NBC Latenight will all be HD in 2005

[Skaggs]

Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Saturday Night Live
Last Call with Carson Daly
The Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

NBC'S ENTIRE LATE- NIGHT LINEUP AND HOLIDAY SPECIALS TO BE UPGRADED FOR PRESENTATION IN HIGH DEFINITION IN 2005

BURBANK -- December 13, 2004 -- NBC, which was the first network to broadcast a nightly series in high-definition television with "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in 1999, will upgrade the rest of the network's top-rated late-night lineup into HDTV in 2005, it was announced today by Jeff Zucker, President, NBC Universal Television Group.

"NBC has always been the late-night leader in more ways than one and this progression to high-definition television is the next logical step," said Zucker. "Our viewers will be the primary beneficiaries of this ongoing technology which will complement the creative quality of each program."

In addition, two of the network's annual signature holiday specials – "The Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular" and "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" -- also will be broadcast in HD beginning in 2005.

The late-night conversion is scheduled to begin in April 2005 when NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" converts to HDTV. "Saturday Night Live" follows when the series returns for its 2005-06 season premiere in the Fall as will "Last Call with Carson Daly" which shares "SNL's" studio – 30 Rockefeller Plaza's legendary Studio 8H.

Currently NBC broadcasts 90 percent of its scripted entertainment programming in high definition – including 13.5 primetime hours and the upcoming second-season shows "Revelations" and "Medium."

As of December 1, NBC Universal Cable Group also launched Universal HD, which is currently available to more than 25 million homes. Universal HD offers the best of NBC Universal's library in HD. Programming includes unedited and uninterrupted films, Backdraft, Carlito's Way, Apollo 13 and Meet the Parents; award-winning series and franchises such as "Monk," "Law & Order SVU" and "Battlestar Galactica;" performing arts and special events, "Cirque du Soleil: Varekai;" "Music in High Places" and sports programming including the US Open and the 2004 Summer Olympics.

[OldMatador]

Nice, Conan in HD. Will SNL be funnier in HD? I sincerely doubt it.

[dkennedy]

Saturday Night Live In HDTV Starting October 1, 2005

September 23, 2005

By Dale Cripps, HDTV Magazine

October Shows To Feature Meteoric Rising Comedy Stars Steve Carell and "Napoleon Dynamite's" Jon Heder, Oscar Winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and National Hero Lance Armstrong

Musical Guests Include Kanye West, Franz Ferdinand and Sheryl Crow. Newcomers Bill Hader and Andy Samberg Join Cast.

NEW YORK -- September 22, 2005 -- "Saturday Night Live" begins its thirty-first season October 1 and in High Definition.

The season premiere will be hosted by Steve Carell hot on the heels of his sleeper comedy "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" and the return of the NBC television series "The Office." Outspoken and award-winning hip-hop artist Kanye West will join Carell as musical guest.

Prior to "Virgin," Carell's star rose with breakout performances opposite Will Ferrell in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and Jim Carrey in "Bruce Almighty." On television, Carell was well known as a regular on the award-winning "The Daily Show" and is now starring in NBC's American adaptation of the British comedy "The Office" which has been met with praise stateside.

Also making his SNL debut is hip-hop superstar Kanye West. The 28-year-old multiple Grammy winner will perform from his sophomore release "Late Registration" which has debuted at Number One on the Billboard album charts. West has been called "the smartest man in pop music" on a recent cover of Time magazine.

October 8 brings "Napoleon Dynamite" star Jon Heder to the show. The musical guest will be announced later.

October 22 features Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and music from hot band Franz Ferdinand.

Zeta-Jones makes her SNL debut after a memorable appearance on the show's 25th Anniversary special with a singing Bill Murray. She will soon be seen in "The Legend of Zorro" with Antonio Banderas from their successful film "The Mask of Zorro." Zeta-Jones took home an Academy Award for her work in the musical "Chicago" and was also nominated for a Golden Globe (among other awards) for her work in "Traffic." Other credits include the all-star ensemble "Ocean's 12," "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks, "Intolerable Cruelty" with George Clooney, "Entrapment" with Sean Connery and "America's Sweethearts" with Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal and John Cusack.

Scottish import Franz Ferdinand provides music on the 22nd, performing from their sophomore release "You Could Have It So Much Better." The band toured the world supporting its platinum-selling, Grammy nominated self-titled debut.

Finally, on October 29, SNL welcomes record-breaking seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and his fiancee Sheryl Crow as musical guest, who returns to SNL for the third time. Crow will perform from her fifth studio record "Wildflower".

Also making their SNL debuts are newly cast featured players Bill Hader and Andy Samberg. Hader, originally from Tulsa, Okla. comes to "SNL" via Second City Los Angeles. Hader's improv skills were most recently put to use as a "field agent" on MTV's "Punk'd." Samberg, a native of Berkeley, Calif. also moves east to join the show. Samberg was one of three writer-performer-filmmakers dubbed "The Lonely Island" whose films were showcased on the popular "untelevised television network" show and website: Channel 101.com.