Network disclaimer:"The Boy In The Plastic Pantsuit" Don Pardo announces that "The Boy In The Plastic Pantsuit will not be seen tonight, so that NBC may bring you following special program."
Cold opening:"Nixon's memoirs" Former President Richard Nixon (Dan Aykroyd) addresses the nation about his new book of memoirs. He says the book isn't selling well because Americans are still angry over his Watergate scandal.
Nixon mentions the time he said “You won’t have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore!” In this spirit, he suggests people buy the book so they can kick it. The ex-Pres. then asks one of his Marine Honor Guards (Garrett Morris) to kick the book like a football.
When the book has been kicked, Nixon looks into the camera and says "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"
Monologue:"Why is Buck hosting" Host Buck Henry supposes the audience is wondering why he hosts so often. He says it's because SNL gains "a sense of class" from him. Buck then talks about writing and directing a new film with Warren Beatty and Julie Christie.
While Henry talks, text scrolls onscreen, telling viewers that Buck doesn't know Beatty and Christie and his career is over and that he's only hosting because Saturday Night feels sorry for Henry.
"Nerds prom" Written by Anne Beatts and Rosie Shuster. Before attending prom, Lisa Loopner's (Gilda Radner) mother Enid (Jane Curtin) gives her daughter a talk about "the birds and the bees."
Her prom date Todd (Bill Murray) then arrives, and gives Lisa "prom noogies!"
"Samurai TV Repairman" Written by Alan Zweibel and John Belushi. Mr. Dantley (Henry) brings his broken TV to a repairman (John Belushi) who happens to be a samurai.
Everything is going okay until the samurai learns that the defective television was inspected in Japan by his mother.
"Sodom Chamber Of Commerce" In the ancient city of Sodom, it's mayor (Henry) hires a man named Noab (Murray) to improve the city's image.
"Weekend Update" Anchors Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd report on the top news stories of the day.
In Point/Counter-Point, Dan and Jane debate the merits of jogging.
"Olympia Cafe" When a neighboring business is robbed, Olympia owner Pete (Belushi) plans to rent a Doberman to provide after-hours security for the cafe.
"Mr. Mike's Least-Loved Music" Written by Michael O'Donoghue and Howard Shore. Mr. Mike (Michael O'Donoghue) performs "Baby Ghouls." The song tells a tale of dead little girls who come out of their graves to feed on the living.
Talk show:"More Insects To Worry About" Joan Face (Curtin) interviews entomologist Russell Bedanza. He discusses dangerous insects such as the Mucus-Flinging Lawn Maggot and Common Crotch Wasp.
"Stunt Puppy" Written by Al Franken and Tom Davis. During production of a movie about animal abuse, a stunt puppy is brought in to be hurled around the room during the violent scenes.
"Bad Conceptual Art" Written by Tom Schiller. Host Leonard Pinth-Garnell (Aykroyd) introduces an excerpt of "Pavlov Video Chicken 1," a performance piece that features a woman (Radner) dancing like a chicken for 378 consecutive hours.
The Franken and Davis Show: Al Franken and Tom Davis appear onstage wearing sumo wrestling outfits. Before performing, they introduce Al's wife and son and "the girl Tom lives with."
However, Tom says he can't live a lie anymore and announces that he and Franken are "homosexual lovers." Al is furious, says his life is ruined and that he will make Davis regret this revelation.
Sun Ra and his Arkestra:"Space Is The Place, "Space-Loneliness" Sun Ra and his Arkestra perform the title track of their 1973 album Space Is The Place.
After that, the Arkestra plays "Space Loneliness." It was released as a single in1960.
Goodnights: Buck, the cast and the Arkestra appear onstage and the host says "goodnight folks, they'll all be back in the fall, or not. See you then!"
Notes about this episode:
This is Buck Henry's then-record sixth time hosting.
Here's a promo Henry recorded for this episode:
What stands out: "Nerds prom"-This is a great sketch and Buck Henry as Todd's father is perfect casting. Italso features what today would be called "world building", with details revealed about Lisa's deceased father.
"Samurai TV Repairman"-This isn't very different from previous Buck/Samurai pairings, but it's always fun to see Belushi and Henry play off each other.
Sun Ra and his Arkestra-What a great way to end Season 3! Sun Ra & company give one of the best musical performances in SNL history. I can't believe a major network booked the Arkestra in 1978.
What doesn't work: "More Insects To Worry About"-This isn't a bad sketch, but it's basically the same as the previous installment, the only difference being that Henry plays the bug expert instead of Belushi.
J.A. Morris' rating: This is a very enjoyable episode that features several recurring characters and an amazing musical performance. Season 3 ends on a high note.
Aired December 17, 1977. Network announcement: Don Pardo tells viewers that “How The Grinch Raped And Strangled Christmas” will not be seen tonight, so that NBC may present the following special program."
Cold opening:"The host is high!" In SNL's locker room, John Belushi and Laraine Newman are discussing this week's host, 80-year-old grandmother Miskel Spillman, winner of the Anyone Can Host contest. Buck Henry walks in and says Miskel is "currently lying on her back looking at a bowl of fruit with her radio turned on full blast." Belushi says the host was a bit nervous, so he shared a joint with Spillman, telling her it was a French cigarette.
Buck is furious and points out that Belushi's joints are potent "even for an experienced drug user like me!" Henry is worried, since he has to walk on stage and introduce the host "in a minute." Belushi responds "less than a minute, Buck...’cause we’re live, from New York, it’s Saturday Night!"
Monologue:"Meet the Anyone Can Host Winner" Buck and Miskel arrive on homebase, where Henry announces her as the winner. She's still carrying the aforementioned bowl of fruit, apparently still high. Spillman says "it seems like everything's in slow motion! I mean, am I making sense? Or am I blowing it? I don’t know, I can’t tell."
Henry repeatedly attempts to take the fruit bowl away from her, but Miskel swats him away.
Commercial:"Meat Wagon Action Track Set" The Meat Wagon Action Track is the most exciting road race game ever!
When the cars crash and burn, the meat wagon rushes to the scene to save the victims!
PSA:"American Date the Self-Concious Association" The American Date the Self-Concious Association presents a re-enactment of a date between two self-conscious people (Bill Murray and Gilda Radner).
A spokesperson (Newman) for the association says a relationship between the two wouldn't work. She encourages the self-conscious to date members of the Extremely Obnoxious Coalition, who are represented by Charlie Glatt (Belushi).
"The Gift of the Magi" Jane Curtin and Miskel narrate at retelling of O'Henry's classic Christmas story "The Gift Of The Magi." In this version, Robert donates his kidney to his ailing wife Helen and sells his antique watch, a family heirloom, in order to pay for the transplant operation.
When Helen survives the operation, Robert is NOT pleased with the gift she gives him.
Elvis Costello:"Watching The Detectives" Elvis Costello, backed by his band the Attractions, performs "Watching The Detectives," which was issued as a standalone single in the UK on October 14, 1977.
It was released in the United States in November of that year and appeared on the U.S. release of Costello's album My Aim Is True, which was releasedin March of 1978.
"Weekend Update" Co-anchors Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin report on the top news stories of the day, which include: The cover of Ms.magazine features a "very pregnant" Pres. Jimmy Carter. The President says "the cover is a hoax and that "he hasn't been pregnant since he had Amy 10 years ago."
Jane then calls the White House seeking an update on Carter's meeting with Israel's Prime Minister. She has a brief conversation with the President.
When the camera pans out, we see that she's actually been talking to her fellow anchor (and SNL's Carter impressionist) Dan Aykroyd.
Bill Murray reviews the classic Christmas film Miracle On 34th Street and criticizes it for not taking a firm stand on the existence of Santa Claus.
Bill also shows off his copy of the book Movies On TV, and thanks Santa for bringing it last year.
Plus, Jane and Dan are delivered a late-breaking story by NBCs Dancing N.
It turns out that inside the N is none other than Emily Litella! Miss Litella wonders why she hasn't been on Update in months, so she's given one more chance.
TV show:"Sartresky and Hutch" This cop show features tough cop Hutch (Belushi) and existential cop Jean-Paul Sartresky (Aykroyd).
When Rusty Kramer, an old friend of Hutch, goes insane and threatens to blow up a bank, Sartesky and Hutch use their different approaches to talk him out of it.
"The Franken and Davis Show" Al Franken has brought his parents to the show in honor of the holiday season. He then serenades them with a song he wrote to express his love.
His mother Mimi responds by bringing up a very embarrassing incident from Al's childhood. Franken explodes in anger over this, prompting Tom Davis to apologize, to no avail.
TV show:"E. Buzz Miller's Art Classics" Written by Dan Aykroyd and Tom Davis.
Public Access Cable host E. Buzz Miller (Aykroyd) and his girlfriend Christi Christina (Newman) analyze classic nude paintings and sculptures. Miller is particularly amused by the name Titian, which he mispronounces in a way that emphasizes the first three letters.
"New girlfriend"
When Jeff (Belushi) brings his live-in girlfriend Sharon (Spillman) home for Christmas, his parents (Curtin and Aykroyd) are reluctant to let them stay in the same bedroom.
Mom and Sharon have a heart-to-heart about her and Jeff's relationship.
"Mr. Santa" A drunken mall Santa (Murray) tells a little girl (Radner) she can't have any of the toys she asks for...
...and drops her on the floor using "Santa's trap door."
"Mr. Mike's Coral Waters Cafe" Written by Michael O'Donoghue.
Laraine Newman walks into the Coral Waters Cafe, where Mr. Mike (Michael O'Donoghue) is bartending. She is drunk and disheveled and asks Mr. Mike to tell her one of his "least-loved bedtime tales."
He says that he'll tell her a tale if she sings the aria from Madame Butterfly. While she sings, Mr. Mike makes her a cocktail called a Soiled Kimono and the recipe and history of the drink scroll onscreen.
Madame Butterflywas composed by Giacomo Puccini and premiered February 17, 1904.
Elvis Costello:"Less Than Zero"/"Radio Radio" Costello begins his second set by singing "Less Than Zero," his debut single which was released March 11, 1977. He then stops the song abruptly, declaring "there's no reason to do this song here."
Costello and the Attractions then launch into a performance of "Radio Radio," which was released as a single on October 20, 1978.
Goodnights: Miskel appears on homebase wearing a Mrs. Claus costume. She thanks everyone who voted for her and says "I've had the most wonderful time I've ever had in my life, everyone is so wonderful!"
She then thanks her daughter Janine Baker and invites her onstage. Janine kisses Spillman and says "Merry Christmas!" The cast then joins them onstage for goodnights.
While the credits roll, Bill Murray, still wearing his Santa suit, gives Miskel a kiss.
In honor of the holidays, the cameras pan behind the scenes so the crew in can be front of the camera for a change.
Notes about this episode:
This episode is best remembered not for its host, but for Elvis Costello switching to "Radio, Radio" after singing the beginning of "Less Than Zero."
For those don't know, all song titles and lyrics are given to NBC prior to performances. Saturday Night Live is strictly timed, so a different song could have thrown off the show's schedule. Over the years, Costello has told different stories about why he did it.
In 1989, on the occasion of SNL's 15th anniversary, he talked to Rolling Stone:
"After watching rehearsals, Costello says he decided the SNL players weren’t nearly as funny as they thought they were, but he didn’t completely sour on the show until “[Dan Aykroyd] came up and tried to act like he was a janitor to us, and they all had a big laugh at our expense because we didn’t recognize him. And I said, ‘Who’s the mug here? If you think you’re so damn famous, it’s kind of stupid because we’ve never heard of you any more than you’ve heard of us.’ I think that’s what started the ball rolling.” [1]
Elvis and the Attractions suspected they were treated badly because they were substituting for the Sex Pistols, whose visa problems kept them from entering the U.S.
In 2013, he told Details magazine he was inspired by Jimi Hendrix:
"I was copying Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix had done the same thing on the Lulu Show, when he went into an unscheduled number."[2]
In 2021, Costello said his record company wanted him to play "Less Than Zero," but resented being told what to play: "I didn’t really have anything against the show. I was more pissed off at being told what to play by the record company than I was NBC, truthfully. I can’t remember whether I said what I was going to do, but I think I just said, ‘Watch me.'” [3]
I don't know if Costello was really "officially banned" from SNL (in spite of lots of claims on the internet that a banning occurred), but he didn't appear again until 1989. In 1999, during the series' 25th anniversary special, Costello (backed by the Beastie Boys) recreated the incident:
During "Radio, Radio," Attractions drummer Pete Thomas is wearing a t-shirt that says "Thanks Malc."
This is a reference to Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, who screwed up the Pistols' visas, which led to Costello's booking.
Classic moment: John Belushi says "But NOOO!"-He says this during "The Gift Of The Magi." This is the first time he said it on SNL, it would later become a catchphrase Belushi screamed during his "Weekend Update" commentaries.
What stands out: "Sartesky and Hutch"-Dan Aykroyd is hilarious in this sketch as Jean-Paul Sartesky. How many comedy shows have parodied Sartre's existential philosophy?
"E. Buzz Miller's Art Classics"-Aykroyd is hilariously sleazy in this sketch, Laraine Newman is also great as Buzz's girlfriend Christi Christina.
"Meat Wagon Action Track Set"-This is a great toy commercial parody. At the end of the ad, we're told that the track set is manufactured by Mainway, a nice callback to Irwin Mainway, who previously appeared in Christmas and Halloween sketches.
What doesn't work: "The Gift Of The Magi"-This sketch introduced a catchphrase, but it's a bit too long and the whole point is to get to Belushi physically abusing Radner, something we've seen before.
J.A. Morris' rating: This is a good Christmas episode and most of the sketches are fun, if not great. Miskel Spillman doesn't do a lot, but she has a charming presence and does okay when she appears in sketches. Episode 8 is also an improvement over the previous three episodes.
