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 1, Episode 6 Host:Lily Tomlin

Aired November 22, 1975.

Cold opening:
Pres. Gerald Ford (Chevy Chase) responds to New York City's economic crisis and Ronald Reagan's announcement that he will challenge Ford for the Republican Presidential nomination.

After accidentally pouring water on himself, Ford eventually trips over his desk, tumbles to the floor and announces "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Monologue:
Lily Tomlin reads a list of funny observations she's recently written down and delivers a cheer for New York City.

Beethoven #1:
Ludwig Van Beethoven (John Belushi) has been acting unusual and his wife (Gilda Radner) and maid Frieda (Laraine Newman) are worried about him.  Beethoven hasn't eaten in days.  When the women depart, Ludwig plays "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree."

Lily Tomlin with Howard Shore and his All-Nurse Band:"St. James Infirmary Blues"
Tomlin and the house band (dressed as nurses) perform the folk blues standard "St James Infirmary Blues."  This song was made famous when Louis Armstrong recorded it in 1928.

Commercial:"Triopenin"
Repeat from Episode 1.

Jaws III:
The Land Shark is on the attack once again and no one is safe!

Bellhop:
When a couple (Garrett Morris and Jane Curtin) is trying to enjoy a private, romantic moment in a hotel room, a bellhop (Chase) busts in unannounced to deliver the day's newspaper...and proceeds to drop the paper all over the room.

Film:"Edith Ann Ice Skates":
Precocious five and a half year old Edith Ann (Tomlin), narrates a film of herself attempting to ice skate, while her dog Buster looks on.

"Beethoven #2":
Beethoven's wife is worried about Ludwig's health and mental state and tries to convince him to eat, to no avail.  When he's alone, he composes a new song called "My Fraulein."

"Weekend Update":
Chevy Chase reports on the evening's top stories, which include Pres. Ford accidentally stabbing himself with a salad fork.

Commercial:"Spud Beer"
Written by Al Franken and Tom Davis.
"Filled with the full, rich flavor of potatoes.  Spud, the beer brewed for people who can't taste the difference."

"Dear Patty":
A college student named Susie (Tomlin) writes a letter to her sorority sister Patty Hearst.

"Dregs and Vestiges" featuring Jim Henson's Muppets:
Written by Jerry Nelson.
Scred (Jerry Nelson) falls in love with Lily Tomlin and writes her a love letter.  She doesn't feel the same way, but she still likes Scred.  They sing a duet of Sonny & Cher's hit "I Got You Babe," which reached #1 in the U.S. in August of 1965.

Film by Albert Brooks:"The Impossible Truth"
Repeat from Episode 1.

Beethoven #3:
When the women walk away, Ludwig puts a pair of dark shades and performs Ray Charles' "What'd I Say!"

"What'd I Say"topped the Billboard R&B chart in 1959 and peaked at #6 on the Hot 100 Pop chart.

Hard Hats:
Written by Anne Beatts and Rosie Shuster.
A construction worker (Tomlin) teaches Jane, Laraine and Gilda how to sexually harass men who walk by construction sites.

Commercial:"Speed"
Written by Anne Beatts.
Ellen Sherman (Anne Beatts) is a nuclear physicist, housewife, mother and commissioner of consumer affairs.  How does she juggle all these tasks at the same time?  She takes Speed.

"Toni at the High School Dance":
Toni (Tomlin), a 1950s teenage girl interacts with her (unseen) friends at a dance. 

"Bee-Bop":
Tomlin is joined by several bees (Morris, Radner, Newman, Chase) and for some bee-bop singing.  The bees and Tomlin bid viewers goodnight in the middle of their performance.

Notes about this episode:
The characters Edith Ann, Susie and Toni were created by Lily Tomlin and portrayed by her in series like Laugh-In and in Tomlin's stand-up act.

Patty Hearst (mentioned in the "Dear Patty" sketch) was arrested with other members of the Symbionese Liberation Army on September 18, 1975, about two months before this episode aired and was charged with bank robbery and other crimes.

Writers Rosie Shuster and Anne Beatts had a difficult time casting the male "eye candy" for their "hard hats" sketch.  When Aykroyd reluctantly accepted the role, he said he felt naked and vulnerable, much like women who get catcalled in real life. [1]

In the Beethoven sketches, Gilda Radner's character refers to Ludwig as her husband.  In reality, Beethoven never married.

Head writer Michael O'Donoghue came up with the idea of dressing SNL's band in nurse uniforms. [2]

Classic moments:
Jaws III-The second "Land Shark" sketch is just as funny as the first.  This time the shark attacks the sheriff in addition to single women.

What stands out:
"Beethoven"-Belushi does a nice job singing "What'd I Say" and "My Girl," and shows off his eyebrows in this series of sketches.  Newman and Radner provide solid support as Beethoven's wife and maid.

"Hard hats"-This sketch may come across a bit heavy-handed today, but #MeToo and #TimesUp are showing that we still have a long way to go.  It's also a funny sketch with some great lines, especially Jane Curtin saying "Hey studmuffin, wanna make bouncy-bouncy?" to Aykroyd.

"Muppets"-This is my favorite SNL Muppets sketch so far.  Tomlin interacts nicely with Scred (performed by the great puppeteer Jerry Nelson) and their performance of "I Got You Babe" is sweet.

What doesn't work:
The rerun of Albert Brooks' film "The Impossible Truth"-A repeat already?

J.A. Morris' rating:
Episode 6 features some funny moments from the cast and Tomlin, especially the Beethoven bits.  It's a good, solid episode, but not a great one.

3 stars.

Footnotes:
[1]Saturday Night by Doug Hill and Jeff Weingard, p.115-116.
[2]Live From New York, by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales, p.75.