Created by then and current executive producer Lorne Michaels, Dick Ebersol (executive producer from 1981 to 85) and the NBC President Herb Schlosser, it was first titled NBCs Saturday Night since ABC at the time had a short lived talent show titled Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell . The first cast of Not Ready For Primetime Players were Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtain, Garrett Morris, Lorraine Newman and Gilda Radner. The announcer was Don Pardo until his passing just recently. The first host George Carlin didnt appear in any of the sketches, rather he did stand up throughout the show. Since the NBC board was split on whether the show would go on the air (replacing Johnny Carson repeats), Carlin wanted to wear a T-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. The network wanted him in a dark blue suit, dress shirt and tie. He compromise and entered wearing a dark blue three-piece suit with a powder blue T-shirt and cowboy boots. Rather than one, there were two musical guests: Janis Ian and Billy Preston and each episode for the first two seasons had a short film about three to four minutes in length done by Albert Brooks in season 1 and Gary Weiss in season 2. After original Weekend Update anchor Chase left in late 1976, Bill Murray, who was a bit player, joined and almost didnt make it to season three. Bombing in several skits, he finally hit the jackpot with a skit where he was singing in the shower with all his clothes on, paving the way for his most famous character Nick the Lounge Singer. The most memorable Not Ready For Primetime Players over the years have also included: Eddie Murphy, Joe Piscopo, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Dennis Miller, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz, Victoria Jackson, Jan Hooks, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Tim Meadows (the most years in the cast), Norm McDonald, Will Farrell, Darrell Hammond (the current announcer), Molly Shannon, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Keenan Thompson and Seth Meyers.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 21:18:45 +0000
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