Studio 8H

Studio 8H is a  television studio located in New York City in the United States. The studio is a part of NBC Studios, the home of the NBC television network, located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. It is most notable for housing the live broadcast of Saturday Night Live, which has been broadcast from the studio since the show's inception in 1975.

Construction
Studio 8H was originally constructed for Arturo Toscanini's NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1937. At the time of construction, Studio 8H was the world's largest radio studio, 132 X 78 feet with a height of three stories, which could house a full orchestra. It was converted for television use in 1950, primarily for the live broadcast of Kraft Television Theatre.

History

Studio 8H is now most prominent for housing the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, which is broadcast live. Two episodes of NBC sitcom 30 Rock, "Live Show" and "Live from Studio 6H" were also broadcast live from the studio, a departure from the show's usual film format.

The first season finale of The Apprentice and the 5th anniversary special of Late Night with Conan O'Brien have both used the studio for one night each. Likewise, Later with Bob Costas, Love, Sidney, the 50th anniversary of television episode of Today in 1990, "House Party with Steve Doocy" and the 5th anniversary special of Late 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 show Your Hit Parade filmed in 8H, where Fred Rogers worked writing music for the program. Years later Eddie Murphy performed a parody of Mr. Rogers children’s show character named "Mr. Robinson" on Saturday Night Live in Studio 8H. 

In January 1975, a special 1 hour episode of the daytime drama 
The Doctors was taped in Studio 8H. It usually was taped in Studio 3B.

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 mainstay Saturday Night Live) executive produced the event. The studio was also used for the live parts of the season finale of The Celebrity Apprentice on March 27, 2008.

MSNBC's Morning 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 as well as November 10, 2016 and November 7, 2012.

References

Category:Television studios in the United States