Season 3, episode 20;Host:Buck Henry, with Sun Ra

 Aired May 20, 1978.

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. 

Stargazer Bill Murray reviews the new film The Greek Tycoon.

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.

4 stars!

Season 3, episode 16;Host:Michael Palin, with Eugene Record

Aired April 8, 1978.

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:

Michael Palin-The host brings palpable energy to every sketch he appears in.

"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.

John Belushi's commentary-Belushi had already said "But NOOOO!" a couple times, but this is the first time (that I can remember) it getting a huge reaction from the audience. Of course it would become one of SNL's national catchphrases.

What doesn't work:
Eugene Record-He had a great voice, but both of Record's songs are slow and they bring the show to a halt. 

J.A. Morris' rating:
Palin is a great host and he meshes well with the cast, which adds up to another very good Season 3 episode.

3 and a half stars.