My Teenage Years and SNL Memories: A Glimpse into the Past

When I was in high school, I had an amazing group of friends. We weren’t really into the usual high school antics. Instead, we’d hang out during the week at Books-a-Million in Owensboro, to "study." Okay yes, we actually studied—well, most of the time—but we also made some incredible memories. Saturday nights were reserved for hanging out at Shankar or Wes’s house because they had the coolest basements and giant TVs, perfect for watching Saturday Night Live. Back then, before I could drive, the deal was that my mom would pick me up after the show ended. Yeah, we were a big group of nerds and I'm so glad I got to spend my teenage years with them.

I’m definitely dating myself here, but those were the glory years of Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Cheri Oteri, and so many others bringing their comedic genius to life.

Still Watching SNL 30 Years Later

Even now, my husband and I still tune in most weekends. But honestly, with Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant gone, the magic isn’t quite the same. The new cast needs time to find their rhythm, but at least they’ve got Kenan Thompson to anchor things. Can you believe he’s been there since W. was president? Wild, right?

And can you believe that this year marks SNL's 50th anniversary on the air? It’s incredible how generational the show is. If you ask people about their favorite cast members, you’ll always hear some version of, “It hasn’t been funny since [INSERT CAST MEMBERS HERE] left.” Everyone’s got an opinion, and people get really defensive about the political satire. But honestly, they roast everyone, so what’s the big deal?

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SNL Celebrating 50 Years

It's the 50th anniversary of the show's inception.

"The year 1975 was a hinge moment in America. The president of the United States had recently resigned in disgrace, and politics was deeply unsettled," SNL creator Lorne Michaels said of the world that Saturday Night Live was born into, writing in a 2013 Vanity Fair. Prior to devising his trailblazing late night format, Michaels' TV experience had included writing jobs on two NBC variety shows, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show.

The first episode was called NBC Saturday Night and premiered on October 11, 1975. George Carlin was the host with Billy Preston and Janis Ian as musical guests.

. See more about it here, including where to watch it. 

Hoosiers on SNL

Looking back at my own SNL favorites, I started wondering about the Hoosiers who have been impersonated by SNL cast members. Here's what I found...

Norm MacDonald as David Letterman

The infamous Norm MacDonald, who was eventually 'let go' from the show, did an unforgettable impression of Indiana native and late-night talk show host David Letterman. With that signature gap between his teeth and his trusty sidekick Paul to help bounce the jokes, Norm’s “you got any gum?” skit is a classic moment that will always be remembered in SNL history.

Jan Hooks as Jane Pauley

Cast member Jan Hooks played the longtime journalist and TV personality from Indianapolis. Pauley later appeared as herself in the audience.

Robert Downy Jr. as John Mellencamp

RDJ took on the role of rock legend John Mellencamp, hailing from Seymour, Indiana, in a hilarious skit about his homegrown musical style. Mellencamp himself was also the musical guest alongside Gena Davis on April 22, 1989.

Janet Jackson as Herself

Janet hosted SNL and was the musical guest on April 10, 2004 and was the musical guest alongside Heather Locklear on May 14, 1994.

Various Artists as Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson, another famous Gary, Indiana native, never actually hosted or was a musical guest on SNL, but his unique appearance and mannerisms made him prime material for some iconic skits. The show had plenty of fun poking fun at his distinctive style, even without him directly being involved.

That's all I could find but there's probably more. Who did I miss?

QUIZ: Can You Guess the Iconic TV Show From Just One Opening Freeze-Frame?

Think you’re the ultimate TV fan? How well do you know your classic TV intros? Put your knowledge to the test with our quiz. We’ll show you a freeze-frame from the opening credits of an iconic TV show—take your best guess, then scroll to see if you were right and watch the full opening. Good luck!

Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz

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