airing reruns of 2006-onward episodes on Sunday nights, launching its broadcast as counterprogramming for Super Bowl 50 and branding it the "Live From New York, It's Satur-Gay Night!" marathon.
2007: Writers Guild of America Strike
In 2007 during the 2007-2008 season, the season of Saturday Night Live was cut short by the Writers Guild of America strike, which led to several cancelled episodes.
2007: Named One of Time's '100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME'
In 2007, Saturday Night Live was listed as one of Time's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME."
2007: "Dick in a Box" Wins Emmy Award
In 2007, the SNL song "Dick in a Box" by The Lonely Island won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.
2007: Barack Obama Appears on SNL
In 2007, then-Senator Barack Obama appeared on Saturday Night Live after Hillary Clinton abandoned her scheduled appearance.
December 6, 2008: John Malkovich Hosts SNL
On December 6, 2008, John Malkovich hosted Saturday Night Live; a documentary by James Franco followed the production process of this episode.
2008: SNL Effect Observed in 2008 Presidential Campaign
During the 2008 presidential campaign, the SNL Effect was observed, with voters reporting that political sketches influenced them, benefiting Barack Obama, according to a poll by Mike Dabadie.
2008: Seth Meyers Becomes Single Head Writer
From 2008 to 2012, Seth Meyers was the single head writer for Saturday Night Live.
2008: Writers Guild of America Strike
In 2008 during the 2007-2008 season, the season of Saturday Night Live was cut short by the Writers Guild of America strike, which led to several cancelled episodes.
2008: John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Sarah Palin Appear on SNL
In 2008, Senator John McCain, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Governor Sarah Palin appeared on Saturday Night Live, with Palin appearing alongside Tina Fey's impression, leading to the show's largest audience in fourteen years.
2008: Tina Fey's Sarah Palin Impressions
In 2008, Tina Fey returned to Saturday Night Live for critically acclaimed guest appearances as vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential election.
2009: Don Pardo Announces Second Retirement Consideration
In 2009, Don Pardo again announced his retirement but then continued into the 2009–10 season.
2009: Nasim Pedrad Joins SNL Cast
In 2009, Nasim Pedrad, who was born in Tehran, Iran, joined the cast of Saturday Night Live.
2009: SNL Breaks Record for Most Emmy Nominations
In 2009, Saturday Night Live received thirteen Emmy nominations, totaling 126 in its lifetime, breaking the record for the most award-nominated show in Primetime Emmy Award history, previously held by the hospital drama ER.
2009: Incredibad Album Release
In 2009, The Lonely Island released their album Incredibad, containing SNL-developed songs and original works, via Universal Republic Records.
September 2010: VH1 Reruns
In September 2010, reruns of most episodes made from 1998 onward began airing on VH1.
2010: Matthews directs videos
As of 2010, Mary Ellen Matthews has also been involved in directing videos, including the show title sequence.
2010: Don Pardo Records from Arizona
In 2010, Don Pardo, then 92 years old, began recording his announcements permanently from Arizona, after briefly considering retirement.
2010: Release of the documentary Saturday Night
In 2010, Saturday Night, a documentary by James Franco, was released, following the production of the December 6, 2008, episode hosted by John Malkovich.
2010: Kristen Wiig's SNL Contract Length Revealed
In 2010, it was reported that Kristen Wiig was contracted to SNL for a total of seven years.
September 2011: Ben & Jerry's Releases "Schweddy Balls" Ice Cream
In September 2011, Ben & Jerry's released a limited-edition ice cream called "Schweddy Balls", inspired by the 1998 sketch of the same name. It became their fastest-selling limited-edition flavor but faced criticism.
December 3, 2011: SNL Korea Premieres
On December 3, 2011, South Korea's SNL Korea premiered on cable channel tvN.
2011: Turtleneck & Chain Album Release
In 2011, The Lonely Island released their album Turtleneck & Chain, containing SNL-developed songs and original works. The albums were released by Universal Republic Records, which was provided with a license to the SNL songs by NBC and Broadway Video.
2011: Saturday Night Live JPN
In 2011, the Japanese version Saturday Night Live JPN, which ran for six months, was created in part with sponsor Coca-Cola and Lorne Michaels's production company, Broadway Video, and broadcast on Fuji TV networks.
2011: Pete Schultz Writes for Weekend Update
Pete Schultz has been writing for the Weekend Update segment since 2011.
2011: Alex Baze Becomes Head Writer of Weekend Update
Starting with the 2011–12 season, Alex Baze was the head writer of the Weekend Update segment.
2012: Jay Pharoah Assumes Obama Impression
From 2008 to 2012, Fred Armisen played Barack Obama on SNL, after which cast member Jay Pharoah assumed the impression in 2012.
2012: Colin Jost Becomes Head Writer
In 2012, Colin Jost became one of the head writers for Saturday Night Live, serving until 2015.
February 2013: Shortened Repeats on NBC
In February 2013, NBC began airing shortened hour-long repeats on select Saturday evenings at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time during the regular season.
2013: Hiring of New Cast Members
In 2013 during the 2013-2014 season, Saturday Night Live hired seven new cast members, including Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney, and Sasheer Zamata, in a significant overhaul.
2013: Fred Armisen departs SNL
In 2013, Fred Armisen departed from the cast of Saturday Night Live.
2013: Jim Downey Formally Retires
In 2013, Jim Downey formally retired from Saturday Night Live, after writing for the show on-and-off for 30 years.
2013: Kenan Thompson's Comments on Lack of Black Female Representation Spark Controversy
In 2013, Kenan Thompson suggested that female African-American representation was low because producers were not finding comedians who were ready, leading to criticism that Saturday Night Live was not ready and that the racial disparity was symptomatic of problems deeply rooted in comedy.
2013: Michael Che Becomes a Writer
In 2013, Michael Che became a writer for Saturday Night Live.
2013: SNL Adaptation Entitled Суббота. Вечер. Шоу Aired
In 2013, the Russian channel NTV aired the SNL adaptation entitled Суббота. Вечер. Шоу (Saturday. Evening. Show). Due to low ratings and negative reviews, the third episode was pulled from the schedule.
2013: 39th Season Budget
The 39th season of Saturday Night Live (2013–14) had a budget of over $70 million, for which it received a subsidy from New York State in the amount of $12.3 million.
January 2014: Remaining Episodes Aired
In January 2014, the remaining six episodes of the Russian SNL adaptation were eventually aired, but without any announcements and under a different title: Сегодня. Вечер. Шоу (Today. Evening. Show).
March 22, 2014: SNL Québec Special Broadcast
On March 22, 2014, a ninety-minute special was broadcast in French on Télé-Québec in the Canadian province of Quebec under the title SNL Québec.
May 13, 2014: SNL Quebec Renewed
On May 13, 2014, SNL Quebec was renewed for another eight episodes to be broadcast monthly over the 2014–15 season ending with a "Best of" compilation.
June 2014: New Ben & Jerry's Flavors Introduced
In June 2014, Ben & Jerry's introduced two new ice cream flavors inspired by SNL sketches: Lazy Sunday, and Gilly's Catastrophic Crunch.
August 18, 2014: Don Pardo Dies
Don Pardo, the announcer for Saturday Night Live, died on August 18, 2014, at the age of 96, following the 39th season.
September 2014: Two Wild and Crazy Pies Ice Cream Introduced
In September 2014, Ben & Jerry's introduced Two Wild and Crazy Pies ice cream, based on the catchphrase of the recurring Festrunk Brothers from SNL.
2014: Alex Baze Departs from Weekend Update
Alex Baze departed from Weekend Update segment in 2014.
2014: Prime Time Rebroadcasts: SNL Vintage
Beginning with the 2014–15 season, the show's 40th anniversary, the prime time rebroadcasts were a selection of episodes from throughout the show's run under the title SNL Vintage.
2014: Seth Meyers Exits Weekend Update
In 2014 during the 2013-2014 season, longtime head writer and cast member Seth Meyers exited Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update segment and was replaced by fellow writer Colin Jost.
2014: Nasim Pedrad departs SNL
In 2014, Nasim Pedrad departed from the cast of Saturday Night Live.
2014: Updated Visual and Audio Equipment
In 2014, Saturday Night Live used a Grass Valley GVG 4000-3 digital component production switcher and GVG 7000 digital component routing switcher for routing visual feeds, along with a Chyron Lyric Pro character generator and an Avid Deko character generator for graphics. Audio facilities included a Calrec T Series digitally controlled analog mixing console and a Yamaha digital mixing console.
2014: Seth Meyers Leaves SNL; Pete Schultz Becomes Head Writer of Weekend Update
In 2014, Seth Meyers left Saturday Night Live. Pete Schultz has been the head writer of the Weekend Update segment since 2014.
February 15, 2015: SNL's 40th Anniversary Special Airs
On February 15, 2015, NBC aired a 3 1/2-hour special on Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary, including clips, performances, and guest appearances.
February 2015: Wayne'Swirled Ice Cream Introduced
In February 2015, Ben & Jerry's introduced Wayne'Swirled ice cream, inspired by the Wayne's World sketch from SNL.
May 2015: Series Would Not be Renewed
Télé-Québec announced in May 2015 the series would not be renewed due to funding cutbacks.
2015: Colin Jost Ends First Stint as Head Writer
In 2015, Colin Jost ended his first stint as one of the head writers for Saturday Night Live.
2015: Reruns of Adaptation Aired
In 2015, Reruns of the adaptation were aired at night on NTV throughout the first half of 2015.
2015: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Appear on SNL
In 2015, Secretary Hillary Clinton appeared on Saturday Night Live and Donald Trump hosted the show, which was met with controversy.
2015: Comedy Central Reruns
Since 2015, Comedy Central aired reruns of Saturday Night Live again.
February 2016: VH1 and Logo Reruns
In February 2016, VH1 and Comedy Central's sister channel Logo began airing reruns of 2006-onward episodes on Sunday nights, launching its broadcast as counterprogramming for Super Bowl 50 and branding it the "Live From New York, It's Satur-Gay Night!" marathon.
October 1, 2016: Melissa Villaseñor Joins SNL
On October 1, 2016, Melissa Villaseñor joined Saturday Night Live as a featured player, becoming the second Latina cast member and the first Latina to be promoted to repertory status.
2016: Study Reveals Lack of Racial Diversity on SNL
A 2016 study of Saturday Night Live episodes from 1975 to 2016 revealed that over 90% of episodes had white hosts, highlighting a lack of racial diversity.
2016: SNL's Urban Popularity Highlighted in New York Times Study
In 2016, a New York Times study revealed that SNL is most popular in urban areas and college towns throughout the country, based on Facebook likes.
January 2017: Le Saturday Night Live Pilot
In January 2017, the French channel M6 launched the pilot episode of its SNL adaptation, Le Saturday Night Live.
February 11, 2017: Alec Baldwin Holds Hosting Record
As of February 11, 2017, Alec Baldwin holds the record for most times hosting Saturday Night Live, with seventeen appearances since 1990.
March 16, 2017: Live Broadcast in All U.S. Time Zones
On March 16, 2017, NBC announced it would air the final four episodes of the 42nd season live in all mainland U.S. time zones for the first time.
September 19, 2017: Future Episodes Live Coast-to-Coast
On September 19, 2017, NBC announced that all subsequent episodes of Saturday Night Live would air live coast-to-coast in the U.S.
November 11, 2017: SNL Korea Completion
As of November 11, 2017, South Korea's SNL Korea has completed nine seasons with 205 episodes.
December 2, 2017: SNL Polska Launched
On December 2, 2017, the Polish division of Showmax video-on-demand streaming service launched the first season of its Saturday Night Live adaptation, SNL Polska.
2017: Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis, and Eli Brueggemann Lead Band
As of 2017, the Saturday Night Live Band is under the leadership of Lenny Pickett, keyboardist Leon Pendarvis, and Eli Brueggemann.
2017: Colin Jost Reclaimed Head Writer Role
In 2017, Colin Jost reclaimed his status as head writer and served until 2022.
2017: Live Broadcast Across the U.S.
Since 2017, Saturday Night Live is broadcast live across the contiguous United States. A brief broadcast delay is installed to meet Federal Communications Commission regulations of primetime programming.
December 2018: SNL Polska Cancelled
In December 2018 Showmax announced the closure of its Polish branch, effectively cancelling the show SNL Polska.
2018: Camera Equipment
As of 2018, the show uses five Sony HDC-1500 cameras, primarily mounted on Vinten pedestals, although one is mounted on a Chapman-Leonard Electra crane.
2019: SNL Season Halted Due to COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saturday Night Live's 2019–2020 season was indefinitely halted on March 16, 2020.
2019: Bowen Yang Promoted to On-Air Performer
In 2019, Bowen Yang was promoted from writer to on-air performer, becoming only the fourth person of Asian descent in the cast of Saturday Night Live.
2019: Bowen Yang Hired Amidst Shane Gillis Controversy
In 2019, Bowen Yang, an out gay Chinese-American cast member, was hired by Saturday Night Live at the same time as Shane Gillis, who was fired due to homophobic and anti-Asian jokes and slurs on his podcast, according to numerous news outlets.
2019: Trump's Dislike of SNL Parodies
In 2019, Donald Trump disliked Alec Baldwin's impression of him on Saturday Night Live, tweeting about the show and its negative portrayals and suggesting the FCC or FEC should investigate.
March 16, 2020: SNL Season Halted Due to COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Saturday Night Live's 2019–2020 season was indefinitely halted on March 16, 2020.
October 11, 2020: Dave Grohl Most Frequent Musical Guest
As of October 11, 2020, Dave Grohl is the most frequent musical guest on Saturday Night Live, having performed on fourteen shows since 1992.
October 2020: Return to Studio 8H
In October 2020, Saturday Night Live returned to Studio 8H after producing remote episodes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 7, 2020: Episode Begins Late Due to Football Game
The November 7, 2020, episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Dave Chappelle, began at 12:10 a.m. Eastern after a Clemson-Notre Dame college football game went into double overtime.
2020: Streaming on Peacock
Starting in 2020, Saturday Night Live started streaming on Peacock.
September 4, 2021: SNL Korea Reboot
On September 4, 2021, South Korea's SNL Korea was rebooted and broadcast through Coupang Play, a South Korean OTT service.
December 10, 2021: Sky One Developing British Version of Saturday Night Live
On December 10, 2021, Deadline reported that Sky One was working on a British version of Saturday Night Live.
December 18, 2021: Musical Performance Cancelled Due to Omicron
On December 18, 2021, due to the rise of the Omicron variant in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic, the episode hosted by Paul Rudd became the first since season 12 to not feature any musical performances. Charli XCX was planned as the musical guest, but her performance was cancelled due to the new restrictions as the show had a "limited cast and crew" and no audience.
2021: Live Broadcasts on Peacock and YouTube
Beginning in the 2021–2022 season, Saturday Night Live has been simultaneously broadcast live on the Peacock streaming service. The show has also experimented with live broadcasts on YouTube, beginning with a 2021 Elon Musk-hosted episode.
2021: James Austin Johnson Assumed Trump Impression
In 2021, James Austin Johnson assumed the Trump impression from Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live.
2021: Lorne Michaels Hints at Potential Exit
In 2021, Lorne Michaels suggested that the show's fiftieth anniversary would be a good time for him to leave the show.
2021: Continued Pandemic Influence
In 2021, during the pandemic, sources close to the Trump White House told The Daily Beast that in 2019, Trump repeatedly asked his advisers and lawyers to stop negative portrayals of him on SNL and other shows, such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, through the interference of the FCC or the Department of Justice.
September 2022: SNL Reaches Record Number of Emmy Nominations
As of September 2022, Saturday Night Live has received a record total of 305 Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
2022: Major Cast Overhaul
After the 2021–2022 season, many longtime cast members left Saturday Night Live in a major cast overhaul, including Aidy Bryant, Kate McKinnon, and Pete Davidson. This was partially influenced by the pandemic.
2022: Record Emmy Nominations
As of 2022, Saturday Night Live has received more than 305 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, which is the most received by any television program.
2022: Live Broadcasts on Peacock and YouTube
Beginning in the 2021–2022 season, Saturday Night Live has been simultaneously broadcast live on the Peacock streaming service. The show has also experimented with live broadcasts on YouTube, beginning with a 2021 Elon Musk-hosted episode.
2022: Kenan Thompson Speculates on SNL's Future
In 2022, Kenan Thompson speculated that Saturday Night Live may end after its fiftieth season due to financial considerations for NBC.
2022: Kent Sublette, Alison Gates, and Streeter Seidell Become Co-Head Writers
In 2022, Kent Sublette, Alison Gates, and Streeter Seidell became the co-head writers for Saturday Night Live.
2022: Molly Kearney Becomes First Openly Non-Binary Cast Member
In 2022, Molly Kearney became the first openly non-binary cast member on Saturday Night Live.
2023: Prime Time Rebroadcasts: Changed
Beginning in the 2023–2024 season, the network dropped the vintage titling and changed to very recent rebroadcasts.
2023: Variety Ranks Saturday Night Live #15
In 2023, Variety ranked Saturday Night Live #15 on its list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time.
January 2024: Speculation on Lorne Michaels' Retirement and Successor
In January 2024, speculation was widespread that Lorne Michaels would retire from Saturday Night Live after its fiftieth season. Michaels mentioned to Entertainment Tonight that Tina Fey could be his successor but stated no decision had been made at that time.
September 2024: Lorne Michaels Denies Retirement Rumors
In September 2024, Lorne Michaels denied rumors of his retirement at the end of the season in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, contradicting earlier speculation.
September 2024: SNL Returns to Syndication
The show would finally return to syndication in September 2024, as free-to-air network TBD would pick up the series as part of a refocus of the network towards comedy programming.
September 28, 2024: SNL Begins Its 50th Season
On September 28, 2024, Saturday Night Live began its 50th season, solidifying its position as one of the longest-running network television programs in the United States.
October 12, 2024: Episode Delayed by College Football
The October 12, 2024 episode of Saturday Night Live, hosted by Ariana Grande, began at 11:35 p.m. Eastern due to a primetime college football overrun.
November 2, 2024: Kamala Harris Guest Appearance
On November 2, 2024, Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party's nominee for the 2024 United States presidential election, made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live.
2024: Prime Time Rebroadcasts: Changed
Beginning in the 2023–2024 season, the network dropped the vintage titling and changed to very recent rebroadcasts.
2024: Shane Gillis Hosts SNL
In 2024, Shane Gillis hosted Saturday Night Live during the 49th season.
2024: Release of the film Saturday Night
In 2024, the film Saturday Night was released. The film is about the production of the first SNL episode to air on October 11, 1975, with Gabriel LaBelle as Michaels.
January 16, 2025: Streaming Release of SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night
On January 16, 2025, the four-episode documentary series SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, featuring rare footage and interviews, became available to stream on Peacock.
January 27, 2025: Streaming Release of Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
On January 27, 2025, Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music, a documentary discussing SNL's music performances and musical-comedy sketches, will become available to stream on Peacock.
February 16, 2025: Saturday Night Live's 50th Anniversary Special Airs
On February 16, 2025, a three-hour prime-time live broadcast celebrated the series' fiftieth anniversary. The writing team included former cast members Tina Fey, Jim Downey, Paula Pell, Seth Meyers, and John Mulaney. The show commenced with the SNL Monologue by Steve Martin and a musical opening by Sabrina Carpenter and Paul Simon.
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