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A young comedian faces backstage chaos before the first broadcast of a groundbreaking TV show.
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At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. This is the story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live.
"Saturday Night Live is, today, a cornerstone of American late-night entertainment and a training ground for some of the greatest comedic talents in film and television. But in 1975, it was an experiment that seemed destined to fail. Directed by Jason Reitman and co-written by him and Gil Kenan (both collaborators on Ghostbusters: Afterlife), Saturday Night is a recreation of the last (and chaotic) 90 minutes leading up to the broadcast of the first show, with all its problems, intrigues, and even infighting. The recreation of this anarchy is more tense than comedic, led by a cast starring Gabriel LaBelle (The Fabelmans), Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza), and Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby), who deliver strong dramatic performances emulating the comedians of the time. Its main hurdle is its own reverence toward the era, the show, and its founding talents, but if you're curious about how an American television institution began, this is a good starting point."