Season 2, Episode 22;Host:Buck Henry, with Jennifer Warnes, Kenny Vance and impressionist Michael O'Donoghue

Aired May 25, 1977. 

Cold opening:"A Fireside Chat With President Carter"
Pres. Jimmy Carter is seen on a stationary bicycle. He says he's using the bike to generate all the power in the White House in order to demonstrate his commitment to a cleaner energy policy. 

His wife Roslyn (Laraine Newman) says it's her turn to power the broadcast, so she takes her husband's place on the bicycle.  While they change over, the video broadcast gets a little fuzzy.

The President then says it's time for his mother Lillian (Gilda Radner) to run the generator. Miss Lillian has a bit of trouble getting on the bike, which cause the transmission to go blank. Her son encourages Lillian to keep peddling long enough for him to finish his address about energy.

After receiving more encouragement, she says she'd do "anything for Jimmy, anything!" She is able to summon enough strength to keep the bike moving and keep the broadcast on the air. Lillian then announces "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Monologue:"A live sex act"
Host Buck Henry talks about how Saturday Night has broken TV taboos and doesn't play by the rules. Henry wants to continue that tradition by performing "a live sex act" with a member of the audience. The mainstage is covered with props for the occasion, including a bullwhip, a foldaway bed and a vat of cottage cheese.

The camera pans over the audience as Buck makes his selection. He invites a woman to join him onstage. However, the large man next to her believes Henry selected him. The man then rushes the stage and slams Buck onto the bed!

"Samurai BMOC"
A samurai (John Belushi) who is struggling academically begs the Dean of Students (Henry) to give him passing grades so he can graduate. When the dean refuses, the samurai takes drastic measures. 

Jennifer Warnes:"Right Time Of The Night"
Jennifer Warnes performs "Right Time Of The Night," which was written by Peter McCann and appeared on her self-titled 1977 album.  

The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.  

"Shower Mic"
Written by Bill Murray and Gilda Radner.
Richard Herkiman (Bill Murray) hosts a talk show in his shower, talking and singing into soap shaped like a microphone. Richard's wife Jane (Radner) joins him in the shower.

Herkiman says he has a "surprise guest" on today's show. The guest turns out to be Richard Calarski, who has been having an affair with Jane for years!"

Richard and his "guests" perform the following songs in the shower:
"Something," written by George Harrison and performed by the Beatles. It appeared on their Abbey Road album and was released as a single on October 6, 1969. "Something" reached #1 on the Pop charts in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and West Germany. 

"On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)" was written by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner for their 1965 Broadway musical of the same name.

"My Way," which was adapted by Paul Anka from the French song "Comme d'habitude." Frank Sinatra recorded the best known version of "My Way" and his recording reached #27 on the Hot 100. 

"Return Of The Coneheads"
The Coneheads are called back to their home planet of Remulak by their High Master Kuldroth (Belushi). The Coneheads then drive to the Chrysler Building which turns out to be the rocket ship that takes them home!

When they arrive on Remulak, Kuldroth informs Connie (Newman) that he has selected her to be his bride. Connie objects, but is powerless to disobey the High Master.

"Weekend Update"
Anchor Jane Curtin's top story:
Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra have kidnapped Patricia Hearst, and forced her to join their nightclub act. The three are now appearing in Las Vegas as Tanya & The Meatballs. 

From City Hall, "crack political reporter" Emily Litella (Radner) interviews Congresswoman Bella Abzug about her plans to run for the United States Senate. Litella asks if "Stella Abzug" will "throw her cat into the ring." 

And Buck Henry, on behalf of the Council of Television Journalists presents Jane with the America’s Outstanding Television Journalist award. Curtin is touched by the award, until she realizes it's just Buck's way of coming on to her.

"Rhonda's Bridal Shower"
Friends of Rhonda Weiss (Radner) throw her a kitchen-themed bridal shower. Rhonda's gifts include a melon baller and an egg tweezer. 

Talk show:"How Your Children Grow"
Jane Curtin interviews behavioral scientist Dr. Richard Dalton (Henry) about his research in learning disabilities. Dalton is accompanied by his assistant Francine (Radner), who verbally punctuates everything Dalton says and "draws" punctuation marks in the air. 

Dalton is accompanied by another assistant (Newman) who keeps ringing a bell, which prompts Francine to give a cookie to Curtin!

Home movie by William Wegman:"Alarm B"
This short film features a dog being woken up by an alarm clock.

Kenny Vance:"The Performer"
Kenny Vance sings "The Performer," which was released as the B-Side of Vance's single "Looking For An Echo" in 1977. 

"Lucky Lindy"
During his 1927 record-setting international flight, Charles Lindbergh (Henry) begins to lose his mind after spending 33 hours alone in his airplane. He fears that he will crash into "the icy deeps of the North Atlantic."

Suddenly, he hears a voice. It turns out to be a shark (Chevy Chase)! A Land Shark, to be exact, which means Lindbergh is close to his destination.

Saturday Night Live Band:"Departure Lounge:"
SNL's house band performs "Departure Lounge," which was composed by their bandleader Howard Shore.

Impressionist Michael O'Donoghue
"Extraordinary impressionist" Michael O'Donoghue wonders what would happen if someone took sharp eighteen inch-long needles and shoved them into the eyes of every member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

O'Donoghue thinks that "it might go something like this:

The choir and O'Donoghue writhe around the stage in agony.

Goodnights:
The host, cast, Chevy Chase and O'Donoghue gather at homebase. Henry says "Goodnight, have a good summer. Thanks to my guest, the shark!" 

The Land Shark then "eats" Buck Henry's head.

The camera zooms in on the shark's mouth to reveal Chevy's face as the credits roll. 

Notes about this episode:
This began SNL's tradition of Buck Henry hosting every season finale. This was because everyone was burned out by this point of the season and Henry was easy to please and willing to do any sketch that writers had in their inventory. 

If you haven't seen this episode, Chevy Chase's appearance was not announced in the credits. He just shows up as the Land Shark during "Lucky Lindy." 

During the Coneheads sketch, Buck Henry is still visibly wet from the previous "Shower Mike" sketch.

Speaking of the Coneheads, they leave Earth in "Return Of The Coneheads" because the sketch was meant to be the end of the characters. Nevertheless, they returned in Season 3.

Bella Abzug plays herself in the interview with Emily Litella. For those who aren't familiar with her, Abzug was a prominent Women's Liberation activist during the era of Second-wave feminism. She also served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and headed Pres. Jimmy Carter's  National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year. Abzug died of breast cancer in 1998.

Bella Abzug speaks at a 1976 press conference (photo by Diana Mara Henry)

Until watching this episode, I must admit I wasn't familiar with the name Kenny Vance. He's had quite an amazing career writing songs, performing in the band Jay and the Americans, producing albums and acting in several films. Vance also served as SNL's musical director during its 1980-81 season. He still performs today in a band called Kenny Vance and the Planotones.

What stands out:
"Return Of The Coneheads"-This is the best (and longest) Coneheads sketch so far. It features two sets and a filmed portion that shows the Coneheads driving through the streets of New York City. It makes you wonder what passersby thought of them in 1977. 

"Lucky Lindy"-A great showcase for Henry made even funnier by the surprise appearance of the Land Shark.

Kenny Vance-I enjoyed Vance's performance of  "The Performer." It's a nice up-tempo number, something SNL needed more of from its musical guests during the first two seasons.

J.A Morris' rating:
Another solid episode and a great way to close out Season 2. Buck Henry once again shows he has great chemistry with the Not Ready For Prime Time Players and this episode gets my highest rating.

4 stars!

Season 2, Episode 21;Host:Shelly Duvall, with Joan Armatrading

 Aired May 14, 1977.

Cold opening:"Norton vs. Bobbick"
Host Shelley Duvall and John Belushi are standing on the homebase stage dressed as Bees. Producer Lorne Michaels shows up and tells them their Bee sketch has been cancelled. 

Since NBC paid an exorbitant amount to broadcast the recent boxing match between Ken Norton and Dwayne Bobbick, the network will need to replay the fight on all NBC shows for the next month.  So the bout is shown in place of the Bees.

The cameras then cut to backstage, where the boxing match is being shown on a monitor. Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Gilda Rader are seen fighting and insulting each other. They also direct insults at the host.

Duvall is taken aback and says she meets "a better class of people" while making movies. 

In the background, the fight continues on the monitor until Norton knocks out Bobbick. When the fight is over, Belushi appears on the monitor and announces "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night."

Monologue:"Video Vixens"
Written by Marilyn Suzanne Miller and Howard Shore.
In lieu of the normal monologue, Duvall and the women of SNL perform a new song called "Video Vixens."  

"Bank Heist"
A gang of criminals wearing ridiculous costumes holds up a bank and demands cash. Everything goes wrong for the robbers when no one is fooled by the leader's (Dan Aykroyd) "praying mantis" costume.  

Joan Armatrading:"Love and Affection"
Joan Armatrading performs "Love and Affection," which appeared on her self-titled 1976 album. This song was released as a single and reached #10 in the UK charts in November of '76 and has been covered by multiple artists.

"Continental Men"
Three women (Duvall, Radner, Newman) bemoan the fact that they never meet any "continental" men. This changes when they encounter Ricardo Montalban (Aykroyd), Fernando Lamas (Bill Murray) and Cesar Romero (Belushi). The men have one problem:None of them are sure which one is Ricardo, Fernando or Cesar!

"Weekend Update"
Jane Curtin reports on the day's top headlines, which include:
Fresh off his successful interview with former President Richard Nixon, David Frost announced plans to interview (deceased) Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson.  Because "if people believe Nixon, they'll believe anything."   

A film expert claimed that comedian David Brenner's face can be found on Mount Rushmore.

In sports, golfer Jack Nicklaus won the third annual Quaker Oats Invitational.  

Curtin phones Emily Litella when Emily fails to show up to deliver her commentary. Litella's outgoing message tells Jane to "leave a message at the sound of the jeep."

PSA:"Black Educational Conference"
Boxer Duane Bobbick (voice of Tom Davis) narrates this PSA and says that Black men become boxers because environmental and societal conditions leave them no other path to success. The Black Educational Conference has "shown thousands of Black men that they do not have to resort to violence to prove their masculinity."

"Viva Las Vegas II"
In this "sequel," Elvis Presley (Belushi) plays a busboy who dreams of becoming a Shakespearean actor. After playing a scene from Hamlet, Elvis sings "Jailhouse Rock."  

"Jailhouse Rock" was released September 24, 1957. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as the Country and Western and R&B charts. 

Talk show:"Baba Wawa At Large"
Baba (Radner) interviews actor Richard Burton (Murray) about his recent divorce with Elizabeth Taylor. At one point, Burton uses his real voice, which he describes as a "Great Lakes/Midwestern" accent. 

Home Movie:"Brides"
Filmmaker Sharon Sacks explores different wedding customs and poses the question:"why are men afraid of brides?" During the film, several brides sing "You Made Me Love You (You Didn't Have To Do It)."  

The song was composed by James V. Monaco, with lyrics by Joseph McCarthy. "You Made Me Love You" was introduced by Al Jolson, who performed it in the 1913 Broadway review The Honeymoon Express.

"Bad Ballet"
Written by Tom Schiller.
Host Leonard Pinth-Garnell (Aykroyd) introduces a a "brilliantly bad" ballet titled Swan (not to be confused with Swan Lake). 

Pinth-Garnell himself plays a poultry inspector in the ballet.  

Movie:"Night Of The Moonies"
Two deprogrammers (Aykroyd, Garrett Morris) try to save a teenage girl (Duvall) from Rev. Sum Yung-Moon's Unification Church, AKA moonies. Unfortunately, Rev. Moon (Belushi) shows up and attempts to convert the deprogrammers into moonies.  

Joan Armatrading:"Down to Zero"
The musical guest sings "Down to Zero," the leadoff track on Armatrading's self-titled album. It was released as a single but did not chart.

"Steakhouse"
Written by Marilyn Suzanne Miller.
At a steakhouse,  a man (Aykroyd) and his wife (Duvall) argue about the amount of time and money the husband spends on his customizing his van while he refusing to buy her the soundtrack to A Star Is Born. 

Goodnights:
Duvall appears at homebase and says "Bye, I really enjoyed it, thank you!" The cast joins her onstage and the credits roll.

Notes about this episode:

I should mention that this episode features one of the oddest cold openings I've ever seen on SNL. John Belushi delivers the "Live, from New York" opening on a monitor in the background of the opening sketch, while the sketch continues. The opening credits are also displayed the background. 

Between "Continental Men" and "Weekend Update," the camera shows Chevy Chase seated in the studio audience. 

Speaking of Chase, at the beginning of "Weekend Update," Jane Curtin is seen talking on the phone.  She says "Oh, come on, give me a break. I mean, so the guy has his special — does that make him a star? Okay, yeah, granted the ratings were good but he followed Richard Pryor! Richard Pryor’s wonderful! Who’s gonna get up and turn the TV off when they’re laughing?" Curtin is referring to Chase's first TV special, The Chevy Chase Show, which aired after a Richard Pryor special earlier that week.

John Belushi sings "Jailhouse Rock" in "Viva Las Vegas II." He later performed the song in the Blues Brothers movie, which was released 1980. 

The "Brides" home movie includes a brief appearance by actor/monologist Spalding Gray.

Ephemera from this episode:
While researching this episode, I found this ad in the May 14, 1977 of  Billboard that promotes Joan Armatrading's SNL appearance:

And this Sam Goody ad (published in the New York Times on 5/15/1977) also mentions her performance:

What stands out:

"Video Vixens"-I enjoyed this rock n roll number from Duvall and "the girls," particularly the lyrics that reference their recurring characters:

Gilda Radner: Baba Wawa makes you feel so good!

Jane Curtin: “Update” makes you happy like I knew it would!

Laraine Newman: When I’m Sherry, you just want me to do it twice! 

"Bad Ballet"-my favorite installment of "Bad" so far. The bad dancing is hilarious and Leonard Pinth Garnell's participation in the ballet kicks it up a notch from the 

"Steak house"-this is another great "slice of life" semi-serious sketch that features excellent performances by from Duvall and Aykroyd.  

What doesn't work:

During The Duane Bobbick PSA, Bobick says "a better-educated black man is a weaker opponent." I realize this fake ad is making a statement about poverty and how boxing is a way out of it for Black men, but that sentence hasn't aged well. 

J.A. Morris' rating:
I enjoyed this episode and Duvall fits in pretty well with the Not Ready For Prime Time Players. The cold opening, "Video Vixens" and "Bad Ballet" make it worth watching and none of the other sketches are bad either.

3 stars.