Though the series is more like four standalone documentaries instead of one cohesive unit — one of which is entirely dedicated to the “More Cowbell” sketch — it’s still filled with lots of behind-the-scenes moments:
1.
When you audition for Saturday Night Live, you only get five minutes to show them what you can do.
2.
…except for Keenan Thompson — he did over 10 minutes.
3.
Andy Samberg was so nervous at his first audition that he threw up.
4.
Often, when a performer was called back for a second audition or screen test, they were asked to come up with completely new material.
5.
A lot of the characters that the comedians auditioned as made later appearances on SNL, like Kristen Wigg’s Aunt Linda and Target Lady, and Ana Gasteyer’s NPR host.
6.
There are many stars throughout the years who auditioned for the show but weren’t cast, like Jennifer Coolidge, Mindy Kaling, Kevin Hart, Jordan Peele, Stephen Colbert, and Donald Glover.
7.
There’s also a long history of comedians auditioning and then being hired instead as a writer, like Bowen Yang and John Mulaney.
8.
Throughout its years, the show hired a lot of people through cast and writer recommendations. Andy Samberg was recommended by Jimmy Fallon, George Wendt called about Jason Sudeikis, and Gwyneth Paltrow raved about Maya Rudolph.
9.
When Will Ferrell joined the cast in 2000, there was a review that called him the “most annoying newcomer.” Ferrell had a placard made that he hung on his office door that read “Most Annoying Newcomer” and commented, “If you think I’m annoying now, just wait, I’m going to be so annoying.”
10.
Once you’re hired, it feels like you’re still auditioning because you have to get your sketches on air. Each week, 30 to 40 sketches are written and submitted, but only a small fraction are actually picked.
11.
On Monday before each new show, the writer’s room is given information about that week’s host, like what they can do (sing or dance) or what topics they want to stay away from. The writers then tailor their sketches to that specific host.
12.
On Wednesdays, they do their big table read, where around 40 sketches are read out loud. Later that night, at around 10 p.m., Lorne lets them know which 8 to 12 sketches have been picked.
13.
Some departments will spend hours or days on specific props, costumes, or special effects for a sketch only to find out that the sketch has been cut an hour before they’re on-air.
14.
Thursdays are for rewrites, and then, come Friday, entire sets are built and set up on the stages for each sketch.
15.
There’s a stage on set lovingly called “Shitcan Alley” and “Coffin Corner” because it’s the stage furthest away from the audience, where sketches “go to die.” Two sketches that famously made it out alive from that stage are Will Ferrell’s “More Cowbell” and “Wayne’s World.”
16.
During the dress rehearsal on Saturday, right before the actual show tapes, the writers of each sketch go and sit under the bleachers with Lorne, which is where he watches the rehearsal. Then Lorne, Steve Higgins, the host, and the producers go upstairs to Lorne’s office and they pick the final sketches for the show.
You can currently stream SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night on Peacock.