Network disclaimer:"Grandma Walton Tries To Tie Her Shoelace"
Don Pardo announces that "Grandma Walton Tries To Tie Her Shoelace will not be seen tonight so that NBC may present the following special program."
Cold opening:"Academy Award Ceremony"
At the Academy Awards ceremony, Vanessa Redgrave (Jane Curtin) wins an Oscar for her role in Julia. In her speech, Redgrave says "there's so many people and things to condemn." She proceeds to condemn "the Zionist hoodlums, the British hoodlums in Northern Ireland, the White racist hoodlums in South Africa."
She then introduces someone she's brought with her, PLO chairman Yasser Arafat (John Belushi). He dedicates Redgrave's Oscar "to the guerillas in southern Lebanon."
Arafat then introduces Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (Garrett Morris)...
...who in turn introduces Pres. Jimmy Carter (Dan Aykroyd). The President says he's sick of people using the Academy Awards "as a platform to recognize outstanding achievement in the motion picture arts." Carter adds that "there's something else I have to say, or I wouldn't be able to live with myself tomorrow morning and that is live from New York, it's Saturday Night."
Monologue:"Sid Biggs"
Sid Biggs (host Michael Palin) appears on stage and identifies himself as host Michael Palin's manager. He says Michael will be out shortly.
Biggs tells the audience about other acts he manages and mentions that he used to have an act of his own and decides to perform it. Biggs takes a seafood salad and shoves it down his pants...
...then shoves two cats down his pants so they can eat the salad!
Commercial:"Little Chocolate Donuts"
Repeat from Season 3, episode 6.
Confession both:
While Father O'Neil (Palin) is hearing confessions, he's visited by an IRS agent (Aykroyd) who accuses the priest of claiming illegal business deductions.
In another confessional window, he hears the confession of a man (Morris) who has made $30 million and paid no taxes. This presents a moral dilemma for O'Neil. Should he report the man to the IRS or keep his vows as a priest?
The sketch then segues into a commercial...
Commercial:"H & R Brock"
Henry Brock (Belushi) of the H & R Brock tax prep company says people should come to them to because "we solve moral dilemmas, no matter what your dilemma, if it has anything to do with taxes."
"The Seagull"
Palin says he will challenge his acting abilities. He is bound and gagged and placed in a trunk. Michael will not only break out of this prison, but will do so in time to act in a production of Chekov's The Seagull.
Eugene Record:"Have You Seen Her"
Eugene Record performs "Have You Seen Her," a song he co-wrote with Barbara Acklin. Record recorded the song with the Chi-Lites when he served as their lead vocalist.
"Have You Seen Her" appeared on the Chi-Lites 1971 album (For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People. It was released as a single in October 1971, it peaked at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B chart.
"Weekend Update"
Anchors Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd report on the top news stories of the day.
Actress Vanessa Redgrave has been kidnapped and forcibly bronzed.
Aykroyd interviews Tongsun Park (Akira Yoshimura), a South Korean lobbyist who claims to have bribed members of Congress.
Correspondent John Belushi decries the Rockefellers, who intend to tear down Radio City Music Hall. Belushi works himself up into a frenzy over the issue.
"Lisa's Piano Lesson"
Written by Anne Beatts, Rosie Shuster, Al Franken and Tom Davis.
Lisa Loopner (Gilda Radner) gets a piano lesson from her teacher Mr. Brighton (Palin). Lisa is shocked when Brighton declares that he loves her and tries to kiss her.
"The Forgotten Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes"
Sherlock Holmes (Palin) has been taking excessive amounts of cocaine. This prompts his friend Dr. Watson (Aykroyd) to worry that such consumption will hinder his ability to solve mysteries.
"Argument"
A man (Bill Murray) and a woman (Laraine Newman) argue about attending a party.
Eugene Record:"Trying To Get To You"
Record sings "Trying To Get To You," the title track of his 1978 album.
Mr. Bill Show:"Mr. Bill Pays His Taxes"
Mr. Bill gets help paying his taxes. Unfortunately, his accountant is none other than his recurring antagonist Mr. Sluggo.
"Dave Mable's Danger Probe"
Written by Dan Aykroyd.
Dave Mable (Aykroyd) shows viewers what happened when an 18th century Belgian fop (Palin) and a Spanish Blackamoor (Morris) visited a roadhouse bar in the deep south.
Goodnights:
Palin brings the cats from the monologue back to homebase so viewers can see that they're okay.
The cast and Eugene Record then surround Palin as he says "thank you very much, goodnight" and the credits roll.
Notes about this episode:
Prior to the beginning of "The Forgotten Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes," a short filmed segment is shown.
This is a clip from Ripping Yarns, a BBC series that starred Palin.
During "Weekend Update," Akira Yoshimura (SNL's production designer) plays a man who claims to be Tongsun Park. In 1977, the real Tongsun Park, a South Korean lobbyist, was indicted for including bribery, illegal campaign contributions, mail fraud, racketeering, and failure to register as a foreign agent.
 |
| The real Tongsun Park |
What stands out:
"Lisa's Piano Lesson"-This is really the first proper "Nerds" sketch, where Jane Curtin plays Lisa's mother (she previously played another character's mom) and Todd and Lisa's dynamic is established. Palin is also good as the predatory piano teacher.
Eugene Record-He had a great voice, but both of Record's songs are slow and they bring the show to a halt.
Palin is a great host and he meshes well with the cast, which adds up to another very good Season 3 episode.
