Episode 520: Neal and Toby deep-dive into the history and lore of Saturday Night Live, the longest running sketch comedy show on television. They dive into how it all started, recap Lorne Michaels’ career and how he’s been able to turn SNL into a cultural institution. Then, a broader overview of SNL’s ability to turn some of its cast members into movie stars and Hollywood mainstays. Also, a debate on whether SNL is still the pinnacle of comedy. Finally, fun facts about the show you probably didn’t know. 00:00 - SNL 50th anniversary 2:50 - SNL’s cultural relevance 7:30 - The origin of Lorne Michaels 16:30 - The pipeline of movie stars 20:00 - Embracing the digital age 24:00 - SNL fun facts LinkedIn will even give you a $100 credit on your next campaign so you can try it yourself. Go to LinkedIn.com/MBD Terms and conditions apply. Only on LinkedIn ads. Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Check out https://linkedin.com/MBD for more! Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here: https://link.chtbl.com/MBD Watch Morning Brew Daily Here: https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow
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Good Morning Brew Daily show. I'm Neil Freiman. And I'm Toby Howell. Today, Saturday Night Live is celebrating 50 years on television.
A deep dive into the past, present, and uncertain future of the comedy juggernaut. Tape from New York, it's Morning Brew Daily.
Happy President's Day. Merry President's Day. Anyway, last night, some of you may have watched the 50th anniversary celebration of Saturday Night Live. And the sheer star power of the event made you forget it was on a Sunday.
Alumni like Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, OG cast member Chevy Chase were all there, along with frequent hosts Dave Chappelle and Steve Martin and powerhouse musical guests like Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus and Sabrina Carpenter. It was a show of force that reminded you just how influential the show was in shaping American culture.
But has it maintained that grip today in 2025? In today's special holiday episode, we are going to piggyback on SNL's 50th birthday bash to dive deep into this cultural phenomenon, exploring the leadership mind of its ringleader, Lorna Michaels, its history as a movie star factory, and whether it's been overshadowed in today's frenzied media landscape. It's a ton of fun.
And we hope you learned something and maybe reminisce about some of the funniest sketches and characters. But first, a word from our sponsor, LinkedIn Ads. Neil, were you scared of the dark as a kid?
I wasn't scared per se, but I certainly pulled the sprint back inside after putting the trash by the driveway more than a few times.
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