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The SNL Companion: An Unofficial Guide to the Seasons, Sketches, and Stars of Saturday Night Live
"This is a comprehensive ticket to learning more about every aspect of the late-night comedy staple and its storied history." -
Library Journal
Television history was made on October 11, 1975, when a new generation of young performers welcomed America to the first episode of a new late-night comedy and variety show. Combining cutting-edge humor with a satirical sensibility, Saturday Night Live would go on to become the longest-running series of its kind in television history, shining a light on pop culture as well as contemporary social and political issues. It also became a launching pad for many of the leading comedy performers of the last five decades, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Maya Rudolph, and Kate McKinnon
Celebrating the show’s record-breaking 50 years on the air, The SNL Companion is a fun, fact-filled tribute to a television institution. From the show’s creation by Lorne Michaels through all of the seasons leading up to its golden anniversary, it provides an in-depth look at SNL’s comedic highlights and nadirs, its memorable hosts and musical guests, and its many controversies. Along with a complete episode guide, it explores the characters, sketches, politics, catchphrases, commercial parodies, and viral shorts that have made it a leader in American comedy for over five decades. Vastly revised, updated, and expanded since its original publication in 2013 and packed with photographs and rich encyclopedic detail, The SNL Companion is a one-stop resource for all things SNL.
Television history was made on October 11, 1975, when a new generation of young performers welcomed America to the first episode of a new late-night comedy and variety show. Combining cutting-edge humor with a satirical sensibility, Saturday Night Live would go on to become the longest-running series of its kind in television history, shining a light on pop culture as well as contemporary social and political issues. It also became a launching pad for many of the leading comedy performers of the last five decades, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Maya Rudolph, and Kate McKinnon
Celebrating the show’s record-breaking 50 years on the air, The SNL Companion is a fun, fact-filled tribute to a television institution. From the show’s creation by Lorne Michaels through all of the seasons leading up to its golden anniversary, it provides an in-depth look at SNL’s comedic highlights and nadirs, its memorable hosts and musical guests, and its many controversies. Along with a complete episode guide, it explores the characters, sketches, politics, catchphrases, commercial parodies, and viral shorts that have made it a leader in American comedy for over five decades. Vastly revised, updated, and expanded since its original publication in 2013 and packed with photographs and rich encyclopedic detail, The SNL Companion is a one-stop resource for all things SNL.
- GenresTvNonfiction
648 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2024
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37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 21, 2024
did anyone edit this book??? there are SO many errors, it’s insane.
this reads like a slightly unorganized wikipedia page. however, the authors’ biases are on full display with their commentary, which isn’t always great. their selection of what’s memorable and notable is also questionable at times. they dedicated less than a page to the lonely island even though their introduction completely launched snl into the digital age.
idk. it was weird. learned a lot, but it’s also clear a lot is missing as well.
this reads like a slightly unorganized wikipedia page. however, the authors’ biases are on full display with their commentary, which isn’t always great. their selection of what’s memorable and notable is also questionable at times. they dedicated less than a page to the lonely island even though their introduction completely launched snl into the digital age.
idk. it was weird. learned a lot, but it’s also clear a lot is missing as well.
August 22, 2025
I feel like this book would function so much better as a website- it’s info is difficult to index in print format and it’s all in small nuggets and it’s going to be horribly obsolete as soon as any new seasons air, because it is attempting to be a wiki of SNL, for the most part. The info is interesting but the format doesn’t work. The first portion of the book as well as several sections aren’t really useful when they are attempts to critique or editorialize the “making” of SNL because so many other comprehensive books are out there on this subject- Live From New York, the new Lorne biography for example.
April 19, 2025
This was an incredibly thorough labor of love written by fans of the iconic show. Great for anyone who’s a fan or thinking about watching.
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August 30, 2025I haven't read all of the books about SNL, but this one introduced me to many sketches I had never seen before that I ended up enjoying and/or appreciating.
October 2, 2025
Learned plenty, took a stroll down memory lane and figured out I started watching in 1989, but overall it was pretty dry writing.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews