TheSaturday Nightmovie has an odd storyline centering on a backstage llama, and here is the animal’s connection toSaturday Night Live, explained. Multiple times throughout the events ofSaturday Night, it is mentioned toSNLseries creator Lorne Michaelsthat there is a llama backstage. This gag is never paid off in theSaturday Nightmovie, but fans ofSNLknow exactly what this bit is referencing.
TheSaturday Nightmovie is a love letter to the early days ofSaturday Night Live, with the film exploring the hours leading up to the first episode ofSaturday Night Live. There are all kinds ofSNLEaster eggs and references inSaturday Night, with fans of the series being able to pick up on tons of in-jokes and sight gags that serve as nods to the hit sketch comedy series. Unlike many of the Easter eggs,Saturday Night’s llama joke is referenced over and over again, and here is what it actually means.
Saturday Night Explains Why Lorne Michaels Ordered A Llama
The Movie’s Running Gag Connects To An SNL Running Gag
At one point inSaturday Night, Lorne Michaels orders a llama, although the reason why isn’t explained to the audience. Later in the film,another crew member tells Lorne that there is a llama at the loading bay doors, something that is mentioned again several times throughoutSaturday Night. The llama never has a major impact on the story, but this odd detail is a real fact from Lorne Michaels' life.
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Like many of the details that Lorne Michaels requests inSaturday Night,Lorne ordered the llama for the firstSNLepisodebecause he simply thought it was funny. InSNL, llamas are used as part of a frequently recurring backstage gag, and this moment inSaturday Nightis meant to foreshadow the long-running joke.
The Llama Is Part Of A Longtime Backstage SNL Joke
It Is Always Seen Alongside A Showgirl And Abe Lincoln
Throughoutthe history ofSaturday Night Live, llamas have been part of one of the show’s most famous backstage running jokes. This joke is that, anytime the camera goes backstage during an episode ofSNL, a llama, a showgirl, and Abraham Lincoln can be seen, a joke that has been continued since the early days of the show. This gag is meant to represent the zany and random nature ofSNL, as any of these subjects could be realistically inserted into any episode.
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While the backstage llama gag did stop appearing as frequently in the 1980s and 1990s, Seth Meyers brought it back in the 2000s, with him being a fan of the joke. This is why the llama gag can still be seen inSNLepisodes to this day, explaining whySaturday Nightfelt the need to reference it.
Saturday Night
Cast
Saturday Night (2024) is a forthcoming film with an undisclosed director. The movie centers on the vibrant nightlife of a bustling city, capturing the intertwining lives and stories of a diverse ensemble cast navigating personal and social challenges over the course of a single evening.
