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Vietnamese-American filmmaker Bao Nguyen's movie, which
opened the festival on Wednesday night, traces the show's
evolution into a pop-cultural touchstone from its 1975 debut
when, as frequent host actor Alec Baldwin notes, "No one thought
it would last."
The film blends archival footage of some of its best-known
sketches and characters with cast interviews going back to
original members Chevy Chase and Jane Curtin, and reflections
from many of its high-profile satirical targets.
The brainchild of producer Lorne Michaels, "Saturday Night Live"
launched the careers of comedy stars ranging from Bill Murray
and John Belushi to Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock and Martin Short.
The movie, Nguyen's directorial debut, also mines subjects such
as drugs, race and sexuality in a manner that were largely taboo
on network television.
"It was a variety show on acid," said Candice Bergen, the NBC
show's first-ever female host.
"The impact was tremendous," Steve Martin said in the film,
"Overnight it was the hottest show in the country."
Iconic figures including TV journalist Tom Brokaw, former New
York mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Fox News' Bill O'Reilly voice a
recurring theme that over the decades "Saturday Night Live" both
reflected and influenced American culture.
Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who went on to greater fame in
"Seinfeld," said "Saturday Night Live" was "definitely a sexist
environment," but original cast member Laraine Newman contended
that Michaels was a "champion of women's humor."
Garrett Morris, the show's first black cast member, said the
show didn't quite know how to use him. By 1981, however, Eddie
Murphy had become one of "SNL"'s biggest breakout stars.
Another section examines the dark days of the early 1980s, when
the entire cast left along with Michaels and the show veered
toward cancellation.
But mostly, the film tells the story of how an edgy little
sketch show featuring unknown comedians evolved into a pop
culture powerhouse that has drawn presidents George Bush and
Barack Obama to the studio. It also got former vice-presidential
candidate Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, who announced her
presidential candidacy this week, to appear alongside their
satiric doppelgangers.
The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival, which runs to April 26, will
showcase about 100 feature films, including 67 world premieres.
(Editing by Patricia Reaney amd W Simon)
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