History of Saturday Night Live (2000–2005) explained

Saturday Night Live is an American sketch comedy series created and produced by Lorne Michaels for most of the show's run. The show has aired on NBC since 1975.

This period saw Will Ferrell's memorable impression of George W. Bush and Darrell Hammond's impersonation of Al Gore. In 2000, Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon became the Weekend Update anchors. 2001-2002 saw the show helping the nation rebound after the 9/11 attacks and production dealing with an anthrax scare in the 30 Rock building.

These years also saw many cast changes, most prominently Ferrell's exit in 2002. Cast members hired during this period that would later have a huge impact on the show include Fred Armisen, Amy Poehler, and Kenan Thompson. When Fallon left the show in 2004, Poehler replaced him as Update co-anchor, making her and Fey the first female anchor team.

Quality period (2000–2001)

See main article: Saturday Night Live (season 26). The 2000–01 season marked the beginning of yet another transitional phase. While veterans such as Chris Kattan, Darrell Hammond and Will Ferrell still dominated the show, more time was being given to newer cast members such as Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon. Both men were also criticized for regularly and self-consciously breaking character during many sketches.[1]

Long-time cast member Molly Shannon left the cast at midseason.[2] [3] This was also Jerry Minor's only season.[4]

In 1999, Tina Fey became the show's first female head writer.[5] With Colin Quinn's Weekend Update tenure over, Lorne Michaels teamed Fey with Jimmy Fallon this season, the first duo to anchor the segment since Christine Ebersole and Brian Doyle-Murray in the early 1980s. This pairing was well received by critics. Fey appeared occasionally as an extra before being hired as a cast member.[6] Fey was a featured player during her first season and was then promoted to contract player, while still maintaining her position as head writer.

Chris Parnell was fired at the end of this season, only to be rehired during the next season.[7] He was eventually fired a second time at the end of the 2005–06 season for budgetary reasons.[8]

2000 presidential election

The 2000–01 season was also noted for its well-received spoofing of that year's presidential campaign between Al Gore and George W. Bush. The two candidates even appeared (separately) on a special with the cast in fall 2000.[9] Will Ferrell's Bush impression coined the term "strategery" in a sketch mocking Bush's propensity fr mispronunciations, while Darrell Hammond's Gore was characterized by his slow, deliberate drawl and use of the term "lockbox" during the show's debate sketches.[10]

In April 2015, Ferrell stated that he thought his impression "humanized" Bush to the country and may have won him the election, and that Hammond's "rigid, robotic-like" take on Gore may have influenced the result also.[11]

Cast

Repertory players

Featured players

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

Post 9/11 (2001–2002)

See main article: Saturday Night Live (season 27). The 2001–02 season could be called more "stable" than the previous season. Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, and Maya Rudolph were all upgraded to contract status for this season. Ana Gasteyer went on maternity leave at the end of the season. After her daughter was born, she decided not to return to the show.[12] Amy Poehler was upgraded to contract status quickly after being hired this season. Featured player Jeff Richards became the first former Mad TV cast member to join SNL.

The 2001–02 season was the last to feature Will Ferrell as a cast member.[13] After seven seasons, Ferrell left the show after recently becoming the highest paid cast member in SNLs history. The last segment of the season finale featured an homage to Ferrell by the rest of the cast reflecting on what he brought to the show. He and Darrell Hammond shared the honor of longest-serving cast members up to that season.

Fallout from the 9/11 terrorist attacks

The first-season premiere after the September 11 attacks (hosted by Reese Witherspoon) opened with then-New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani and firefighters, as well as a performance of "The Boxer" by Paul Simon.[14] The mayor said that "Having our city’s institutions up and running sends a message that New York City is open for business."[15] Witherspoon later stated that she thought Lorne Michaels "did an incredible job getting that show back on its feet and making America laugh again".[16] As a result, the political commentary was scaled back.[17] As time passed, the show gave more attention to political humor. Robert Smigel's cartoons, however, retained their bite and became heavily featured on the show.

Cast

Repertory players

Featured players

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

More cast changes (2002–2003)

See main article: Saturday Night Live (season 28). The 2002–03 season would see more cast turnover, with Fred Armisen and Will Forte joining the cast and Chris Kattan and Tracy Morgan both opting to leave the show at the end of the season.[18] [19] Dean Edwards was let go after the season finale.[20]

Cast

Repertory players

Featured players

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

Fallon leaves (2003–2004)

See main article: Saturday Night Live (season 29). The 2003–04 season would introduce a newly designed stage, modeled after the Grand Central Terminal.[21]

Jimmy Fallon decided to leave at the end of this season, announcing his retirement from the cast at the end of his last Weekend Update.[22] Jeff Richards left the cast after the episode hosted by Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson.[23] In an interview at the time, Richards said he left to branch out into other projects,[24] though he later mentioned that his substance abuse was a factor.[25]

Finesse Mitchell and Kenan Thompson were hired to replace Tracy Morgan and Dean Edwards as the show's male African-American cast members. Thompson was the first SNL cast member to be younger than the show itself (Thompson was born in 1978, three years after SNL premiered) and the first cast member to get his start on a mainstream children's show (Thompson was a cast member on the Nickelodeon sketch show, All That).[26]

Cast

Repertory players

Featured players

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

Rebuilding year (2004–2005)

See main article: Saturday Night Live (season 30). The 2004–05 season brought changes to the show after Fallon's leaving. Most notably, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler co-anchored "Weekend Update", the first time that two women were given the job.

Rob Riggle, an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and UCB alum, joined the cast as a featured player in what would be his only season.[27] Riggle would go on to become a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart a year later. He would become the third SNL cast member to join The Daily Show after leaving SNL (along with A. Whitney Brown and Nancy Walls) and is the first, and so far only, SNL cast member to have served in the U.S. Marines. In addition to Riggle, Jason Sudeikis (previously a writer on the show since 2003) joined the cast as a featured player with only three episodes left in the season.[28]

Ashlee Simpson incident

On the October 23, 2004 episode, musical guest Ashlee Simpson was caught using a pre-recorded track live.[29] [30] [31] Simpson's second performance of the evening opened with the sound of her pre-recorded voice heard singing "Pieces of Me", the song she had already performed earlier. A flustered Simpson did an improvised dance and then left the stage, after which the show cut to commercial. The New York Times said that the error "exposed [Simpson's] use of prerecorded vocals on live television."[32] Simpson's father said that her use of a pre-recorded track was necessitated that evening by hoarseness caused by acid reflux disease. The incident subsequently inspired several SNL jokes (including a cold opening where Osama bin Laden, played by Seth Meyers, calls America out for allowing a singer to use backing tracks during a live show)[33] and a few jokes on Saturday Night Lives rival show, MADtv.[34] When questioned by reporters, Lorne Michaels initially denied, then acknowledged, that this was not the first time so-called "backing tracks" had ever been used on SNL.[29] In October 2005, Simpson returned as a musical guest, performing without incident.[35]

Cast

Repertory players

Featured players

bold denotes "Weekend Update" anchor

References

Works cited

Notes and References

  1. News: Winter . Jessica . When Is It OK to Crack Up? Some Ground Rules for the Cast of SNL. . 25 April 2024 . Slate . 2013-07-25.
  2. News: Molly Shannon Leaves 'SNL'. June 16, 2015. ABC News. January 23, 2001.
  3. News: Silverman . Stephen . Shannon to Exit 'SNL' . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110216025645/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,618945,00.html . February 16, 2011 . June 16, 2015 . People.
  4. Web site: Wright . Megh . 2012-09-25 . Saturday Night’s Children: Jerry Minor (2000-2001) . 2024-04-23 . Vulture . en.
  5. News: Kennedy. Randy. A First for Fake News. June 16, 2015. The New York Times. October 12, 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170709115933/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/12/arts/television/a-first-for-fake-news.html . July 9, 2017 . live.
  6. News: Gay. Jason. Meet Four-Eyed New Sex Symbol, 'Weekend Update' Anchor Tina Fey. June 16, 2015. Observer. March 5, 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110826134140/https://observer.com/2001/03/meet-foureyed-new-sex-symbol-weekend-update-anchor-tina-fey/ . 2011-08-26 . live.
  7. News: Graham. Mark. Chris Parnell Talks Being Fired From SNL Twice . June 16, 2015. Vulture. January 14, 2010.
  8. News: Rawden . Jessica . February 19, 2015 . How Chris Parnell Got Un-fired From Saturday Night Live . June 16, 2015 . Cinema Blend . https://web.archive.org/web/20240423063912/https://www.cinemablend.com/television/How-Chris-Parnell-Got-Un-fired-From-Saturday-Night-Live-70168.html . 2024-04-23 . live.
  9. News: de Moraes . Lisa . Taped From New York, It's the Candidates on 'Saturday Night' . Washington Post . November 2, 2000 . https://archive.today/20240529012547/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/11/03/taped-from-new-york-its-the-candidates-on-saturday-night/ec1e6d52-306b-4ae2-9ebe-fe0c528f606d/ . May 29, 2024 . live.
  10. Web site: McGee . Ryan . Fear . David . Murray . Noel . 2017-08-22 . 20 Best 'Saturday Night Live' Political Sketches . 2024-05-29 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  11. News: Guerrasio . Jason . April 17, 2015 . Will Ferrell thinks his 'SNL' portrayal of George W. Bush influenced the 2000 election . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150711190916/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/will-ferrell-snl-portrayal-of-george-w-bush-influenced-2000-election-2015-4 . July 11, 2015 . June 16, 2015 . Business Insider Australia.
  12. Web site: 2002-08-21 . Ana Gasteyer leaves Saturday Night Live . 2024-05-29 . EW.com . en.
  13. News: Bark . Ed . Will Ferrell announces end of 'Saturday Night Live' stint . C8 . 23 April 2024 . Sun Journal . Knight Ridder Newspapers . May 9, 2002.
  14. News: Dickson . E.J. . Greene . Andy . 'In Bad Times, People Turn to the Show': Inside the 9/11 Episode of 'SNL' . 29 May 2024 . . 2021-09-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220911164232/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/saturday-night-live-9-11-oral-history-1221336/ . 2022-09-11 . live.
  15. News: Robinson . Melia . September 12, 2013 . FLASHBACK: 'SNL' Cast Describe Somber First Show Back After 9/11 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427003925/https://www.businessinsider.com/snl-cast-describe-first-show-back-after-911-2013-9 . April 27, 2023 . June 16, 2015 . Business Insider Australia.
  16. News: Dickson. Caitlyn. Reese Witherspoon reflects on hosting 'SNL' after 9/11. June 16, 2015. Yahoo! News. May 8, 2015.
  17. Web site: Adalian . Josef . June 2, 2017 . 'SNL': How Each Era Has Ridiculed American Presidents . May 29, 2024 . Vulture.
  18. News: October 4, 2002 . Armisen, Forte to join 'Saturday Night' cast . Middlesboro Daily News . 2-A . Associated Press.
  19. Susman. Gary. Chris Kattan is leaving SNL. June 16, 2015. Entertainment Weekly. May 8, 2003.
  20. News: Wright . Megh . March 26, 2013 . Saturday Night's Children: Dean Edwards (2001-2003) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180117235354/http://splitsider.com/2013/03/saturday-nights-children-dean-edwards-2001-2003/ . 2018-01-17 . June 16, 2015 . Vulture.
  21. Web site: McClintock . Pamela . Adalian . Josef . 2003-09-26 . SNL primed for 29 . 2024-04-22 . Variety . en-US . Variety.
  22. News: May 18, 2004 . Jimmy Fallon signs off from 'Saturday Night Live' . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150416162102/http://www.today.com/id/4999966/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/jimmy-fallon-signs-saturday-night-live/#.VX-y8M791UF . April 16, 2015 . June 16, 2015 . Today . NBC News.
  23. Web site: January 17, 2004 – Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey / G Unit (S29 E10) . The 'One a Day SNL' Project . 29 May 2024 . May 9, 2020.
  24. News: Ganahl . Jane . July 19, 2004 . After 'SNL,' Jeff Richards is moving on to movies. First came public access. . June 16, 2015 . San Francisco Chronicle.
  25. News: Seabaugh . Julie . Comedian Jeff Richards is More Versatile Than You Think — and He's Widening His Reach . 29 May 2024 . . February 12, 2014.
  26. News: 2003-09-28 . Two join 'Saturday Night Live' cast . 2024-04-22 . Zap2it.com . . B6.
  27. Web site: Wright . Megh . 2011-10-18 . Saturday Night’s Children: Rob Riggle (2004-2005) . 2024-04-25 . Vulture . en.
  28. News: 2005-10-28 . Kansan Jason Sudeikis establishes comedic footing on 'SNL' . 2024-04-22 . . 1E, 3E.
  29. Web site: Leung . Rebecca . 2004-10-28 . Michaels: Lip-Sync An 'SNL' No-No . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140306013154/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michaels-lip-sync-an-snl-no-no/ . 2014-03-06 . 2024-04-25 . CBS News . en-US.
  30. News: 2004-10-24 . Did 'Saturday Night Live' expose Ashlee Simpson's extra help? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051123035758/https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2004-10-24-simpson-snl_x.htm . 2005-11-23 . 2024-04-25 . USA Today.
  31. Web site: Zemler . Emily . 2024-02-21 . Ashlee Simpson Reflects on 'SNL' Lip-Syncing Incident: 'It Was a Humbling Moment For Me' . 2024-04-25 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  32. News: Leeds . Jeff . Ailing Singer Needed Lip-Sync, Father Says . 29 May 2024 . The New York Times . 2004-10-26.
  33. Kate Winslet, Eminem . October 30, 2004 . 30 . 4 . Saturday Night Live . NBC.
  34. Web site: Ashlee Simpson - MAD TV Parody . May 29, 2024 . YouTube.
  35. Web site: 2024-02-20 . Ashlee Simpson shares the key lesson she learned from her 'SNL' lip-syncing controversy 20 years ago . 2024-04-25 . TODAY.com . en.