Saturday Night
A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live
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Saturday Night
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Narrated by:
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Bill Hemberger
About this listen
Saturday Night is the intimate, original history of Saturday Night Live, from its beginnings as an outlaw program produced by an unruly band of renegades from the comedy underground to a TV institution that made stars of John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy.
This is the book that revealed to the world what really happened behind the scenes during the first ten years of this groundbreaking program, from the battles SNL fought with NBC to the battles fought within the show itself. It's all here— the love affairs, betrayals, rivalries, drug problems, overnight successes, and bitter failures, mixed with the creation of some of the most outrageous and original comedy ever.
This reissue features nearly fifty photographs of cast, crew and sketches. Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad covered television for a wide variety of popular and professional organizations and publications, including The Associated Press, The New York Times, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, TV Guide, Broadcasting/Cablecasting, and Advertising Age.
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“ It reads like a thriller, and may be the best book ever written about television.” Associated Press“
A chilling real-life cliffhanger.” Washington Post“
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Lorne
- The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live
- By: Susan Morrison
- Narrated by: Kristen DiMercurio, Susan Morrison
- Length: 22 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 193
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 182
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 182
Over the fifty years that Lorne Michaels has been at the helm of Saturday Night Live, he has become a revered and inimitable presence in the entertainment world. He’s a tastemaker, a mogul, a withholding father figure, a genius spotter of talent, a shrewd businessman, a name-dropper, a raconteur, the inspiration for Dr. Evil, the winner of more than a hundred Emmys—and, essentially, a mystery. Generations of writers and performers have spent their lives trying to figure him out, by turns demonizing and lionizing him.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great read but several weird mispronunciations
- By Larry Carlat on 02-20-25
By: Susan Morrison
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Live from New York
- An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live
- By: Tom Shales, James Andrew Miller
- Narrated by: Christopher Burns, Eric Conger
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 987
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 641
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Story4 out of 5 stars 639
A history of Saturday Night Live that finally reveals what really went on backstage, on the set, in the writers' offices, and on the town. Dozens of stars, writers, and guest hosts recall the backstage gossip, feuds, foibles, drugs, sex, struggles, and calamities of the show that changed television.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Interesting inside look, so-so presentation
- By Tim on 12-22-02
By: Tom Shales, and others
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39 Years of Short-Term Memory Loss
- The Early Days of SNL from Someone Who Was There
- By: Tom Davis
- Narrated by: Tom Davis
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 63
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 39
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Story4 out of 5 stars 39
i>39 Years of Short-Term Memory Loss is a seriously funny, offbeat, and irreverent memoir that chronicles the early days of Saturday Night Live and features some of its greatest personalities---Al Franken, Lorne Michaels, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Michael O'Donoghue, and Chris Farley.
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5 out of 5 stars
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GREAT MEMORIES!!!
- By Ruth R-Evans on 08-21-12
By: Tom Davis
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The War for Late Night
- When Leno Went Early and Television Went Crazy
- By: Bill Carter
- Narrated by: Sean Kenin
- Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 922
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 734
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 734
When NBC decided to move Jay Leno into prime time to make room for Conan O'Brien to host the Tonight show - a job he had been promised five years earlier - skeptics anticipated a train wreck for the ages. It took, in fact, only a few months for the dire predictions to come true. Leno's show, panned by critics, dragged down the ratings - and the profits - of NBC's affiliates, while ratings for Conan's new Tonight show plummeted to the lowest levels in history.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great Story
- By Roy on 11-24-10
By: Bill Carter
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'House' and Philosophy
- Everybody Lies
- By: Henry Jacoby
- Narrated by: Henry Jacoby
- Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 19
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 15
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 15
An unauthorized look at the philosophical issues raised by popular television show House. House was one of the top three television dramas on the air, pulling in more than 19 million viewers for each episode. This latest book in the popular Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series takes a deeper look at the characters and issues raised in this Emmy Award-winning medical drama, offering entertaining answers to the fascinating ethical questions viewers have about Dr. Gregory House and his medical team.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Sounds like a college paper
- By MannyandJess on 02-03-23
By: Henry Jacoby
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The Comedians
- Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy
- By: Kliph Nesteroff
- Narrated by: Kliph Nesteroff
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 575
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 515
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 515
In The Comedians, comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff brings to life a century of American comedy with real-life characters, forgotten stars, mainstream heroes and counterculture iconoclasts. Based on over 200 original interviews and extensive archival research, Nesteroff's groundbreaking work is a narrative exploration of the way comedians have reflected, shaped, and changed American culture over the past 100 years.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Performance issues
- By E. A. Smith on 09-02-19
By: Kliph Nesteroff
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The Chris Farley Show
- A Biography in Three Acts
- By: Tom Farley, Tanner Colby
- Narrated by: Therese Plummer, L. J. Ganser, Mark Boyett
- Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,394
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,126
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,113
The New York Times best-selling biography of an American comedy legend. After three years of sobriety, Chris Farley's life was at its creative peak until a string of professional disappointments chased him back to drugs and alcohol. He fought hard against them, but it was a fight he would lose in December 1997. Farley's fans immediately drew parallels between his death and that of his idol, John Belushi. Without looking deeper, however, many failed to see that Farley was much more than just another Hollywood drug overdose. In this officially authorized oral history, Farley's friends and family remember his work and life.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Incredibly sad....
- By Marie B on 04-12-15
By: Tom Farley, and others
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Hanna-Barbera, the Recorded History
- From Modern Stone Age to Meddling Kids
- By: Greg Ehrbar, Leonard Maltin, Tim Matheson - foreword
- Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby
- Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1
Whether it's Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, the Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, Huckleberry Hound, or hundreds of others, the creations of the Hanna-Barbera studio continue to delight generations worldwide. The groundbreaking company employed thousands in the art and business of animation. Some of them were vintage-era veterans, others were up-and-coming talents, some of whom found blockbuster success at other studios. The power of the sounds that Hanna-Barbera crafted to accompany the compelling visuals was a key factor in its spectacular success.
By: Greg Ehrbar, and others
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Wild and Crazy Guys
- How the Comedy Mavericks of the '80s Changed Hollywood Forever
- By: Nick de Semlyen
- Narrated by: Curtis Armstrong
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 700
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 622
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 619
The behind-the-scenes story of the iconic funnymen who ruled '80s Hollywood - Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Eddie Murphy - and the beloved films that made them stars, including Animal House, Caddyshack, and Ghostbusters.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Side-Alley Stroll Down Memory Lane of SNL/SCTV Comedians
- By Eirekitten on 02-23-21
By: Nick de Semlyen
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I Want My MTV
- The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution
- By: Craig Marks, Rob Tannenbaum
- Narrated by: Luke Daniels
- Length: 20 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,073
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 937
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 934
It was a pretty radical idea - a channel for teenagers, showing nothing but music videos. It was such a radical idea that almost no one thought it would actually succeed, much less become a force in the worlds of music, television, film, fashion, sports, and even politics. But it did work. MTV became more than anyone had ever imagined. I Want My MTV tells the story of the first decade of MTV, the golden era when MTV's programming was all videos, all the time, and kids watched religiously to see their favorite bands, learn about new music, and have something to talk about at parties.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The Most Entertaining Book of the Year
- By David on 10-24-12
By: Craig Marks, and others
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The Late Shift
- Letterman, Leno, & the Network Battle for the Night
- By: Bill Carter
- Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
- Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 234
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 206
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 205
When beloved host Johnny Carson announced his retirement after 30 years on The Tonight Show, millions of Americans mourned. But inside the television industry, the news ignited a battle between two amazing talents - Jay Leno and David Letterman - who both yearned to occupy the departing legend's chair. For NBC, it would be a decision with millions of dollars at stake. Soon these two comedians with strikingly different styles, who had once shared a friendship as they worked the clubs together, would be engaged in a fierce competition for the prize.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Very detailed, spectacular, and riveting!
- By John Collins on 02-09-21
By: Bill Carter
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You're Lucky You're Funny
- How Life Becomes a Sitcom
- By: Phil Rosenthal
- Narrated by: Phil Rosenthal
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 453
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 329
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 328
This laugh-out-loud memoir takes listeners backstage and inside the writers’ room of one of America’s best-loved shows. With more than 17 million viewers and more than 70 Emmy nominations—including two wins for best comedy—Everybody Loves Raymond reigned supreme in television comedy for almost a decade.
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5 out of 5 stars
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For Raymond Lovers
- By Margaret C. on 11-05-06
By: Phil Rosenthal
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When I Was Your Age
- Life Lessons, Funny Stories & Questionable Parenting Advice from a Professional Clown
- By: Kenan Thompson
- Narrated by: Kenan Thompson
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 605
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 565
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 565
Kenan Thompson is Saturday Night Live’s longest-ever-serving cast member and a star of such pioneering sketches as “Black Jeopardy” and is hugely beloved thanks to a tidal wave of nostalgic fans who grew up on early 2000s classics All That, Good Burger, and Kenan & Kel on Nickelodeon. He’s also a dad (to two girls) in his mid-40s living in suburbia, and whose universal, relatable, family-friendly humor has created unbelievable appeal and engagement from fans from middle America to coastal elites. Becoming a dad sucked the cool right out of him—and he's OK with that!
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5 out of 5 stars
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An incredible storyteller
- By K. Brown on 01-07-24
By: Kenan Thompson
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Saturday Night Live and American TV
- By: Ron Becker, Nick Marx, Matt Sienkiewicz
- Narrated by: Jim Tedder
- Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 18
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 15
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Story3.5 out of 5 stars 15
Week after week, SNL has produced unforgettable sketches and provocative political satire, adapting to changing times while staying true to its original vision of performing timely topical humor. With essays that address issues ranging from race and gender to authorship and comedic performance, Saturday Night Live and American TV follows the history of this 36-time Emmy-winning show and its place in the shifting social and media landscape of American television.
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1 out of 5 stars
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They Managed To Make A Boring, Stuffy Book
- By MovieGuy on 01-24-18
By: Ron Becker, and others
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Oscar Wars
- A History of Hollywood in Gold, Sweat, and Tears
- By: Michael Schulman
- Narrated by: Charlie Thurston
- Length: 21 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 318
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 265
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 264
In Oscar Wars, Michael Schulman chronicles the remarkable, sprawling history of the Academy Awards and the personal dramas—some iconic, others never-before-revealed—that have played out on the stage and off camera. Unlike other books on the subject, each chapter takes a deep dive into a particular year, conflict, or even category that tells a larger story of cultural change, from Louis B. Mayer to Moonlight. Schulman examines how the red carpet runs through contested turf, and the victors aren't always as clear as the names drawn from envelopes.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating and FUN
- By Peter Riley on 06-11-23
By: Michael Schulman
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The Blues Brothers
- An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic
- By: Daniel De Visé
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 109
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 101
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 101
The saga behind The Blues Brothers, as Daniel de Visé reveals, is epic, encompassing the colorful childhoods of Belushi and Aykroyd; the comedic revolution sparked by Harvard’s Lampoon and Chicago’s Second City; the birth and anecdote-rich, drug-filled early years of Saturday Night Live, where the Blues Brothers were born as an act amidst turmoil and rivalry; and, of course, the indelible behind-the-scenes narrative of how the film was made, scene by memorable scene.
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5 out of 5 stars
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In my opinion, the best single book on Belushi.
- By Ron Phenicie on 04-19-24
By: Daniel De Visé
Also, it’s updated for the 50th Anniversary in the intro alone. The epilogue is retained from the original release from the 1980s (a hopeful one where Lorne returns to run SNL for the 11th season). Would have loved to hear more, but that’s where “Live From New York” takes over.
Wonderful story, noticeable mispronunciations.
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