Howard Cosell was a famous sportscaster. He didn't know anything about comedy. His show lasted four months, but it's why NBC couldn't call its show "Saturday Night Live" in the beginning, and it's SNL begins, "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Yup

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mmhmm

That was when Kenan Thompson joined the cast.

The intent of the ABC program Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell,” was that it was more of a variety show than a comedy show. Producer Dick Ebersol (who previously worked for ABC Sports, then later for NBC) noted in his recent book that both networks were making plans for a Saturday evening program, but as ABC planned their show for “prime time,” it did not seem like competition for the NBC show.

When Cosell’s show did debut, he called the regular staff members, “The Prime Time Players,” while NBC called their ensemble, “The Not Ready For Prime Time Players.” The famous opening on NBC states…”Live from New York…It’s “Saturday Night!” That intro line is still used today.

After Cosell’s ABC show folded, Lorne Michaels and NBC bought the rights to the name, and began to use it during the second season.

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As was John Belushi…

And he's never aged since.