30 listens to celebrate 50 years of “Saturday Night Live”

30 listens to celebrate 50 years of “Saturday Night Live”

This post was originally published on Audible.com.

On October 11, 1975, NBC premiered a new late-night comedy sketch show called Saturday Night Live. Legendary comic George Carlin served as the host while Billy Preston and Janis Ian took to the stage as the episode’s musical guests. Yet, no one could quite anticipate how much of a success the show would be: On September 28, 2024, SNL will kick off its landmark 50th season. Over five decades, it has become not only one of the longest-running shows on American network television, but a beloved cultural institution. The show’s parodies of pop culture, politics, and celebrities—often performed by celebs themselves—have left an indelible mark on American comedy, entertainment, and media.

Just a few of the show’s most impactful sketches include the recurring send-up of current events in the nightly-news-inspired “Weekend Update,” a mainstay anchored by some of the show's greats, including Jane Curtin, Norm Macdonald, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Seth Meyers; the hilarious skewering of America's favorite quiz show with “Celebrity Jeopardy!,” grounded by Will Ferrell's delightfully stoic Alex Trebek impression; the brilliant character work of “Wayne's World,” starring the inimitable Mike Myers and Dana Carvey; and later, the viral sensations of Lonely Island-helmed digital shorts like “Lazy Sunday.”

In addition to each week’s notable celebrity host and musical guest, the cast itself has always been full of superstar talent. To date, 164 people have been part of the show's repertory and featured cast, including such brilliant stand-up comedians and entertainers as Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Chris Rock, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Kristen Wiig, Molly Shannon, Kenan Thompson, Maya Rudolph, Jason Sudeikis, Bill Hader, Bowen Yang, Colin Jost, and Kate McKinnon. The cast members and writers of SNL often hail from established comedy improv troupes like Second City, and beyond SNL, many of them have established celebrated careers in entertainment.

Needless to say, SNL alums and current cast members alike often turn their wit and life experiences to writing and narrating exceptional books and podcasts. In celebration of the show’s historic 50th season, we’re highlighting some of the best audiobooks and podcasts written or performed by Saturday Night Live greats. While only a sample of what's out there, this collection exemplifies the sheer range of comedic talent that has graced the stage of Studio 8H.