Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live, or SNL, is a long-running late-night sketch comedy show developed by Lorne Michaels in the 1970s for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). Still running today, the weekly program has featured actors such as John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Dan Ackroyd, Mike Meyers. Writers on the show have included Larry David and Conan O'Brien

Not Ready for Primetime Players

The original ensemble on the show was known collectively as the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players." The cast featured Ackroyd, Belushi, Chase, Garret Morris, Elaine Newman and Gilda Radner. Chase was the first to quit the show, and was replaced by Bill Murray.

Format

Part of the modern show's format includes themed sketches, recurring characters, musical acts that have included the Beastie Boys, Aerosmith, Run DMC, the Rolling Stones, and features a guest host every episode, some of whom have headlined SNL in the past.