The Snl Companion: An Unofficial Guide to the Seasons, Sketches, and Stars of Saturday Night Live

Television history was made on October 11, 1975, when a new generation of young performers welcomed America to the first episode of a new late-night comedy and variety show. Combining cutting-edge humor with a satirical sensibility, Saturday Night Live would go on to become the longest-running series of its kind in television history, shining a light on pop culture as well as contemporary social and political issues. It also became a launching pad for many of the leading comedy performers of the last five decades, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Maya Rudolph, and Kate McKinnon

Celebrating the show's record-breaking 50 years on the air, The SNL Companion is a fun, fact-filled tribute to a television institution. From the show's creation by Lorne Michaels through all of the seasons leading up to its golden anniversary, it provides an in-depth look at SNL's comedic highlights and nadirs, its memorable hosts and musical guests, and its many controversies. Along with a complete episode guide, it explores the characters, sketches, politics, catchphrases, commercial parodies, and viral shorts that have made it a leader in American comedy for over five decades. Vastly revised, updated, and expanded since its original publication in 2013 and packed with photographs and rich encyclopedic detail, The SNL Companion is a one-stop resource for all things SNL.

Stephen Tropiano is a professor of screen studies at Ithaca College in Los Angeles, where he teaches courses in film and television history, theory, and criticism. He is the author of several books, including Saturday Night Live FAQ, The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on Television, and TV Finales FAQ. His latest book is America on Television: Race, Gender, Class, and Sexuality on Television.

Steven Ginsberg is the Pendleton Professional Chair at Ithaca College in Los Angeles, where he teaches courses in film and television writing. He has written for film, television, and stage, including the coming-of-age dramedy Family Prayers, starring Joe Mantegna, Anne Archer, Patti Lupone, and Paul Reiser. In addition, he writes the weekly blog Notes from aChair, which covers the intersection of pop culture, politics, and social issues, and hosts its monthly sister podcast, Pod from a Chair.