post in : NBC , Sports , TV , WWE| Tagged : saturday night live , snl , wwe
With SNL and WWE running shows tonight on NBC , let ’s bet back on why " Saturday Night ’s Main Event " became so authoritative to both .
In terms of really cool television moment that are about to go down , NBC is going to be the blank space for one of them later on tonight . Before a young instalment ofSaturday Night Livehits our screens ( with hostChris Rockand musical guestGracie Abrams ) , the WWE’sSaturday Night ’s Main Eventis make a two - hour select - time return in a very fully grown path ( with the next edition already set for January 25 , 2025 ) . We ’ve got Undisputed WWE ChampionCody Rhodestaking onKevin Owens ; World Heavyweight ChampionGunthertaking onDamian PriestandFinn Balor ; Women ’s World ChampionLiv Morgantaking onIyo Sky , Michintaking onChelsea Greenfor the Women ’s United States Championship , andDrew McIntyretaking onSami Zaynin what can best be describe as a revenge match . With that in mind , we thought it would be the perfect meter to revisit how the late - Nox human relationship between SNL and the WWE first began – because as much as being on Saturday night on a major web was a boost pic - wise forVince McMahon ’s WWE ( then , WWF ) , it could also be argued thatSaturday Night ’s Main Eventhelped keep SNL on the atmosphere .
The late - night wrestle events first debut in May 1985 for two rationality . First , the lateDick Ebersol(then - SNL EP ) want some of the " ratings bonanza " that the WWE got for MTV with its two special over the course of action of the previous twelvemonth . So the special would run when SNL would commonly be on falling out or running repeat , with Ebersol produce . But the second reason was the part of the par that not many telly ethnic music peach about . Because as much as the WWF do good from the national exposure , Ebersol was able to use the WWF to help keep the Saturday late - nighttime programing stoppage away from local affiliates . Why ? Because in the mid-80s , it would be safe to say that SNL was still go through an individuality crisis , looking to redefine itself in the post-“Not quick for Prime Time Players " epoch .
And that intend a lot of test & error creatively , some very refutable casting decisions , and a circle of " Saturday Night Dead ? " headline . That also think some awful hits to SNL ’s ratings- and worse than that ? They were losing in the key young demos that the show used to be able to congratulate itself on ( and use to champion its late - nighttime existence ) . Smelling metaphorical " profligate in the water , " the local NBC affiliate began pressuring the web to give them back that late - nighttime programming block so they could charter it out for some sweet money . So have a rating shot likeSaturday Night ’s Main Eventfrom 1985 to 1991 ( prompt to FOX in short in 1992 , and then previously revived on NBC for five specials that run between 2006 and 2008 ) give Ebersol and the SNL team some ventilation room to get SNL back on caterpillar track . And consider we ’re now in the heart of SNL ’s milestone fiftieth time of year , it looks like it work . Ironically , Ebersol and SNL would part way not long after the deal was put in situation , with SNL creatorLorne Michaelsreturning to the helm oncemore .
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