Why Frank Zappa Was Banned From SNL

May 2024 ยท 1 minute read

Saturday Night Live has long been notorious for pushing the boundaries of what can and cannot be said (or done) on television. SNL first catapulted a ragtag group of castmates into household names in 1975. Cast members like Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Jane Curtin performed in comedy skits riddled with suggestive themes and rude language. The catchphrase "Jane, you ignorant slut" comes to mind. Notoriously explicit comedian George Carlin even hosted the show's very first episode. But not everything SNL hoped to air received the green light from NBC.

In 1987, the Washington Post reported that NBC kept a watchful eye on the show's creator Lorne Michaels. He explained that NBC cracked down on what they allowed to air as the network became more concerned about access to advertising opportunities. Therefore, they began limiting the controversial content from SNL.

Frank Zappa's controversial views on censorship and anti-establishment attitudes make him seem like the perfect host for a show like Saturday Night Live. The show has had its own controversial moments over its nearly five decades of production. Satire was a cornerstone of both Zappa's music and Saturday Night Live's skits.

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