NBC hosted "SNL50: The Anniversary Special," featuring appearances by current and former of the community, including Morris.
From original SNL cast (like Chevy Chase and Jane Curtin) to notable stars (such as Meryl Streep and Martin Short), "SNL50: The Anniversary Special" contained a countless number of famous actors. They remade famous sketches, paid tribute to former cast who have since died, and played songs. It was a true celebration of Saturday Night Live's history, which wouldn't have been complete without Morris.
Garrett Morris Was An Original SNL Cast Member & The First Black Actor
Morris Made His SNL Debut During The Premiere In October 1975
Garrett Morris was one of the seven original Saturday Night Live cast (aka the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players") and a writer for the show. However, he was also the first Black comedian on the cast. Morris, John Belushi, Gilda Radnor, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman made up the team of series regulars during the first season of the late-night live sketch comedy variety show, setting the tone for the program's following 49 seasons. Consequently, they are all integral figures in the Saturday Night Live community.
The Most Surprisingly Sad Part Of SNL50 Involved Adam Sandler
The most surprisingly sad part of the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special was headed by none other than funnyman Adam Sandler.
Morris' impact, though, stretches further than just being in the original cast because he was Saturday Night Live's first Black cast member. As an SNL legend, Morris paved the way for other Black comedians on the show. From Eddie Murphy and Leslie Jones to Kenan Thompson (SNL's longest-tenured cast member), Morris laid the groundwork for many great Black actors and actresses who came after him, many of whom would go on to become big Hollywood stars.
Morris' Time On SNL Wasn't Happy Due To Typecasting
Morris Has Since Recounted His Frustration While Being On SNL
Unfortunately, Garrett Morris' work as an original Saturday Night Live personality wasn't all sunshine and roses. While speaking to The Guardian, Morris recalled his experience with racism while on the set, starting in the writers' room before officially ing the cast. The actor explained:
"I will say to the end of my days: Lorne [Michaels]'s writers had a lot of racism going on. Lorne himself? Zero racism. Because, , when I was hired I was the only Black writer. Lorne wanted to have somebody Black on TV at night-time. People didn't want that. They were clamoring to make it all white. He didn't."
However, Morris' problems didn't end when he made his Saturday Night Live debut in October 1975 with the rest of the cast. According to the comedian, typecasting was a significant issue for him. One of his most memorable SNL characters is Chico Escuela, a Dominican Major Leaguer. Morris attempted to fight against playing stereotypical Black roles, but there was only so much he could do. Concerning the writers' tendency to typecast him, Morris told The Guardian, "It really threw me when we were going through the first show."
Lamorne Morris plays Garrett Morris in Jason Reitman's 2024 biographical comedy-drama film Saturday Night, recounting the night of Saturday Night Live's premiere in 1975.
Following Morris' exit from SNL after five seasons, Black cast who came after him were wary of suffering the same fate as him. Eddie Murphy even reportedly used Morris' name as a byword for typecasting. Nevertheless, Morris is satisfied with his part in paving the way for other Black comedians who followed in his footsteps in Studio 8H. He said, "I feel proud that I was a minuscule part of the beginning of SNL, that I created the chair for the non-white performer."
Garrett Morris Went On To Be A Trailblazer For Black Comedians On TV
Morris Has Appeared In Many Sitcoms Over The Years
After leaving Saturday Night Live in 1980, Garrett Morris went on to have a long and successful career on TV. He was a trailblazer, not only for Black performers on SNL but also for Black actors and comedians as a whole. Of course, Morris' breakout was on the NBC late-night live sketch comedy variety program, which opened the door for him to star in other notable TV shows, such as The Jeffersons and Martin. His most prominent recent role, though, was as Earl Washington in the cast of the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls.
Garrett Morris' Notable TV Shows & Movies |
Role |
|---|---|
Saturday Night Live |
Himself/Various Roles |
Car Wash |
Slide |
The Jeffersons |
Jimmy |
Hill Street Blues |
Derelict |
Hunter |
Arnold "Sporty" James |
Martin |
Stan Winters |
The Wayans Bros. |
Uncle Leon/Himself |
The Jamie Foxx Show |
Uncle Junior King |
2 Broke Girls |
Earl Washington |
Ant-Man |
Cab Driver |
This Is Us |
Lloyd |
Self Made |
Cleophus Walker |
On February 1, 2024 (which was also his 87th birthday), Morris was finally honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The guest speakers included his Martin co-star Tichina Arnold and his 2 Broke Girls co-star Jennifer Coolidge. Ultimately, Morris is a true TV legend, and it all started during the premiere of Saturday Night Live on October 11, 1975.
Saturday Night Live
- Release Date
- October 11, 1975
- Network
- NBC
- Showrunner
- Lorne Michaels
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 50
Source: The Guardian
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