On October 11, 1975, NBC launched a live late-night comedy show called “NBC’s Saturday Night.” It broadcast from Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Producer Lorne Michaels built the show around a team of young, largely unknown performers who called themselves the “Not Ready for Prime Time Players.” The original cast included Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, George Coe, and Michael O’Donoghue.
The show was built around weekly comedy sketches that tackled current events, pop culture, and absurd situations. Because everything aired live, mistakes happened on camera — and that unpredictability was a big part of the appeal. Each episode also featured a celebrity guest host who performed alongside the cast, keeping the show fresh week after week.
John Belushi brought explosive physical energy to the stage, while Dan Aykroyd was known for intense, fast-talking characters. Jane Curtin played sharper, more grounded roles that contrasted with the chaos around her. Michael O’Donoghue pushed the writing into darker, more surreal territory. Together, the cast created a comedic mix that felt unlike anything else on television.
A standout segment from the very first season was “Weekend Update,” a fake news broadcast that delivered sharp satirical takes on the week’s headlines. Chevy Chase anchored the desk in the early seasons, setting the tone for a segment that would become a cornerstone of the show.
Live musical performances were central to each episode. Guest artists from across genres performed on the Studio 8H stage, drawing in viewers who might otherwise have skipped the comedy. In 1976, the show officially renamed itself “Saturday Night Live.”
Chevy Chase left the show relatively early in its run. Bill Murray stepped in to fill that gap, bringing a laid-back, dry comedic style that clicked immediately with audiences. Murray took over the Weekend Update desk and became a core part of the ensemble through the remaining original seasons.
The behind-the-scenes photos from these early seasons capture candid moments between cast members, guest hosts, and the crew that made the live production run. They offer a rare look at the offstage world of a show that was still figuring out what it was — and doing it in front of a live national audience every week.
