Lorne Michaels Says “SNL” Has Never Banned Musical Guests
At our Sundance Studio, Bowen Yang told Deadline about marking half a century of 'Saturday Night Live' in 'SNL50: The Anniversary Special'.
As longtime viewers of the sketch comedy show may remember — long before its landmark 50th season — Chase, 81, was a breakthrough cast member of SNL' s first season. In 1975, Chase was the first host of Weekend Update, which helped him earn two Primetime Emmy awards in 1976.
In a new doc on the musical history of "Saturday Night Live," the showrunner softened his stance on the singer
In the middle of the second season, Chase left SNL behind for Hollywood movie roles, with one of his most well-known roles, in Caddyshack, following only a few years later in 1980. But Chase seemed to blame Michaels for his SNL departure.
Live” is having a 50th anniversary, and things are happening. Jason Reitman’s backstage dramedy “Saturday Night,” released last year, is
Lorne Michaels has donated a collection of his work on Saturday Night Live and more to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas.
I think live music on TV is important.” He’s not wrong! And Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music proves it.
Saturday Night is the mad origin story of Saturday Night Live, the live US TV show that birthed thousands of comedians
That said, per Lorne Michaels (who has been running SNL since the beginning), no musician has ever actually been banned from the show. In the new Questlove -co-directed documentary Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years Of SNL Music, Michaels explained ( as Consequence notes ):
Saturday Night, a behind-the-scenes story of the 90-minute build-up to the very first episode of Saturday Night Live, is a loving and entertaining tribute to an American TV institution.
Lorne Michaels has maintained no musical guest has ever been "banned" from Saturday Night Live. In the new documentary Ladies & Gentleman... 50 Years of SNL Music, the creator and producer of the long-running sketch comedy show addressed speculation that several artists had been barred from returning over the years.