The sketch comedy show is celebrating 50 seasons with two documentaries and an upcoming prime-time special that reflect on its standing as an American institution.

There are books — the best of which is still “ Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live ” — and countless movies, including a 2010 documentary and a 2024 feature, both titled “Saturday Night,” and a slew of comedies derived from popular “SNL” sketches, notably “The Blues Brothers” and “ Wayne’s World .”

Instead of being a comprehensive history, the docuseries examines cast member’s auditions, the writers’ room, the “More Cowbell” sketch, and the weird 11th season.

Four-part docuseries starts as a typical self-congratulatory tribute — then it drills down to specific highs and lows, and totally delivers the goods.

A treat for everyone who saw those early years, “Saturday Night” explains why some weeks are good and others aren’t. It also salutes the miracle of live television and the masterpiece Michaels created.

Conan O'Brien will be awarded the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at a gala on March 23 at the Kennedy Center, celebrating his comedic legacy.

“SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night” will be streaming exclusively on Peacock. There will be four installments of “SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night,” and each episode lands at the same time on Thursday, Jan. 16. Here are the episode descriptions below, per Peacock.

GloRilla, one of Memphis' newest music stars will make her debut on an episode of "Saturday Night Live" hosted by Dave Chappelle this weekend.

Peacock’s new docuseries has the massive task of defining a show that has defined culture for decades, as it peers into cast auditions, the writers room, the iconic cowbell sketch and the 1985-1986 season that almost canceled the show.

For the past two nights, Ringo Starr celebrated his new country album Look Up with guest-heavy performances at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium, which were filmed for a TV special and became benefits for LA wildfire recovery.

Many bits that comedians used in their auditions have ended up as iconic Saturday Night Live sketches, from Kristen Wiig’s overzealous Target clerk to Ana Gasteyer’s smooth operator voice, which landed her a role as a radio host interviewing Alec Baldwin about his famous Schweddy Balls recipe.

NBC's archetypal comedy program "Saturday Night Live" should have died in 1985, a decade after a volcanic debut that launched stars such as John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase and Gilda Radner. And yet a half-century later, producer Lorne Michaels and his merry maniacs are still at it. What gives?