## Saturday Night Live (SNL): A Comprehensive Overview **What SNL Does** Saturday Night Live (SNL) is an American late-night live sketch comedy and variety show airing on NBC. Each episode features a mix of live comedy sketches, a celebrity guest host (who delivers an opening monologue and participates in sketches), and musical performances. The show is renowned for its topical humor, satirizing politics, pop culture, and current events, and has introduced iconic characters and catchphrases into the American lexicon. A hallmark of SNL is its mock news segment, "Weekend Update," which lampoons recent headlines in real time[1][2]. **History** SNL premiered on October 11, 1975, under the original title *NBC’s Saturday Night*, created by Lorne Michaels and developed with Dick Ebersol. The show was conceived to fill a late-night programming gap left by Johnny Carson’s decision to reduce *The Tonight Show* reruns on Saturdays. The original cast, known as the "Not Ready for Primetime Players," included comedy legends like Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, and John Belushi[1][2]. Michaels left the show in 1980, returning in 1985 after a period of creative turbulence under different producers. Since then, Michaels has remained the show’s executive producer, guiding its evolution across decades[1]. **Key Achievements and Cultural Impact** SNL is one of the longest-running programs in U.S. television history and has been a launchpad for numerous comedy stars, including Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, and Kate McKinnon, many of whom have gone on to major film and television careers[1]. The show has received over 90 Emmy Awards and has been credited with shaping American comedy and influencing political discourse. Its live format and New York City roots contribute to its distinct identity, and