Studio 8H is a 6,102-square-foot (566.9 m2)television studio located inMidtown Manhattan, New York City, United States. The studio is a part ofNBC Studios, the home of theNBCtelevision network, located at30 Rockefeller Plaza. It is most notable for housing the live broadcast ofSaturday Night Live (SNL), which has been broadcast from the studio since the show's inception in 1975.
Studio 8H was built in 1933, at the time ofRockefeller Center's construction. It was intended not only for orchestral performances but also for radio variety programs with large studio audiences.[1] It became the home ofArturo Toscanini'sNBC Symphony Orchestra in 1937. At the time of construction, Studio 8H was the world's largestradio studio, 132 by 78 feet (40 m × 24 m) with a height of three stories, which could house a full orchestra.[2] The first ever performance ofSamuel Barber'sAdagio for Strings was performed from Studio 8H. It was converted for television use in 1950, primarily for the live broadcast ofKraft Television Theatre.[3]
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Studio 8H is now most prominent for housing theNBCsketch comedy showSaturday Night Live, which is broadcastlive.[4] It was revamped just before the 1975 premiere ofSNL at a cost of $250,000.[5] Two episodes of NBC sitcom30 Rock, "Live Show" and "Live from Studio 6H" were also broadcast live from the studio, a departure from the show's usual film format.[6][7]
The first season finale ofThe Apprentice and the fifth anniversary special ofLate Night with Conan O'Brien both used the studio for one night each. Likewise,Later with Bob Costas,Love, Sidney, the 50th anniversary television episode ofToday in 1990,House Party with Steve Doocy, and the fifth anniversary special ofLate Night with David Letterman were broadcast from Studio 8H.Last Call with Carson Daly used the studio until 2005, when the show moved to Studio 9 at the NBC Studios in Burbank, California.
The showYour Hit Parade filmed in 8H, whereFred Rogers worked writing music for the program. Years later,Eddie Murphy performed a parody of Mr. Rogers' children’s show character named "Mr. Robinson" onSaturday Night Live in Studio 8H.[8]
In January 1975, a special one-hour episode of the daytime dramaThe Doctors was taped in Studio 8H. It was usually taped in Studio 3B.
In mid‐1990,Today relocated its set from Studio 3B to Studio 8H, to allow for construction of a new set that debuted in Studio 3B on September 10, 1990.[9]
In May 2002, NBC celebrated its 75th anniversary and used 8H to shoot the live broadcast of the event.Lorne Michaels (executive producer of 8H mainstaySaturday Night Live) executive produced the event. The studio was also used for the live parts of the season finale ofThe Celebrity Apprentice on March 27, 2008.
MSNBC'sMorning Joe news program celebrated its tenth anniversary with a show before a live audience at the studio on September 19, 2017. The studio was also used for the show's post-election coverage on November 7, 2018[10] as well as November 10, 2016[11] and November 7, 2012.[12]
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