Season 1 of Saturday Night Live, originally titled as NBC's Saturday Night began on October 11, 1975, with Don Pardo serving as the show's first announcer, who previously worked with Art Fleming on the NBC daytime game show Jeopardy! from March 30, 1964 to January 3, 1975. It premiered with George Carlin, and ended with Kris Kristofferson. It was aired during the 1975-1976 season. Executive producer Lorne Michaels originally wanted it to be called it Saturday Night Live, but NBC aired it as NBC's Saturday Night, as sportscaster Howard Cosell also had a show called "Saturday Night Live" that aired on ABC. Started with NBC Television Network it plans.
Cast[]
Changes and notes[]
The first cast member hired was Gilda Radner.[5] The rest of the cast included fellow Second City alumni Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, as well as National Lampoon "Lemmings" alumnus Chevy Chase (whose trademark became his usual falls and opening spiel that cued the show's opening) who was chosen as anchor for Weekend Update, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, and Groundlings alumna Laraine Newman. Writer Michael O'Donoghue, a writer at National Lampoon, had worked alongside several cast members while directing The National Lampoon Radio Hour. The original theme music was written by future Academy Award–winning composer Howard Shore, who – along with his band (occasionally billed as the "All Nurse Band" or "Band of Angels") – was the original band leader on the show.[6] Paul Shaffer, who would go on to lead David Letterman's band on Late Night and then The Late Show, was also band leader in the early years.
Much of the talent pool involved in the inaugural season was recruited from the National Lampoon Radio Hour, a nationally syndicated comedy series that often satirized current events.
This would be the only season for George Coe and Michael O'Donoghue as official cast members. While Coe was billed only in the premiere, he was seen in various small roles through the season before leaving the show altogether. O'Donoghue was credited for the first, third, and fourth episodes and would continue to work for the show as a writer, as well as an occasional guest performer (particularly as "Mr. Mike"), through season 5.
Cast: The Not Ready for Prime Time Players[]
 Dan Aykroyd |
 John Belushi |
 Chevy Chase |
 George Coe |
 Jane Curtin |
 Garrett Morris |
 Laraine Newman |
 Michael O'Donoghue |
 Gilda Radner |
- George Coe: Only October 11; also mentioned in the credits January 24
- Michael O'Donoghue: Only October 11, October 25, and November 8; featured guest January 17 and May 22
Episodes[]
Births[]
- Mike O'Brien (June 22, 1976)
Opening montage[]
S1
The first intro of the series.
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| Season One (1975— 1976) |
Followed by: Season 2 |
| Seasons | |
|---|---|