Sky announces ‘star-studded' UK version of Saturday Night Live
After numerous failed attempts to recreate the late-night comedy format that has proved so successful in the US, Sky has announced it is making a British version of the show to premiere next year. Crucially, the show's original creator and champion, Lorne Michaels, will be an executive producer.
The broadcaster is already promising a 'star-studded lineup of hosts', adding that it will be filmed in London. It is also promising to stay true to the US show's 'live, fast-paced style' – which has included comedy sketches, a roster of comic presenters and musical guests – with a cast list of 'the funniest British comedians around'.
It will no doubt be a draw for leading comedians in the UK, as the US original has launched the careers of comedy royalty including Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell and Mike Myers.
Sky's chief content officer, Cécile Frot-Coutaz, said: 'For over 50 years Saturday Night Live has held a unique position in TV and in our collective culture, reflecting and creating the global conversation all under the masterful comedic guidance of Lorne Michaels. The show has discovered and nurtured countless comedy and musical talents over the years and we are thrilled to be partnering with Lorne and the SNL team to bring an all-British version of the show.'
The move is also a gamble by Sky, given the number of previous attempts to recreate a live, late-night comedy show concentrating on topical issues. While the UK has had a number of hit comedy panel shows, such as Have I Got News for You, the live sketch-style programme has not endured in the same way.
In the 1980s, Saturday Live was launched and similarly featured rising and established talent, including Ben Elton, Harry Enfield, Stephen Fry, Tracey Ullman, Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall. It was moved to Friday nights for its third series before being cancelled. It was briefly revived in 1996, hosted by Lee Hurst.
Channel 4 launched Saturday Zoo in the early 1990s, featuring comedy and celebrity interviews. It ran for just 13 episodes. Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show also worked with up-and-coming comedians and boosted the careers of Ricky Gervais, Sacha Baron Cohen and Jimmy Carr.
Brian Logan, the Guardian's comedy critic, said there was a 'strange alchemy' in the early successes of SNL in the US that had made it self-sustaining. 'They're quite different comedy cultures,' he said. 'It's not just SNL that has been tried here, but also late-night talkshows and comedy shows.
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'And America has experimented with panel shows, which never seem to take off in America, but are a massive comedy vehicle for comedians in the UK. So there is clearly something going on whereby these things don't always transfer. But if the SNL team are involved in this one, it stands a better chance than some.'
Others in the TV industry say the format's mixed success in the UK comes down to money. In the US, the show's backers are able to pay and retain top comedy talent. But shows in the UK, made on far lower budgets, often lose their star performers to more lucrative ventures.
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