The iconic late-night sketch show Saturday Night Live has been making us laugh since 1975. With the brilliant mind of creator Lorne Michaels at the helm, SNL boasts a rotating cast of comedic geniuses, celebrity hosts, and chart-topping musical guests. When a show has been airing for over 45 years, there are bound to be juicy behind-the-scenes secrets, backstage antics, and some hilarious chaos to discover. Join us as we take a look at some of those behind-the-scenes secrets!
#1: Origins of Studio 8H
Located within the towering heights of the iconic Comcast Building, affectionately known as 30 Rockefeller Plaza, lies the legendary Studio 8H. Spanning across the 8th and 9th floors, this studio is a hallowed ground for comedy. It’s the dynamic backdrop for Tina Fey’s hilarious SNL-inspired sitcom, aptly named after this very location. The echoes of laughter from the show seem to permeate the very walls of the studio.
Did you know the studio was once the creative playground of the famed Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra? It served as their radio soundstage! But wait, there’s more! Toscanini, being a perfectionist, demanded the entire stage to be suspended on wires from the floor above. Why, you ask? He wanted to eliminate the pesky vibrations from the nearby subway, ensuring pristine sound quality.