SNL was never live.

[Deja Q]

The SNL DVD Collection (4 payments of $29.95) even had the announcer said that there were 'outtakes that you never saw live'.

Therefore it must not have been live? :shrug:

[Catch22Dem]

1. As you know...

In addition to their live skits, they always have "filmed" skits as well. Things like fake commercials and what not.

[LiberalKid]

4. Exactly. Well said, Catch22.

Fake commercials are filmed and there ARE rehearsals before the show in front of an audience, but not on live TV.

The outtakes are probably what's there.

[tyedyeto]

2. I have never seen it live but then.........

I've always lived in either CA or AZ where it's always shown on tape delay.

[mdmc]

3. lies! all lies!

It can't be true!

[Touchdown]

8. Did somebody say lies?

[mdmc]

9. lol

:kick:

[yvr girl]

5. They also have a dress rehearsal, which is longer

They don't choose the final skits until right before the show.

[soupkitchen]

6. They have rehearsals

Do an entire live show before they go on the air.
And for a variety of reasons, including time, skits get cut from the final rehearsal. Some of these skits might have shown up on the DVD

[7th_Sephiroth]

10. they also do it to practice, its good live

but its well rehearsed

[doc03]

7. and has sucked for years.

[zann725]

11. Next you're gonna say there's no Santa Claus?!

I think not!

[MissBrooks]

12. Many years ago..

I was in the audience for a few shows - and yes, it was live (see other comments about portions not live).

It's certainly not live in the different time zones....

[Oddly Stevenson]

13. I noticed on a recent repeat.....

...that they ran a discalimer before a Debbie Downer sketch stating that they were using the version from dress rehearsal because it worked better, so apparently they film both the dress rehearsal and the live show. I think the Best of Will Ferrell dvd also featured a skit from dress rehearsal that was cut from the final show.