NBC’s iconic comedy show “Saturday Night Live” was expected to fade away by 1985, just ten years after its explosive beginning that introduced stars like John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, and Gilda Radner. Yet, fifty years later, producer Lorne Michaels and his team are still going strong. How did this happen?

Unpacking the details of this unlikely journey is the focus of a new docuseries on Peacock titled “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night,” which is currently available for streaming. The four-part series is overseen by Morgan Neville, who won an Oscar for the 2014 documentary “20 Feet From Stardom,” which highlighted backup singers. Neville grew up watching his father’s Betamax recordings of the show’s first season.

“People perceive ‘SNL’ as a post office; it’s a public service that everyone criticizes yet relies on and hopes will endure indefinitely,” Neville shares with YSL News. “Even after Lorne’s departure, ‘SNL’ will continue, but it won’t ever be the same.”

Neville instructed the documentary’s director to focus on particular stories, similar to what Jason Reitman achieved in his 2024 film “Saturday Night,” which provides a fictionalized account of the 90 minutes leading up to the inaugural episode on October 11, 1975. “While the main narrative has been told repeatedly, it’s in the specifics that you uncover the truly unique stories,” Neville explains.

Episode 1: ‘Five Minutes’ – The Audition Experience for ‘Saturday Night Live’

“I’m not sure what Lorne saw in me,” reflects Tracy Morgan in the debut episode of “SNL50.” This sets the tone for an intriguing exploration of auditioning for the show, which centers on a nerve-wracking five-minute performance in front of generally stoic producers.

“There are countless now-famous individuals who were turned down for a role, which is remarkable,” says Neville. Indeed, many notable rejects—like Stephen Colbert, Jennifer Coolidge, Mindy Kaling, Kevin Hart, and Jordan Peele—are featured in “Five Minutes.”

Some auditions have reached legendary status, like Will Ferrell’s portrayal of an executive delaying business calls to play with an imaginary ball of yarn as if he were a cat. The documentary showcases moments when cast members view their audition tapes, often for the first time, with Amy Poehler reacting by grimacing and abruptly asking for the tape to be stopped. Watching these superstars cringe is genuinely entertaining.

Episode 2: ‘Written By: A Week Inside the ‘SNL’ Writer’s Room’ – The Behind-the-Scenes Struggles

This episode reveals the chaotic process of creating ‘SNL,’ and it’s not as glamorous as one might believe. After wrapping up an episode at 1 a.m. on a Sunday, the cast and crew have only a day to recharge before returning to 30 Rockefeller Plaza to start the frantic cycle all over again.

By Monday, the writers, an eclectic group of standup comics, poets, and even individuals who didn’t make the cast auditions (like John Mulaney and Bowen Yang), must submit their sketch ideas while the week’s host discovers which sketches could be in the mix.

The following day includes a full table read with Lorne Michaels in attendance. As Mulaney describes it, “You’re in a delusional bubble,” acknowledging the fleeting excitement when sketches get laughs only to later be cut. What follows is a frenzied race to the finish line. After an 8 p.m. dress rehearsal on Saturday, a few sketches are still cut last minute, leading to the uncertainty of whether the final product will flop or transform into a viral hit.

Episode 3: ‘More Cowbell’ – A Deep Dive into the Iconic Sketch

This hour-long episode celebrates the famous sketch led by Will Ferrell from April 8, 2000, that turned the Blue Oyster Cult song “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” into a cowbell classic.

The episode is a treasure, featuring Ferrell’s personal memories, including his long-standing love for the song and how he kept the cowbell idea alive for years. He also reveals that he wore an even tighter shirt during the live show, which caused fellow cast member Jimmy Fallon to burst into uncontrollable laughter. The segment includes priceless interviews with Blue Oyster Cult members, who amusingly debate over who actually played the cowbell in the original recording.

The most insightful moment comes from Christopher Walken, the episode’s host, whose unique voice delivers the famous line, “Fellas, I think you’ve got a hit, but I need more cowbell.” Ferrell recalls worrying about Walken’s low-energy performance in the dress rehearsal, fearing the sketch might flop. Surely, Will should not fear the Walken!

Episode 4: ‘Season 11: The Weird Year’ – The Year ‘SNL’ Nearly Ended

For those unfamiliar with “SNL” history, it may surprise viewers that Season 11, spanning 1985-86, was a period when the show nearly faced its end. Lorne Michaels had vacated in 1980 but returned after being persuaded by NBC president Brandon Tartikoff. He dismissed the entire Season 10 cast, including well-known figures like Billy Crystal, Martin Short, and Christopher Guest, and introduced a new lineup featuring Anthony Michael Hall, Randy Quaid, Robert Downey Jr., Nora Dunn, Jon Lovitz, and Dennis Miller.

At first glance, that cast might seem promising, but the season turned out to be a fiasco. The standout moment was one of the strangest episodes ever, directed by Francis Ford Coppola with music by avant-garde composer Philip Glass.

“Lorne was attempting to revamp the show, but it was during this season that he recognized the importance of recruiting exceptional improv performers for sketch comedy rather than simply casting Brat Pack actors,” Neville explains. “Who joined in Season 12? Phil Hartman and Dana Carvey, steering the show toward success.” The rest, as they say, is history.