SATURDAY NIGHT: Chaotic Comedy Captures Commotion

By Harrison J. Bahe

At 11:30pm on October 11th, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. Find out what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live.

Saturday Night is a chaotic film in the best way imaginable as it captures the mayhem filled ninety minutes leading up to the first airing of Saturday Night in 1975. A huge ensemble cast consisting of many actors from television portray the biggest names in comedy. Peppered throughout are tiny problems that add to the bigger problems of the show airing. Amusing side plots include a confrontation between the head writer and a censor sent by ABC to the only black man questioning his purpose on the show to the late John Belushi’s hesitancy to sign his contract. Shot on 16mm film, it also feels incredibly nostalgic, calling back to an earlier era of rough-and-tumble independent cinema. All of it mixes together into a hectic cacophony of a jazz inspired film score and overlapping witty banter which is why I give Saturday Night—

4 Llamas out of 5

Saturday Night is Rated R for language throughout, sexual references, some drug use and brief graphic nudity. It’s currently playing in theaters nationwide.