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How SNL Stars Outsmarted NBC Censors for Decades
15 Feb
Summary
- SNL cast used childhood tactics to bypass censor notes.
- One joke involved mumbling a controversial word to bypass network rules.
- The Il Cantore sketch faced last-minute censorship attempts.
For over fifty years, Saturday Night Live has engaged in a constant negotiation with NBC censors, leading to clever maneuvers by its cast.
Cast members like Marcello Hernández, discussed with Dana Carvey and David Spade, shared tales of censorship struggles. A famous 1990s sketch, 'Il Cantore Restaurant,' starring Kevin Nealon and Kirstie Alley, faced a last-minute directive to cut a scene. To circumvent this, the cast employed a tactic similar to how children avoid responsibilities by delaying the delivery of the censor's note.
David Spade recounted another instance where he intentionally mumbled a controversial word during a Weekend Update segment. Despite being warned by network censors and showrunner Lorne Michaels that three sponsors would withdraw advertising, Spade proceeded. The successful delivery of the joke suggests a lenient response backstage, reinforcing SNL's tradition of pushing boundaries live.
