NEW STAR-STUDDED "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" DOCUMENTARY DEBUTS MAY 6
NBC PRESENTS THE LATEST BRAND NEW BEHIND-THE-SCENES "SNL" SPECIAL: "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE IN THE '90S: POP CULTURE NATION" ON SUNDAY, MAY 6 (9:00 � 11:00 PM, ET)
All-Star Line-Up Including Dana Carvey, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Mike Myers and Chris Rock Tell Tales From "SNL"'s Recent Past
NEW YORK � April 5, 2007 � Continuing to tell the story of "Saturday Night Live," NBC presents a new installment of the compelling behind-the-scenes documentary series chronicling the highs and lows of the iconic comedy show -- "Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation" � on Sunday, May 6, 9:00 � 11:00 p.m. ET.
Following up on his Emmy-nominated and critically acclaimed documentaries "Live From New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live," and "Saturday Night Live in the '80s: Lost and Found," writer-director-producer Kenneth Bowser (Emmy nominee for "John Ford/John Wayne; The Filmmaker & The Legend," "Easy Riders & Raging Bulls") has created a look at the stratospheric reach of the show in the 90s. The decade saw "SNL" going from being named "a national institution" by the prestigious Peabody Awards to being deemed "Saturday Night Dead" by the press a mere two years later�only to return stronger than ever.
"This new 'Saturday Night Live in the '90s' special is funny, dramatic and filled with great clips and new interviews featuring the biggest comedy stars of today," said Rick Ludwin, Executive Vice President, Late Night and Primetime Series, NBC Entertainment. " These are the backstage stories that made headlines. For viewers who grew up watching and became fans of 'SNL' in the '90s, this is your night."
The stories take the show all over the map � from the early nineties with one of its strongest (and largest) casts in history and the phenomenonal success of "Wayne's World" on the big screen to bitter clashes with the network culminating in the firing of the anchor of "Weekend Update." It also deals with the loss of two of the show's brightest stars and ultimately, the show's return to form later in the decade with an entirely new cast. This is the decade that has produced the leading comedy stars working today, including Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Chris Rock and Adam Sandler.
Among the new and candid interviews are creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels, many of the stars of the show including: Dana Carvey, Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Darrell Hammond, Chris Kattan, Norm Macdonald, Mark McKinney, Tim Meadows, Tracy Morgan, Mike Myers, Kevin Nealon, Cheri Oteri, Colin Quinn, Chris Rock, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Julia Sweeney and two cast members who became comedy stars after their time at "SNL:" David Koechner and Sarah Silverman. In addition, two of the most prolific hosts in SNL history � Alec Baldwin and John Goodman also offer insights.
In addition to the comedy superstars recounting their time in Studio 8H, the film includes some of the leading comedic writers and directors working today including former head writers Tim Herlihy, who went on to pen some of Sandler's biggest hits including "The Wedding Singer," and "Happy Gilmore," and writer-director Adam McKay who has paired with Ferrell for two of his biggest blockbusters, "Anchorman" and "Talladega Nights." SNL producers and veteran writers Al Franken, Tom Davis, Jim Downey and Robert Smigel and current co-head writer Paula Pell also share their stories.
Once again, while this film transcends the traditional retrospective clip show, it is jam-packed with classic moments from the decade, including "Wayne's World," "Church Chat," the Spartan Spirit Cheerleaders, Opera Man, Motivational Speaker Matt Foley, Nat X, Stuart Smalley, "Celebrity Jeopardy," "It's Pat," "The Ladies Man," Mary Katherine Gallagher, "Hollywood Minute," the Roxbury guys, Hans & Franz, "Sprockets," The Richmeister, Chris Farley's Chippendale's Audition with a healthy helping of "More Cowbell."
These are the stories fans haven't heard - all presented in the same funny, fast-paced, nostalgic format that earned "The First 5 Years" an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special. The stories from the '90s are framed and propelled by the best musical acts of the decade, including: Aerosmith, Christina Aguilera, Barenaked Ladies, Beck, Blues Traveler, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews Band, En Vogue, Foo Fighters, Garbage, Gin Blossoms, Macy Gray, Green Day, Nirvana, Oasis, Pearl Jam and R.E.M..
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