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The seven original Saturday Night Live performers portrayed in Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night are Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris and Laraine Newman. Here’s who plays each one in the film.
Saturday Night cast vs. the original SNL performers
| Actor in Saturday Night | Real performer portrayed |
|---|---|
| Dylan O’Brien | Dan Aykroyd |
| Matt Wood | John Belushi |
| Cory Michael Smith | Chevy Chase |
| Kim Matula | Jane Curtin |
| Ella Hunt | Gilda Radner |
| Lamorne Morris | Garrett Morris |
| Emily Fairn | Laraine Newman |
These seven original performers were known as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players. The actor-to-performer pairings are reported by TIME; Sony Pictures’ official credits list the film’s cast. Lamorne Morris and Garrett Morris share a surname, but the matching names alone do not indicate a family relationship.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Saturday Night - Blu-ray + Digital | $18.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Mr. Saturday Night [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41no-d3BqFL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Mr. Saturday Night [Blu-ray] | $7.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Saturday Night Fever (1977) (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tvjXZVl1L._SL160_.jpg)
|
Saturday Night Fever (1977) (BD) [Blu-ray] | $12.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Saturday Night Fever SCE [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51PtWkpKUAL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Saturday Night Fever SCE [Blu-ray] | $36.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Saturday Night At the Baths | $17.53 | Buy on Amazon |
Who else was at the first SNL broadcast?
The film centers on the 90 minutes before the first broadcast, which aired on October 11, 1975. That 90-minute span is the film’s stated premise, not a claim that the historical events have been verified minute by minute. George Carlin hosted the premiere, and Billy Preston and Janis Ian were its musical guests; none was one of the seven original cast members. The date and premiere lineup are reported by the Associated Press.
What the film covers—and what the cast list does not tell you
Saturday Night is a dramatization focused on the run-up to one broadcast, rather than a comprehensive history of Saturday Night Live or its performers. The cast comparison identifies whom the actors portray; it does not establish that every scene or incident happened exactly as staged. For a scene-by-scene historical claim, a source addressing that specific moment would be needed.
#1 Best Overall
- At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television ? and culture ? forever. Saturday Night is based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn?t, we count down the minutes in real time...
Jason Reitman directed the film and co-wrote it with Gil Kenan, according to Sony Pictures. Sony’s Canada page lists the film on Blu-ray and digital; availability and disc editions can vary by market.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
- Factory sealed DVD
Rank #2
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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