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7 Contracts
SNL received some negative publicity in 1999 when it was leaked that, henceforth, actors joining the show would have to agree in their five- to six-year contract that, upon request, they would act in up to three movies by SNL Films, for fees of US$75,000, US$150,000, and then US$300,000; and also that, upon request, they would leave SNL and act in an NBC sitcom for up to an additional six years. This appeared to be a reaction to the departure of Adam Sandler to movie stardom.
Some agents and managers characterized these long-term contracts as involuntary servitude, saying that almost any young, undiscovered comic would immediately agree to any given set of exploitative contractual restrictions for the opportunity to launch their careers via the show. NBC publicly defended the new contracts, saying that SNL was doing a service to young comics by launching so many careers.
It was reported in 1999 that the starting salary for SNL cast members was US$5,000 per episode.
8 Trivia
9 The cast
See Saturday Night Live cast.
10 Frequent hosts
The following performers have hosted SNL at least five times:
Several special episodes of Saturday Night Live have been compiled and aired that were "best of" episodes of several of these hosts, including Christopher Walken and Tom Hanks.
11 Hosts appearing as musical guests
Michael McKean is the only performer to appear as cast member, host, and (as David St. Hubbins of Spinal Tap) musical guest. Those appearing as both host and musical guest include:
12 Recurring characters and sketches
The most enduring segment is Weekend Update, which has been part of every show (though under varying names during the Doumanian/Ebersol years). Other recurring characters and sketches include:
- The Ambiguously Gay Duo (a cartoon by Robert Smigel)
- The "Bass-o-matic"
- Mr. Bill
- The Blues Brothers ( Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi)
- Brian Fellow's Safari Planet, ( Tracy Morgan )
- Canteen Boy ( Adam Sandler)
- Celebrity Jeopardy! ( Will Ferrell and various others)
- The Céline Dion Show ( Ana Gasteyer)
- Church Lady ( Dana Carvey)
- Coffee Talk with Linda Richman ( Mike Myers)
- The Continental, ( Christopher Walken)
- The Coneheads ( Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin)
- The Dark Side With Nat X , ( Chris Rock)
- Deep Thoughts , ( Jack Handey)
- Delta Delta Delta ( Melanie Hutsell et al.)
- Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner-Juice (Ad)
- Ed Grimley ( Martin Short)
- Emily Litella ( Gilda Radner)
- Father Guido Sarducci ( Don Novello)
- Fernando's Hideaway ( Billy Crystal)
- Fuzzy Memories , ( Jack Handey)
- Gay Hitler ( Chris Kattan)
- Gemini's Twin ( Maya Rudolph and Ana Gasteyer).
- Hans and Franz ( Kevin Nealon, Dana Carvey)
- Mister Robinson's Neighborhood ( Eddie Murphy)
- Mango ( Chris Kattan)
- Mary Katherine Gallagher ( Molly Shannon)
- Pat ( Julia Sweeney)
- The Richmeister ( Rob Schneider)
- Scottish Store ( Mike Myers)
- the Spartan Cheerleaders ( Cheri Oteri and Will Ferrell)
- Sprockets, ( Mike Myers)
- Subliminal Message Man , Kevin Nealon
- The Ladies Man ( Tim Meadows)
- Tommy Flanagan
- Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker ( Chris Farley)
- Nick Burns, Your Company's Computer Guy ( Jimmy Fallon)
- Samurai ( John Belushi)
- Stuart Smalley ( Al Franken)
- The Hollywood Minute Reporter-( David Spade)
- Theodoric of York, Medieval Barber ( Steve Martin)
- Wake Up and Smile! ( Will Ferrell and Nancy Walls )
- Wake Up, Wakefield! ( Maya Rudolph and Rachel Dratch)
- Wayne's World ( Dana Carvey, Mike Myers)
- Wild and Crazy Guys ( Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd)
