Season 3, episode 18;Host:Steve Martin, with The Blues Brothers

Aired April 22, 1978.

Cold opening:"Don Kirshner's Rock Concert"
Don Kirshner (Paul Shaffer), host of Rock Concert, introduces the Blues Brothers, Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) and Joliet Jake Blues (John Belushi). Kirshner says "they are no longer an authentic blues act, but have managed to become a viable commercial product." 

The Blues Brothers then perform "Hey Bartender." "Hey Bartender" was written by Dossie Terry and first recorded by Floyd Dixon in 1955. The Blues Brothers recording of the song appeared on their live album Briefcase Full Of Blues, which was released on November 28, 1978.

When the song is over, Kirshner reappears onscreen and announces "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Monologue:"Typecast and magic"
Host Steve Martin says that because he performs comedy monologues and releases comedy albums, he has become typecast as a comedian. 

Martin then performs some magic tricks on a volunteer (Bill Murray) from the audience.

Commercial:"Hey You"
Repeat from Season 3, episode 7.

Festrunk Brothers:
Written by Dan Aykroyd, Marilyn Suzanne Miller and Steve Martin.
Czechoslavakian immigrant brothers Georg (Martin) and Yortuk Festrunk (Aykroyd) are waiting for two women they met at a party to come to their "swinging bachelor pad."  Their neighbor Cliff (Garrett Morris) tells the brothers that the women won't show up, which dampens the Festrunks' spirits.

"Theodoric Of York, Medieval Barber"
Written by Al Franken, Tom Davis, Jim Downey, with research by Emily Prager.
In 1303, a barber named Theodoric provides primitive medical treatment to local peasants.  With the help of his assistant Brungilda (Gilda Radner), he treats ailments using torturous techniques like bloodletting and leaching.

"Dancing In The Dark"
Conceived by Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Choreographed by Pat Burch.
In a disco nightclub, a man (Martin) locks eyes with a woman (Radner) sitting at a nearby table.  They get up and dance together, dancing wildly and acrobatically all over the SNL studio.

The music they dance to is "Dancing In The Dark." This tune was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1931 musical revue The Band Wagon.

"Weekend Update"
Anchors Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd report on the day's top news stories.

Correspondent Garrett Morris brings marijuana to the Update desk to test it for paraquat. 

Plus, Dan and Jane have a Point/Counterpoint debate about federal funding of abortions.

Steve Martin with the Saturday Night Live Band:"King Tut"
The host performs "King Tut," which was written by Martin and released as a single on April 28, 1978.

The song reached #17 on Billboard's Hot 100 and it was also included on Martin's 1978 album A Wild and Crazy Guy.

"Betty and Harold":
Betty (Curtin) and her husband Harold (Belushi) tell each other about their extramarital affairs.

Film by Gary Weis:"Swan Lake"
Toni Basil choreographs a performance of Swan Lake that combines traditional ballet with street dancing. 

"Troff & Brew"
Written by Tom Davis and Dan Aykroyd.
During a business lunch, diners eat chili from feeding troughs and drink beer from a basin. 

"Nerds Science Fair"
Written by Anne Beatts and Rosie Shuster.
Lisa Loopner (Radner) and her friend Todd (Murray) compete in a science fair against Charles "Chaz The Spaz" Knerlman (Martin), who has built a plutonium bomb.  

The Blues Brothers"I Don't Know"
Jake and Ellwood perform "I Don't Know," which was written and recorded by Willie Mabon in 1952. The Blues Brothers recording of "I Don't Know" appeared on Briefcase Full Of Blues.

"Next Week In Review"
Maxine Universe (Laraine Newman) and a panel of her fellow psychics predict what will happen in the week ahead.

"Goodnights"
Martin says it's been a great show and praises the cast. 

The Not Ready For Prime Time Players then surround Steve and the credits roll. 

Notes about this episode:

This has been called one the greatest episodes in SNL history. Steve Martin said of the episode "it was like the peak of Saturday Night. It was the peak of me." 1

Classic moment:
The debut of the Blues Brothers. "Jake and Ellwood" had served as Saturday Night's warmup act, but this was their first national exposure. Of course they would go on to record a #1 album and appear in their own movie. 

What stands out:
Pretty much everything. From the Blues Brothers opening, to the Festrunks to "Next Week In Review," this episode features one hit after another. My favorite sketch was "Theodoric Of York." 

What doesn't work:
Just a bit too much music-When you include the "Swan Lake" film, this episode contains five musical segments. A minor quibble in an otherwise great episode.

J.A. Morris' rating:
While I don't think this is the greatest episode ever (I prefer Steve Martin's January '78 episode), it's a great episode. It's strongly recommended and it gets my highest rating.

4 stars!

1 Source:
Saturday Night, p.224:by Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad