“A Night to Remember: The Birth of Comedy’s Greatest Institution”
In a thrilling exposé that reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a typical comedy chronicle, Harper’s Bazaar takes you behind the scenes of the legendary night that changed television forever. Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night” isn’t just another backstage peek; it’s a heart-pounding race against the clock that culminates in the birth of an American institution.
Set against the backdrop of New York’s iconic 30 Rockefeller Center, this cinematic rollercoaster begins at 10 p.m. on October 11, 1975 – a date that would soon be etched into the annals of entertainment history. As Reitman puts it, “It’s a thriller-comedy, if you can call that a genre.” And darlings, we’re calling it exactly that.
The film boasts a star-studded cast that reads like a who’s who of Hollywood’s brightest young things. Rachel Sennott, fresh from her scandalously delicious turn in “Bottoms,” brings her razor-sharp wit to the proceedings. Meanwhile, Gabriel LaBelle, still basking in the glow of his breakout role in Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” proves he’s more than ready for prime time.
But it’s not just about the faces on screen. The real drama unfolds in the writers’ room, where Emmy-winner Lorne Michaels (played with steely determination) and his ex-wife Rosie Shuster (a pivotal member of the original writing staff) navigate the treacherous waters of creating comedy gold under pressure.
As the seconds tick away, we’re introduced to a cavalcade of soon-to-be household names: Chevy Chase, the first “Weekend Update” anchor destined for Hollywood stardom; Gilda Radner, whose infectious energy would soon earn her an Emmy; and Dan Aykroyd, the future Ghostbuster with a penchant for Emmy-winning writing.
The tension ratchets up as we meet John Belushi, one half of the iconic Blues Brothers, and Laraine Newman, whose five-season run would help define an era. Even peripheral characters like Jacqueline Carlin, Chevy Chase’s future wife, add layers of intrigue to this pressure cooker of creativity.
As Reitman so aptly puts it, “I always describe this movie as a shuttle launch, and the question was, ‘Would they break orbit?'” Well, darlings, we all know they did – and how! But it’s the journey, not the destination, that makes “Saturday Night” a must-see cinematic event.
So mark your calendars for October 11, when this thrilling piece of fashion-forward filmmaking hits theaters. After all, comedy may be timeless, but style is always of the moment.
