Fifty years ago, NBC was nervous about a new show called Saturday Night Live. The producer, Lorne Michaels, didn't give a straight answer about what it was. Fast forward to today, and there's a movie about SNL, but Michaels still hasn't seen it.
The movie, "Saturday Night," opens this week. It's about the birth of SNL and its impact on comedy and culture. But will people go watch it? The movie had a limited release last week and got positive reviews, but not rave ones. It's not like the buzz around the show's 50th anniversary.
Critics say the movie is an affectionate tribute, but it's empty. They think it should be wilder. The director, Jason Reitman, focuses on the behind-the-scenes drama. NBC could have shown old Johnny Carson episodes instead. Carson himself wasn't a fan of SNL. He thought it was disruptive.
Joan Rivers, who worked with Carson, started her own show. Carson wasn't happy. Rivers failed where Michaels succeeded. Michaels' success was partly because he didn't understand the show's impact.
Reitman thinks Michaels would say SNL is like a perfect night out in New York. But with the box office down and elections going on, the movie's future is uncertain. Some think it should be a streamer, not a theatrical release.
SNL changed TV culture. Now, its movie is coming out at a time when movie culture needs change too. Maybe it needs some improv, like SNL.
