The show’s premiere was hosted by George Carlin on NBC on
October 11, 1975, under the original title NBC’s Saturday Night.

The topical comedy sketch show featuring Chevy Chase, John
Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin
and Laraine Newman, made its debut on NBC.

The 90-minute program, which from its inception has been aired
live from Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center, included a different
guest host and musical act each week. The opening sketch of
each show ends with the saying… “Live from New York, It’s
Saturday Night.”
    
    
    
   

ED DANAHUE

Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen
(December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000)

On September 26, 1960, for the first time in U.S. history, a
debate between major party presidential candidates was
broadcast on live television.

The presidential hopefuls, John F. Kennedy, a Democratic
senator of Massachusetts, and Richard M. Nixon, the vice
president of the United States, met in a Chicago studio to
discuss U.S. domestic matters.

Kennedy emerged the apparent winner from this first of
four televised debates.

Howdy Doody was broadcast on the NBC television network from December 27, 1947, until September 24, 1960. It was a pioneer of children’s programming and set the pattern for
many similar shows.

October 1, 1962 – May 22, 1992 on NBC

Ed McMahon (left) served as Carson’s sidekick and the
show’s announcer.