Aired January 17, 1976.
Cold opening:"Suicide Prevention Center"
The operator (Chevy Chase) at the Suicide Prevention Center trips and falls on his way to answering the phone. After a gun shot is heard on the other hand, the operator exclaims "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"
Monologue:
Buck Henry tells the audience he wasn't the first choice for host. While he's talking, a very long list of people asked to host before Henry appears onscreen.
Samurai Delicatessen:
Written by Alan Zweibel and John Belushi.
A customer (Henry) goes shopping for a sandwich at a deli operated by Samurai Futaba (John Belushi).
"Presidential Foreplay":
Jane Curtin interviews Linda Louise (Gilda Radner), who claims to have had an affair with John F. Kennedy.
"An Oval Office":
Press Secretary Ron Nessen (Buck Henry) prepares Pres. Gerald Ford (Chase) for an upcoming press conference.
Bill Withers:"Ain't No Sunshine"
This song appeared on Withers' album Just As I Am and reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Commercial:"Evelyn Woodski School of Speed-Reading"
A commercial for a speed-reading course taught by Evelyn Woodski (Laraine Newman), who seems to have trouble reading at any speed.
"Weekend Update":
Chevy Chase's top story:Medical researchers have discovered that cancer is caused by white mice.
Henry Zuckerman, president of the Association of Fatuous Pedants delivers an editorial reply.
Plus, a new feature, Alan Zweibel, Chairman of the Committee for Dead Americans presents "News For The Dead."
Commercial:"Germasol"
When a housewife (Radner) needs to kill bad household smells before her bridge club arrives, Germasol roll-on is her only hope!
"Citizen Kane II":
Written by Michael O'Donoghue.
In this sequel to Citizen Kane, reporter Jerry Thompson (Henry) learns that "Rosebud" was not been the final word spoken by Charles Foster Kane (Dan Aykroyd).
"Land of Gorch, featuring Jim Henson's Muppets":
Scred (Jerry Nelson) and Peuta (Alice Tweedie) try to figure out how to operate their new sex toy.
Commercial:"Triple Trac":
Repeat from Episode 1.
Toni Basil:"Wham (Re Bop Boom Bam)":
The multi-talented Toni Basil dances up a storm and sings a song that was originally recorded by Glenn Miller in 1939.
"Bedtime Story":
When a mechanic (Aykroyd) is asked by his daughter Debbie (Radner) to tell her a bedtime story about his place of work, he doubts she'd find his job interesting. It turns out she's fascinated by his story about fixing a car.
Commercial:"Dope"
This "PSA" tells viewers why drugs are called "dope."
Film by Gary Weis:"Irvington, New York":
Henry visits the small town of Irvington in search of its funniest resident.
Howard Shore and the All-Bee Band:"I'm A King Bee"
Belushi (dressed as a bee) leads the All-Bee band in a performance of this blues song that was written and recorded by Slim Harpo in 1957.
"Impressionist Michael O'Donoghue":
O'Donoghue impersonates talk show host Mike Douglas...or more accurately, how Douglas would react if someone shoved large needles into his eyes.
Commercial:"American Constipation Society"
When a man is afraid to take a walk due to constipation, his wife, the neighbors and a neighborhood beat cop make jokes about it.
Goodnights:
Buck Henry says good night tells the audience that the cast and crew of SNL are "all gay" and adds that "they're just like normal people, just like you or me."
It was Buck Henry who suggested another "Samurai" sketch. Henry would appear with the samurai every time he hosted (until Belushi quit SNL after Season 4). [1]
Toni Basil never recorded "Wham (Re Bop Boop Bam)" on an album, but at the time of this episode, it was a song she performed in her cabaret act.
During Citizen Kane II, Chevy Chase laughs, which causes Henry to break character and laugh as well. This was relatively rare on Saturday Night.
In "Weekend Update," Henry plays a character named "Henry Zuckerman," which is Henry's real name.
The "Evelyn Woodski" commercial is a parody of Evelyn Wood, who founded a company that taught speed-reading classes.
Michael O'Donoghue legit injured his leg when he flung himself offstage at the end of his "Mike Douglas impression." [2]
Classic moments:
Buck Henry's first hosting appearance-He would go on to host more than anyone else during the first five years and was thought of by many as SNL's "eighth cast member."
"Samurai Delicatessen"-Buck Henry's first appearance with Belushi's samurai and one of the funniest samurai sketches. Henry was the perfect foil for the samurai.
"I'm A King Bee"-This early version of the Blues Brothers features great vocal and physical gymnastics by Belushi. Putting bandleader Howard Shore in a beekeeper suit was also a nice touch. The "All-Bee Band" are very energized and you can see them laughing at Belushi's near the end of the song.
What stands out:
Citizen Kane II-A great sketch by Michael O'Donoghue. No one ever thought to parody Citizen Kane before SNL. I laugh heartily every time I watch Kane engage in a shooting spree just to break up a slow news day! Since I'm a huge fan of Citizen Kane, this is one of my all-time favorite sketches.
"Bedtime Story"-A nice "slice of life" sketch that shows SNL didn't need to deliver belly-laughs to be good. Great acting here from Radner and Aykroyd. It's both funny and touching without being cloying.
Musical guests-Bill Withers gives a great performance of "Ain't No Sunshine" and Toni Basil delivers a memorable, exciting rendition of "Wham (Re-Bop Boom Bam)".
Michael Odonoghue's Mike Douglas impression-O'Donoghue first performed his "needles in the eyes" impressions on the National Lampoon radio show. However, it's much more powerful when his screams are accompanied by the visual of O'Donoghue writhing around on stage feigning agony.
J.A. Morris' rating:
This is a strong episode that features great sketches and enjoyable musical numbers. A nice start for one of SNL's best hosts. This is the best episode so far.
4 stars.
Footnote:
[1] Live From New York, by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, p. 66.
[2] Mr. Mike: The Life and Work of Michael O'Donoghue, by Dennis Perrin, eBook location 5335.
It appears the breaking in the Citizen Kane II sketch was due to Chevy's fake moustache starting to come off. Chevy used a gesture to hold that part on.
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