Saturday Night Live season 1
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:25:40 PM Wikipedia source
The first season of Saturday Night Live (then known as NBC's Saturday Night to avoid confusion with the similarly named variety show hosted by Howard Cosell), an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC from October 11, 1975, to July 31, 1976. The show served as a vehicle that launched to stardom the careers of a number of major comedians and actors, including Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, and Dan Aykroyd.
Infobox
Starring
Dan Aykroyd John Belushi Chevy Chase George Coe Jane Curtin Garrett Morris Laraine Newman Michael O'Donoghue Gilda Radner
No. of episodes
24
Original network
NBC
Original release
October 11, 1975 (1975-10-11) – July 31, 1976 (1976-07-31)
Tables
· Episodes
1
1
No.
overall
1
No. in
season
1
Host
George Carlin
Musical guest(s)
Janis Ian & Billy Preston
Original release date
October 11, 1975 (1975-10-11)
Billy Preston performs "Nothing from Nothing" and "Fancy Lady". Janis Ian performs "At Seventeen" and "In the Winter".
The cold open features John Belushi as a foreign man learning English being taught by writer Michael O'Donoghue. Following this sketch, Chevy Chase appeared with a headset on and bellows the first "Live from New York, It's Saturda
Billy Preston performs "Nothing from Nothing" and "Fancy Lady". Janis Ian performs "At Seventeen" and "In the Winter".
The cold open features John Belushi as a foreign man learning English being taught by writer Michael O'Donoghue. Following this sketch, Chevy Chase appeared with a headset on and bellows the first "Live from New York, It's Saturda
No.
overall
Billy Preston performs "Nothing from Nothing" and "Fancy Lady". Janis Ian performs "At Seventeen" and "In the Winter".
The cold open features John Belushi as a foreign man learning English being taught by writer Michael O'Donoghue. Following this sketch, Chevy Chase appeared with a headset on and bellows the first "Live from New York, It's Saturda
2
2
No.
overall
2
No. in
season
2
Host
Paul Simon
Musical guest(s)
Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow, Art Garfunkel & Jessy Dixon Singers
Original release date
October 18, 1975 (1975-10-18)
Michael O'Donoghue is not listed in the cast in the opening credits for this episode.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel perform "The Boxer," "Scarborough Fair" and "My Little Town". Simon also performs "Still Crazy After All These Years", "Marie" "American Tune" solo, "Loves Me Like a Rock" with the Jessy Dixon Singers and "Gone at Last" with Phoebe Sn
Michael O'Donoghue is not listed in the cast in the opening credits for this episode.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel perform "The Boxer," "Scarborough Fair" and "My Little Town". Simon also performs "Still Crazy After All These Years", "Marie" "American Tune" solo, "Loves Me Like a Rock" with the Jessy Dixon Singers and "Gone at Last" with Phoebe Sn
No.
overall
Michael O'Donoghue is not listed in the cast in the opening credits for this episode.
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel perform "The Boxer," "Scarborough Fair" and "My Little Town". Simon also performs "Still Crazy After All These Years", "Marie" "American Tune" solo, "Loves Me Like a Rock" with the Jessy Dixon Singers and "Gone at Last" with Phoebe Sn
3
3
No.
overall
3
No. in
season
3
Host
Rob Reiner
Musical guest(s)
none
Original release date
October 25, 1975 (1975-10-25)
In lieu of a musical guest, John Belushi performs "With a Little Help from My Friends" while impersonating Joe Cocker.
Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson and Alice Tweedy perform in a "Land of Gorch" sketch.
Future cast member Denny Dillon appeared as a special guest with Mark Hampton in a sketch as nuns running a parish talent show
In lieu of a musical guest, John Belushi performs "With a Little Help from My Friends" while impersonating Joe Cocker.
Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson and Alice Tweedy perform in a "Land of Gorch" sketch.
Future cast member Denny Dillon appeared as a special guest with Mark Hampton in a sketch as nuns running a parish talent show
No.
overall
In lieu of a musical guest, John Belushi performs "With a Little Help from My Friends" while impersonating Joe Cocker.
Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson and Alice Tweedy perform in a "Land of Gorch" sketch.
Future cast member Denny Dillon appeared as a special guest with Mark Hampton in a sketch as nuns running a parish talent show
4
4
No.
overall
4
No. in
season
4
Host
Candice Bergen
Musical guest(s)
Esther Phillips
Original release date
November 8, 1975 (1975-11-08)
Esther Phillips performs "What a Diff'rence a Day Made" and "I Can Stand a Little Rain".
Andy Kaufman debuts his Foreign Man character on the show.
Andrew Duncan and Jacqueline Carlin make cameo appearances.
The episode features an Albert Brooks film, "Upcoming Season".
Sketches include "Landshark" and "The Land of Gorch" featuring Jim Henson,
Esther Phillips performs "What a Diff'rence a Day Made" and "I Can Stand a Little Rain".
Andy Kaufman debuts his Foreign Man character on the show.
Andrew Duncan and Jacqueline Carlin make cameo appearances.
The episode features an Albert Brooks film, "Upcoming Season".
Sketches include "Landshark" and "The Land of Gorch" featuring Jim Henson,
No.
overall
Esther Phillips performs "What a Diff'rence a Day Made" and "I Can Stand a Little Rain".
Andy Kaufman debuts his Foreign Man character on the show.
Andrew Duncan and Jacqueline Carlin make cameo appearances.
The episode features an Albert Brooks film, "Upcoming Season".
Sketches include "Landshark" and "The Land of Gorch" featuring Jim Henson,
5
5
No.
overall
5
No. in
season
5
Host
Robert Klein
Musical guest(s)
ABBA & Loudon Wainwright III
Original release date
November 15, 1975 (1975-11-15)
ABBA performs "SOS" and "Waterloo". For both of their performances, ABBA lip-synced to a prerecorded track. In a joke subtitle, it is explained this is because their "tapes didn't arrive from Sweden".
Loudon Wainwright III performs "Bicentennial" and "Unrequited to the Nth Degree".
Robert Klein performs "I Can't Stop My Leg" with the Saturday Nig
ABBA performs "SOS" and "Waterloo". For both of their performances, ABBA lip-synced to a prerecorded track. In a joke subtitle, it is explained this is because their "tapes didn't arrive from Sweden".
Loudon Wainwright III performs "Bicentennial" and "Unrequited to the Nth Degree".
Robert Klein performs "I Can't Stop My Leg" with the Saturday Nig
No.
overall
ABBA performs "SOS" and "Waterloo". For both of their performances, ABBA lip-synced to a prerecorded track. In a joke subtitle, it is explained this is because their "tapes didn't arrive from Sweden".
Loudon Wainwright III performs "Bicentennial" and "Unrequited to the Nth Degree".
Robert Klein performs "I Can't Stop My Leg" with the Saturday Nig
6
6
No.
overall
6
No. in
season
6
Host
Lily Tomlin
Musical guest(s)
Tomlin with Howard Shore & the All Nurse Band
Original release date
November 22, 1975 (1975-11-22)
Lily Tomlin performs "St. James Infirmary Blues," "Bee Bop" and "I Got You Babe" with Scred and The Muppets.
Lily Tomlin performs "St. James Infirmary Blues," "Bee Bop" and "I Got You Babe" with Scred and The Muppets.
No.
overall
Lily Tomlin performs "St. James Infirmary Blues," "Bee Bop" and "I Got You Babe" with Scred and The Muppets.
7
7
No.
overall
7
No. in
season
7
Host
Richard Pryor
Musical guest(s)
Gil Scott-Heron
Original release date
December 13, 1975 (1975-12-13)
Gil Scott-Heron performs "Johannesburg" and "A Lovely Day".
Thalmus Rasulala appeared as one of the priests in the "Exorcist II" sketch. Annazette Chase appears as Polly in the "Black & White" sketch. At Richard Pryor's insistence, his ex-wife Shelley and Kathrine McKee, his then-current girlfriend make cameo appearances.
Sketches include "Samura
Gil Scott-Heron performs "Johannesburg" and "A Lovely Day".
Thalmus Rasulala appeared as one of the priests in the "Exorcist II" sketch. Annazette Chase appears as Polly in the "Black & White" sketch. At Richard Pryor's insistence, his ex-wife Shelley and Kathrine McKee, his then-current girlfriend make cameo appearances.
Sketches include "Samura
No.
overall
Gil Scott-Heron performs "Johannesburg" and "A Lovely Day".
Thalmus Rasulala appeared as one of the priests in the "Exorcist II" sketch. Annazette Chase appears as Polly in the "Black & White" sketch. At Richard Pryor's insistence, his ex-wife Shelley and Kathrine McKee, his then-current girlfriend make cameo appearances.
Sketches include "Samura
8
8
No.
overall
8
No. in
season
8
Host
Candice Bergen
Musical guest(s)
Martha Reeves & The Stylistics
Original release date
December 20, 1975 (1975-12-20)
Martha Reeves performs "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" and "Silver Bells". The Stylistics performed the song "You Make Me Feel Brand New".
Candice Bergen appears in "The Land of Gorch" sketch where she attends King Ploobis' Christmas party while the guests that he had invited are attending the Killer Bees' Christmas party. Bergen
Martha Reeves performs "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" and "Silver Bells". The Stylistics performed the song "You Make Me Feel Brand New".
Candice Bergen appears in "The Land of Gorch" sketch where she attends King Ploobis' Christmas party while the guests that he had invited are attending the Killer Bees' Christmas party. Bergen
No.
overall
Martha Reeves performs "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" and "Silver Bells". The Stylistics performed the song "You Make Me Feel Brand New".
Candice Bergen appears in "The Land of Gorch" sketch where she attends King Ploobis' Christmas party while the guests that he had invited are attending the Killer Bees' Christmas party. Bergen
9
9
No.
overall
9
No. in
season
9
Host
Elliott Gould
Musical guest(s)
Anne Murray
Original release date
January 10, 1976 (1976-01-10)
Anne Murray performs the songs "The Call" and "Blue Finger Lou".
The episode features an Albert Brooks film, Audience Test Screenings. Other sketches include "Interior Demolitionists" and a Shimmer commercial parody.
Paula Kahn makes a cameo appearance. Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz and Alice Tweedy perform their characters in "The Land of G
Anne Murray performs the songs "The Call" and "Blue Finger Lou".
The episode features an Albert Brooks film, Audience Test Screenings. Other sketches include "Interior Demolitionists" and a Shimmer commercial parody.
Paula Kahn makes a cameo appearance. Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz and Alice Tweedy perform their characters in "The Land of G
No.
overall
Anne Murray performs the songs "The Call" and "Blue Finger Lou".
The episode features an Albert Brooks film, Audience Test Screenings. Other sketches include "Interior Demolitionists" and a Shimmer commercial parody.
Paula Kahn makes a cameo appearance. Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz and Alice Tweedy perform their characters in "The Land of G
10
10
No.
overall
10
No. in
season
10
Host
Buck Henry
Musical guest(s)
Bill Withers & Toni Basil
Original release date
January 17, 1976 (1976-01-17)
Bill Withers performs "Ain't No Sunshine".
Toni Basil performs "Wham".
Jerry Nelson and Alice Tweedy perform their characters in "The Land of Gorch".
The Blues Brothers, (in their first appearance) in the Bees costumes, perform "I'm a King Bee" with Howard Shore and His All-Bee Band.
Head writer Michael O'Donoghue is credited as a special guest
Bill Withers performs "Ain't No Sunshine".
Toni Basil performs "Wham".
Jerry Nelson and Alice Tweedy perform their characters in "The Land of Gorch".
The Blues Brothers, (in their first appearance) in the Bees costumes, perform "I'm a King Bee" with Howard Shore and His All-Bee Band.
Head writer Michael O'Donoghue is credited as a special guest
No.
overall
Bill Withers performs "Ain't No Sunshine".
Toni Basil performs "Wham".
Jerry Nelson and Alice Tweedy perform their characters in "The Land of Gorch".
The Blues Brothers, (in their first appearance) in the Bees costumes, perform "I'm a King Bee" with Howard Shore and His All-Bee Band.
Head writer Michael O'Donoghue is credited as a special guest
11
11
No.
overall
11
No. in
season
11
Host
Peter Cook & Dudley Moore
Musical guest(s)
Neil Sedaka
Original release date
January 24, 1976 (1976-01-24)
Neil Sedaka performs "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Lonely Night".
Scred from "The Land of Gorch" appeared in a bee costume hoping to play Aunt Bee in a Bees version of The Andy Griffith Show (to loud groans from the audience), only to be told by Gilda Radner that the sketch was canceled. Scred joins Gilda in introducing Neil Sedaka.
This openi
Neil Sedaka performs "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Lonely Night".
Scred from "The Land of Gorch" appeared in a bee costume hoping to play Aunt Bee in a Bees version of The Andy Griffith Show (to loud groans from the audience), only to be told by Gilda Radner that the sketch was canceled. Scred joins Gilda in introducing Neil Sedaka.
This openi
No.
overall
Neil Sedaka performs "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Lonely Night".
Scred from "The Land of Gorch" appeared in a bee costume hoping to play Aunt Bee in a Bees version of The Andy Griffith Show (to loud groans from the audience), only to be told by Gilda Radner that the sketch was canceled. Scred joins Gilda in introducing Neil Sedaka.
This openi
12
12
No.
overall
12
No. in
season
12
Host
Dick Cavett
Musical guest(s)
Jimmy Cliff
Original release date
January 31, 1976 (1976-01-31)
Jimmy Cliff performs "The Harder They Come," "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Wahjahka Man".
Humorist Marshall Efron and Al Alen Petersen make cameo appearances.
At the end of the third "Lowell Brock" sketch, Lorne Michaels can be seen playing a prank on John Belushi tying his shoelaces together. When Belushi realizes the prank, over the applause, he
Jimmy Cliff performs "The Harder They Come," "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Wahjahka Man".
Humorist Marshall Efron and Al Alen Petersen make cameo appearances.
At the end of the third "Lowell Brock" sketch, Lorne Michaels can be seen playing a prank on John Belushi tying his shoelaces together. When Belushi realizes the prank, over the applause, he
No.
overall
Jimmy Cliff performs "The Harder They Come," "Many Rivers to Cross" and "Wahjahka Man".
Humorist Marshall Efron and Al Alen Petersen make cameo appearances.
At the end of the third "Lowell Brock" sketch, Lorne Michaels can be seen playing a prank on John Belushi tying his shoelaces together. When Belushi realizes the prank, over the applause, he
13
13
No.
overall
13
No. in
season
13
Host
Peter Boyle
Musical guest(s)
Al Jarreau
Original release date
February 14, 1976 (1976-02-14)
Al Jarreau performs "We Got By" and "Pretty as a Picture".
The Shapiro Sisters dance and lip-sync to the song "This Will Be". One of the sisters, Jenny, also appeared in the "Samurai Divorce Court" sketch.
Steven Spielberg makes an appearance in the audience while Peter Boyle sings a love song to his "wife".
Al Jarreau performs "We Got By" and "Pretty as a Picture".
The Shapiro Sisters dance and lip-sync to the song "This Will Be". One of the sisters, Jenny, also appeared in the "Samurai Divorce Court" sketch.
Steven Spielberg makes an appearance in the audience while Peter Boyle sings a love song to his "wife".
No.
overall
Al Jarreau performs "We Got By" and "Pretty as a Picture".
The Shapiro Sisters dance and lip-sync to the song "This Will Be". One of the sisters, Jenny, also appeared in the "Samurai Divorce Court" sketch.
Steven Spielberg makes an appearance in the audience while Peter Boyle sings a love song to his "wife".
14
14
No.
overall
14
No. in
season
14
Host
Desi Arnaz
Musical guest(s)
Desi Arnaz & Desi Arnaz Jr.
Original release date
February 21, 1976 (1976-02-21)
Desi Arnaz and his son perform "Cuban Pete" and "Babalu".
Gary Weis introduces his short film featuring Taylor Mead and his cat.
The show ends with Arnaz leading the cast, crew and audience in a conga line.
Desi Arnaz and his son perform "Cuban Pete" and "Babalu".
Gary Weis introduces his short film featuring Taylor Mead and his cat.
The show ends with Arnaz leading the cast, crew and audience in a conga line.
No.
overall
Desi Arnaz and his son perform "Cuban Pete" and "Babalu".
Gary Weis introduces his short film featuring Taylor Mead and his cat.
The show ends with Arnaz leading the cast, crew and audience in a conga line.
15
15
No.
overall
15
No. in
season
15
Host
Jill Clayburgh
Musical guest(s)
Leon Redbone & The Idlers
Original release date
February 28, 1976 (1976-02-28)
Leon Redbone performs "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Big Time Woman".
A cappella group The Idlers and comedian Andy Kaufman make cameo appearances. Host Jill Clayburgh appeared with these guests.
Photographer and video artist William Wegman appeared with his dog in Gary Weis' filmed piece.
Lorne Michaels appears during the cold open.
The first appear
Leon Redbone performs "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Big Time Woman".
A cappella group The Idlers and comedian Andy Kaufman make cameo appearances. Host Jill Clayburgh appeared with these guests.
Photographer and video artist William Wegman appeared with his dog in Gary Weis' filmed piece.
Lorne Michaels appears during the cold open.
The first appear
No.
overall
Leon Redbone performs "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Big Time Woman".
A cappella group The Idlers and comedian Andy Kaufman make cameo appearances. Host Jill Clayburgh appeared with these guests.
Photographer and video artist William Wegman appeared with his dog in Gary Weis' filmed piece.
Lorne Michaels appears during the cold open.
The first appear
16
16
No.
overall
16
No. in
season
16
Host
Anthony Perkins
Musical guest(s)
Betty Carter
Original release date
March 13, 1976 (1976-03-13)
Betty Carter performs "Music Maestro, Please / Swing Brother Swing" and "I Can't Help It".
King Ploobis and Scred from "The Land of Gorch" approach Anthony Perkins for help to get their sketch back on the air.
Chuck Scarborough and George Plimpton appear in the studio audience.
Starting with this episode, while the show is still "NBC's Saturday
Betty Carter performs "Music Maestro, Please / Swing Brother Swing" and "I Can't Help It".
King Ploobis and Scred from "The Land of Gorch" approach Anthony Perkins for help to get their sketch back on the air.
Chuck Scarborough and George Plimpton appear in the studio audience.
Starting with this episode, while the show is still "NBC's Saturday
No.
overall
Betty Carter performs "Music Maestro, Please / Swing Brother Swing" and "I Can't Help It".
King Ploobis and Scred from "The Land of Gorch" approach Anthony Perkins for help to get their sketch back on the air.
Chuck Scarborough and George Plimpton appear in the studio audience.
Starting with this episode, while the show is still "NBC's Saturday
17
17
No.
overall
17
No. in
season
17
Host
Ron Nessen
Musical guest(s)
Patti Smith
Original release date
April 17, 1976 (1976-04-17)
Patti Smith Group performs "Gloria" and "My Generation".
President Gerald Ford appeared in a filmed segment during the cold opening where he opens the show with "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" after Chevy Chase's signature pratfall. He also appeared in filmed segments during the monologue (where he introduces the host) and during Weeken
Patti Smith Group performs "Gloria" and "My Generation".
President Gerald Ford appeared in a filmed segment during the cold opening where he opens the show with "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" after Chevy Chase's signature pratfall. He also appeared in filmed segments during the monologue (where he introduces the host) and during Weeken
No.
overall
Patti Smith Group performs "Gloria" and "My Generation".
President Gerald Ford appeared in a filmed segment during the cold opening where he opens the show with "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" after Chevy Chase's signature pratfall. He also appeared in filmed segments during the monologue (where he introduces the host) and during Weeken
18
18
No.
overall
18
No. in
season
18
Host
Raquel Welch
Musical guest(s)
Phoebe Snow & John Sebastian
Original release date
April 24, 1976 (1976-04-24)
Phoebe Snow performs "All Over" and "Two-Fisted Love".
John Sebastian performs "Welcome Back" with John Belushi as Joe Cocker.
Raquel Welch performs "Superstar" with John Belushi as Joe Cocker, as well as "It Ain't Necessarily So".
Lorne Michaels appeared on air, offering the Beatles US$3,000 (equivalent to $16,973 in 2025) to perform three s
Phoebe Snow performs "All Over" and "Two-Fisted Love".
John Sebastian performs "Welcome Back" with John Belushi as Joe Cocker.
Raquel Welch performs "Superstar" with John Belushi as Joe Cocker, as well as "It Ain't Necessarily So".
Lorne Michaels appeared on air, offering the Beatles US$3,000 (equivalent to $16,973 in 2025) to perform three s
No.
overall
Phoebe Snow performs "All Over" and "Two-Fisted Love".
John Sebastian performs "Welcome Back" with John Belushi as Joe Cocker.
Raquel Welch performs "Superstar" with John Belushi as Joe Cocker, as well as "It Ain't Necessarily So".
Lorne Michaels appeared on air, offering the Beatles US$3,000 (equivalent to $16,973 in 2025) to perform three s
19
19
No.
overall
19
No. in
season
19
Host
Madeline Kahn
Musical guest(s)
Carly Simon
Original release date
May 8, 1976 (1976-05-08)
Carly Simon performs "Half a Chance/You're So Vain" in a pre-taped segment with Chevy Chase playing cowbell.
Baba Wawa interviews Madeline Kahn as Marlene Dietrich.
Scred and The Mighty Favog cut a deal with Chevy Chase to have Lorne Michaels renew their sketch in exchange that The Mighty Favog gets The Beatles to appear on the show.
Madeline Ka
Carly Simon performs "Half a Chance/You're So Vain" in a pre-taped segment with Chevy Chase playing cowbell.
Baba Wawa interviews Madeline Kahn as Marlene Dietrich.
Scred and The Mighty Favog cut a deal with Chevy Chase to have Lorne Michaels renew their sketch in exchange that The Mighty Favog gets The Beatles to appear on the show.
Madeline Ka
No.
overall
Carly Simon performs "Half a Chance/You're So Vain" in a pre-taped segment with Chevy Chase playing cowbell.
Baba Wawa interviews Madeline Kahn as Marlene Dietrich.
Scred and The Mighty Favog cut a deal with Chevy Chase to have Lorne Michaels renew their sketch in exchange that The Mighty Favog gets The Beatles to appear on the show.
Madeline Ka
20
20
No.
overall
20
No. in
season
20
Host
Dyan Cannon
Musical guest(s)
Leon and Mary Russell
Original release date
May 15, 1976 (1976-05-15)
The episode begins with Chevy Chase lying down on home base near a folding table and chairs saying the opening spiel only to be informed by director Dave Wilson that he will have to redo the cold open (solo this time, as the other cast members were already changing costumes), because they went on the air a minute early.
Leon and Mary Russell perfo
The episode begins with Chevy Chase lying down on home base near a folding table and chairs saying the opening spiel only to be informed by director Dave Wilson that he will have to redo the cold open (solo this time, as the other cast members were already changing costumes), because they went on the air a minute early.
Leon and Mary Russell perfo
No.
overall
The episode begins with Chevy Chase lying down on home base near a folding table and chairs saying the opening spiel only to be informed by director Dave Wilson that he will have to redo the cold open (solo this time, as the other cast members were already changing costumes), because they went on the air a minute early.
Leon and Mary Russell perfo
21
21
No.
overall
21
No. in
season
21
Host
Buck Henry
Musical guest(s)
Gordon Lightfoot & Garrett Morris
Original release date
May 22, 1976 (1976-05-22)
Gordon Lightfoot performs "Summertime Dream" and "Spanish Moss". A third song, "Sundown," is interrupted by John Belushi's Samurai.
Head writer Michael O'Donoghue is credited as a special guest as "impressionist Michael O'Donoghue" in the opening credits. He performs his impressions of celebrities having steel needles driven into their eyes.
Lorn
Gordon Lightfoot performs "Summertime Dream" and "Spanish Moss". A third song, "Sundown," is interrupted by John Belushi's Samurai.
Head writer Michael O'Donoghue is credited as a special guest as "impressionist Michael O'Donoghue" in the opening credits. He performs his impressions of celebrities having steel needles driven into their eyes.
Lorn
No.
overall
Gordon Lightfoot performs "Summertime Dream" and "Spanish Moss". A third song, "Sundown," is interrupted by John Belushi's Samurai.
Head writer Michael O'Donoghue is credited as a special guest as "impressionist Michael O'Donoghue" in the opening credits. He performs his impressions of celebrities having steel needles driven into their eyes.
Lorn
22
22
No.
overall
22
No. in
season
22
Host
Elliott Gould
Musical guest(s)
Leon Redbone, Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson
Original release date
May 29, 1976 (1976-05-29)
Leon Redbone performs "Shine On, Harvest Moon" and "Walking Stick". Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson performs "Heaven Only Knows".
Writers Al Franken and Tom Davis perform a comedy bit together, announced by Don Pardo in the opening credits as "new talent Franken and Davis."
Akira Yoshimura and Doris Powell appear in "The Last Voyage of the Starshi
Leon Redbone performs "Shine On, Harvest Moon" and "Walking Stick". Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson performs "Heaven Only Knows".
Writers Al Franken and Tom Davis perform a comedy bit together, announced by Don Pardo in the opening credits as "new talent Franken and Davis."
Akira Yoshimura and Doris Powell appear in "The Last Voyage of the Starshi
No.
overall
Leon Redbone performs "Shine On, Harvest Moon" and "Walking Stick". Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson performs "Heaven Only Knows".
Writers Al Franken and Tom Davis perform a comedy bit together, announced by Don Pardo in the opening credits as "new talent Franken and Davis."
Akira Yoshimura and Doris Powell appear in "The Last Voyage of the Starshi
23
23
No.
overall
23
No. in
season
23
Host
Louise Lasser
Musical guest(s)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Original release date
July 24, 1976 (1976-07-24)
Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs "Panama".
In her monologue, Louise Lasser, who had been arrested on a drug charge the week before and was very difficult for the cast and writers to work with that week, pretends to have a bout of stage fright and lock herself in her dressing room. She had actually done the same thing in real life just before t
Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs "Panama".
In her monologue, Louise Lasser, who had been arrested on a drug charge the week before and was very difficult for the cast and writers to work with that week, pretends to have a bout of stage fright and lock herself in her dressing room. She had actually done the same thing in real life just before t
No.
overall
Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs "Panama".
In her monologue, Louise Lasser, who had been arrested on a drug charge the week before and was very difficult for the cast and writers to work with that week, pretends to have a bout of stage fright and lock herself in her dressing room. She had actually done the same thing in real life just before t
24
24
No.
overall
24
No. in
season
24
Host
Kris Kristofferson
Musical guest(s)
Rita Coolidge
Original release date
July 31, 1976 (1976-07-31)
Rita Coolidge performs "Hula Hoop". Host Kris Kristofferson performed the songs "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "I've Got a Life of My Own". Together, Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge performed "Eddie the Eunuch".
Rita Coolidge performs "Hula Hoop". Host Kris Kristofferson performed the songs "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "I've Got a Life of My Own". Together, Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge performed "Eddie the Eunuch".
No.
overall
Rita Coolidge performs "Hula Hoop". Host Kris Kristofferson performed the songs "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "I've Got a Life of My Own". Together, Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge performed "Eddie the Eunuch".
| No. overall | No. in season | Host | Musical guest(s) | Original release date | |
| 1 | 1 | George Carlin | Janis Ian & Billy Preston | October 11, 1975 (1975-10-11) | |
| Billy Preston performs "Nothing from Nothing" and "Fancy Lady". Janis Ian performs "At Seventeen" and "In the Winter". The cold open features John Belushi as a foreign man learning English being taught by writer Michael O'Donoghue. Following this sketch, Chevy Chase appeared with a headset on and bellows the first "Live from New York, It's Saturda | |||||
| 2 | 2 | Paul Simon | Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow, Art Garfunkel & Jessy Dixon Singers | October 18, 1975 (1975-10-18) | |
| Michael O'Donoghue is not listed in the cast in the opening credits for this episode. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel perform "The Boxer, Scarborough Fair" and "My Little Town". Simon also performs "Still Crazy After All These Years", "Marie American Tune" solo, "Loves Me Like a Rock" with the Jessy Dixon Singers and "Gone at Last" with Phoebe Sn | |||||
| 3 | 3 | Rob Reiner | none | October 25, 1975 (1975-10-25) | |
| In lieu of a musical guest, John Belushi performs "With a Little Help from My Friends" while impersonating Joe Cocker. Jim Henson, Richard Hunt, Frank Oz, Jerry Nelson and Alice Tweedy perform in a "Land of Gorch" sketch. Future cast member Denny Dillon appeared as a special guest with Mark Hampton in a sketch as nuns running a parish talent show | |||||
| 4 | 4 | Candice Bergen | Esther Phillips | November 8, 1975 (1975-11-08) | |
| Esther Phillips performs "What a Diff'rence a Day Made" and "I Can Stand a Little Rain". Andy Kaufman debuts his Foreign Man character on the show. Andrew Duncan and Jacqueline Carlin make cameo appearances. The episode features an Albert Brooks film, "Upcoming Season". Sketches include "Landshark" and "The Land of Gorch" featuring Jim Henson, | |||||
| 5 | 5 | Robert Klein | ABBA & Loudon Wainwright III | November 15, 1975 (1975-11-15) | |
| ABBA performs "SOS" and "Waterloo". For both of their performances, ABBA lip-synced to a prerecorded track. In a joke subtitle, it is explained this is because their "tapes didn't arrive from Sweden". Loudon Wainwright III performs "Bicentennial" and "Unrequited to the Nth Degree". Robert Klein performs "I Can't Stop My Leg" with the Saturday Nig | |||||
| 6 | 6 | Lily Tomlin | Tomlin with Howard Shore & the All Nurse Band | November 22, 1975 (1975-11-22) | |
| Lily Tomlin performs "St. James Infirmary Blues, Bee Bop" and "I Got You Babe" with Scred and The Muppets. | |||||
| 7 | 7 | Richard Pryor | Gil Scott-Heron | December 13, 1975 (1975-12-13) | |
| Gil Scott-Heron performs "Johannesburg" and "A Lovely Day". Thalmus Rasulala appeared as one of the priests in the "Exorcist II" sketch. Annazette Chase appears as Polly in the "Black & White" sketch. At Richard Pryor's insistence, his ex-wife Shelley and Kathrine McKee, his then-current girlfriend make cameo appearances. Sketches include "Samura | |||||
| 8 | 8 | Candice Bergen | Martha Reeves & The Stylistics | December 20, 1975 (1975-12-20) | |
| Martha Reeves performs "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" and "Silver Bells". The Stylistics performed the song "You Make Me Feel Brand New". Candice Bergen appears in "The Land of Gorch" sketch where she attends King Ploobis' Christmas party while the guests that he had invited are attending the Killer Bees' Christmas party. Bergen | |||||
| 9 | 9 | Elliott Gould | Anne Murray | January 10, 1976 (1976-01-10) | |
| Anne Murray performs the songs "The Call" and "Blue Finger Lou". The episode features an Albert Brooks film, Audience Test Screenings. Other sketches include "Interior Demolitionists" and a Shimmer commercial parody. Paula Kahn makes a cameo appearance. Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz and Alice Tweedy perform their characters in "The Land of G | |||||
| 10 | 10 | Buck Henry | Bill Withers & Toni Basil | January 17, 1976 (1976-01-17) | |
| Bill Withers performs "Ain't No Sunshine". Toni Basil performs "Wham". Jerry Nelson and Alice Tweedy perform their characters in "The Land of Gorch". The Blues Brothers, (in their first appearance) in the Bees costumes, perform "I'm a King Bee" with Howard Shore and His All-Bee Band. Head writer Michael O'Donoghue is credited as a special guest | |||||
| 11 | 11 | Peter Cook & Dudley Moore | Neil Sedaka | January 24, 1976 (1976-01-24) | |
| Neil Sedaka performs "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Lonely Night". Scred from "The Land of Gorch" appeared in a bee costume hoping to play Aunt Bee in a Bees version of The Andy Griffith Show (to loud groans from the audience), only to be told by Gilda Radner that the sketch was canceled. Scred joins Gilda in introducing Neil Sedaka. This openi | |||||
| 12 | 12 | Dick Cavett | Jimmy Cliff | January 31, 1976 (1976-01-31) | |
| Jimmy Cliff performs "The Harder They Come, Many Rivers to Cross" and "Wahjahka Man". Humorist Marshall Efron and Al Alen Petersen make cameo appearances. At the end of the third "Lowell Brock" sketch, Lorne Michaels can be seen playing a prank on John Belushi tying his shoelaces together. When Belushi realizes the prank, over the applause, he | |||||
| 13 | 13 | Peter Boyle | Al Jarreau | February 14, 1976 (1976-02-14) | |
| Al Jarreau performs "We Got By" and "Pretty as a Picture". The Shapiro Sisters dance and lip-sync to the song "This Will Be". One of the sisters, Jenny, also appeared in the "Samurai Divorce Court" sketch. Steven Spielberg makes an appearance in the audience while Peter Boyle sings a love song to his "wife". | |||||
| 14 | 14 | Desi Arnaz | Desi Arnaz & Desi Arnaz Jr. | February 21, 1976 (1976-02-21) | |
| Desi Arnaz and his son perform "Cuban Pete" and "Babalu". Gary Weis introduces his short film featuring Taylor Mead and his cat. The show ends with Arnaz leading the cast, crew and audience in a conga line. | |||||
| 15 | 15 | Jill Clayburgh | Leon Redbone & The Idlers | February 28, 1976 (1976-02-28) | |
| Leon Redbone performs "Ain't Misbehavin and "Big Time Woman". A cappella group The Idlers and comedian Andy Kaufman make cameo appearances. Host Jill Clayburgh appeared with these guests. Photographer and video artist William Wegman appeared with his dog in Gary Weis' filmed piece. Lorne Michaels appears during the cold open. The first appear | |||||
| 16 | 16 | Anthony Perkins | Betty Carter | March 13, 1976 (1976-03-13) | |
| Betty Carter performs "Music Maestro, Please / Swing Brother Swing" and "I Can't Help It". King Ploobis and Scred from "The Land of Gorch" approach Anthony Perkins for help to get their sketch back on the air. Chuck Scarborough and George Plimpton appear in the studio audience. Starting with this episode, while the show is still "NBC's Saturday | |||||
| 17 | 17 | Ron Nessen | Patti Smith | April 17, 1976 (1976-04-17) | |
| Patti Smith Group performs "Gloria" and "My Generation". President Gerald Ford appeared in a filmed segment during the cold opening where he opens the show with "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" after Chevy Chase's signature pratfall. He also appeared in filmed segments during the monologue (where he introduces the host) and during Weeken | |||||
| 18 | 18 | Raquel Welch | Phoebe Snow & John Sebastian | April 24, 1976 (1976-04-24) | |
| Phoebe Snow performs "All Over" and "Two-Fisted Love". John Sebastian performs "Welcome Back" with John Belushi as Joe Cocker. Raquel Welch performs "Superstar" with John Belushi as Joe Cocker, as well as "It Ain't Necessarily So". Lorne Michaels appeared on air, offering the Beatles US$3,000 (equivalent to $16,973 in 2025) to perform three s | |||||
| 19 | 19 | Madeline Kahn | Carly Simon | May 8, 1976 (1976-05-08) | |
| Carly Simon performs "Half a Chance/You're So Vain" in a pre-taped segment with Chevy Chase playing cowbell. Baba Wawa interviews Madeline Kahn as Marlene Dietrich. Scred and The Mighty Favog cut a deal with Chevy Chase to have Lorne Michaels renew their sketch in exchange that The Mighty Favog gets The Beatles to appear on the show. Madeline Ka | |||||
| 20 | 20 | Dyan Cannon | Leon and Mary Russell | May 15, 1976 (1976-05-15) | |
| The episode begins with Chevy Chase lying down on home base near a folding table and chairs saying the opening spiel only to be informed by director Dave Wilson that he will have to redo the cold open (solo this time, as the other cast members were already changing costumes), because they went on the air a minute early. Leon and Mary Russell perfo | |||||
| 21 | 21 | Buck Henry | Gordon Lightfoot & Garrett Morris | May 22, 1976 (1976-05-22) | |
| Gordon Lightfoot performs "Summertime Dream" and "Spanish Moss". A third song, "Sundown," is interrupted by John Belushi's Samurai. Head writer Michael O'Donoghue is credited as a special guest as "impressionist Michael O'Donoghue" in the opening credits. He performs his impressions of celebrities having steel needles driven into their eyes. Lorn | |||||
| 22 | 22 | Elliott Gould | Leon Redbone, Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson | May 29, 1976 (1976-05-29) | |
| Leon Redbone performs "Shine On, Harvest Moon" and "Walking Stick". Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson performs "Heaven Only Knows". Writers Al Franken and Tom Davis perform a comedy bit together, announced by Don Pardo in the opening credits as "new talent Franken and Davis." Akira Yoshimura and Doris Powell appear in "The Last Voyage of the Starshi | |||||
| 23 | 23 | Louise Lasser | Preservation Hall Jazz Band | July 24, 1976 (1976-07-24) | |
| Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs "Panama". In her monologue, Louise Lasser, who had been arrested on a drug charge the week before and was very difficult for the cast and writers to work with that week, pretends to have a bout of stage fright and lock herself in her dressing room. She had actually done the same thing in real life just before t | |||||
| 24 | 24 | Kris Kristofferson | Rita Coolidge | July 31, 1976 (1976-07-31) | |
| Rita Coolidge performs "Hula Hoop". Host Kris Kristofferson performed the songs "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "I've Got a Life of My Own". Together, Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge performed "Eddie the Eunuch". | |||||
References
- SNL's Beginnings from NBChttp://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/about/history.shtml
- Eyes Of A Generation.. 's Living Historyhttps://eyesofageneration.com/category/archives/
- This Day in Music Spotlight: Live from New York ... It's The Beatles!https://web.archive.org/web/20130131175443/http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/spotlight-0424-2011.aspx
- "Paul McCartney On The Beatles Almost Reuniting On 'Saturday Night Live': ..."http://www.accesshollywood.com/paul-mccartney-on-the-beatles-almost-reuniting-on-saturday-night-live-why-didnt-it-happen_video_1332921
- Gilda Radner Night Live
- Saturday Night Live FAQ: Everything Left to Know About Television's Longest Running Comedyhttps://books.google.com/books?id=wtGGDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22all+nurse+band%22+%22SNL%22&pg=PT354
- Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Yearshttps://archive.org/details/saturdaynightliv00cade/page/124
- Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Yearshttps://archive.org/details/saturdaynightliv00cade/page/75
- Saturday Night Livehttp://www.salon.com/2013/11/03/saturday_night_live_and_richard_pryor_the_untold_story_behind_snls_edgiest_sketch_ever/
- Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Yearshttps://archive.org/details/saturdaynightliv00cade/page/78
- Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Yearshttps://archive.org/details/saturdaynightliv00cade/page/264
- Live From New Yorkhttps://archive.org/details/livefromnewyorku00shal/page/n5/mode/2up
- Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Yearshttps://archive.org/details/saturdaynightliv00cade/page/81
- Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Yearshttps://archive.org/details/saturdaynightliv00cade/page/117
- Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Yearshttps://archive.org/details/saturdaynightliv00cade/page/88
- Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Livehttps://books.google.com/books?id=rkUn4S_OlngC