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Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, as Told By Its Stars, Writers and Guests Paperback – October 1, 2003

by Tom Shales (Author), James Andrew Miller (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,853 ratings
James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales's definitive oral history of Saturday Night Live, hailed as "incredible" (Vulture) and "required reading" (People).

When first published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Live, Live from New York was immediately proclaimed the best book ever produced on the landmark and legendary late-night show. In their own words, unfiltered and uncensored, a dazzling galaxy of trail-blazing talents recalled three turbulent decades of on-camera antics and off-camera escapades.

Now decades have passed, and bestselling authors James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales have returned to Studio 8H. Over more than 100 pages of new material, they raucously and revealingly take the SNL story up to the present, adding a constellation of iconic new stars, surprises, and controversies.
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  1. Print length
    656 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Back Bay Books
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.75 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0316735655
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0316735650
  8. See all details
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Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Constantly entertaining....It's revealing, it's funny, it's mesmerizing." ---Entertainment Weekly

"A guilty pleasure of the highest order....Live From New York shines." ---Lev Grossman, Time

"A sharp-clawed, incisive account of how nearly three decades' worth of comic talent has emerged from a single television show." ---Janet Maslin, New York Times

"Tremendous fun." ---Rob Walker, Newsday

"A patchwork of backbiting, humor, intelligence, backbiting, gossip, backbiting, and backbiting." ---Newsweek

"Refreshing....Shales and Miller paint a detailed landscape portrait of what has become an American cultural icon, one that will guide any attentive reader to a fuller understanding of comedy, TV, and the culture itself." ---Steve Johnson, Chicago Tribune

About the Author

James Andrew Miller has worked in virtually all aspects of journalism -- as well as on the entertainment side of television production and development -- for more than twenty years. Along with Tom Shales, he is the author of the #1 bestseller Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN.

Tom Shales is America's foremost television critic, having won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1988. For twenty-five years, he was film critic for National Public Radio.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Back Bay Books; Reprint edition (October 1, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 656 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316735655
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316735650
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.75 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,853 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Tom Shales

    Tom Shales

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  2. James Andrew Miller

    James Andrew Miller

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    www.jamesandrewmiller.com

    JAMES ANDREW MILLER is an award-winning journalist and co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN; Live from New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by Its Stars, Writers, and Guests, which spent four months on the New York Times bestseller list; and Running in Place: Inside the Senate, also a bestseller. He has written for The Washington Post, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and many other publications. He is a graduate of Occidental College, Oxford University, and Harvard Business School, all with honors.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,853 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and fun. They appreciate the insights into the show's history and behind-the-scenes activities from the cast and crew. The first-person narratives and explanations from the cast and writers are praised for their authenticity and engaging pacing. Readers enjoy reading about the now-famous characters that were thought up on the show.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilityInsightHistoryStorytellingPacingCast membersInterview qualityNarrative structure
154 customers mention "Readability"148 positive6 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and fun. They enjoy the first parts where they interview people from the show. The book gives them a sense of how the show is made and rekindles their love for the series.

"...just a casual viewer, I think this book was one of the most interesting entertainment books I have read in a long time...." Read more

"...there's a hundred other bits and behind the scenes stories, each worth the price of this hefty yet compact, wonderful paper back...." Read more

"...Nevertheless, I think the book is worth a read, especially for those who are just aching to know what went on among these people after hours...." Read more

"...O.K. so this book was a good read, but it leaves you with more questions than answers. they should have had a 500 page book for every decade...." Read more

82 customers mention "Insight"79 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's insights into the show. They find it fascinating and informative, with great inside information about the actors and their careers. The book provides interesting details about the dynamics between the executives, writers, and cast members.

"...will LOVE this book as it takes you behind the scenes, into the lives of the people involved and lets you experience what was going on during the..." Read more

"...This book does also include many personal stories that reveal more of the human side to this fraternity of SNL alum...and beyond the protected PR..." Read more

"...I really enjoyed "Live From New York." What a brilliant topic for a thorough book...." Read more

"...The high points come from the fascinating collection of anecdotes and remembrances that are offered by a variety of people associated with the show...." Read more

53 customers mention "History"51 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history of SNL. They find it informative and entertaining, with interesting stories from the past. The oral history style makes it easy to pick up and read a few chapters. The book brings back memories and provides insight into the show's history. Readers appreciate the cross-referencing of people and stories in a detailed index.

"...stories that are shared in this book are compelling, interesting and personal. When you read this book you can hear the voices talking...." Read more

"...I didn't expect much of the writing because this is an oral history, and I wasn't disappointed...." Read more

"...and soon Cross-referencing people and stories (in a VERY detailed and useful index!) Take all the fluff stuff you saw on E!..." Read more

"...Any ways I think that the 1980's Snl is the most interesting and very little was said about it in the book...." Read more

38 customers mention "Storytelling"33 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the first-person narratives from SNL cast members. The book combines accounts and explanations of specific events from writers, actors, executives, directors, producers, and others. They appreciate the different narrative style from the usual one, making it easy to pick up and resume reading. Readers praise the well-put-together chain of short stories and anecdotes.

"...intersting to see the collaboration, frustration, and artistic struggle of all the writers, performers, guest hosts, producers, and even agents that..." Read more

"...That is the aim of this book, with a well put together chain of short stories and anecdotes that, for me, seems to capture the spirit of the show..." Read more

"This is a pretty entertaining book. it is accounts from writers, actors, executives, directors, producers, etc...." Read more

"...The stories are told primarily by those involved, in their own words, verbatim, including cast members, writers, hosts and producers...." Read more

31 customers mention "Pacing"22 positive9 negative

Customers find the book engaging and captivating. They describe it as an epic guide to SNL that captures the spirit of the show both on stage and behind the scenes. The stories draw readers in and continue the saga.

"...and can be scary, but these stories that are shared in this book are compelling, interesting and personal...." Read more

"...It is always intersting to see the collaboration, frustration, and artistic struggle of all the writers, performers, guest hosts, producers, and..." Read more

"...What words they do write are so fawning and uncritical that they threaten to turn the book into an unjustified hagiography...." Read more

"...The most mysterious episodes which any one who wasnt around when they aired hasn't been able to watch in over 20 years...." Read more

20 customers mention "Cast members"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy reading about the cast members, writers, and celebrities in the book. They find it interesting to learn about now-famous characters and the actors' lives. The book provides an in-depth study of every cast and season, with accounts from writers, actors, executives, directors, and producers.

"...When you read this book you can hear the voices talking...." Read more

"...However, what both groups will discover is an appreciation for the talented people who have labored to maintain the show's status as a television..." Read more

"This is a pretty entertaining book. it is accounts from writers, actors, executives, directors, producers, etc...." Read more

"...this book presents a very large collection of recollections and musings from cast, crew, writers and some of the more frequent guest hosts...." Read more

18 customers mention "Interview quality"18 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the interviews in the book. They find them entertaining and informative, with interesting anecdotes from cast members, guests, and crew. The interviews are a key part of the book's narrative, making it easy to read and engaging.

"...read and/or cover-to-cover can't put down book this is an excellent biography of what I consider to be one of the best television shows ever produced." Read more

"...The interviews are comprehensive, by almost every person involved in Saturday Night Live through the ages with only a few notable exceptions like..." Read more

"...learning more about creator Lorne Michael, and some of the more interesting guest hosts." Read more

"...inside look at SNL through the years, and I love that they interview basically everyone...." Read more

33 customers mention "Narrative structure"18 positive15 negative

Customers have different views on the narrative structure. Some find it easy to read and fun, with a chronological organization and series of interviews. Others feel the excerpts get repetitive and tedious over time, with only a few blocks of narrative filling out more context.

"...the telling of these backstage stories are quite complete and nicely pieced together...." Read more

"...The book reads like an interview. There is almost no narrative from the authors...." Read more

"This book is almost all great and shows the inception, creation, and evolution of a cultural landmark...." Read more

"...could’ve used some editing towards the middle as the excerpts were a bit repetitive. It ends after the 2014 season...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jimmy Larrison
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved This Book - Like Sitting Around the Fireplace...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this book! It was like sitting around the fireplace listening to old war stories from your grandpa and his buddies as they remembered all the things they did. The stories you hear are not just the front-line of the war and the gunshots, but the planning, day to day operations, and the relationships that were built over the years. Of course war stories are much more real and can be scary, but these stories that are shared in this book are compelling, interesting and personal. When you read this book you can hear the voices talking.

    I should point out that I am not a huge SNL fan, I liked some of their work and see the show once in awhile. I grew up in the 70's and 80's and can remember when the show first came on the air and how amazing and groundbreaking it was. I was born in 1968, so was still young at the time, but grew-up with Saturday Night Live as a staple part of my Saturday Nights (or Sunday Mornings once Tivo came along) and now just watch the clips on Hulu.

    Though I am not a big SNL Fan, and consider myself just a casual viewer, I think this book was one of the most interesting entertainment books I have read in a long time.

    If you are a fan of SNL you will LOVE this book as it takes you behind the scenes, into the lives of the people involved and lets you experience what was going on during the years this show was growing up and becoming what it is today. If you are a huge fan of SNL, you probably have already read this book so I probably should ignore you for now.

    If you are interested in entertainment or the television industry you will find this book to be really interesting as they take you behind the scenes of one of the most groundbreaking shows in the history of late night television, and let you peak at the personalities and egos that were there making this happen. The stories that are told get into a lot of details behind the scenes of the show and talk about the founding and growth of SNL and the many players throughout the years that had a hand in making the show so much a part of our entertainment culture.

    If you just like to read stories about people and their lives (biography or diary), you will find this book to be really fun to read. It is in effect a bunch of verbatim's from people that were involved in the making of SNL over the years. You can feel the emotions and relationships that existed and the stress and frustrations that came with the territory of producing a live television show.

    Regardless of who you are, I strongly recommend this book for anyone that is interested in modern culture and/or history, but doesn't want to be bored with another politics book or story about the Kardashians.

    Check it out, it is fun and interesting at the same time.
    26 people found this helpful
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  • Judith C. Kinney
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fast and Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2003
    Verified Purchase
    The library I patronize bought only two copies of this book. One doesn't circulate, and the other is always out, so I broke down and bought this. I only wanted to read it because I love gossip. I didn't expect much of the writing because this is an oral history, and I wasn't disappointed. However, you wouldn't want the authors/editors to do too much editing, or the voices wouldn't sound natural. But when one of the people from the show who's labeled "writer" says, "Each one was their own boutique," I cringe.
    Some of the reviewers don't give the compilers of this volume much credit. I think they deserve more. First they had to do a lot of legwork just to get interviews with these people and get them to talk about meaningful stuff. I assume they taped all this. Words don't just jump from an audiotape to the printed pages of a book. All the "and-ums" had to be deleted. Probably some of the language had to be cleaned up. Useless repetition had to be cut. All this editing had to be done without killing the spontaneous feel of the material. Seems like a big job to me. My only complaint about the authors is that they're a little too reverential in their short pieces between the speakers.
    The first time I ever saw Saturday Night Live, I thought the musical act was one of the comedy sketches, and if I hadn't been told differently, I'd think so still. My son-in-law tells me he's heard other people say the same thing. If the musical acts are supposed to be taken seriously, they're completely out of sync with the rest of the show, none of which is to be taken seriously.
    The one thing that almost every speaker dwells on is the fame and money garnered by the players who went on to become big names in entertainment. Fame and money are their gods. There's no mention of whether these successes ever did anything of quality. ... Not one of them has been on a level with Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, Robin Williams, or Bill Cosby. And no one ever even mentions the one Oscar nomination to come out of this company: Dan Ackroyd's performance in "Driving Miss Daisy."
    I've never been a big fan of SNL. My favorites were Gilda Radner and Phil Hartman. I absolutely loathe(d) Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Chris Kattan, Rob Schneider, David Spade, and John Belushi. They are or were all loud, stupid, vulgar, and disgusting. But I still watch occasionally, hoping to see something funny. I seldom do. The commercials are overlong. The music is awful. The humor is never subtle. When did vomit become funny?
    Nevertheless, I think the book is worth a read, especially for those who are just aching to know what went on among these people after hours. It's a long book but a fast read.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • zfhindbrain
    5.0 out of 5 stars SNL From Beginning to End (or present really)
    Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Was pledging a frat house in 1975 and the cool brothers were watching some TV show at 11:30 on Sat Nights and I just assumed it was something that people did. Had no idea that this was brand new or revolutionary TV or that it came about b/c Johnny Carson after many years finally put his foot down and said "no more Tonight Show reruns on Saturdays". Another early tidbit: One night Loren Michaels is meeting with NBC Exec Dick Ebersol to brainstorm this late-night Saturday show they want to produce and this really hot girl comes along with Loren (Sue Denim) and she is very friendly. With Ebersol. And he is getting increasingly enamored with "Sue" as the evening goes on and after about 3 hours Loren and Sue finally fess up that the woman is Loren's wife, Rosie Shuster--who does pranks like that? Al Franken and his wife have the first "SNL baby" which swaddled baby he brings to the baby shower but he bumps a table, stumbles badly and the baby goes flying and crashes and the screaming, the screams you would not believe! Well, for any SNL aficionado young or old, there's a hundred other bits and behind the scenes stories, each worth the price of this hefty yet compact, wonderful paper back.

    This is my new bible: I read it every night (sorry Jesus). 'tis a book to be savored over time.
    10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in Canada on January 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Great delivery prompt good quality
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  • Thompson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Live from NY
    Reviewed in Germany on January 24, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent! Thank you!!
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  • Mr Moth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for fans of comedy at any level
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    As an Englishman with global curiosity, SNL has been as enlightening as our own Python, Peep Show, Yes, Minister and countless other treasures. This book is long, compelling, endearing, and unflinching, a series of interviews put together in such a way that they flow into each other, forwards and backwards, and compel the reader to dig deeper. From Chevy Chase to Kate McKinnon, it doesn’t quite bring the book bang up to date (2023) but it’s close enough. Lorne Michaels’ enduring creation is utterly influential on the world stage. Read it.
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  • Kathya Patricia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ñ
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 28, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Llego un día antes y en perfectas condiciones, además que el contenido es invaluable (para un fan de SNL), muy divertido y entretenido.
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  • Gaby
    5.0 out of 5 stars the history of revolutionary television
    Reviewed in Italy on August 2, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Very intersting and funny. Recomended not only to those who lived in those years but also to comedians of all ages.
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