Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
James Franco's SNL Documentary
By
Jen Carlson
Published May 3, 2010
Modified May 3, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published May 3, 2010
Modified May 3, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
James Franco, who has hosted SNL twice... so far, screened his documentary about the show yesterday afternoon at the TriBeca Film Festival. The actor started filming the documentary, titled Saturday Night, back in December 2008. He originally intended for it to be a 7-minute short for an NYU film project he was working on, however, he came out with a 90-minute piece, which focuses on one week at the show (a week that John Malkovich played host).
His goal was to find out "what that mysterious comedy process was," and he was granted access that likely no other NYU student would be granted. The film follows the work flow that goes in to creating one show, from the Tuesday morning pitch meeting with Lorne, to a table reading and dress rehearsal.
In a panel discussion yesterday, cast member Will Forte told the audience, "There's a lot of stuff I saw for the first time watching this documentary," and the NY Times has a lengthy list of what they learned, as an outsider. Amongst them, we find out that Doug Abeles, a “Weekend Update” writer and producer, says he sometimes finds inspiration outside his window looking at the NBC news ticker.
Franco also filmed his recent stint on General Hospital, and plans to screen the footage as part of an upcoming performance-art show at Deitch Projects.
Tagged
james franco
saturday night
Screening
snl
tribeca film festival
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 12:55 p.m. ET
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .