<P> When the first show aired on October 11 , 1975 with George Carlin as its host , it was called NBC 's Saturday Night because ABC featured a program at the same time titled Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell . After ABC cancelled the Cosell program in 1976 , the NBC program changed its name to Saturday Night Live on March 26 , 1977 ( and subsequently picked up Bill Murray from Cosell 's show in 1977 , as well ) . Every night , Don Pardo introduced the cast , a job he 'd hold for 39 years until his death in 2014 . </P>
<P> When the first show aired on October 11 , 1975 with George Carlin as its host , it was called NBC 's Saturday Night because ABC featured a program at the same time titled Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell . After ABC cancelled the Cosell program in 1976 , the NBC program changed its name to Saturday Night Live on March 26 , 1977 ( and subsequently picked up Bill Murray from Cosell 's show in 1977 , as well ) . Every night , Don Pardo introduced the cast , a job he 'd hold for 39 years until his death in 2014 . </P>
who was the first saturday night live host
who was the first saturday night live host
George Carlin
George Carlin