Can you believe thatSaturday Night Livewas almost canceled in the 1980s?
However, the first few episodes did not introduce America to the cast very well.
They weren’t gelling as an ensemble.
Image via NBC
One soon-to-be famous cast member,Damon Wayans, deliberatelygot himself fired mid-season.
(Thank goodness he did: the Wayans family went on to createIn Living Colorfour years later.)
OnlyJon Lovitz,Nora Dunnfrom the main cast,A.
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Whitney Brownfrom the featured cast, andWeekend Update anchorDennis Millersurvived to Season 12.
He was expected to save the show, butheadlines reading “Saturday Night Dead"soon started cropping up.
“It isn’t something new,” Sweeney said.)
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However, early negative reviews about an all-new cast became another hurdle that the show had to overcome.
They tried getting ahead of the criticism by joking about how bad it was.
That didn’t work.
The audience wasn’t there while the episode was good, according to the documentary.
“We started to get people in again whoseone focuswas to be funny.”
(Some notable exceptions over the years include more established comediansJaneane Garofalo,Michael McKean, andKenan Thompson.)
This was Michaels' instinct when creating the first everSNLensemble, after all.
“I think they will definitely be seasoned performers,” he said, according to theL.A.
The stars that proved they could do it all on SNL!
Michael Hall was still a teenager!
Collaboration, representing the cast in the writer’s room, and avoiding generation gaps are key.
Season 11 made that clear for the show going forward.
When the show returned, the writers and cast immediately started working on recurring characters.
According toPeople,Michaels' then ex-wife and OGSNLwriterRosie Shusterworked withDana Carveythat season to create the iconic Church Lady.
“Last year, it was like dissent was rudeness,” Michaels said.
“It was just bad form.
(The recent filmSaturday Nighthas a fascinating take on the Michaels and Ebersol relationship.)
And the showcontinues to take creative risksas well.