Museum review: Saturday Night Live is at Harry Ransom Center for one more weekend
It’s impossible to hate Gilda Radner or John Belushi. Chevy Chase, on the other hand, that’s a different story.
The cultural impact of Saturday Night Live is a challenge to quantify. After 50 years, the comedy brand keeps rolling. Debuting this Winter at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas, a collection of artifacts personally curated by founder and longtime producer, Lorne Michaels pulls back the curtain on his decades-long run of the show.
The exhibit is full of deep-cut nostalgia: the “Two Wild and Crazy Guys” outfits worn by Bill Murray and Steve Martin, signed memos from Radner, original scripts, and handwritten notes of encouragement to Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as they prepared to bring the Blues Brothers to the big screen.
What makes the exhibit fascinating isn’t just nostalgia. It’s the reminder that for half a century, one producer quietly shaped the direction of American comedy. Michaels didn’t just run a television show. He built a farm system for comedians. Names like Conan O’Brien, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, and Will Ferrell all came through the orbit of Studio 8H. And that’s barely scratching the surface.
In an era of YouTube shorts, streaming platforms, and what often feels like digital overload, seeing physical artifacts from comedy history feels surprisingly grounding. The scripts, cue cards, and photographs of early cast members like Jane Curtin and Laraine Newman capture a moment when the show was just a bunch of unknown comedians figuring it out in real time.
I’ve watched the show for as long as I can remember. Through cast shakeups, cultural shifts, and more than a few questionable sketches, I’ve remained a fan.
The best part? The exhibit is free.
If you’re a devotee of Saturday Night Live, it’s a must-stop. There’s plenty to absorb, and the collection feels like just a tiny sliver of whatever Michaels has tucked away in the archives.
Even the infamous cowbell makes an appearance.
Live From Saturday Night: The Lorne Michaels Collection runs through March 22nd. Get there as fast as you can.
Featured photo of Lorne Michaels courtesy of the Harry Ransom Center. Photographer unknown.
