THE FILM
There are seven golden words that anyone involved in the world of entertainment eagerly awaits: “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night.” On October 11, 1975, in the raw, biting chill of Manhattan, a young content creator; before the term had even been coined, named Lorne Michaels, had an idea for a show that would redefine late-night television. The catch was that no one, not even Michaels himself, knew quite what this show would look like. In the frantic hours leading up to that first infamous episode, the question echoed through the NBC studios: What exactly is Saturday Night Live?
What followed was a revolution in comedy and television, a show that would birth legends; John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Gilda Radner, and even the wildly unpredictable Andy Kaufman. From that first chaotic broadcast, comedy would never be the same again. Now, fifty years later, the show remains a cultural touchstone, an incubator of stars, and a relentless force of creative innovation. For generations, SNL has been synonymous with Saturday night, and its characters, sometimes absurd, often sharp, are as familiar as the flicker of a passing neon sign.
In Saturday Night, a new film directed by Jason Reitman, the prelude to that landmark first episode unfolds in real time over the course of 90 minutes; a frenetic blur of chaos, tension, and absurdity. Eschewing the typical comedic narrative structure, Reitman captures the combustible energy behind the scenes, depicting an evening of mounting madness in the run-up to SNL’s premiere. In doing so, he delivers not just the comedy of the moment, but the madness of its inception. This is not your usual laugh-out-loud spectacle; rather, it is a high-stakes thriller set against the backdrop of live television’s most iconic debut.
Reitman, whose meticulous attention to detail is evident in every frame, interviewed every last surviving member of that pivotal night; stars, crew members, lighting, and sound engineers, to construct a meticulously accurate portrait of the hour and a half that changed everything. The film doesn’t unfold in a conventional manner; instead, it swirls with kinetic energy as the camera follows a blur of frantic movement through the NBC building, capturing the disarray of performers, writers, and technicians as they scramble to make the impossible happen.
At the center of it all is Lorne Michaels (played with captivating intensity by Gabriel LaBelle), a visionary struggling to articulate his grand idea to the cacophony of chaos surrounding him. Meanwhile, the show’s iconic cast, a motley crew of eccentrics, dances between brilliance and madness. Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith), as expected, tosses off crude jokes and radiates his infamous cocky charm. John Belushi (Matt Wood) is caught in a tug-of-war between his comedic roots and his ambitions for dramatic acting. Dan Aykroyd (Dylan O’Brien) coolly maneuvers through the pandemonium with his trademark deadpan. A coked-up George Carlin wreaks havoc as he clashes with the censors, while Jim Henson (played with surprising earnestness) races to prevent the Muppets from becoming just another casualty of the frantic backstage storm and vulgar jokes.
And, of course, there’s Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman), the steady hand trying to prevent Lorne’s wild dream from collapsing under its own weight. The film’s pacing, relentlessly fast, disorienting, thrilling; feels like 24 with a comedic twist, as the drama unfolds in real-time, bringing every nail-biting moment to life. Saturday Night is a raw, cutthroat depiction of what it takes to create a cultural institution, and yet, at its core, it’s about something more; a romance, not of lovers, but of performers united by a shared vision, respect, and, perhaps, just a little bit of chaos. As the clock ticks down to that first live broadcast, every second of uncertainty builds toward that ultimate moment: “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night.”
Through it all, Reitman’s direction pulses with urgency. The frantic pace mirrors the wild energy of the show itself, and his nuanced performances; especially from Chase, Radner, and Belushi, capture the heart of SNL’s founding chaos. It is not merely a recounting of an iconic moment in television history but a visceral, heart-pounding celebration of the messy brilliance that gave birth to a legend. Saturday Night is a cinematic marvel, its brilliance lies in how it turns a behind-the-scenes drama into a fast-paced, thrilling ode to the very spirit of Saturday Night Live. It’s an exhilarating ride, filled with unforgettable moments and a palpable sense of impending greatness, a work of wonder, to be sure.
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THE VIDEO
Saturday Night doesn’t come with the vibrant, kaleidoscopic color palette that SNL has come to be known for today. Instead, the film transports us back to 1975, where the dank, grimy NBC building stands as the stage for television history in the making. The sets, worn and ragged, reflect the rawness of the time; a far cry from the slick, polished look of modern-day studio broadcasts. This old-school charm is precisely what allows Saturday Night to impress visually, as Sony’s exceptional 1080p HD transfer brings this historical moment to life with surprising clarity and depth. The color spectrum is far from extravagant, yet it captures the essence of the era with remarkable fidelity. Under the amber glow of the stage lights, the film’s earthy palette of tan, dark green, brown, and orange hues is brought to the forefront, enhancing the weathered costumes and the occasional worn pair of blue jeans. This muted yet warm aesthetic conveys the sense of an NBC building that is on the edge of collapse, but still holding strong, in all its ragged glory.
The true visual highlight, however, comes with Billy Preston’s colorful stage set, which bursts with purple, red, and rainbow hues. This vibrant spectacle is both musical and mesmerizing, standing in stark contrast to the film’s otherwise subdued palette. It’s here that the HD transfer truly shines, providing a dazzling array of colors that are as electrifying as the music itself. Black levels remain deep and inky, lending a richness to the image that allows the shadows of the set to feel both immersive and mysterious. Skin tones, meanwhile, retain a natural warmth that echoes the ’70s aesthetic, perhaps a little more pronounced than the clean tones of contemporary film, but perfectly in line with the era’s visual texture. Every detail is meticulously illuminated; the scruffy facial hair, the acne and pimples that could have only belonged to the turbulent era of hippie youth, and even the iconic Muppets, with their felt fur looking more tangible than ever before.
And it doesn’t stop there: the film’s textured environments, such as the stage’s brickwork, are given a tangible presence in the HD image, their rugged surfaces practically jumping off the screen. The transfer, with its crisp detailing and a texture that feels almost tactile, allows the audience to appreciate not just the human performances, but the very elements of the set that brought this cultural revolution to life. In short, Saturday Night is a visual triumph, one that finds beauty in the grunge and grime of its time. Sony’s HD transfer gives the film a fantastic look, elevating the historical chaos of that first SNL broadcast to cinematic glory. It’s a stunning, immersive presentation, and one that makes the film feel as vibrant as it is significant.
THE AUDIO
The video presentation of Saturday Night is undeniably stellar, but it is the film’s DTS-HD 5.1 audio track that truly elevates the viewing experience to a level of immersive brilliance. Without the need for Michael Bay-style explosions or car chases, this chaotic film harnesses every speaker in its sound system to craft an environment so alive that it almost seems to pulse in time with the frenetic energy onscreen. From the very first frame, the soundtrack bathes the viewer in the visceral texture of its world. The subtle but striking sound effects—the buzz of ’70s stage lights flicking on and off, the deep, resonant bass of Billy Preston’s organ, the sharp crack of prop guns echoing through the studio; are so detailed and nuanced that they make each moment feel tactile. These sounds do not just exist in the background but pour forth from every corner of the soundscape, pulling you deeper into the unfolding madness.
As the camera swings through the NBC studio with a dizzying sense of urgency, the sound follows suit. The studio’s cacophony; a symphony of hammering nails, hurried footsteps of producers racing through the halls, and the heightened voices of actors bickering; fills the space in a way that transforms this behind-the-scenes comedy into an almost action-packed spectacle. The pacing of the sound mirrors the intensity of the film itself, creating a relentless, immersive rush that never lets up. The score, too, is masterfully attuned to the pulse of the movie. It doesn’t simply accompany the action but becomes an active participant in the tension and chaos, perfectly complementing the film’s breathless momentum. It imbues the film with a sense of drama that borders on the kinetic, transforming each scene into a full-bodied sensory experience.
Dialogue, amidst the whirlwind of sound, is crisp and crystal-clear, allowing the iconic accents of the characters to ring out with perfect clarity. Every line feels both sharp and grounded, whether it’s the biting sarcasm of Chevy Chase or the exasperated sigh of Lorne Michaels. It’s a perfect harmony between character and sound, ensuring that every word and every nuance is heard with precision. This DTS-HD 5.1 audio track is nothing short of phenomenal, a masterstroke in crafting an auditory landscape that keeps pace with the film’s relentless tempo. It’s a true testament to the immersive power of sound in cinema, offering more than just a soundtrack, it provides an experience meant to be felt as much as it is heard.
THE EXTRAS
There is some great material here about how the film was made from a visual standpoint from interviews with the actors and crew. There is even a fantastic commentary track from the director.
- Audio Commentary – Director Jason Reitman
- The Making of the Movie (16 Mins.)
- The Look of Saturday Night (2 Mins.)
- Super 8 From Studio 8 (5 Mins.)
- Creating Comedy Icons (11 Mins.)
- John Batiste (1 Min.)
THE ULTIMATE WORD
Saturday Night is a remarkable achievement; an exhilarating, behind-the-scenes thrill ride that offers a fresh perspective on a piece of television history. With its stellar performances, impeccable visuals in 1080p HD, and dynamic sound with DTS-HD 5.1 capabilities, it is highly recommended for anyone who’s ever wondered just what it took to bring Saturday Night Live to life. Though the bonus features are brief, they more than make up for their length with quality, providing insightful glimpses into the making of the film and the history of Saturday Night Live. They enrich the viewing experience and offer further context for those eager to dive deeper into the show’s origins.
