October 11, 1975- First episode of Saturday Night Live

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - On this day October 11, 1975, the first episode of Saturday Night Live hit the airwaves on NBC!

The broadcast was 90 minutes long, and was hosted in Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center, the same studio as it is today!

The end of the opening night skit had one of the actors say, “Live from New York it’s Saturday Night!” This is a tradition that has stuck around to this day.

The show features edgy comedy skits, pushing boundaries with its humor and impersonations.

The show has featured actors with Wisconsin ties throughout it’s history, with none bigger than Madison native Chris Farley. WMTV sat down with his mother and brother in 2015, who will never forget the laughter and love he brought into their lives.

Additionally, John Belushi, who attended UW-Whitewater for a year before appearing on SNL. While living in Whitewater, he gained inspiration for the iconic motorcycle scene in the movie “Animal House.”

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