Saturday Night a Fun Focus on the History of Legendary Comedy Show

I recently watched Saturday Night, which focuses on the first taping of Saturday Night Live (SNL) back in 1975. Directed by Jason Reitman, it stars Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, and Corey Michael Smith.

Courtesy Sony Pictures

The ensemble cast of Saturday Night Live's early years is portrayed by a host of young actors in this film tribute to the classic comedy show.

I've never really watched SNL. I've seen clips here and there but never followed it regularly. However, I recognize its cultural significance as a groundbreaking show that helped launch the careers of numerous iconic comedians.

Watching this film felt a bit like tuning into an episode of The Muppet Show. The camera follows SNL creator Lorne Michaels through the chaotic hours leading up to the live broadcast. I could easily relate to the monumental task of piecing together something entirely new, while managing artists with strong personalities and creative tempers. It's clear that this was a generational milestone, as I read a commentary stating that SNL was one of the first shows made by the generation raised on television.

Many of the cultural references flew over my head, likely because I'm too young to fully grasp them. I didn't initially realize that the actors were portraying legends like Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. There's a bit about John Belushi in a bumblebee costume, which made me finally understand a Simpsons joke I've seen for years! The younger actors tasked with portraying these comedy giants did as well as one could expect, given the high bar. Nicholas Braun, for instance, plays both Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson-who knew they resembled each other?

Of the characters, I connected most with Kaufman and Henson. As a kid, I watched Kaufman on Taxi, and Jim Carrey's film Man on the Moon reminded me of Kaufman's famous "Mighty Mouse" sketch. Plus, I recently saw a documentary on Jim Henson. It's clear that SNL has always aimed to capture a wide variety of interests, and the film reflects that diversity.

The structure of the movie felt similar to the show's format, with each of the key characters getting moments to shine. Overall, the cast did a pretty good job portraying such well-loved figures.

JK Simmons makes an appearance as Milton Berle. I've only ever seen Milton Berle on I Love Lucy. As best as I could tell he did an okay job.

Even though I missed many of the cultural references, I still enjoyed Saturday Night. In fact, I might have appreciated it more than someone more familiar with the show's history. Now, I'm thinking about checking out some of those early episodes.

I give this film 3 out of 5 stars. It's fun and worth a watch.