"Can We Be Funny?": SNL Returns After 9/11

The return of Saturday Night Live 18 days after the 9/11 attacks marked a meaningful cultural moment in the city's recovery. Featuring FDNY and NYPD first responders and a memorable opening that affirmed New York's resilience, the broadcast became a symbol of hope in the weeks after the attacks. In conversation with SNL writer and performer Colin Jost, Saturday Night Live creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels and former FDNY Commissioner Thomas von Essen reflect on that night and the role of comedy, resilience, and community in the aftermath of 9/11.