Saturday Night Live (1975)

Saturday Night Live (also known as SNL) is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol. Michaels currently serves as the program's showrunner. The show premiere was hosted by George Carlin on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title NBC's Saturday Night. The show's comedy sketches, which often parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers the opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, with featured performances by a musical guest. An episode normally begins with a cold open sketch that ends with someone breaking character and proclaiming, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!", properly beginning the show.

The Not Ready for Prime Time Players were the cast of SNL during its first three seasons. The designation was dropped for season 4, though the cast remained unchanged at that time. Saturday Night Live (1975–1980) (seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

The NRFPTPs consisted of: 

Dan Aykroyd (October 11, 1975-May 20, 1978)
John Belushi (October 11, 1975-May 20, 1978)
Chevy Chase (October 11, 1975-October 30, 1976)
George Coe (October 11, 1975-May 29, 1976)
Jane Curtin (October 11, 1975-May 24, 1980)
Garrett Morris (October 11, 1975-May 24, 1980)
Laraine Newman (October 11, 1975-May 24, 1980)
Michael O'Donoghue (October 11, 1975-July 31, 1976)
Gilda Radner (October 11, 1975-May 24, 1980)
Bill Murray (January 15, 1977-May 24, 1980)

John Belushi, George Coe, Michael O'Donoghue, and Gilda Radner have all passed away. Belushi died of a drug overdose in 1982, Radner died of ovarian cancer in 1989, O'Donoghue from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1994, and Coe from natural causes in 2015. 

Chevy Chase and Bill Murray have come back to host SNL many times each. Chase was banned from hosting in 1997, though he has made a few appearances since. Both have appeared in many movies and televisions shows.

Dan Aykroyd returned to guest many times, but only hosted once, for the season finale to the 2002-2003 season. He has lead a successful movie career. House of Blues is an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants. It was founded by Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe and Dan Aykroyd, co-star of the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.

Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman have never returned to host. All have worked in television and movies since their SNL days. Curtin returned to the Weekend Update desk alongside Tina Fey and Amy Poehler for the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special.

1975–1980
(seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
1980–1985
(seasons 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
1985–1990
(seasons 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
1990–1995
(seasons 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
1995–2000
(seasons 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
2000–2005
(seasons 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
2005–2010
(seasons 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
2010–2015
(seasons 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
2015–2020
(seasons 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
2020–present
(seasons 46, 47) 

Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch and satirical news program that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest-running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance. Historically, one or two of the players are cast in the role of news anchor, presenting gag news items based on current events and acting as hosts for occasional editorials, commentaries, or other performances by other cast members or guests. In modern times, dedicated anchors are chosen among writing staff, often lead writers, in lieu of cast or featured players. Chevy Chase has said that Weekend Update – which he started as anchor in 1975 – paved the way for comedic news shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.