'Saturday Night Live' marks 40 years of comedy irreverence

Before the Internet, The Daily Show or music videos, an irreverent comedy troupe launched "Saturday Night Live" in 1975, unaware it would transform American humor and become the country's most successful comedy show of all time.
      
On Sunday the late-night powerhouse's cast members past and present, including superstars like Bill Murray and Jimmy Fallon, gathered in the Big Apple for SNL's improbable 40th anniversary reunion, celebrating the skits that have become a part of America.
      
From young up-and-comers to golden girl Betty White, who in 2010 became the oldest-ever host at age 88, "Saturday Night Live" introduced or showcased literally hundreds of new or bankable stars.
      
The red carpet at Rockefeller Center overflowed with stars paying tribute to their favorites, including late cast members John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Chris Farley who died in their prime.
      
With its 11:30 pm timeslot on Saturdays, the show constantly pushed the boundaries of acceptability and decency, whether with racially-charged humor, the crack of Dan Aykroyd's backside, or Justin Timberlake's "Dick in a Box" sketch.
      
"SNL broke all the rules of comedy," said Oscar-winning actor and occasional SNL host Robert De Niro.
      
Dozens of cast members were on hand at NBC's Studio 8H for a live, 3.5-hour special.
      
"Tonight is like an enormous high school reunion," 15-time host Steve Martin said at the outset.
      
Several cast members such as Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Amy Poehler, Adam Sandler and Kristen Wiig, went on to movie stardom.
      
Al Franken is now a US senator, while one-time SNL writer Conan O'Brien became the host of "Late Night."       

And...