Backstage at Studio 8H: Inside the Making of 'Saturday Night Live'

Go behind the scenes of one of television’s most iconic shows with a rare look inside the making of Saturday Night Live. This panel brings together cast member Ashley Padilla with two legendary artisans, costume designer Tom Broecker and head makeup artist Louie Zakarian, for an insider’s account of how SNL comes together each week. The panelists will explore the fast-moving process behind transforming sketches from table read to airtime, revealing how performance, costume, and makeup work in constant collaboration to create unforgettable characters in a matter of days — or sometimes hours. Whether you’re fascinated by sketch comedy, creative problem-solving, live television, or the crafts that bring characters to life, this panel offers a rare glimpse inside a cultural institution that has shaped comedy for generations.

Panelists
Tom Broecker, producer and costume designer
Ashley Padilla, cast member
Louie Zakarian, head makeup artist
Moderator: Breanne L. Heldman, People magazine executive editor of TV and events