WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Saturday Night. Jason Reitman’s film Saturday Night, set to be released in 2024, delves into the complex relationship between SNL creator Lorne Michaels and his ex-wife Rosie Shuster. The film presents their marriage as largely platonic, even though they were legally married when the inaugural episode of Saturday Night Live aired on October 11, 1975. Childhood friends with a shared passion for comedy, Michaels (played by Gabriel LaBelle) and Shuster (portrayed by Rachel Sennott) forged a strong bond that ultimately laid the groundwork for SNL’s creation.
The narrative highlights Shuster’s open affair with cast member Dan Aykroyd, a situation that seemingly doesn’t affect Michaels profoundly, despite being her husband at the time. Acknowledging the affair was common knowledge among the season 1 cast, the film illustrates the lively and chaotic atmosphere of 1970s SNL, where Aykroyd’s flirtations with other women mirror the show’s reckless spirit. Throughout these personal tumultuations, Michaels’ singular focus remained on realizing his vision for SNL, a quality that resonates strongly in both the film and his real-world endeavors.
The Beginnings: How Rosie Shuster & Lorne Michaels Met
Childhood Connections and Shared Dreams
Both Michaels and Shuster hail from Toronto, where they first crossed paths during junior high school. Their deep-rooted friendship blossomed over their mutual love for comedy, especially after Michaels expressed interest in meeting Shuster’s notable father, Frank Shuster, of the popular comedy duo Wayne and Shuster. This bond only strengthened through their high school years and during their college journey at the University of Toronto, where they collaborated on various comedy sketches until their graduation in 1966.
Following their nuptials in 1967, just after leaving college, Michaels began his career in sketch comedy on programs like Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. The couple collaborated on The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour, a show that aired on Canadian television, and later on The Lily Tomlin Show in the early 1970s. Their marriage proved beneficial for their writing careers; a testament to their early partnership, which is a significant theme within Saturday Night.
Understanding Rosie’s Stance: “We’re Married, But I’m Not His Wife”
An Assertion of Identity Amidst Professionalism and Conflict
Rosie’s declaration that she is “not his wife, ”despite their legal marriage, speaks volumes about their relationship dynamic. Having grown up together, Michaels and Shuster embody a relationship that often feels more sibling-like than marital. In an emotionally charged scene, when Michaels seeks solace from Shuster, calling her his wife, she redirects him, insisting he use her given name instead. This moment captures Michaels’ yearning for connection, met with Shuster’s disinterest.
Shuster’s commitment to her given name in Saturday Night symbolizes her desire for autonomy. Even though she is credited as “Rosie Michaels”in real life, her insistence on her name highlights the discord in their marriage, revealing a partnership largely defined by their shared professional aspirations rather than personal harmony. Their early marriage at the young age of 17 appears to have evolved into a complex arrangement as their careers flourished.
Duration of Marriage: An Overview
The Timeline: Marriage in 1967 and Divorce in 1980
Although the premiere of Saturday Night Live showcased a turbulent chapter in Michaels and Shuster’s marriage, their union persisted for another five years, culminating in a divorce in 1980. Shuster chose not to remarry, while Michaels wed actress Susan Forristal in 1981, shortly after his romantic involvement with her began. The timeline suggests that Forristal played a significant role in the dissolution of Michaels and Shuster’s marriage. Notably, they did not have any children together, though Michaels has three children with his third and current wife, Alice Barry, to whom he married in 1991, more than two decades after the events portrayed in Saturday Night.
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