Saturday Night Live FAQ : Everything Left to Know About Television's Longest Running Comedy

Television history was made on Saturday, October 11, 1975, at 11:30pm (ET), when Chevy Chase welcomed America to the first episode of a new late-night comedy series. With its cutting edge satire and cast of young, talented performers, Saturday Night Live set a new standard for television comedy while launching the careers of such comedy greats as John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey. Saturday Night Live FAQ is the first book to offer the show's generations of fans everything they ever wanted to know (and may have forgotten) about SNL. Beginning with the show's creation in the mid-1970s by Lorne Michaels and the Not Ready for Prime Time Players, SNL FAQ takes you through the show's history with an in-depth look at all thirty-eight seasons. It's all here – the comedic highlights and low points, memorable hosts and musical guests, controversial moments, and, of course, the recurring characters and sketches, catch phrases, and film shorts that have made SNL the epicenter of American comedy for nearly four decades. SNL FAQ also examines the show's influence on American culture and includes profiles of over 100 SNL cast members, along with a comprehensive guide detailing every episode. "A major show in television that people will talk about": the birth of an American institution -- "A show that I would watch": Lorne Michaels and SNL's creative team -- "No television experience required": the Not Ready for Prime Time Players -- "Live from New York, NBC's Saturday Night": October 11, 1975, 11:30 p.m. (EDT) -- Breaking new ground: SNL's television comedy roots -- One samaurai, three coneheads, and a pair of douchebags: SNL in the 1970s (1975-1980), seasons 1-5 -- Season 6, the worst season (so far): the 1980, part I (1980-81) -- Starting over (and over): the 1980s, part II (1981-1985), seasons 7-10 -- Getting into character: the 1980s, part III (1985-1990), seasons 11-15 -- Saturday Night alive (and dead): the 1990s, part I (1990-1995), seasons 16-20 -- Resuscitating SNL: the 1990s, part II (1995-2000), seasons 21-25 -- Hail to the impressionists: SNL goes to Washington (2000-2013), seasons 26-38 -- Laughing matters: memorable characters, sketches, and moments (2000-2013), seasons 26-38 -- Regular and featured players: an SNL cast directory (1980-2013), seasons 6-38 -- "No comedy experience required": hosting SNL -- Keeping live music alive: SNL's musical guests -- An unexpected surprise: SNL's late-night cameos -- "A nonexistent problem with an inadequate solution": SNL's commercial parodies -- "And here's a short film by . . .": SNL's original shorts -- Weekend Update: "Our top story tonight . . ."--"Yeah, that's the ticket!": SNL's catchphrases -- Well, isn't that special?": SNL's objectionable, offensive, and controversial moments -- From the small screen to the big screen: SNL goes to Hollywood -- Appendixes : A. Episode guide ; B. Saturday Night Live specials ; C. Awards Television history was made on Saturday October 11 1975 at 11:30pm (ET) when Chevy Chase welcomed America to the first episode of a new late-night comedy series. With its cutting edge satire and cast of young talented performers ÊSaturday Night LiveÊ set a new standard for television comedy while launching the careers of such comedy greats as John Belushi Chevy Chase Dan Aykroyd Eddie Murphy Mike Myers Dana Carvey Will Ferrell Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. ÊSaturday Night Live FAQÊ is the first book to offer the show's generations of fans everything they ever wanted to know (and may have forgotten) about ÊSNLÊ. Beginning with the show's creation in the mid-1970s by Lorne Michaels and the Not Ready for Prime Time Players ÊSNL FAQÊ takes you through the show's history with an in-depth look at all thirty-eight seasons. It's all here ä the comedic highlights and low points memorable hosts and musical guests controversial moments and of course the recurring characters and sketches catch... television Offers facts and trivia about Saturday Night Live, from its beginnings in 1975 through thirty-eight seasons.