Saturday Night presents an intriguing premise: rather than chronicling the extensive history of Saturday Night Live, which is in its 50th season, the film serves as a chaotic behind-the-scenes comedy set on the eve of the show’s inaugural episode, airing on October 11, 1975.
Directed by Jason Reitman and co-written with Gil Kenan, the movie captures a frenetic atmosphere, highlighting the cast’s dramas and production challenges on a night filled with mishaps. However, this chaotic focus results in a significant oversight: the portrayal of comedy icon Gilda Radner is severely lacking.
Radner was a groundbreaking presence on Saturday Night Live, renowned for her unforgettable characters like Roseanne Roseannadanna, Lisa Loopner, and Emily Litella, as well as her impressive impersonations of stars such as Lucille Ball and Patti Smith. She even earned an Emmy in 1978 for her work. Notably, Rolling Stone ranked her as the ninth-best cast member in the show’s history, commending her for being a “prototype for the brainy city girl with a bundle of neuroses.” Yet, in Saturday Night, it seems as though she wasn’t even part of the cast.
The film sidelines Radner to such an extent that her contributions appear almost negligible. Viewers are left without a clear understanding of the vital role she played in the launch of the show, nor are they made aware that she was the first person to be cast on Saturday Night Live.
Radner’s character only exists in relation to others, with no context provided about her background, her experiences, or her emotions leading up to the live broadcast. This omission is not due to the performance of actress Ella Hunt, who convincingly embodies Radner’s charm and essence, but rather results from a lack of acknowledgment in the screenplay.
Radner is mentioned only occasionally, and for those unfamiliar with the history of Saturday Night Live, her significance may go unnoticed. It could even be argued that the amount of time dedicated to constructing the show’s set surpasses the screen time given to Radner.
Some might argue that the film focuses on the lively evening of Saturday Night Live’s foundation rather than the cast itself, which would justify a reduced emphasis on Radner. However, it’s clear that she was a beloved member of the ensemble and not known for causing discord.
In contrast, every original male cast member is given a substantial character arc. Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Dan Aykroyd, and John Belushi each receive significant development, and even figures like Jim Henson and first-host George Carlin get more attention than Radner.
This issue also extends to the film’s treatment of other female cast members. Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman are similarly underrepresented. The character with the most screen time among the women is Rosie Shuster, a writer and Lorne Michaels’ wife, whose story revolves significantly around her marital line to Lorne.
The decision to marginalize the women of SNL, particularly Radner, is frustrating and especially poignant given her status as a trailblazer in comedy. Tina Fey, during the premiere of the documentary Love, Gilda in 2018, hailed Radner as “our equivalent to Michelle Obama,” noting her authenticity and relatability. Fey also credited Radner as a major influence on herself and other comedic talents such as Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, and Amy Poehler. It is disheartening that despite her tremendous legacy, Saturday Night fails to recognize Radner’s significance, relegating her to a background role.