50 Years Ago, ‘SNL’ Crossed a Line So Shocking It Triggered the Show’s First-Ever On-Air Apology — and the Fallout Was Immediate. What began as a controversial comedy sketch about actress Claudine Longet and a real-life fatal shooting quickly exploded into one of the biggest scandals in television history, sparking outrage, legal complaints, and intense public backlash.
The Claudine Longet sketch mocked a fatal shooting, drew legal complaints, and prompted announcer Don Pardo to apologize the following week. On April 24, 1976, Saturday Night Live ran a sketch entitled “The Claudine Longet Invitational,” featuring Chevy Chase and Jane Curtin. For those who don’t know, Longet was a popular French actress and singer who fatally shot her … Read more