Aired January 28, 1978.
Network disclaimer:"Charlie's Angel's Catch The Syph"
Don Pardo tells viewers that “Charlie’s Angels Catch The Syph” will not be seen tonight, so NBC can present this special program."
Cold opening:"Don Kirshner's Rock Concert Presents the Mr. Mike and Tina Turner Revue"
Don Kirshner (Paul Shaffer), hosting his show "Rock Concert," introduces the Mr. Mike and Tina Turner Revue.
Tina (Garrett Morris), backed by the Mike-Ettes (Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner) begins the song "Proud Mary," saying they will start performing it "nice and easy" but finish it rough.
She passes the spotlight to Mr. Mike (Michael O'Donoghue), who tells the story of a rabbit who works in a factory and gets his ears caught in the machinery.
Tina then sings a raucous rendition of "Proud Mary."
This song was written by John Fogerty and recorded by his band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). "Proud Mary" was released as a single and it appeared on CCR's Bayou Country album and it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
When "Proud Mary" ends, Don Kirshner reappears onscreen and says "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night."
Monologue:"Alfred University and The Merchant Of Venice"
Host Robert Klein talks about encountering antisemitism when he attended Alfred University. He finishes his monologue by performing a soliloquy from Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice, which he first performed as an Alfred U undergrad.
"Olympia Restaurant"
Welcome to the Olympia Restaurant, where they only serve cheeseburgers (no hamburgers), Pepsi (no Coke) and chips (no fries).
The owner Pete (John Belushi) and his employees (Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Newman) scream "CHEEBURGER, CHEEBURGER, PETSI, CHIPS" for most of the sketch.
"X-Police":
The X-Police (Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray), two policceman who were kicked off the force, bust into an apartment when they discover an unmarried couple named Dave and Susan (Klein and Newman) living together. Such cohabitation is a felony in the state.
The X-cops beat Susan to death while lecturing her about the hazards of unmarried cohabitation.
Bonnie Raitt"Runaway"
Bonnie Raitt sings "Runaway," written by Del Shannon and Max Crook.
Shannon's recording was released on February 18, 1961 and reached #1 on Billboard's Hot 100. Raitt's recording of the song peaked at #57 and it appeared on her 1977 album Sweet Forgiveness.
"Weekend Update":
Anchors Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd report on the day's top stories, which include:
A Russian satellite filled with 100 pounds of highly radioactive Uranium-235 landed in a Nova Scotia lobster bed. Scientists report that the radioactivity has caused the lobsters to grow to "the size of helicopters."
Tomorrow show host Tom Snyder has been lynched by an angry studio audience.
Science Editor Roseanne Roseannadanna (Radner) explains what an aneurysm is. Her "explanation" devolves into a commentary about facial warts and toenails shaped like canoes.
"Nick Winters"
Lounge singer Nick Winters (Murray) performs at the Powder Room ski lodge at Meatloaf Mountain.
In addition to singing, Nick mingles with guests...
...and introduces the audience to Jimmy Joe Red Sky, who manages the ski slopes.
Nick performs the follow songs:
Also Sprach Zarathustra, a tone poem composed by Richard Strauss. He conducted its first performance on November 27, 1896.
"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," which was written by Richard Leigh and first recorded by Crystal Gayle. Her recording of the song was released in June of 1977, it reached #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #1 on the Country chart.
"That's The Way (I Like It)" was written by Harry Wayne "KC" Casey and Richard Finch of KC and the Sunshine Band, whose recording of the song was issued on June 10, 1975. It reached #1 on the Hot 100 and the R&B chart.
"Star Wars (Main Title)" was composed by John Williams. It was the theme for the film Star Wars and was first recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. That recording was released as a single and peaked at #10 on the Hot 100.
"Nerd Rock"
Written by Anne Beatts and Rosie Shuster.
DJ Larry Dugan (Aykroyd) interviews a band called The Nerds who play "nerd rock."
The Nerds consist of Spazz (Klein)...
...Four Eyes (Radner)...
...and Pizza Face (Murray).
Pizza Face give Four Eyes a Noogie Attack!
"Frogs Look At Film presents The Nutty Air-Traffic Controller"
Frogs On Film is hosted by "a personal friend of Francois Truffaut (Newman)."
She introduces a film called The Nutty Air-Traffic Controller, which stars Jerry Lewis (Klein) as Melvin.
"Live News Update"
Whiln Klein is introducing Bonnie Raitt, he's interrupted by Jane Curtin, who has an update on the giant radioactive lobsters. Curtin says the lobsters are moving down the Eastern Seaboard towards New York City. Pres. Jimmy Carter has declared a national State Of Emergency.
Bonnie Raitt:"Give It Up Or Let Me Go"
This song was the leadoff track on Raitt's 1972 album Give It Up.
Robert Klein accompanies Raitt on harmonica.
During the song, updates about the giant lobsters appear onscreen.
"Rhonda and Barbara"
Written by Marilyn Suzanne Miller.
Rhonda Weiss (Radner) and her friend Barbara (Curtin) smoke marijuana and fixate on little things like rug stains and reflections in their eyeglasses.
In the middle of the sketch, Curtin and Radner break character when they hear a disturbing noise. John Belushi joins them on stage and says the noise sounds like "the roar of a giant lobster."
"Attack Of The Atomic Lobsters"
Written by Michael O'Donoghue and Tom Davis.
Belushi's suspicions are correct, Rockefeller Center is being attacked by giant atomic lobsters!
The lobsters break into the studio and attack the cast, crew and audience.
Klein takes to the microphone on homebase and describes the horrific scenes in studio 8H. He receives word that Los Angeles has been "levelled." Soldiers and police battle the lobsters.
When SNL has to pause for a commercial, Klein says "I don't know if we'll be back."
After the commercial break, Klein continues to report on the disaster that surrounds him.
A lobster approaches Klein and he says "This may well be mankind’s final broadcast. Even as I speak– Good Lord! One of the gigantic lobsters has demolished our last camera with a single swipe of it's horrible claw! Now it’s moving toward me! It’s fifteen feet away. Ten! I can see the long, quivering antennae! The slimy legs! It's snout and claws, glistening with human bloo–"and the picture fades into static.
Announcer Don Pardo's voice is heard. In lieu of his normal weekly sign-off, he says "this is Don Pardo saying AHHHHH!" as he is taken down by lobsters.
We then hear two men (Michael O'Donoghue and Tom Davis) talking about boiling the lobsters (in millions of gallons of water) and eating them. The credits then roll while they continue talking about food preparation.
Notes about this episode:
Like the last episode I covered, this is another episode that was officially released on VHS in the 1980s. Here are screencaps from that VHS tape (which aren't included in the DVD and streaming versions):
This episode features the debut of the Nerds, who would eventually be known as Lisa Loopner (Gilda Radner) Todd DiLamuca (Bill Murray) and Lisa's mother Enid (Jane Curtin). "Nerd Rock" was rehearsed the week before, with Steve Martin playing Spazz (played by Robert Klein in this episode). Here's a photo of a rehearsal that features Martin:
.jpg) |
| Photo copyrighted by NBC, scanned from Saturday Night, by Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad. |
Classic moments:
"Nerd Rock"-The aforementioned Nerds debut introduces some of the most popular characters of SNL's early years. Lisa and Todd would go on to make twelve more appearances
"Attack Of The Giant Lobsters"-Longtime readers know I like to see Saturday Night depart from it's usual format, and this represents a major departure. The end of the episode is basically taken over by the lobsters and we don't get the traditional "goodnights" from homebase.
