Season 3, Episode 13;Host:Art Garfunkel, with Stephen Bishop and Andy Kaufman

Aired March 11, 1978.

Network disclaimer:“Jacques Cousteau Gets an Undersea Enema” Don Pardo announces that “Jacques Cousteau Gets an Undersea Enema” will not be seen tonight, so that NBC can present the following special program."

Cold opening:"Modern Crimes" We open with a silent movie titled Modern Crimes. In Switzerland two grave robbers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi) are carrying a body wrapped in a rug. When they drop the rug, a body (Gilda Radner) falls out that appears to be the "Little Tramp" character made famous by Charlie Chaplin.

They're spotted by a policeman (Bill Murray), so they pretend the Little Tramp is still alive. When the cop tell them to move on, the Tramp comes to life and says (silently) "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Monologue:"Wonderful World"
In lieu of the usual monologue, host Art Garfunkel sings "Wonderful World," which was originally recorded and written by Sam Cooke. Released a single on April 14, 1960, it peaked at #12 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B chart.

Garfunkel's recording of the song appeared on his 1977 album Watermark. It was released as a single in January1978 and reached #17. 

His song is interrupted when a speaker feeds back. Art tries to resume the song, but John Belushi comes onstage and berates NBC for having worn out speakers. John continues to rip the network for how it treats SNL and encourages Garfunkel to walk off in protest. When Art says the speaker is no big deal, Belushi turns his anger at Garfunkel and accuses him of selling out.

John then walks off in disgust and Art finishes "Wonderful World."

Commercial:"Kromega III Watch" Repeat from Season 3, episode 1.

Talk show:"Tomorrow show with Tom Snyder"
Tom Snyder (Aykroyd) interviews a man who claims to be a battered husband. The man is kept shrouded in darkness to hide his identity. 

The interview goes off the rails when Snyder accidently calls the man by his real name and holds up a photo of the battering victim.

Stephen Bishop:"On And On" Stephen Bishop performs "On And On," which was the leadoff track on his 1976 album Careless.

"On And On" was issued as a single in May 1977 and reached #11 on the Hot 100 and #2 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.

"Miracle In Chicago": In a Chicago Irish pub, the late mayor of Chicago, Richard J. Daly (Belushi) comes back from the dead. He offers to help the pub's owner (Aykroyd) get more Irish songs on the pub's jukebox in time for St. Patrick's Day.

"Kiss Concert"
Outside of a Kiss concert, a roadie (Belushi) and a security guard (Garrett Morris) deal with a crowd of people who are trying to get backstage. If they're not on the guest list, they're not allowed to enter. Some of them have outrageous stories about how they know members of Kiss. 

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

Elizabeth Taylor was force-fed for charity.

Actor/director Orson Welles has been injured in a skiing accident.

Science Editor Dr. Garrett Morris reports on a new drug that can save people who suffer from phlebitis. 

Movie critic Bill Murray reviews Coming Home. Murray says the film convinced him that the Vietnam War was "a mistake."

Art Garfunkel:"All I Know," "Scarborough Fair"
The host sings "All I Know," written by Jimmy Webb. It first appeared on Garfunkel's 1973 album Angel Clare. "All I Know" reached #9 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. 

Garfunkel follows that up with the traditional English folk song "Scarborough Fair." This song has been covered many artists, but Simon and Garfunkel recorded the most successful version. "Scarborough Fair" was the lead track on Simon & Garfunkel's 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.

It was released as a single in February1968 after it appeared on the soundtrack of The Graduate. The song peaked at #11 in the U.S..

Talk show:"Looks At Books" Jane Curtin interviews Lisa Loopner (Radner) and Todd LaBounta (Murray), co-authors of the book Whatever Happened To The Class of '77. The book covers what has happened to members of their graduating class since the previous June.

Schiller's Reel:"Don't Look Back In Anger" Many years in the future, an aged John Belushi visits The Not-Ready For Primetime Cemetery, where the cast of Saturday Night Live is buried. He recounts how they all died and wonders why he's the last one left alive.

Andy Kaufman:"The Great Gatsby" Andy Kaufman tells the audience that instead of performing stand-up comedy, he will read The Great Gatsby aloud from the beginning.

The crowd quickly gets bored and boos Kaufman. He tells them quiet down because he has "a long way to go."

Commercial:"The Looking For Mr. Goodbar Sleepytime Playset" A girl (Radner) plays with The Looking For Mr. Goodbar Sleepytime Playset. The toy promises that kids "can recreate the grim reality of Judith Rossner’s bleak novel of hopelessness and despair right in her very own bedroom, alone at night!"

Art Garfunkel:"Crying In My Sleep"
Garfunkel performs "Crying In My Sleep," the leadoff track on his Watermark album.

Goodnights: Garfunkel says "that's all the time we have, so thank you, goodnight."

Notes about this episode:

The "Modern Crimes" opening is a reference to the real theft of Charlie Chaplin's body. On March 1, Chaplin's coffin was stolen and held for a $600,000 ransom. The two thieves were arrested and led police to where they had buried the coffin.

During "Kiss Concert," Dan Aykroyd briefly appears wearing a Kiss costume and makeup. It happens so quickly that I couldn't get a very good screencap.

However, I found this rehearsal photo (taken by Lynn Goldsmith) that shows Aykroyd backstage in costume.

What stands out: "Modern Crimes"-This silent film parody is a great way to open the show. Having "Live from New York" mouthed silently by Gilda Radner is a nice touch. "Don't Look Back In Anger"-A great film by Tom Schiller and an excellent performance by John Belushi (who is unrecognizable in old man makeup). Of course Belushi was the first SNL cast member to die, which makes this film even more poignant today.

Andy Kaufman-His reading of The Great Gatsby is a perfect example of Kaufman's "anti-comedy" comedy. What doesn't work: Too much music-Art Garfunkel has a great voice ("Scarborough Fair" is particularly good here), but there are five songs performed on this episode. That feels like at least one too many. And the show closes with a downbeat song, which ends the show on a sad note. With Garfunkel hosting, I don't think this episode needed an additional musical guest in Stephen Bishop. I would have preferred more sketches.

J.A. Morris' rating: This episode features several solid sketches and a great short film, but the number of songs keeps it from getting a higher rating:

3 stars.

Season 1, Episode 2, Host:Paul Simon, with Art Garfunkel, Jesse Dixon Singers, Phoebe Snow and Randy Newman

I mentioned in my review of the first episode that it felt more like a George Carlin variety special, with a few sketches and musical numbers on the side.  The same goes for this episode, only more so.  Paul Simon and the other guest musicians perform a total of eleven (!) songs, which leaves little time left for comedy sketches.

Cold opening:Simon performs "Still Crazy After All These Years," the title track from his album which would be released a week later.  "Still Crazy" peaked at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1976.

When the song ends, Chevy Chase picks up a guitar, stumbles, performs a pratfall, looks into the camera and exclaims "Live From New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Paul Simon and the Jesse Dixon Singers:"Loves Me Like A Rock"
Instead of an opening monologue, Simon sings "Loves Me Like A Rock," accompanied by the Jesse Dixon Singers.  The song peaked at #2 on the pop chart in October 1973.

Commercial:"The Berkeley Collection"
Written by Michael O'Donoghue.
Former Yippie radical leader Jerry Rubin presents the Berkeley Collection of wallpaper.  Your favorite '60s protest slogans can now adorn the walls of your home!

Paul Simon:"Marie" 
Paul Simon sings a portion of this song written by Randy Newman and then introduces Newman.

Randy Newman:"Sail Away."
Newman sings the title track from his 1972 album. 

Bees:
Simon is joined by the Not Ready For Prime Time Players in their bee costumes.  He dismisses them, informing the cast that the bees were cut.  The bees walk off stage looking dejected.

"Weekend Update":
Chevy Chase opens with a story about Pres. Gerald Ford's "accident of the week."

After a short newscast, Chase introduces a video that features a one-on-one basketball game between Paul Simon and NBA player Connie Hawkins.

Simon & Garfunkel:"The Boxer," "Scarborough Fair."
Simon reunites with his former partner for a performance of two of their best-loved songs.
"The Boxer" was released as a single in March of 1969 and reached #7 on the pop chart.
"Scarborough Fair" is an English folk song that has roots that reach back to the 15th century.  Simon & Garfunkel's version was the lead-off track on their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.  "Scarborough Fair" later became a hit-single (peaking at #11) when it was featured on soundtrack of The Graduate in 1968.

Simon & Garfunkel:"My Little Town"
The duo performs "My Little Town," which was released on their respective 1975 solo albums and reached #9 on the pop chart.  This time the SNL band backs them up.

Art Garfunkel:"I Only Have Eyes For You."
Simon says Garfunkel "demanded a solo number," while adding that his ex-partner "always sang better."  Garfunkel sings the jazz standard "I Only Have Eyes For You," which was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for the 1934 film Dames.

"Dregs and Vestiges," featuring Jim Henson's Muppets:
King Ploobus (Jim Henson), ruler of the land of Gorch, is freaking out, since his land is "on the brink of default."  Ploobus' lackey Scred (Jerry Nelson) says that only the Mighty Favog can help solve their financial crisis.

A film by Albert Brooks:
Brooks introduces some of his "home movies," where his father displays an invasive predilection for filming very private moments of Brooks' life, including the first time he went to the bathroom alone and his first sexual experience.

Phoebe Snow:"No Regrets"
"No Regrets" written by Harry Tobias, Roy Ingraham and originally recorded by Vera Lynn.  It was made famous by Billie Holiday.  Snow's version appeared on her 1976 album Second Childhood.

Paul Simon, Phoebe Snow & the Jesse Dixon Singers:"Gone At Last."
These three artists recorded this song in 1975 for Simon's Still Crazy album and it peaked at #23 on the charts.

Commercial "Try Hard 1-11":
A pitchman (George Coe) promotes a battery which is used to power pace-makers overnight to demonstrate its power.

Paul Simon:"American Tune"
Simon closes the show by performing his 1973 single "American Tune"  This song was released in November of 1973 and reached #35 on the pop chart and it opens side two of Simon's album There Goes Rhymin' Simon.

Goodnights:
As was the case in the Carlin-hosted show, Simon stands alone when it's time to say goodnight.  However, at the last second, he's joined by basketball hall-of-famer (and future U.S. Senator) Bill Bradley.

In a call-back to the earlier basketball video, Bradley presents Simon with a One-On-One basketball championship trophy.  The trophy is almost as tall as Simon!

Notes about this episode:
Lorne Michaels says that after the first episode, the only note he got from the NBC network brass was to "cut the bees."  So he made sure they were in the next episode. [1]

In the Muppets sketch, Gorch's financial woes are a reference to the economic crisis that was hitting New York City when this episode aired.

The "Try Hard 1-11" commercial was a parody of a series of 1970s ads for Die Hard car batteries.

Press clippings:
In the October 20, 1975 issue of the New York Times, the paper's TV critic John J. O'Connor called the Simon & Garfunkel reunion "nice while it lasted," but added "the same cannot be said for the rest of Saturday Night."  O'Connor called the comedy sketches from the first two episodes "dreadfully uneven."

I found an ad for this episode that was published in the New York Times on the prior Sunday:

Classic moments:
Chevy Chase takes his first fall during a cold opening.  The "fall of the week" would be featured just about every week until Chase's departure.

What stands out:
The Simon & Garfunkel reunion-In only its second episode, SNL shows viewers that every episode could be a "major event."  I imagine it was a huge deal for their fans to get to see them reunite on television.

Simon tells his old partner "you've come crawling back."  I would guess Garfunkel expected this, but considering the often-hostile relationship between the two, this is probably a case of "a joke that isn't really a joke."  They sing "The Boxer" and "Scarborough Fair," accompanied only by Simon's acoustic guitar.  Their harmonies are gorgeous as ever.

"Loves Me Like A Rock"-I grew up with this song, my mother owned the recording and played it a lot.  It's performed in a slightly faster tempo here and the Jesse Dixon Singers provide great support to Simon.

Simon vs. Connie Hawkins- Simon was actually a star baseball player in high school, but he shows that he's a pretty good "baller" for a 5'4 singer.  While this "game" was certainly staged and edited, Simon makes some nice shots and it's a one of the best segments of this episode.

The bees-They're only on stage for a few seconds, but the bees make their second appearance.  This makes them SNL's first recurring characters!

"Sail Away"-Newman's tune is a sneaky, subversive song narrated from the perspective of a slave trader who is trying to talk Africans into sailing with him to America.  One of Newman's best songs.

"The Berkeley Collection" commercial-This is funny and is funnier now because in the near future, former 60s radical Jerry Rubin would become known as a "hip capitalist" Wall Street stockbroker.  It also predicts the 1960s nostalgia industry, still years away at this point.

Rubin delivers one of the funniest lines of the show: "Join me in a protest march down memory lane!"

What doesn't work:I generally like Paul Simon's music, but his performances are a bit awkward when it's just him by himself with a microphone.

J.A. Morris' rating:
On the whole, it's a good episode, but I would've preferred more comedy.  However, the Simon & Garfunkel reunion makes it worth watching at least once.  While it does contain some good songs, eleven musical performances in just over an hour is a bit too many.   Episode 2 is an example of how Lorne Michaels and company were still figuring out what exactly they wanted this show to be.

3 stars.

Footnotes:
[1]Live, From New York, by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, p.67.