About

"Saturday Night Live," NBC's Emmy Award-winning late-night comedy showcase, enters its 37th season on September 24, 2011 for another year of laughs, surprises and great performances.

Over the last three decades, "SNL" has launched the careers of many of the brightest comedy performers of a generation; and, as The New York Times noted on the occasion of the show's Emmy-winning 25th Anniversary special in 1999: "In defiance of both time and show business convention, "SNL" is still the most pervasive influence on the art of comedy in contemporary culture." At the close of the century, "Saturday Night Live" placed seventh on Entertainment Weekly's list of the Top 100 Entertainers of the past fifty years.

The program has won 32 Emmy Awards and now holds the title for the most nominated television show in Emmy history with 142 nominations. "SNL" has been honored twice, in 1990 and 2009, with the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award and cited as "truly a national institution." "Saturday Night Live" was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame by the National Association of Broadcasters, and the show continues to garner the highest ratings of any late-night television program, entertaining millions each week.

"SNL" sketches still bear repeating on Monday mornings. With live show surprises, especially those timed to the election — from Barack Obama's surprise walk-on, Hillary Clinton's performance opposite Amy Poehler, and Senator John McCain's "Weekend Update" appearance — "SNL" is making headlines and influencing the political dialogue while skewering it at the same time. Beyond politics, the show's cast of recurring characters and take on pop culture targets remains spot-on. The addition of the show's Emmy Award-winning SNL Digital Shorts continues to keep the show as current today as it was when it debuted.

The impressive lineup of "SNL" guest hosts for season 36 featured some of the biggest stars of film, television, music and sports including: Amy Poehler, Bryan Cranston, Jane Lynch, Emma Stone, Jon Hamm, Scarlett Johansson, Anne Hathaway, Robert De Niro, Paul Rudd, Jeff Bridges, Jim Carrey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jesse Eisenberg, Dana Carvey, Russell Brand, Miley Cyrus, Zach Galifianakis, Elton John, Helen Mirren, Tina Fey, Ed Helms, and Justin Timberlake.

Last season, the show continued its unparalleled tradition of featuring both blockbuster and breakout musical acts, hosting such performers as Katy Perry, Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Kings Of Leon, Rihanna, Arcade Fire, Florence And The Machine, Diddy Dirty Money, Paul McCartney, Eminem, The Black Keys, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj, Linkin Park, Chris Brown, The Strokes, Jessie J, Elton John, Leon Russell, Foo Fighters, Ellie Goulding, Paul Simon, and Lady Gaga.

"Saturday Night Live," which premiered Oct. 11, 1975, is broadcast live from NBC's famed Studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center. The program is a production of Broadway Video in association with SNL Studios. Lorne Michaels is the executive producer.

Credits

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Saturdays on NBC (11:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. ET)

Starring the SNL 2011 - 2012 Company: Fred Armisen, Vanessa Bayer, Paul Brittain, Abby Elliott, Bill Hader, Taran Killam, Seth Meyers, Bobby Moynihan, Nasim Pedrad, Jay Pharoah, Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Wiig

Executive producer: Lorne Michaels

Produced by: Steve Higgins

Director: Don Roy King

Supervising producer: Ken Aymong

Head Writer: Seth Meyers

Writers: James Anderson, Alex Baze, Jessica Conrad, James Downey, Shelly Gossman, Steve Higgins, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Rob Klein, Seth Meyers, Lorne Michaels, John Mulaney, Christine Nangle, Michael Patrick O'Brien, Marika Sawyer, Sarah Schneider, John Solomon, Kent Sublette, Bryan Tucker

Film producer: James Signorelli

Musical directors: Lenny Pickett, Leon Pendarvis

Musicians: The Saturday Night Live Band

Production designers: Eugene Lee, Akira Yoshimura, Keith Ian Raywood

Costume designer: Tom Broecker, Eric Justian

Announcer: Don Pardo

Production: Produced by SNL Studios in association with Broadway Video

Origination: NBC Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center