Live from New York! An Unforgettable Night at SNL

by Fayeruz Regan 04.2023

I know it happened, but it feels like a dream. I’m still processing it. I attended a taping of Saturday Night Live, and it was one of the most extraordinary nights of my life.

Readers, please note that it’s possible for fans to win free tickets to a taping. Every year, the show hosts a ticket lottery for those who enter online. 

Then there’s Main Street Station, where you’re whisked off to New York in a straight shot.  This Amtrak line stops by the Staples Mill location as well, and delivers you to Penn Station in the heart of New York. I checked out every train station from Connecticut to Richmond, and no stop was as glorious as Main Street Station. Lit up and expansive, modern yet historical - it gave me a sense of pride.

We had to be at 30 Rock by 9:45 pm. The iconic skyscraper was built Art Deco style. Black marble, brass railings, and geometric etchings. 

Security is everywhere to protect this vast office building, which has its own zip code (10112). We passed through metal detectors and were given wristbands (which I have since framed).

We were VIP guests, and sweet NBC pages ushered us into the Peacock Lounge before the show. It was lit in neon purple, with rotating digital displays of famous guest stars. At the entrance, a woman held a tray of pre-opened cans of beer and spiked seltzer – one per person. They wanted us to be a little loose, but not inebriated. They also seemed concerned that we would be tired, considering how late it was. This institution shouldn’t be so humble - fans were running on pure adrenaline. They laid out unlimited cold sodas and bottled water. A DJ blasted music so loud, you had to yell to be heard.

We knew we had to put our phones away at showtime, so this was our chance to take photos. We got in a few good shots when none other than Rajiv Surendra, who played Kevin G. in the iconic film Mean Girls, sat next to us. He looked dapper in a tailored plaid suit, and we got to talking about how one of his interviews got morphed into a false clickbait story, claiming he’d given up on Hollywood.

We took elevators that opened into a long hallway. It was lined with black and white images of famous sketches. Designed to evoke nostalgia – even reverence, it was a walk down down memory lane. We were reminded of sketches that not only delighted us, but ones we’d imitate. There was Steve Martin’s Wild and Crazy Guy from my childhood. Adam Sandler holding a guitar brought back high school memories. In our 20s, we imitated the cheerleaders played by Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri. In my 30s, I adored Bill Hader’s Stefan, and so on.

The evening’s host was Jenna Ortega and the musical guest was The 1975. The flurry of activity on stage was intoxicating. People were pushing backdrops, and stacking cue cards that contained every line spoken on the show. Poker-faced legend Lorne Michaels stepped out in a suit and tie to survey the scene, and I gasped. To warm up the crowd, Michael Che performed a five-minute stand-up routine. Then the live band fired off, with Keenan Thompson stepping onto the stage for a rousing blues song. Cast members Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, and Chloe Fineman were back-up singers, shimmying in sequinned dresses.

Suddenly, it was silence on the set. Countdown to showtime. I got butterflies as if I were performing. The characters may be larger than life on TV, but they appear subdued during the show. They play toward the cameras, not the studio audience. Since it’s live, all scenes are pre-prepped in pockets from one end of the studio to the other. Sometimes the cast is in front of you, and other times they are so far, you rely on the TVs.  This keeps the action close, and the audience laughing. The goodbyes during sign-off don’t look as awkward from the audience seats. I always felt for the solo cast member with no one to hug.

I thought it amusing that they flashed the “applause” sign during the show. We didn’t need prompting. I may have needed to remind myself to breathe, but I had no problem cheering, or laughing. The only issue I have is convincing myself that this really happened.