Season 3, episode 11;Host:Chevy Chase, with Billy Joel

Aired February 18, 1978.

Network disclaimer:
An announcer (Don Pardo) tells viewers “The Little House on the Prairie Burns to the Ground” will not be seen tonight, so that NBC may present the following special program."

Cold opening:"A former President speaks to the nation"
Former Pres. Gerald Ford (Chevy Chase) addresses the nation on the Panama Canal Treaty. Ford gets confused and changes the subject to the Suez Canal. 

Ford's wife Betty (Jane Curtin) drops by to deliver a bowl soup. She takes the opportunity to mention her support for the Equal Rights Amendment.

The ex-President then gets an easel and begins drawing on a map to demonstrate the importance of the canal. Ford trips over his easel and falls to the floor. 

He then looks into the camera and exclaims "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Monologue:"Chevy misses the applause"
Host Chevy Chase says the thing he's missed most since he left SNL is the applause. The crowd responds with a round of applause. He spends the rest of the monologue getting cheap applause by mentioning Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. 

He says the best thing about live TV is its spontaneity. Or my accurately, the illusion of spontaneity, since everything he's been saying is printed on cue cards. 

Commercial:"Moth Masher"
A pitchman (Dan Aykroyd) promotes a device that will crush moths "into a flat, easily portable size."

The Moth Masher hot press moth compactor presses moths into "thin plascticized wafers" that fit neatly into your wallet. 

"Couple in bed"
After an evening of intimacy, a man named Terry (Chase) and a woman (Gilda Radner) talk about how it was for them. During their conversation, we learn that Terry wasn't entirely truthful about who he is and what he does for a living. 

Billy Joel:"Only The Good Die Young"
Billy Joel performs "Only The Good Die Young," which appeared on Joel's 1977 album The Stranger. This song was issued as a single in May 1978 and peaked at #24 on Billboard's Hot 100.

"King"
In a docudrama about Martin Luther King Jr. (Garrett Morris), Pres. John F. Kennedy (Aykroyd) and his brother Bobby (Bill Murray) try to trick Dr. King into wearing a surveillance device. 

"Weekend Update"
Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin report on the news of the day. 
In the middle of the newscast, Aykroyd gets a call informing him that something bad has happened to his mother. 

When Dan leaves the news desk, former anchor Chevy Chase takes his place. Chevy tries to get Jane to leave with another fake phone call, but she's wise to him. 

Correspondent Laraine Newman reports on a Coal Mine strike in West Virginia and interviews Ray Floyd (Al Franken), a striking miner.

Correspondent John Belushi delivers a commentary about the recent Muhammad Ail/Leon Spinks fight. Belushi digresses and tells a story about a brawl he was part of several years earlier. He then asks Curtin if she could defend herself if someone attacked her. John then knocks down Jane and says "it's all yours, Chevy." 

Chase is joined by Emily Litella (Radner) who says she hasn't been around because Jane doesn't want her on Update. A bruised Curtin returns and berates Chevy and Emily. 

Plus, Garrett Morris delivers "News For The Hard Of Hearing."

"Baggage Inspection"
A rookie customs inspector named Whitfield (Chase) receives on-the-job training from his supervisor (Aykroyd). 

Whitfield gets an opportunity to make a drug bust when a women (Newman) faking a pregnancy tries to get through customs.

Film by Gary Weiss:"The Voice"
While Laraine Newman shops for clothes, she hears a disturbing disembodied voice in her head that sings to her. 

"Sermonette"
The Most Reverend Arch Bishop Maharishi O'Mulliganstein (Chase), of the Church Of Confusion, delivers a nonsensical sermon.

"Somewhere In France, 1944"
During World War II, American soldiers (Belushi, Chase, Morris) stop a jeep carrying men (Aykroyd, Murray) who they suspect are German spies. They submit the men to a series of questions that will determine whether or not they are Germans.

Billy Joel:"Just The Way You Are"
"Just The Way You Are" appeared on The Stranger and was released as a single in September of 1977. It peaked at #3 in the U.S.. 

"Endings"
Three British women (Curtin, Newman, Radner) drink tea and discuss Charlie's Angels. Chevy then interrupts the sketch and tells them to quickly wrap it up. They agree, but Chevy suddenly gets confused and feels stuck in the sketch.

We learn that he is in fact stuck in The Twilight Zone, which turns out to be a TV show watched by Truman Capote (Belushi).

Another series of endings to the sketch follows, including an appearance by the Land Shark (Chase)!

Goodnights:
Chevy says "it was very much fun to be back, good night everybody, thank you very much."

The camera then pans out to show that Chevy is playing a piano, surrounded by the cast as the credits roll.

Notes about this episode:
Regular readers know I generally focus only on the episodes and I avoid writing about the personal lives of the actors and writers. However, this episode is famous for an altercation between Chevy Chase and Bill Murray that occurred shortly before airtime. I'll just say that after re-watching this episode, I didn't notice any bad feelings from the fight carrying over into sketches. 

At the end of the "Endings" sketch, Garrett Morris sings a few lines of "Shuffle Off To Buffalo." This song was written by Al Dubin and Harry Warren and introduced in the 1933 film 42nd Street, where it was performed by Ruby Keeler and Clarence Nordstrom.

Ephemera:
Here's a promo for this episode featuring Chase:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKP6_4Y3l5k

Classic moment:
Chevy Chase becomes the first ex-cast member to return to host Saturday Night.

What stands out:
"Couple In Bed"-This sketch features great acting by Chase and Radner. It starts out like a "slice-of-life" piece, but then goes in a more absurd direction.

"Moth Masher"-Aykroyd delivers another great performance as a commercial pitchman.

What doesn't work:
"Weekend Update"-I felt like this went on too long and wasn't very funny. Just let Chevy return to "Update" and be done with it. 

J.A. Morris' rating:
The backstage drama doesn't translate into onstage energy, so this feels like an average episode rather than a triumphant return for Chevy Chase. 

2 and a half stars.

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!