 The show was originally entitled "Saturday Night" to avoid confusion  with ABCs _"Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell" (1975)_ (qv).  In an effort to emphasize the live nature of the show, the writers  began the tradition of the trademark "Live from New York, its  Saturday Night" line. After ABCs show failed, permission was  granted to rename this show, and the first episode to carry the  title "Saturday Night Live" was 26 March 1977. The original cast  members were known as the Not Ready for Prime