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Alison Castle
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Saturday Night Live: The Book Hardcover – February 25, 2015

by Alison Castle (Author), Lorne Michaels (Contributor), Edie Baskin (Photographer),
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 92 ratings
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Live from New York, it's Saturday Night! The complete history, on stage and behind the scenes On October 11, 1975 at 11:30 p.m., NBC viewers who tuned in to the network's new late night show saw a sketch featuring John Belushi repeating, in a thick foreign accent, nonsensical phrases about wolverines being read to him by head writer Michael O'Donohue. Abruptly, O'Donohue clutched his heart and collapsed onto the floor. Belushi paused, raised his eyebrow, and then did the same. Posing as the stage manager, Chevy Chase entered the set and feigned confusion before breaking character and announcing to the camera: "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

In that instant, television, which had long been out of touch with the young and hip, experienced the first seismic tremors of a major paradigm shift. TV comedy as we know it today owes it all to Saturday Night Live, the show that dared to take risks (not least the fact that it's broadcast live), challenge the censors, and celebrate the work of offbeat writer-performers. Hundreds of gifted and dedicated people have contributed to Saturday Night Live over the years, and this book pays homage to their groundbreaking work. The list of esteemed alumni, most of whom were complete unknowns when they debuted on SNL, reads like a Who's Who of the past 4 decades in comedy: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Al Franken, Eddie Murphy, Martin Short, Billy Crystal, Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Conan O'Brien, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kristin Wiig, Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, and Bill Hader—to name just a few.

Now, as SNL celebrates its 40th anniversary, TASCHEN brings you the ultimate tribute to the show. To research this book, editor and author Alison Castle was given not only full access to SNL's archives, but also the rare opportunity to watch the cast and crew at work. She spent the better part of season 39 in the trenches, learning how everything comes together in just six days for the live performance. Part encyclopedia and part behind-the-scenes tour, Saturday Night Live: The Book covers both the making of the show and its remarkable history.

Features include:
  • Over 2,300 images from SNL's archives, many previously unpublished
  • An illustrated breakdown of the 6-day week at SNL through the years, with an expanded section for the live show
  • Seasons reference guide with complete cast, host, and musical guest lists
  • Exclusive interview with founder and executive producer Lorne Michaels
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  1. Print length
    499 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Taschen America Llc
  4. Publication date
    February 25, 2015
  5. ISBN-10
    3836552418
  6. ISBN-13
    978-3836552417
  7. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
92 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the pictures great and bright. They say the book is entertaining and interesting for SNL fans. Readers also mention it's full of great memories and a great compilation of the history of SNL. They describe the information quality as very informative and say it's worth every penny. Customers also mention the volume size is huge and chock-full of goodies.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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PicturesEntertainment valueMemory retentionInformation qualityValue for moneyVolume size
7 customers mention "Pictures"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the pictures in the book great and bright.

"...Has everything SNL you could want in a book. Great pics, lists every show. Nice coffee table book. Brings back many, many memories...." Read more

"The pictures are so bright and the book is pretty lightweight. And it's very interesting for any SNL fan! I certainly love that show!" Read more

"i love this book so much. it's got a bunch of neat photos and information on SNL. it's also well designed." Read more

"Best book on SNL anywhere. Mostly pictures. My wife and I had many laughs looking back at the great years." Read more

6 customers mention "Entertainment value"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and interesting for SNL fans. They say learning about the history and evolution of SNL is fun.

"...came in; didn’t expect it to be as big as it is but it’s very much entertaining to see." Read more

"I am still reading this book and thoroughly enjoying it. Seeing how things go down to make this show is amazing." Read more

"...I love this book for the memories. Learning the history, and evolution of SNL was fun, interesting and entertaining...." Read more

"...And it's very interesting for any SNL fan! I certainly love that show!" Read more

4 customers mention "Memory retention"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book full of great memories and a great compilation of the history of SNL.

"Book of great memories!" Read more

"...who were like flies on the wall for 40 years it is a great compilations of the history of SNL and of 40 years of Saturday night programming." Read more

"...Great for those of us who remember, and for the young who want to see how it all started." Read more

"Fabulously fun and full of great memories." Read more

3 customers mention "Information quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very informative.

"...the book does have some cool info in it, but i would have liked to see more interviews with former cast members." Read more

"Loving the book so far! Has tons of great pictures and interesting information." Read more

"Awesome coffee table book! Huge and very informative" Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth every penny, a wonderful purchase, and a great collector's item.

"This is the book of all books for SNL fans. It is worth every penny...." Read more

"Wonderful purchase!" Read more

"great collectors item..." Read more

3 customers mention "Volume size"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be huge and chock-full of goodies. They also say it's a conversation piece with large, beautiful pictures.

"Definitely a conversation piece with large, beautiful pictures. Perfect gift for any fan of coneheads and more cowbell :)" Read more

"This book is huge- and chock-full of goodies!" Read more

"Awesome coffee table book! Huge and very informative" Read more

A good way to spend a Saturday Night
5 out of 5 stars
A good way to spend a Saturday Night
This is one fantastic book. It weighs a good 6 pounds, is 400 pages, and has nice large pictures on every page. There is a breakdown of each season which includes each cast member, episode list and season highlights. It even includes 3 fabric bookmarks so you can keep track of where you are. Highly recommended.
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Top reviews from the United States

Presley R. Ramsey
5.0 out of 5 stars Great coffee table book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Book of great memories!
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Valeria M. González
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
Loved the condition it came in; didn’t expect it to be as big as it is but it’s very much entertaining to see.
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Renee Townsend
5.0 out of 5 stars Book of all books for SNL fans!
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
This is the book of all books for SNL fans. It is worth every penny. I just got it and haven't had a chance to go through the whole thing, but just flipping through I could not believe all the information that was included. From letters cast members wrote to Lorne to an index of every single season that lists each episode, host, current cast, memorable skits, etc. I am a huge SNL fan, but this book had information/photos I've never heard about or seen before. I love it and I am so glad I have this book!
14 people found this helpful
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Melissa
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for any fan
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
My husband adores SNL and all things SNL. He still looks through the book from time to time
One person found this helpful
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Bill B.
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2015
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. It brings back all the memories. Notice that the only interview is with Lorne Michaels. Written I think by the photographers who were like flies on the wall for 40 years it is a great compilations of the history of SNL and of 40 years of Saturday night programming.
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B J Paretti
4.0 out of 5 stars Seeing how things go down to make this show is amazing.
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2015
Verified Purchase
I am still reading this book and thoroughly enjoying it. Seeing how things go down to make this show is amazing.
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Mark A Medina
5.0 out of 5 stars My sister said she loved it.
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
I got this as a gift for my sister, and she said she loved it.
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Woodproj
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
Outstanding!
I love this book for the memories. Learning the history, and evolution of SNL was fun, interesting and entertaining. Great for those of us who remember, and for the young who want to see how it all started.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Rachel Brandão
5.0 out of 5 stars Maravilhoso
Reviewed in Brazil on February 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Estou APAIXONADA. Já tinha outro livro sobre a história do SNL, mas a riqueza de detalhes e imagens deste é imbatível. Para fãs do programa desde os primórdios é imperdível.
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RBoy
5.0 out of 5 stars Great history of SNL
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great book. If you’re interested in SNL it’s very it’s a great read. Lots of great pics
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HEESTERMANS
4.0 out of 5 stars Très beau livre
Reviewed in France on December 28, 2015
Verified Purchase
Un très beau livre contenant de nombreuses photos depuis la création de l'emission TV jusqu'à aujourd'hui.
Livre volumineux, parfait !
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JUAN JOSE
5.0 out of 5 stars SOLO PARA MUY MUY FANS
Reviewed in Spain on August 11, 2015
Verified Purchase
Buen producto. Cunple perfectamente con su cometido. Lo compraria otra vez sin duda alguna. Muy muy muy bueno. un saludo
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Kirsty Stewart (Diamond)
5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Book, with hundreds of backstage photos. Perfect for fans.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2015
Verified Purchase
Wonderful book, like owning a piece of SNL history. Filled with behind the scenes photos. Copys of memos, thank you notes etc. Skips over some of the less memorable years and cast members, but still well worth it.
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