This oral history of NBC's Saturday Night Live is the juiciest treasure
trove of backstage gossip, sex and drugs since The Andy Warhol Diaries.
With almost three decades' worth of memories from cast members, celebrity
hosts, writers, crew and network execs, readers get first-hand reports
(often contradictory) on the volatile, competitive, grueling and often
drug-fueled process of creating a weekly, 90-minute, live comedy show.
While the cast and writers changed over the decades there were two
constants: the universal loathing of guest host Chevy Chase and the power
of producer Lorne Michaels ("I think he picked the right profession,"
assesses Jane Curtin, "because he gets to lord over people who want to
kneel at his feet and he doesn't acknowledge them-which makes them work
harder."). Regulars like Dan Aykroyd, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Mike Myers,
Billy Crystal, Bill Murray, Al Franken, Martin Short as well as guest hosts
like Tom Hanks, Penny Marshall, Alec Baldwin, Carrie Fisher, Lily Tomlin
and Steve Martin contribute sterling anecdotes that are alternately
hilarious, touching, upbeat and scathing. With the exception of Eddie
Murphy (who's positively portrayed), virtually the only missing voices are
of those who have passed away (the editors use only interviews conducted
for the book and not vintage interviews with John Belushi, Gilda Radner,
Phil Hartman or Chris Farley). Scandals, infighting and plenty of showbiz
dirt make this a guilty-pleasure page-turner from start to finish.

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