- There have been three sets of brothers who have been cast members on "Saturday Night Live" (1975), John Belushi and James Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Peter Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray.

- Al Franken and Tom Davis were scheduled to host on 18 April 1981 with The Grateful Dead as the musical guests. But a television writers' strike caused this episode and the rest of the season to be canceled.

- Christopher Reeve appeared as himself as an audience member in a skit, a few weeks before he hosted the show.

- The 20 February 1977 episode is the only one that was not broadcast from New York. It was broadcast from the middle of Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is also the only episode not to air on Saturday night. It aired live on Sunday. The Mardi Gras partygoers were so disruptive during the live broadcast that this episode has never been rerun.

- Dana Carvey holds the record for the number of times saying, "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night".

- Contrary to popular belief, Steve Martin was never a cast member on the show. The misconception stems from the fact that he has hosted the show 13 times, in addition to doing occasional surprise appearances.

- When Chevy Chase hosted on February 18, 1978, he and Bill Murray got into a fistfight backstage.

- Tim Meadows and Chris Parnell are the only cast members to be fired and then rehired the following season. James Belushi was fired during his tenure but was rehired the following week.

- Billy Crystal was supposed to be on the original episode but his appearance was cut after dress rehearsal. He became a cast member years later.

- Steve Martin is the only person to host a season premiere, a season finale, and a Christmas show and is the only person to host the show three times in a single season.

- Candice Bergen was the first female host, the first person to host the show for a second time, and the first woman to host five times. As of 2004, Drew Barrymore has also hosted five times, her first being in 1982.

- The 1987-1988 season premiere (Steve Martin/Sting) is the only show to not have a dress rehearsal done before the live show. There was a fire in a nearby studio and the cast and crew were evacuated right before they were to start the dress rehearsal. The show went on at Steve Martin's insistence.

- Will Ferrell became the highest paid cast member in SNL history in 2001. He received a salary of $350,000 for the 2001-2002 season.

- John Belushi: Member of the original "Saturday Night Live" cast, 1975-79; manic energy provided some of the old show's best moments and characters. Died at age 33 on March 5, 1982 of a cocaine and heroin overdose.

- Andy Kaufman: Although not an "SNL" cast member, he came to prominence on the show, making several memorable guest spots and appearing as a special guest (mouthing the Mighty Mouse theme) on the very first show. Died at age 35 on May 16, 1984 of cancer.

- Gilda Radner: Member of the original "SNL" cast, 1975-80; the show's first female star, a fine mimic and a loving, gleeful spirit. Died at age 42 on May 20, 1989 of ovarian cancer.

- Michael O'Donoghue: Wrote for the show from 1975-78, and again in the early 1980s; spoke the very first words in the first "SNL" sketch, teaching Belushi nonsense English phrases. Died at age 54 on November 8, 1994 of a brain hemorrhage.

- Chris Farley: "SNL" cast member from 1990-95, specializing in high-energy characters. Like Belushi, died of a drug overdose, in Farley's case of cocaine and morphine. Died, like Belushi, at age 33 on December 18, 1997.

- Phil Hartman: A member of the cast from 1986-94, giving him as long a stint with the show as any other cast member. A brilliant mimic, reliably and invaluably versatile. Died at age 49 on May 28, 1998, shot to death by his wife.

- Danitra Vance: A member of the cast during the 1985-86 season; its first black woman member. Like many "SNL" stars, she had performed with Chicago's famous Second City troupe. After her season on "SNL," she appeared off-Broadway in "The Colored Museum" and "Spunk." Died on August 21, 1994 of cancer; she was 35.

- Charles Rocket (coming soon).