“Saturday Night” Tries to Capture “SNL’s” Magic—But Misses the Mark

By: Naomi Fraser

Rating: 2/5

“The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30.” — Lorne Michaels, Creator of Saturday Night Live 

These famous words capture the frenzied, make-it-work energy the film Saturday Night aims to capture. Set on October 11, 1975—just ninety minutes before SNL goes live for the first time— the film dives into the chaos behind the scenes, where a young and unproven Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) scrambles to hold everything together amid cast conflicts, last-minute rewrites, and network executives itching to pull the plug. As SNL celebrates its 50th anniversary, Saturday Night serves as both a tribute and a time capsule, offering a look at the artistry, ambition, and creativity that laid the foundation for one of television’s most iconic shows.

However, for a film centered on the making of a comedy show, Saturday Night is surprisingly dry, wavering between comedy and drama, but never fully hitting the mark on either side. The jokes often fall flat, and the humor behind the endless string of mishaps quickly loses its charm. 

While the dramatic moments land slightly better, they also feel underwhelming and underdeveloped. I could recognize the moments when I was supposed to feel stressed, anxious, or moved, but the film continually failed to evoke those emotions in a meaningful way. Ultimately, Saturday Night struggles with an identity crisis, stuck between genres and never fully committing to what it wants to be.

A major conflict in Saturday Night is Lorne Michaels’ unwillingness to trim down his vision for the show. Though NBC has allotted him 90 minutes, his script contains three hours’ worth of content. Determined to keep every idea, he attempts to squeeze every sketch into the show, sacrificing quality for quantity. 

Ironically, the writers of Saturday Night seem to have fallen into the same trap. The film crams in too many plotlines and characters, making it difficult to fully invest in any of them. Rather than deep-diving into a handful of conflicts and relationships, the film stays at the surface level of many. While viewers familiar with the original SNL cast and crew may take away more from the scattered storylines, those less acquainted with the show’s history leave underwhelmed and confused.

With that being said, one of the most interesting aspects of Saturday Night is witnessing how SNL came to be. It’s fascinating to see how a show many expected to flop became a sensation. Despite overwhelming skepticism, Lorne Michaels somehow made audiences care about a group of unknown comedians performing random skits late at night—a feat that, 50 years later, remains impressive. My biggest takeaway after watching Saturday Night was the urge to go back and watch SNL’s first episode (which I plan to do as soon as I finish writing this article).

Another highlight is Gabriel LaBelle’s performance as Lorne Michaels. He convincingly portrays an awkward yet determined artist, struggling to articulate his grand vision to people who lack faith. His portrayal captures Michaels’ quiet frustration, exhaustion, and flashes of inspiration, making him a compelling lead even when the film around him falters.  Cory Michael Smith also stands out as Chevy Chase, striking a perfect balance between charm and arrogance to create a character you can both admire and resent.

Unfortunately, these performances aren’t enough to save the film. Saturday Night ultimately feels like a missed opportunity—an interesting premise weighed down by poor execution. While it offers insight into SNL’s chaotic beginnings, it lacks the energy, humor, and depth needed to meet the film’s great potential. Fans of SNL may appreciate the historical perspective, but as a film, it never quite finds its footing.