Creating Saturday Night Live: Control Room

Director Don Roy King and crew share how an episode goes from script to stage.
Produced by Lorne Michaels, Oz Rodriguez, Matt Yonks, Chris Voss, Erin Doyle
Edited by Sean McIlraith
#SNL #SNL43
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[@Emteon]

There needs to be a 2 hour SNL documentary

[@karissa.nicole]

Pharom James Franco did a documentary on it that’s pretty good, but it focuses more on the writers and the week leading up to the show. You can find it online but it’s not currently on any of the major streaming sites

[@filmtoppings]

i'd watch a 5 hour one tbh

[@BIOL6895]

Reality series!

[@thisguy9042]

Franco? Oh, no thanks

[@quarterhorse2158]

Yes !

[@charliewerner8443]

I can’t be the only one who wants to see a full episode behind the scenes live with directors commands etc

[@RaymondHng]

Charlie Werner Did you see the KZbin videos of the directors in the control room during the opening number of the Tony Awards and the Supporting Actor winner speech at the Academy Awards? The directors were overseeing a dozen cameras and rapidly firing off switching commands to the technical directors.

[@maximalgeflext]

links pls

[@joelluber]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3Kxkn2dptZjhJo One of my funnest experiences was getting to watch in the control room during an episode of ESPN College GameDay. It definitely wasn't as frantic as the Tonys or SNL, but they also had a crew of folks crunching stats live to feed to the presenters and graphics folks building graphics in real time.

[@benjamin4357]

@@joelluber thanks

[@maciekkonarski4701]

Go to a taping!

[@DannyDevitooo]

If I worked there I’d probably have a nervous breakdown

[@nothanks5752]

ImpalerGaming I had one watching this video.

[@pauldunford7323]

I'd work in the set design crew just hanging drywall and shit. I think it would be fun.

[@4seeableTV]

This is why, when people complain about SNL actors reading off cue cards and not memorizing lines, we see that there ARE no lines to memorize because they're changing them so often.

[@DJMichaelAngelo]

....which is, as we can see, a terrible idea and if it were scrapped, then the dialog would seem more natural and not so detached & wooden - SNL's production values have always been sub-standard though, this is just like one of 100 examples :(

[@haravikk]

That's why SNL is such a great proving ground for comedy actors; they separate the wheat from the chaff by who can make it look natural, even as everything is going to hell around them and the lines are being edited as they read them. It's perhaps better to think of SNL as less of a scripted sketch-show and more of a comedy gauntlet; I have the utmost respect for those who can not only handle the organised chaos of the live show, but thrive within it.

[@amaksim9371]

Got anxiety from watching this.

[@Nicole-in5od]

No kidding

[@franmccarthy2185]

you should watch the set design one.

[@mj-yo7vt]

Was about to say the same thing

[@mloftin6472]

Me too!

[@moviegal6000]

I agree! I was getting stressed just listening to them talk about how they handle everything after Weekend Update. superstars!!!

[@bravo.siguenza]

So... the "S" in SNL stands for Stressful, right?

[@chrissiek8706]

Stressful Nightmarish Life 😏

[@BenNuProductions]

no it stands for "Saturday" you coagulated fuck

[@taylorsalim2004]

- Ben Nu Productions - ok woah it was a joke calm down

[@johnb.8687]

It stands for cocaine night live

[@anandchahal6063]

Stressful niggas laughing

[@aidan2565]

Wow. This makes me regret how easily I often complain when sketches are bad, I had no idea this is how much work goes into the show. From now on I’ll understand when a sketch doesn’t quite work, and I’ll have more appreciation for every sketch that does.

[@petitoiseaudusoleil2517]

Aidan Showing humility on the internet! You rock man!

[@michellemabelle8298]

Love this comment

[@Censtudios]

Damn... On one hand I want to tell you "OF COURSE! What? You think it just happens?" but on the other hand, someone that's actually humble in the KZbin comments... Gotta respect that.

[@taakotuesdays]

I come back to this comment quite often because of the humility in it

[@sign543]

Aidan - Same, same, same, same...I’m just blown away by this little featurette. This needs a 2-hour feature length documentary!!! I’d watch the SHIT out of it! 😂

[@jerminator356]

This is a lot of work just to make me laugh thanks everybody for the hard work

[@Marphale]

Jerminator 83 Not just you watching though, is it?

[@shauryamittal7609]

More like it makes their bank account happy

[@lorahart1933]

This sounds so stressful but exciting at the same time

[@antoniovelazquez993]

Laura Hart sounds like me ;)

[@dtvfan24]

yep, i would just be screaming. so much steess and presuse. and even changing on the fly while live airing.

[@anonomouse5135]

I apologize to everyone involved.

[@ginnyweasley5812]

That was annoyingly cute😂😂

[@carlychapman5589]

As a student pursuing a degree in film and television, this series is some of my favorite videos on youtube! thank you so much for sharing the creative process that goes into making this show so successful week after week.

[@1yearOLD]

I have been watching creating snl videos, but this one is the most insane so far. I can't believe people manage to do this every week for decades. It is insaaaane. Also imagine taking over this job position after one of them retires. I think its one of the reason people work there for so many years.

[@rachelladue1572]

that's exactly what i was thinking like all of the "creating snl" videos are insane and amazing and stressful but this one actually made me feel panicked and on edge while watching it. And i agree like it is so important that they have these ppl that are practically experts at it, it's like specializing in a very specific skill it's so hard to find new ppl that are capable at it without having been through it themselves for 10+ years

[@michaelrmurphy2734]

And there are staff there now who were not even BORN when SNL started in 1975! Only Lorne.

[@hipnhappenin]

I'm confused. I have a high stress job. Today is my day off..... I'm now hyperventilating into a paper bag.

[@charlie5thumbs351]

Yeah, that was crazy! I have a new appreciation for everyone involved with that show. My head would explode doing that kind of job.

[@calisongbird]

hipnhappenin 😂😂😂

[@ClayMcDonald]

This really makes me appreciate the show even more. How do people do this without having a panic attack?

[@sohums.6107]

They say it’s normal to cry every rehearsal 😂

[@priyachoudhary9896]

Actually bill Hader had multiple panic attacks, even during the sketches but dude's a legend and he worked with it.

[@WatchJRGo]

How have I watched every single Creating SNL but this one?! This was by far the greatest in the series. ❤️

[@RazCloset]

This is a pretty cool behind the scenes video. Thanks for sharing.

[@bbg830]

No wonder Liz Lemon was losing her mind

[@emi-qu5iu]

I'm genuinely asking, but has there never been a show where everything went horribly wrong?? I can't imagine that not happening at least once under those kinds of conditions

[@canaisyoung3601]

Read the book "Live From New York: The Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live". There are plenty of stories about how most Saturday Night Live episodes were stressful to produce. I think the episode hosted by Madonna from season 11 and most episodes from seasons 6 and 20 qualify.

[@priyachoudhary9896]

A lot of time, usually they let it air when the shit hits the fan but when they wrap up its a storm by Lorne, lots of cast members and hosts were either fired or banned from ever hosting, Martin Lawrence's off the rail women hygiene monologue, Adrien Brody's Jamaican accent which banned himself or Jenny slate saying shit on live TV

[@allyabellana3964]

Conversely id like to know if there were any episodes that went more or less as planned from the beginning

[@burnpygmalion39]

I love that they all talk about Lorne like he’s a god or a mythical creature

[@Adan11961]

I mean, in the miniverse subset of reality that is SNL he technically is

[@QRSC-fh2ob]

My hair would turn gray in a month.

[@calisongbird]

QRS3C273 😂👍🏼

[@HanzieTay]

Can you do a follow round type video with one of the writers? I'd love to see how their week goes!

[@HanzieTay]

I wanna see the full week/a more in depth look! I was reading the article today on Vulture about the whole evolution of the David S Pumpkins sketch and it was so detailed, I wanted to actually see it all happen! haha

[@stilzink]

too many people overlook the production crew who deserve the most of the credit for making these shows happen.. I have to give it to the front bench who hold it together.. Television is one of the greatest careers I've had the privilege to work..

[@ozgunozankilic]

Damn. I've seen some chaotic production environments, but this is just insane.

[@samantharhodes4610]

The residual anxiety I got from watching this video is enough to keep me up at night for 7 weeks straight

[@peytonpeper2452]

Literally getting anxiety just watching 8 minutes of this. Kudos to everyone, beyond incredible what they do

[@JC-ev2ns]

I could literally watch a reality television show that follows the cast and crew every week leading up to the shows and backstage during the shows, and that show would probably be better than the actual SNL

[@grantharvey4393]

If that didn't add more stress to their already insanely stressful jobs, I would be down for this too

[@hipchick2700]

That was basically the premise for 30 Rock

[@lolkenen6249]

Man I’d love to see a full documentary of these I love it 😍

[@justinbowen2509]

james franco did one recently

[@ericandkyle]

I was at the Lena Dunham dress rehearsal and a sketch that was cut was called "Little Buff Boys". It was hilarious and I am both sad and happy it will never be seen again.

[@emilyward9101]

Eric Does The Internet please go on

[@nanobotjr]

Eric Does The Internet Yeah go on.

[@spng157]

Yeah go on.

[@zak8953]

Well at least there's a little less Lena Dunham in the world. So there's a positive!

[@buffbanana15]

Sometimes Lorne gets it wrong. There’s sketches that were cut for time that I’ll see on KZbin and think are better than the ones they kept.

[@doc1611]

I had a panic attack just watching this! 'When its working on all cylinders, its like...music'...Well thank you for making it work like that all these years!! I'm from Pakistan and its my dream to work at SNL ❤

[@nickb816]

The more I learn about this show the more I realize how insanely challenging and intricate the creation of this show actually is.

This is the best behind the scenes I have ever seen! Great group of people, great show!

[@CassiTheNerd]

*This is why I love television production.* Working a live shoot can be an exhilarating, magical thing, and if you have a good crew the set-up can be great fun, too.

[@87prawblems]

I have an unbelievable new respect. Anyone that’s ever worked in television in any capacity knows that this.is.bananas. I knew it was a lot of last minute changes, but I had NO IDEA the director is getting all of this info on the fly. I have nothing but admiration... 22 years in media and I cannot imagine. They deserve so much more credit (I hope they’re compensated well for this stress)

[@LeslieLello]

I would love to be a stage manager for SNL. I thrive in environments like this.

[@mitchellneth]

This just seems like horrible workflow management. Doing the same thing for 40 years and now with collaborative online tools like never before that allow crews and their productions to be more efficient than ever, they still opt for paper outlines with changes that rarely hit all the people they should in the name sake of keeping with tradition? Seems like wasted energy or a plethora of people who refuse to shift from the way they've always done it.

[@BigDsportsfan92]

I got stressed just watching this...

[@colleentate544]

Wow! I really appreciate what everyone does to deliver such a lovely, entertaining show to all of us. So generous and beautiful!

[@lordhumongous371]

Colleen Tate Shut the fuck up.

[@thewizardofoz511]

That's awesome that you're so grateful an appreciative and more people need to be like that👊

[@emic138]

I only realized i had stopped breathing for the entire video when i took a breath at the end of the video! 😲

[@HeyMySock]

It's stressful just hearing them talk about it. I can't imagine what it's like being there.

[@kale7842]

I love behind the scenes makes Television less glamorous and more realsitic. Thank you for sharing the opportunity. Would love to see more if anyone has the time. Please post more. 👍

[@mindroots]

Insane level of production. I had imagined it was crazy but this prove it's at least a thousand times worse than i thought. Which means it is a real miracle every week. Incredible dedication to follow through no matter what. Sharp minds involve and no lazy people here.

[@SG-BLAST]

I thought there were like 3 studios but now that I see it, it's amazing

[@myinboxes]

You know, if I were running it there would HAVE to be 3 studios.

[@whatevs00]

also, it is TINY. I took the tour at 30 Rock once and it’s insane how they cram it all in.

[@sign543]

This should be made into a feature-length documentary! This is fascinating!

[@R_Arriaga]

And still you guys make it so enjoyable week after week. Who would imagine this amount of stress with all the happy faces on screen. SNL you guys are the best, thanks for all your efforts.

[@jm-bn9sy]

having worked as sound and lights designer for a small oap high school production, this looks extremely fun

[@kelseycosta6247]

This is so damn cool. Y'all do a great job.

[@StealthMaster86]

And here I thought making one 20 minute episode of South Park a week was stressful.

[@peppergod]

Now I'm stressed out.

[@TheSutianneli]

Just watching 8 minutes gave my sweaty palms.. hands down to the production team!! It would also be awesome if SNL made a full 2 hour long documentation on this stuff, SO INTERESTING!!! and it makes us appreciate the show a lot more

[@김셰넌]

Wow this was amazing!! I learned so much!

[@hotonesjr.1635]

Put a camera in the control room during the live show pls

[@JustinLHopkins]

Yah, I still have no clue how SNL works.

[@ck-xf6ku]

what I learned: The staff and actors both have insane improvisation

[@BenteMeijer]

the more of these snlmaking of videos i watch the more my respect grows tremendously. it is absolutely amazing what you guys put on the screen every week and how❤️

[@sarkaniemi]

May SNL continue for many more years! SNL definitely has brought so much joy and laughter through the years! The show is iconic!

[@adrianmoreno2212]

I could watch this, and many other behind-the-scene of SNL, every day! Couldn't stop smiling

[@ernest747]

That's why we need more actors and less engineers...

[@i-never-look-at-replies-lol]

ernest747 people who run around play make believe all day don't do shit for advancing society

[@RaymondHng]

ernest747 You need all those engineers behind the scene to make all that television production and broadcasting equipment to work.

[@jp9707]

Thing is though, as a society we don't just have to focus on advancing, we need people who make our lives full of joy and nice to live in as well, which is why we need creative types!

[@Jecoopster]

This is a terrible way to produce a show, and really explains why most sketches after Update are bad.

[@CurtisDensmore1]

These people are nuts! How does it ever work?

[@CHILLeywithSchiley]

I love the guy that says: "Ready 5, Have a great show, Here we go" in the beginning of all these videos.

[@nicholasbiddle7893]

That is impressive, and this is why people still respect SNL after all these years

[@user-ei7ed6zy9k]

This is basically what WWE do. The match rehearsals are on small untelevized "WWE live" shows. The promos are half script half improvisation. Kevin Dunne, Vince and the production team are talking into the earpieces of the commentators, referee's, camera men, ring maintenance crew, ring announcers, time keepers areas etc. Live on TV for 3 hours straight on Monday Night Raw and 2 hours on Friday night Smackdown

[@hayleeherrera3615]

Sounds like pure chaos and I love it.

[@broadwaymike92]

I actually worked as a background 3 years ago for one of the skits. A day in the life of working SNL, I give my applause to everyone on board that team.... the main cast, the crew, the band, the technicians, the creative team, and everyone. So much hard work but it all pays off. Everyone was soooooooo nice, funny, and love doing their jobs. When I first got to be on the show, that was such a fun learning experience. I was in the Google Talk skit when Jessica Chastain hosted as part of the little audience (the little Bart Simpson parody). I had rehearsal on Friday which was the blocking & first run through of the skit. Plus, we would have the main crew come in talking about the plan and what do we wear for the live taping. The next day, we would arrive at the Studio early afternoon for a camera tech run through. We then would have a long break. Have to be back by 6pm for Hair and Makeup in preparing for dress rehearsal. 8pm is the dress rehearsal which the audience determines what skits go into the live show. About a half hour after Dress is the final decision of what skits make it in. Luckily for us, Google Talk made it in to the Live Show and we would do some touch ups. Also some of the skits get re-arranged last minute. From there, 11:30pm..... it's LIVE!!! We go out there and do the skit and then once I finish it, you're done. The one part that's sad though is that us background don't get to go up on stage at the end for the GOOD NIGHTS. Still awesome.

[@priyachoudhary9896]

That must have been amazing experience

[@sparshitasahu2539]

People with anxiety (me) can never work here. These people are like god to me for not having a nervous breakdowns in the office.

[@lilys3706]

I'm watching this, thinking to myself how in the HELL did they have enough time to make this video??

[@mangana215]

This has to be the most stressful job I've seen that doesn't occur inside an active volcano

[@folarinosibodu]

I could not work in this environment. I would lose my mind each week. This is not a healthy work environment.

[@TheRememberWhen]

Love SNL❤️😂😂

[@lordhumongous371]

Steven Hoshell ^^^^^ MORON ^^^^^

[@k3rmit568]

Stressful Night Live

[@kellyomalley1873]

that was good, please do one about current and former SNL band members.

[@syntaxerorr]

I didn't know Dr. Fauci's brother was the director of SNL

[@oberk3s29]

Wow this made me miss college. I'm a Communication Arts graduate and we have Television Production class and it was the best! Our class is supposed to be a production crew and we'd make shows. I remember one time we had to shoot scenes for our variety show and I was camera 1, camera 2, and floor director and a PA at the same time, because our other classmates had classes. It was so fun! I miss the action. :))

[@Chakawatever]

So please don't pirate their work and purchase the VHS. #supportSNL

[@MrNateSPF]

The craziest part of having all the sets is this is all done inside a highrise office building in the heart of the busiest city in the nation.

[@WolfyWobz]

I mean, the coke budget must be high

[@basedzoe]

I watch the Jay pharaoh interview on club shay shay he said it was exactly like this!

[@danielnascimento6300]

This has triggered my anxiety. This is anxiety.

[@AgentRndm007]

Just watching all of these bts snl vids makes me want find a dark corner, curl up in fetal position and escape from reality.

[@kecomamaplunkett7150]

I had a mental breakdown watching this and it worst with Austim like I could not work there and come out alive

[@davidmorse21]

Shout out to all the SNL folks. This makes me love and appreciate your show even more

[@beccafeeney7688]

I wanna see how they did the control room during the pandemic

[@doglover5524]

My dream job is to stage manage for Saturday Night Live. I want the high-stress job that's a different show every week that's changing up through dress rehearsal. THAT'S a way to keep someone interested in their job and on their toes! Ooh what a dream!

[@sweetie9870]

Ikr! I would love to do anything on the show, like makeup or stage manage or writing, it looks stressful but super fun.

[@spider82666]

How thinks SNL should live stream the control room on KZbin every Saturday night?

[@TheLordOfNothing]

They livestream the transition between the cold open and monologue every show and delete it afterwards (except they forgot for the Nate Bargatze one) and it does include a few minutes of the control room.

[@HelenChiou1216]

SNL jobs are never for fainted hearts, period.

[@brianw13]

Wow. This is incredible to watch. Please post more of this. Amazing how they make it work every week

[@ConnorDoubleYou]

How on earth have they been doing this 20+ times a year for 44 years? Surely it would've all fallen apart at least once right???

[@EmKnowsThings]

The people who run, and star, on this show are talented beyond anyone’s imagination. Hands down some of the best minds in the business to be able to pull of of this off week after week.

[@LivexTv1]

Incredible. Live production is no joke! Love seeing Behind-The-Scenes videos like this.

[@jb1032]

I think I got an ulcer just from watching that

[@dennispremoli7950]

Why start on Wednesday?

[@jillfey5531]

Dennis Premoli they write the sketches on Tuesday

[@JonathanGrahamVideo]

Dennis Premoli they can't do it too far in advance because all the jokes are typically about something that happened in the news the same week

[@Leopard_Lover]

Wow got guys work SO hard! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication! I never knew how hectic it could be to pull this show off every week! My 🎩 goes off to all of you !! My mind is blown

[@brookeleary427]

Wow so much appreciation for those behind the set

[@elitabeth627]

SNL is the definition of organized chaos

[@jakemcgrath9708]

As a line cook this gave me extreme anxiety

[@joeyclemenza7339]

Now I know why Lorne hates improv.

[@amazingsupergirl7125]

Why don’t they have the rehearsal Friday then have a whole day to make changes?

[@modulator7861]

INCREDIBLE they're able to pull this off at all! And despite occasional bloopers, I've never seen an episode that didn't seem seamless, and polished.

[@pam0626]

This is insanity made even more so by their lack of sleep from Wed.-Sat. Then it starts all over again.

[@LittleLargeMouth]

Anxious just watching this

[@Jackysmith184]

Is it he a genius That is NOT easy