The fifteenth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 30, 1989 and May 19, 1990.[1]
This season saw the first appearances of three frequent SNL hosts: John Goodman,[2] who auditioned to be a cast member on SNL during the 1980–81 season[3][4] and frequently appeared on SNL in the mid-1990s as Linda Tripp; Christopher Walken;[5] and Alec Baldwin[6] (who later surpassed Steve Martin as the most frequent SNL host).[7]
A live special commemorating fifteen seasons of SNL was aired on September 24, 1989, before the start of the season.[8]
Cast
The season would be the final for Jon Lovitz and Nora Dunn. Dunn, in protest of the Andrew Dice Clay-hosted episode due to the comedian's misogynistic content, decided to boycott the episode in the hopes that Lorne Michaels and other producers would rescind Clay's invite.[9] However, in the days leading up to the episode, press reports announced that Dunn would not be returning for the next season, which Dunn saw as a preemptive move by the show in response to her boycott.[10] After the incident, she left the show in earnest, with Michaels describing it as Dunn's choice.[11] Lovitz had wanted to return for next season, but the filming of his movie Mom and Dad Save the World meant he would have to miss the first few episodes of season 16. Michaels gave Lovitz the ultimatum of filming the movie or remaining in the cast, with Lovitz choosing the film.[12]
Tracy Chapman performs "Give Me One Reason",[13] which wouldn't be released until 1995, and "All That You Have".[13]
Al Franken's son Joe appears during Weekend Update in a take-off of Franken's "Al Franken Decade" bit, in which the 1990s are referred to as the "Joe Franken Decade".
Quincy Jones' monologue consists of a performance of Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca" by an expanded SNL Band. Jones dedicated the performance to Nelson Mandela, who was released from prison in South Africa the next day after having been imprisoned for 27 years.
Jones joins the musical guests in performing "Back on the Block" and "Wee B. Dooinit".[13]
This episode contains the largest number of musical guests in an episode, with a total of ten: Tevin Campbell, Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Melle Mel, Quincy Jones III, Andraé & Sandra Crouch, Siedah Garrett, Al Jarreau, and Take 6.
Aerosmith performs "Janie's Got a Gun" and "Monkey on My Back".[13] The band also appears in the "Wayne's World" sketch, in which they perform the theme song.
Mike Myers is upgraded to repertory status starting with this episode.
SNL writers and future cast members Rob Schneider and David Spade appears in "The Environmentally Conscious One" sketch; Rob Schneider also appears in "The Garbo I Knew" sketch.
Writer Conan O'Brien appears in the "Nude Talk Show" sketch.
The show was broadcast on a seven second delay.[16]
Nora Dunn and scheduled musical guest Sinéad O'Connor boycotted this episode in protest of host Andrew Dice Clay's jokes about women. Julee Cruise and Spanic Boys both were quickly booked to replace Sinéad O'Connor. Nora Dunn's contract was not renewed at the end of the season.
A special celebrating the 15th anniversary of the show. A long list of cast members, guest hosts, and other special people honor the show's anniversary. Chevy Chase and Garrett Morris appear in the cold open, debating about whether or not Chase is too old to open the show with a pratfall (as he had routinely done when he had been a cast member). Tom Hanks performed the opening monologue, which pokes fun at the cliches of SNL opening monologues in general. Prince[17] and Paul Simon perform. Vintage musical clips include performances from David Bowie and Elvis Costello.[17]John Belushi and Gilda Radner receive tributes in the special. Among the guest hosts was Robin Williams, Mary Tyler Moore and O. J. Simpson. This was the final appearance of Buck Henry on SNL, who was the most frequent host during the original 70s run of the show.
