"Saturday Night Live," NBC's Emmy Award-winning late-night comedy showcase, enters its 34th season September 13, 2008 for another year of laughs, surprises and great performances.
Over the last three decades, "SNL" has launched the careers of many of the brightest comedy performers of a generation; and, as The New York Times noted on the occasion of the show's Emmy-winning 25th Anniversary special in 1999: "In defiance of both time and show business convention, "SNL" [is] still the most pervasive influence on the art of comedy in contemporary culture." At the close of the century, "
Saturday Night Live
" placed seventh on Entertainment Weekly's list of the Top 100 Entertainers of the past fifty years.
Thus far, "
Saturday Night Live
" has won 20 Emmy Awards and been nominated for scores more. "SNL" has been honored with the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and cited as "truly a national institution." Most recently, "
Saturday Night Live
" was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame by the National Association of Broadcasters. "
Saturday Night Live
" continues to garner the highest ratings of any late-night television program, entertaining millions each week.
"SNL" sketches still bear repeating on Monday mornings. And live show surprises, especially those timed to the election – from Barack Obama's surprise walk-on, Hillary Clinton's performance opposite
Amy Poehler, and Senator John McCain's "Weekend Update" appearance – "SNL" is making headlines and influencing the political dialogue while skewering it at the same time. Beyond politics, the show's cast of recurring characters and take on pop culture targets remains spot-on. The addition of the show's Emmy Award-winning SNL Digital Shorts, including the online sensation "D*** In A Box," continue to keep the show as current today as it was when it debuted.
The impressive lineup of "SNL" guest hosts last season featured some of the biggest stars of film, television and music including: LeBron James,
Seth Rogen, Jon Bon Jovi, Brian Williams,
Tina Fey, Ellen Page, Amy Adams, Jonah Hill, Christopher Walken, Ashton Kutcher, Shia LeBeouf and
Steve Carell.
The show continued its unparalleled tradition of featuring both blockbuster and breakout musical acts, hosting such performers as Kanye West, Spoon, Foo Fighters, Feist,
Carrie Underwood, Wilco, Vampire Weekend,
Mariah Carey, Panic At The Disco, Gnarls Barkley, My Morning Jacket and Usher.
"
Saturday Night Live
," which premiered Oct. 11, 1975, is broadcast live from NBC's famed Studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center. "
Saturday Night Live
" is a production of Broadway Video in association with SNL Studios. Lorne Michaels is the executive producer.
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