NEW YORK (AP) — “Saturday Night Live” was built with a cast of young no-names performing countercultural comedy. Fifty years later, it is firmly part of the culture, dictating mainstream comedy instead of throwing spitballs from the margins.

There have been 11 movies based on "Saturday Night Live" sketches over its 50 years, including 'Wayne's World" and "The Blues Brothers."

But on February 16th “Saturday Night Live” ( SNL) will celebrate its 50th birthday on air, 979 episodes after its launch. A slew of tributes is also filling the airwaves. A new film, “Saturday Night”,