SNL page 2

 SNL page 2 by ric gustafson

So how does the Saturday Night Live story begin?. It actually started with Johnny Carson. In the 1970's, Carson was NBC's biggest star. His Tonight Show was one of the network's biggest moneymakers. Carson had just negotiated a new contract. President and CEO of NBC Herbert Schlosser was hoping Carson would do his show six days a week or agree to a rerun on Saturday night. Carson nixed both ideas.

Then Schlosser thought of something new possibly for Saturday night. Why not have a show that would be from 11:30 pm to 1:30 am. Then the time was changed to from 11:30 to 1:00 am. The show would originate from Studio 8H in 30 Rockefeller Center. It would be a variety show. There would be a different host each week. There would be a different musical guest each week. A new guest host was not an original concept but made SNL unique. In regard to the show, Michaels was to develop new young talent. The show was to be live.

ABC gave Howard Cosell a live show right before Saturday Night debuted. It was a bomb. When ABC yanked it, NBC changed their show to Saturday Night Live. With proper production and promotion, Schlosser was hoping his show could be a hit.

Dick Ebersol who was the director of weekend late night programming hired 31 year old Lorne Michaels. Michaels was a writer, producer and comedy performer. Michaels and Ebersol spent the first part of 1975 developing the show in Los Angeles. 

research help: ' The SNL Companion' by Stephen Tropiano and Steven Ginsberg

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric