Aired April 15, 1978.
Cold opening:"The President's Message On Inflation"
Pres. Jimmy Carter addresses the nation about the inflation crisis. Carter says the best way to fight inflation is for citizens to burn 8% of their cash.
He explains that "if all of us burn 8% of our money, less money will be in circulation, and in no time at all, prices will hopefully go down." The President says that if he's asking Americans to sacrifice needs to start in his family. He calls on his daughter Amy (Laraine Newman) to bring her savings and then he burns her money.
At the end of Carter's address, he and Amy discuss who will get to "say it." Amy begs the President, so he tells her to say it. Amy then announces "live, from New York, it's Saturday Night."
Monolgue:"Boothday"
Host Michael Sarrazin talks about how April 15 is Boothday, the anniversary of Pres. Lincoln's death after he was shot by John Wilkes Booth, an actor. Boothday will be a bad luck day for actors until a President shoots an actor.
Sarrazin says he's keeping his fingers crossed so that nothing bad will happen to he and the cast during Saturday Night.
Commercial:"Angora Bouquet"
Repeat from Season 3, episode 3.
"Josh Ramsey:V.D. Caseworker"
When Susie (Newman) worries that she has venereal disease, she seeks help from Josh Ramsey (Sarrazin) a VD Caseworker. Susie worries that her boyfriend Johnny (Bill Murray) will hate her when he learns she had sex with someone else.
Keith Jarrett:"Country"
Jazz pianist Keith Jarrett performs "Country." This piece appeared on Jarrett's album My Song, which was released in June of 1978.
"Judy Miller's 'Hate Jennifer Show'"
Written by Marilyn Suzanne Miller.
When Judy Miller's sister Jennifer hits her, Judy imagines she hosts a show in her living room called "The Hate Jennifer Show." Judy dances and jumps are over the room.
"Weekend Update"
Anchors Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd report on the top news stories of the day.
Stargazer Bill Murray reviews the movie American Hot Wax and interviews one of the stars of the movie, Laraine Newman.
Jane and Dan engage in a Point/Counter-Point debate about the use of the Neutron Bomb.
Correspondent Roseanne Roseannadanna reports on springtime depression. Roseanne talks about feeling depressed in the past, but eventually segues into talking about people spitting in drinking fountains.
"Penalty Box"
Two Quebecois hockey players (Aykroyd and Sarrazin) from opposing teams converse while sitting in the penalty box.
"E. Buzz Miller's Exercise World"
Written by Dan Aykroyd and Tom Davis.
E. Buzz Miller looks on while his girlfriend Christy Christina strikes sexually explicit poses while she exercises.
Keith Jarrett:"My Song"
Jarrett performs the title track of his 1978 album.
Schiller's Reel:"La Dolce Gilda"
Filmmaker Tom Schiller's camera follows Gilda Radner while she attends an SNL after party. Gilda is constantly surrounded and everyone demands her time.
Archaeologicus:"The Treasures of Morton Kamen"
Written by Tom Schiller.
Tina Gemini hosts Archaeologicus and explores “The Treasures of Morton Kamen.” Archeologists of the future find the room of an ordinary man named Morton Kamen and his wife Shirley, they were perfectly preserved by air conditioning in their Palm Springs home.
Howard Johnson & Gravity:"Tuba City Gitback"
Gravity, who are fronted by the SNL band's tubist Howard Johnson, perform "Tuba City Gitback."
Goodnights:
Sarrazin says "Well that’s it for this evening. It wasn’t such a bad Booth Day, was it? I’d like to thank Mr. Keith Jarrett! Howard Johnson and the group Gravity! Alright!"
The host then thanks "the people who helped me through all this, the Not Ready For Prime Time Players! Come on in, guys!" The cast and musical guests surround Michael and the credits roll.
Notes about this episode:
Michael Sarrazin's name may be unfamiliar to younger readers of this site. He was an actor and appeared in dozens of films and TV episodes between 1965 and his death in 2011.
In "Penalty Box," Bill Murray plays a hockey player named "Novello." This is no doubt a reference to SNL writer Don Novello, who broke his hip during rehearsals of this sketch.
"La Dolce Gilda" is a parody of and homage to Federico Fellinni's La Dolce Vita.
What stands out:
Gilda Radner-This episode is a showcase for Radner's talents. She's great as Judy Miller, Roseanne Roseannadanna and in La Dolce Gilda. She even has a great line in the "Josh Ramsey" sketch.
Howard Johnson & Gravity-I applaud Saturday Night for booking a jazz band that features six tubists. "Tuba City Gitback" is a great way to close the episode.
Amy Carter-During the cold opening, Jimmy Carter calls Amy "four eyes." Amy Carter was 10 years old when this aired, so this feels like punching down on a child.
This episode isn't as good as the two that preceded it. However, in spite of a lackluster host, Gilda Radner's brilliance lifts this episode and makes it well-worth watching.
