Aired January 31, 1976.
Cold opening:"Voodoo Doll"
Chevy Chase has decided to open this episode with a song instead of the customary fall. Garrett Morris has other ideas and takes out a "Chevy" voodoo doll!
When he throws the doll against the wall, this causes the real Chevy to fall off the stage and exclaim "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"
Monologue:
Host Dick Cavett talks about his first visit to the RCA-NBC building, when he interviewed to be an NBC page.
"The Total Woman":
Ann (Jane Curtin), a widowed mother of two, is reading a book called The Total Woman, which says single mothers can't be particular about men. Her belief in this theory will be tested when Ann's new boyfriend Michael (Chase), an avid hunter, accidentally guns down everyone she loves.
Commercial:"Dick Cavett School of Auto Refinishing and Upholstery"
Cavett says that the "real money" is in auto refinishing and upholstery, so he's started a school to train more workers for that field.
Jimmy Cliff:"The Harder They Come"
Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff performs the title song of the film The Harder They Come. This song (and the movie) help popularize Reggae all over the world when it was released in 1972.
Commercial:"H&L Brock" #1
Written by Alan Zweibel.
Lowell Brock (John Belushi) gives a list of reasons why you have your taxes prepared by his company instead of H&R Block. Reason #1 is that Brock will help you cheat on your taxes.
Chevy Chases top stories include:
"The CIA has denied an attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro with an invisible exploding cigar."
Plus, Emily Litella delivers a commentary opposing the "Eagle Rights Amendment."
And Tom Schiller (dressed as Ricky Ricardo), curator for the I Love Lucy Museum, introduces a new segment: "News For I Love Lucy Fans."
Commercial:"Felina Cat Food"
Repeat from Episode 3.
Commercial:"The Dick Cavett School of Hydroplane Operation"
Cavett informs viewers that "the trained hydroplane operator has a solid employment future," so he's opened a school to train hydroplane pilots.
"Our Town":
Dick Cavett promotes a new production of the play Our Town. Except this play was NOT written by Thornton Wilder and it takes place in the poverty-stricken New York City of 1976.
Jimmy Cliff:"Many Rivers To Cross"
This gospel-tinged song was first released on Cliff's homonymous 1969 album and it gained a bigger audience when it was included on the soundtrack of The Harder They Come.
"Dick Cavett Lookalike":
The host is introduced to Dwayne Christiansen (Marshall Efron), winner of the 1976 Dick Cavett Lookalike Contest. Cavett suspects that someone is pulling his leg.
Film by Gary Weis:
Gary Weis asks a plastic surgeon how he would improve the face of a clothing designer and asks the designer how he would improve the surgeon's clothing.
"Dance To The Nation":
First Lady Betty Ford (Curtin) answers letters from citizens seeking advice while performing a modern dance routine.
Commercial:"H&L Brock" #2
Written by Alan Zweibel.
Lowell continues his list of reasons why you should select his firm to do your taxes, which includes paying off the officials of the Internal Revenue Service!
Talk show:"Looks At Books":
Chevy Chase interviews Dick "The Stick" Cavett, who has written a book about his side career as a pimp in Nebraska.
Jimmy Cliff:"Wahjahka Man"
This song appeared on Cliff's 1975 album Follow My Mind.
Commercial:"H&L Brock" #3
Written by Alan Zweibel.
The final Brock ad touts the company's ties to organized crime.
Home Movie:"Apple Follies"
An apple performs a strip tease, but it's interrupted when the "apple police" arrive and shut down the theater.
Al Alen Petersen:"I Gotta Be Me"
Al Alen Petersen, dressed as a construction worker, performs the song "I Gotta Be Me," which was written for the 1968 Broadway musical Golden Rainbow.
A few bars into the song, Petersen begins to strip, revealing that he's wearing women's underwear.
"Goodnights":
Cavett appears alone at home base and jokes that Petersen's performance isn't something you'll see during the Family Hour. He tells the viewers "if our show was not seen in your city tonight, please write, and let us know what you thought of it," and says goodnight.
Notes about this episode:
During the third H&L Brock commercial, SNL producer Lorne Michaels crawls onstage and ties John Belushi's shoes together, which causes Belushi to laugh and break up.
Marshall Efron, who plays the Cavett lookalike, is a humorist and character actor. At the time, he was best known for hosting The Great American Dream Machine, a variety series that aired on PBS in 1971-72. The series included contributions from future SNL-ers Chevy Chase and Albert Brooks.
What Stands Out:
"H&L Brock"-Belushi is very funny as the sleazy accountant Lowell Brock.
Jane Curtin in "The Total Woman" and "Dance To The Nation"-Curtin was often cast in "straight" roles where she reacted to "funny" characters. In both these sketches, she demonstrates that she could play the comic lead as well as any member of the cast.
Jimmy Cliff-I enjoyed all three of Cliff's performances. "Many Rivers To Cross" is one of the best moments of this episode.
What Doesn't Work:
"Dick Cavett Lookalike"-While Marshall Efron brings lots of enthusiasm to this bit, it feels like filler.
J.A. Morris' rating:
This is a good, solid episode even if it's not exactly essential viewing. Dick Cavett's dry sense of humor is used effectively here and this one is especially recommended for fans of Jimmy Cliff's music.
3 stars.
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