So who was in the original cast of the first Saturday Night Live? Below, read about the trailblazing group of actors known as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players: Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, John Belushi, and Laraine Newman.

Indeed, Second City (both its original Chicago and its Toronto companies) and the Los Angeles improvisation group the Groundlings provided many of the performers who have made up SNL ’s ensemble, beginning with its original cast, known as the Not Ready for Primetime Players— Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner.

The show was originally conceived with three rotating permanent hosts: Lily Tomlin, Richard Pryor, and George Carlin. According to Ebersol, consideration was given to Steve Martin and singer Linda Ronstadt also being included as a duo. When Pryor dropped out because his brand of comedy was not censor-friendly, the concept was dropped.