Cold opening:"The host is missing!"
In SNL's locker room, Gilda Radner and John Belushi are worried. The show is about to start, and host Charles Grodin is missing! They talk about how he's a bit eccentric and doesn't relate to the cast. When Grodin finally shows up, he says he's late because he was buying gifts for the cast, which caused him to miss dress rehearsal.
In SNL's locker room, Gilda Radner and John Belushi are worried. The show is about to start, and host Charles Grodin is missing! They talk about how he's a bit eccentric and doesn't relate to the cast. When Grodin finally shows up, he says he's late because he was buying gifts for the cast, which caused him to miss dress rehearsal.
He's due to perform the opening monologue in 1 minute and hasn't written it yet. But Grodin says he's excited about hosting and he's written a special song for the show that expresses how he feels about life. Grodin says he didn't have time to write a monologue because he's been busy visiting various New York tourist attractions. Charles is shocked when he's told Saturday Night is a live show with a live audience.
John Belushi tells him yes, "you know, like…live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!" and the opening montage rolls.
Monologue:
Grodin says he's never watched SNL, but he hears "it's a wonderful, wonderful show." He says he wished he'd have time to rehearse with the cast, but he's been too busy sight-seeing and checking out Broadway shows. Charles says Saturday Night looks like a "really cute show!"
Grodin says he's never watched SNL, but he hears "it's a wonderful, wonderful show." He says he wished he'd have time to rehearse with the cast, but he's been too busy sight-seeing and checking out Broadway shows. Charles says Saturday Night looks like a "really cute show!"
"Return of the Coneheads"
Written by Dan Aykroyd and Tom Davis.
While the Conehead family are celebrating Halloween, Prymaat (Jane Curtin) gets a knock on the door from trick or treaters. She gives them fried eggs (or "fried chicken embryos" as the Coneheads call them) and a 6-pack of beer.
Written by Dan Aykroyd and Tom Davis.
While the Conehead family are celebrating Halloween, Prymaat (Jane Curtin) gets a knock on the door from trick or treaters. She gives them fried eggs (or "fried chicken embryos" as the Coneheads call them) and a 6-pack of beer.
This draws criticism from neighborhood "block parents" Carl (Bill Murray) and Sharlene van Arsdale (Radner).
Plus, daughter Connie (Laraine Newman) is dressed as a witch and plans to attend a Halloween party later that night. Connie attempts to explain apple bobbing to her parents.
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"Charles' film clip"
The host introduces a clip from his latest film Too Late, Too Late, My Love, My Love. Grodin talks about his co-stars and the film's director. Unfortunately, Charles takes so long introducing the the clip that the show cuts away before Grodin shows up in the clip.
Lorne Michaels then chimes in over the PA system and tells Grodin that the show needs to move on to the next segment. Charles then introduces the musical guest.
Paul Simon and the Persuassions:"Slip Slidin' Away"
Paul Simon performs "Slip Slidin' Away," which was released as a single in October 1977 and peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was included on Simon's album Greatest Hits, Etc., which was issued in November of '77.
Paul Simon performs "Slip Slidin' Away," which was released as a single in October 1977 and peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was included on Simon's album Greatest Hits, Etc., which was issued in November of '77.
The Persuassions provide back-up vocals on the "Slip Slidin' Away." They later recorded an a cappella version of this song, which appeared on their 1985 album No Frills.
Talk show:"Consumer Probe"
Host Joan Face (Curtin) confronts sleazy businessman Irwin Mainway (Aykroyd) about his company's dangerous Halloween costumes.
Mainway's costumes include a "Johnny Space Commander" mask, which is "nothing more than a plastic bag and a rubber band."
And "Johnny Human Torch," which consists of "a bag of oily rags and a lighter."
"Anyone Can Host contest"
Bill Murray and Mr. Mike (Michael O'Donoghue) promote SNL's "Anyone Can Host" contest. Murray explains the rules of the contest while Mr. Mike rejects contestants' for petty reasons, such as "typing errors" and "uneven margins" on their postcards.
"Samurai Dry Cleaners"
Written by Alan Zweibel and John Belushi.
A couple (Grodin and Radner) pick up their shirts at a dry cleaners operated by a samurai (Belushi).
Grodin breaks character and talks about how great Belushi is as the samurai. Gilda tries to keep the host on task, to no avail. Charles then starts reading John's lines off the cue cards, which infuriates Belushi and Radner.
"Weekend Update"
Anchors Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin report on top stories of the day, which include:
Cher is suing her plastic surgeon.
Cher is suing her plastic surgeon.
The Food and Drug Administration will change its name to the Food and Dope Administration in an attempt to keep up with the users of the Administration's services.
Update presents an exclusive report on the disappearance of Teamster president Jimmy Hoffa. FBI Agent Lt. Willard Jackson (Garrett Morris) visits the Update desk and brings pieces of Hoffa's (alleged) skeleton.
Bill Murray presents a commentary on one-man shows that are appearing on stages all over New York. Murray is not a fan of monodrama.
And Aykroyd presents a new Update feature, News for the Silent Film Buff.
Charles Grodin and Paul Simon:"Sounds Of Silence" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
The host teams up with the musical guest for a duet on "Sounds Of Silence." The song was written by Simon and first appeared on Simon & Garfunkel's debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. "Sounds Of Silence" became a hit single when it was reissued with added electric instrumentation and reached #1 on the Billboard chart in January 1966.
Their performance keeps starting and stopping because Grodin doesn't know the words. Simon is also distracted by the host's "Art Garfunkel wig." Simon eventually gets fed up and walks off.
Grodin then decides to perform "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by himself. This song was the title track of Simon & Garfunkel's final studio album and it reached #1 on the Hot 100 in February 1970.
After Grodin warbles the first verse, the real Art Garfunkel walks onstage to confront Charles. He tells Grodin to hand over the wig.
"The Killer Bees Go Trick Or Treating"
The Killer Bees trick or treat at a suburban house. But it's not candy they're after, they want pollen! The man of the house (Grodin) tells them they have no pollen.
Grodin breaks character and talks about the wonderful bee costumes. But he quickly changes his tune, saying the antennae props are distracting. Radner, playing his wife, tries to get him to read the cue cards, to no avail. Belushi and the others try to stay in character.
Grodin gets confused and asks "am I supposed to believe that you're real bees?" Belushi reminds him that if he hadn't missed the dress rehearsal, he would understand the sketch. Grodin refuses to stay in character, causing Belushi and the other "bees" to walk off stage.
Since the sketch runs long, Lorne tells Grodin that his song will have to be cut from the show, which upsets Charles.
"The Judy Miller Show"
Written by Marilyn Suzanne Miller.
A young girl named Judy Miller sings and dances around her room and creates her own fantasy TV show.
A young girl named Judy Miller sings and dances around her room and creates her own fantasy TV show.
Judy smashes into her door, which eventually gets the attention of her mother, who wants to know what's going on.
Commercial:"Professional School of Football"
A pitchman (Morris) promotes a school where students are taught how to play football.
"Crowd shot"
As the previous sketch ends, the camera pans away from the stage and reveals that Grodin has taken a seat in the studio audience.
Paul Simon:"You're Kind"
Simon performs "You're Kind." This song appeared on Simon's album Still Crazy After All These Years, which was released on October 17, 1975.
Virtuoso harmonica player Toots Thielemans backs up Simon and takes a solo on "Your Kind."
PSA:"Hire The Incompetent"
Written by Rosie Shuster.
Grodin presents a public service message that advocates on behalf of "incompetent" workers who have been fired from various jobs.
Grodin presents a public service message that advocates on behalf of "incompetent" workers who have been fired from various jobs.
It features testimony from a grocery bagger who put eggs on the bottom of the bag under heavy items...
...an air traffic controller who caused a plane crash.
...and a woman fired from Burgerland for making burgers with hair in them.
During the sketch, Grodin once again breaks character and asks Lorne Michaels if there's enough time to perform his original song. Lorne says yes and Charles sings this song.
During the sketch, Grodin once again breaks character and asks Lorne Michaels if there's enough time to perform his original song. Lorne says yes and Charles sings this song.
It goes like this:
“Help a person,
Be a friend,
Hang on till the very end,
A car, TV, some cake, a wife,
These are my feelings about life.”
Michaels tells the host "that was wonderful, Chuck. Thank you," and the sketch ends.
Goodnights:
Grodin says "Thank you, everybody, uh, you’ve been a wonderful audience." Charles puts his arm around Belushi and says "as you see, this is just kidding. Right, John?" Belushi says "yeah, Mr. Spaceman, right."
Grodin thanks, Simon, the Persuassions, Garfunkel. He closes the show by saying "you’ve been a wonderful audience, it’s been a terrific night for us!"
Notes about this episode:
First off, I want to address a rumor that has persisted since this episode aired. Charles Grodin was not "banned" from Saturday Night after this episode. He just never hosted again.
This episode was released on VHS in the 1980s and my family owned a copy while I was growing up. So I bring a lot of nostalgia to this review.
For the third time this season, the opening montage features new footage of the Not Ready For Prime Time Players. Each member of the cast is seen in Times Square posed in front of the digital billboard, which displays their names:
If you're not familiar with The Persuassions, they were an A Cappella vocal group that formed in Brooklyn in 1962. The Persuassions recorded more than two dozen albums and collaborated with artists like Les McCann, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Phoebe Snow, Leon Redbone and the Neville Brothers.
Classic moments:
In "Hire The Incompetent," Gilda Radner plays an unnamed character that would eventually become Roseanne Roseannadanna. "Roseanne" would go on to be one of SNL's most popular characters.
"Return of the Coneheads"-This is one of the best Coneheads sketches and it's been featured on a bunch of SNL Halloween compilations.
"Consumer Probe"-This Irwin Mainway sketch is one of Aykroyd's all-time best moments and it's still hilarious 47 years later.
"The Judy Miller Show"-This features Gilda Radner delivering a clinic on physical comedy while also displaying her child-like qualities.
It's worth noting the the Coneheads, "Judy Miller" and "Consumer Probe" have appeared on multiple "best-of" compilation specials.
What stands out:
Pretty much everything. Charles Grodin is a great host and I generally like it when Saturday Night departs from its usual format. Grodin is very believable when pretending he doesn't know what's going on.
Pretty much everything. Charles Grodin is a great host and I generally like it when Saturday Night departs from its usual format. Grodin is very believable when pretending he doesn't know what's going on.
Bonus:
Here are bumper photos from this episode, created by Saturday Night photographer Edie Baskin. These photos are not available on the officially released DVDs, I got them from the 1980s VHS release.
Here are bumper photos from this episode, created by Saturday Night photographer Edie Baskin. These photos are not available on the officially released DVDs, I got them from the 1980s VHS release.
J.A. Morris' rating:
I can't say much else about this episode other than to say it's one of the all-time best episodes of SNL and it's something I watch every year around Halloween. It's got classic sketches, recurring characters and a unique, unforgettable host. Grodin's episode gets my highest rating.
I can't say much else about this episode other than to say it's one of the all-time best episodes of SNL and it's something I watch every year around Halloween. It's got classic sketches, recurring characters and a unique, unforgettable host. Grodin's episode gets my highest rating.
4 stars!
