On Oct. 11, 1975, TV comedy changed forever with the debut of “Saturday Night Live” on NBC.
Originally called “NBC’s Saturday Night,” the live sketch show’s first episode was hosted by comedian George Carlin and featured musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian. Its young cast – later dubbed the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” – included Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin.
What began as experimental late-night comedy quickly became a cultural institution, launching countless careers and shaping political satire. Five decades later and still airing weekly, SNL continues to define late night sketch comedy.
– Staff report with AI assist*, The Today 100
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