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 15;Host:Christopher Lee, with Meat Loaf and Richard Belzer

 Aired March 25, 1978.

Network disclaimer:
Don Pardo announces that "101 Dalmatians Get Run Over By 101 Moving Vans will not be seen tonight so that NBC may present the following special program."

Cold opening:"Belushi's gone Hollywood"
In the locker room, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray are discussing how John Belushi is going to Hollywood to play the title role in the series Grizzly Adams. 

However, NBC wants John to change his name to Kevin Scott. Belushi then arrives and gets annoyed when they address him as "Kevin." 

John says that when he's moved on to Hollywood, he'll miss the cast, but most of all he'll miss saying "Live, from New York, it's Saturday Night."

Monologue:"Christopher's rejected films"
Host Christopher Lee says even though he's primary known for his roles in horror movies, it's been a few years since he appeared in one. 

Lee then shows us some trailers of films he rejected:

"The Island Of Lost Luggage":
"When you visit the island of Dr. Mobius (Garrett Morris), you leave your soul and your bags behind!" 

"The Thing That Wouldn't Leave":
"It came from beyond the grave! A creature (John Belushi) SO rude, SO inconsiderate… they thought it would NEVER leave!"

"Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Rogers":

"Dr. Henry Jekyll! A brilliant scientist! But there are some doors man was NEVER meant to open! Vincent Price (Dan Aykroyd) IS Dr. Henry Jekyll, in…“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Rogers”!

 

"Henry Higgins Meets Baba Wawa"
Phonetician Henry Higgins (Lee) takes on the challenge of teaching Baba Wawa (Radner) how to improve her speaking.

Meat Loaf:"All Revved Up with No Place To Go"
Meat Loaf performs "All Revved Up with No Place To Go," which appeared on his album Bat Out Of Hell. The album was issued on October 21, 1977.

"Weekend Update"
Anchors Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd report on the top news stories of the day.

Kevin Scott (Belushi) uses a model of a supertanker to demonstrate what happens during an oil spill.

Film critic Bill Murray predicts who will win Academy Awards at the upcoming Oscar ceremony.

Plus, a new Update segment, "Point/Counterpoint." This features a debate between Aykroyd and Curtin about whether a Point/Counterpoint segment has any point.

"Mr. Death"
Written by Alan Zweibel and Gilda Radner.
When a little girl named Penny's (Laraine Newman) dog Tippy dies, she gets a visit from Death himself (Lee). Mr. Death apologizes to Penny and tries to explain why he had to take her dog.

"Sadat needs help"
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat laments that nothing is going right for him and his nation. Sadat asks viewers to send him their suggestions about what is next course of action should be.

Film by Gary Weis:"Cold As Ice"
A woman repeatedly tortures a man (Stacy Keach) by shooting and stabbing him. 

The scenes of torture are accompanied by the song "Cold As Ice" by Foreigner. The song appeared on their self-titled debut album and was released as a single in July 1977. It peaked at #6 on the Hot 100.

Commercial:"Del Stator's Rabbit Hut"
Written by Dan Aykroyd and Tom Davis.
Del Stator (Aykroyd) invites customers to visit his rabbit hut so they can enjoy "a reasonably priced meal of hot rabbit."

"Nixon's memoirs"
A team of vampire hunters (Lee, Belushi, Curtin) visit the home of Richard Nixon (Aykroyd), where the ex-President is preparing his memoirs for publication. The hunters aim to destroy the memoirs in order "to put the soul of Watergate to rest."

Richard Belzer:
Comedian Richard Belzer imitates Mick Jagger, wedding singers and speculates what Bob Dylan will be like when he's 86 years old.

Meat Loaf:"Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad"
"Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" is another track from Bat Out Of Hell. It was issued as a single in March of 1978 and peaked at #11 on Billboard's Hot 100.

The Mr. Bill Show:"Mr. Bill's Circus"
Mr. Bill tells viewers that this episode will be lots of fun because "today because we’re having our own circus!" His mood darkens when he learns that the ringmaster for the circus is his nemesis Mr. Sluggo. 

Goodnights:
Lee says "Thank you, all of you, for coming this evening. I’ve never had an experience like this in  long, long time. I’ve had a wonderful time. And, yeah. And all I can say is, quite simply thank you! Thanks!" 

Newman and Radner each give Christopher a flower and kiss him. The cast and Meat Loaf surround Lee and the credits roll.

Notes about this episode:
If it's not obvious from my description, "Henry Higgins Meets Baba Wawa" is a parody of My Fair Lady.

Classic moments:
Point/Counterpoint-This "Weekend Update" debate segment would create another national catchphrase ("Jane, you ignorant slut!"). Point-Counterpoint would be featured ten more times during Seasons 3 and 4. 

Bill Murray's Oscar predictions-This would become a tradition during Oscar season. Murray would do the bit in the next two seasons and also predicted the winners 3 times when he returned to host SNL.

What stands out:

Christopher Lee-The host appears in 4 sketches and is great in every role. "Mr. Death" is especially good, Lee makes the personification of death seem like a nice old man.

Rejected movie trailers-All three of the trailers are funny, especially "The Thing That Wouldn't Leave," which has appeared in "Best Of" compilations. 

What doesn't work:
The cast disappears-The last 3 segments are Richard Belzer's standup, a Meat Loaf performance and "The Mr. Bill Show." The Not Ready For Prime Time Players are nowhere to be seen. I would have like to have seen them at least once near the end of the episode. 

J.A. Morris' rating:
This is a very good episode and Lee is a very likeable host who appears to be genuinely enjoying himself. The Oscar Predictions and Point/Counterpoint are also great. However, the disappearance of the cast near the end prevents me from giving my highest rating.

3 and a half stars.