Saturday Night Live

How many times has the show been performed outside of New York?
One episode on February 20, 1997. The show aired in New Orleans.

How many episodes of the show were not named Saturday Night Live?
41 episodes. The show was originally known as "NBC's Saturday Night," then just as "Saturday Night," before the March 26, 1977 episode when it was changed to the current name, Saturday Night Live.

How could I contact an SNL cast member or featured player?
To contact a member of SNL just write to the following address:

(cast member's name)
c/o Saturday Night Live
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

How can I get tickets to Saturday Night Live?
Luck of the draw. SNL accepts ticket requests only by postcard and only in the month of August, and you’re limited to one postcard per person. Send your postcard with your name and contact information to: NBC Studios, Attention: Saturday Night Live Tickets, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112.

Tickets are awarded via a lottery system throughout the season, and winners are notified one to two weeks in advance of the show. Winners receive two tickets either to the dress rehearsal at 8 p.m. or to the live show at 11:30 p.m. You might also get standby tickets if you line up outside NBC Studios on 49th St. at 30 Rockefeller Center starting at 9:15 a.m. on live-show Saturdays. Call 212.664.4000 for more information about NBC shows and tickets.

Can I submit my sketch ideas to SNL?
Nope. NBC and Saturday Night Live will not accept any unsolicited scripts, ideas, drafts or sketches. If you do send your ideas or material, you waive any claims to your submission. We’re serious.

Can I get a copy of a specific SNL episode?
No. NBC and SNL can’t provide copies of specific shows. Your best bet is to tape it yourself the first time around, borrow it from your friend Timmy, or wait for the show to rebroadcast on NBC or Comedy Central. Special compilation videos – such as the Tribute to Chris Farley -- can be ordered through the SNL online store: http://www.nbc.com/homevideo or my site's SNL Store

What’s the SNL rerun schedule?
SNL airs 20 shows per season, and typically, broadcasts the reruns two to three weeks after the original live air date. During the off-season of June through September, the previous season’s shows are re-run in the same order as they were originally broadcast. Check your local TV listings for schedule information.

Can I audition for SNL?
No. SNL does not hold open auditions or accept any audition material / tapes. That’s why America’s Funniest Home Videos exists.

So how does SNL recruit new talent?
SNL sends scouts to various clubs and venues throughout the country. If they find someone of interest, they set up an official audition through the talent’s agent. Showing up at NBC in a tight skirt won’t help. Especially if you’re a guy.

Can I apply for an internship at SNL?
You bet! Internship submissions are accepted all year round. Send a cover letter and resume to: NBC, Attention: Saturday Night Live Internships, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112. No hard cash involved; interns receive college credit only.

How many regular "Weekend Update" anchors have there been?
17: Chevy Chase (1975-76), Jane Curtin (1976-80), Dan Aykroyd (1977-78), Bill Murray (1978-80), Charles Rocket (1980-81), Gail Matthius (1981), Brian Doyle-Murray (1981-82), Mary Gross (1981-82), Christine Ebersole (1982), Brad Hall (1982-84), Christopher Guest (1984-85), Dennis Miller (1985-91), Kevin Nealon (1991-94), Norm Macdonald (1994-1997), Colin Quinn (1998-2000), Jimmy Fallon (2000-present), and Tina Fey (2000-present).

How many SNL players have been nominated for an Emmy Award for their performance on SNL?
Dan Aykroyd (1978), John Belushi (1977-78), Dana Carvey (1988-93), Chevy Chase (1976-77), Billy Crystal (1985), Jane Curtain (1978), Phil Hartman (1994), Jon Lovitz (1986-87), Eddie Murphy (1983-84), Mike Myers (1994), Joe Piscopo (1984), Gilda Radner (1977-78), and Molly Shannon (2000).

Who owns the rights to Saturday Night Live?
Different companies own different components of SNL.

The SNL name, trademark, and certain characters are the sole property of NBC. NBC also holds the copyright to all "SNL" shows ever produced.

When SNL first was released to syndication, the original incarnation (1975-1980) was acquired by Filmways, which became Orion Pictures and later part of MGM, so the syndication rights to these shows currently lie with MGM. The remaining shows (from 1980 to the present) are controlled by Broadway Video -- Lorne Michaels' production company -- however NBC holds rights to all current shows for two seasons after which the rights revert to Broadway Video for airing on Comedy Central (which currently holds the off-network rights to the post-1980 shows). Lately, however, SNL episodes from as recent as 1998 have turned up on Comedy Central.

The home video rights were originally held by Warner Home Video (which released few of the original 1975-1980 shows and some compilations taken from those shows), then in the early 1990s Starmaker Entertainment acquired the video rights and released even more compilations (although Paramount Home Video released a "Best Of Eddie Murphy" compilation in the late '80s as Murphy was under contract with Paramount). In 1999, the video rights were bought by Trimark Pictures, and as of this writing have released videos from the '90s shows.

How big is Studio 8-H?
6,339 square-feet. NBC's most famous television studio, and the one that seems most unlikely to be found in a midtown Manhattan office building, is 8-H, Saturday Night Live's home for over a quarter of a century. The 8-H studio was built to accommodate NBC Symphony radio broadcasts conducted by Arturo Toscanini. Toscanini's original podium now resides in the 8-H announcer's booth.