Anyone who thinks writing and performing comedy is all fun and games should watch “Biography Close-Up: Saturday Night Live” (8 p.m., A&E). Host Harry Smith and his crew were given complete access to SNL’s writers and talent for an entire week as they prepared for a show, hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow, that aired last November.

The process begins on Monday night when the staff pitches jokes and skit ideas to producer Lorne Michaels and host Paltrow. If they react with a laugh, the idea is a go. But Michaels is notoriously hard to amuse. Comic Will Ferrell describes him as a stern but nurturing presence and compares him to a “vice principal.”

Biography

Writers stay up all night Tuesday night polishing concepts for the Wednesday meeting with set designers, technicians and NBC’s censors. Of the dozen or so skits presented, only half survive. Thursday night means another late night of re-writing. “It feels like a school night,” confesses one staffer. With only twenty-four hours to go before air time, the cast begin to rehearse their material on Friday night. Every one of the writers and comics interviewed here speaks with great reverence about the demands of live television. For twenty-five years, Lorne Michael’s philosophy has been, “the show goes on, not because it’s ready, but because it’s Saturday night at 11:30.” The high-wire atmosphere brings out the best in many performers.

“Saturday Night Live” was first broadcast on Oct. 11, 1975, so the folks at “Biography” have decided to give that year its own one hour special. “Bio ’75” (7 p.m., A&E) looks at the grim year when America experienced humiliating defeat in Vietnam, the embarrassing bankruptcy of its largest city and a recession that put one worker in ten on unemployment lines. This being television, “Bio” doesn’t dwell too long on such historical bummers, but instead emphasizes the year’s pop culture fads and excesses, including disco, Pet Rocks, “Jaws,” Bruce Springsteen and all things polyester. We also learn that familiar faces including Lauryn Hill, Angelina Jolie and Drew Barrymore were only born that year. For those of us old enough to remember the “Have a Nice Day” era, that’s depressing enough to turn our Mood Rings blue.

Celebrities, including Vanna White, Mackenzie Phillips and wrestler Bret Hart try to communicate with departed love ones on the lurid special “Contact: Talking to the Dead” (9 p.m., ABC).

Tonight’s other highlights

Ray has a grudge match with Ally’s scout troop leader on “Everybody Loves Raymond” (8 p.m., CBS).

Carlos feels conflicted about his baby’s prospective adoptive family on “Third Watch” (8 p.m., NBC).

Heather Locklear and Lara Flynn Boyle guest star on “Ally McBeal” (8 p.m., Fox). All the cameos in the world can’t save “Ally” now. Canceled last week, the comedy will have its series finale May 20.