Preserve the Creative Essence of "Saturday Night Live" with the National Comedy Center
As "Saturday Night Live" celebrates its golden anniversary, the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, has embarked on a mission to safeguard a trove of the show's formative creative materials.
Original cast member Laraine Newman and writer Alan Zweibel have generously curated a collection of documents from the show's first five years. This invaluable archive encompasses original scripts, drafts of Weekend Update segments, early iterations of John Belushi's samurai sketches, and the genesis of Gilda Radner's beloved character, Roseanne Roseannadanna.
"These papers encapsulate the creative chaos and revolutionary spirit of 'SNL's early years, when iconic sketches and characters were born," said Zweibel, an Advisory Board member at the National Comedy Center. "I'm honored that our contributions will reside in the Carl Reiner Department of Archives and Preservation for posterity."
The National Comedy Center will commemorate "SNL's" milestone with multifaceted celebrations. Writer and cast member Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidell will engage in a stage dialogue, showcasing the addition of "Washington's Dream" sketch cue cards to the Center's archives.
"This extraordinary collection offers an unparalleled glimpse into the creative crucible of 'Saturday Night Live,'" said Journey Gunderson, Executive Director of the National Comedy Center. "It underscores the artistic breakthroughs and failures of a pioneering team that redefined the landscape of comedy."
Join the National Comedy Center in preserving the legacy of "Saturday Night Live," a comedic institution that has left an indelible mark on American culture.