The second season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC from September 18, 1976 to May 21, 1977.
History
Following the cancellation of ABC's Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, NBC changed the name of the show from NBC's Saturday Night to its current title, Saturday Night Live, for the 17th episode of this second season – the episode hosted by Jack Burns on March 26, 1977.[1]
The name change was not made permanent until season 3.
The shows on October 16, October 23, and October 30 1976 were live from NBC's studio complex in Brooklyn, NY. NBC News used Studio 8-H for Presidential election coverage.[citation needed]
This season was the last to feature The Muppets in The Land of Gorch, who had appeared in segments that were unpopular with fans and the SNL writers. Jim Henson was reportedly displeased with the amount of creative control he had over the scripts. Jerry Juhl called Henson "very frustrated" with his input into the scripts, and said the SNL writers "didn't have any real handle" on Henson's concept. "Jim would come in with ideas, and sit with them, and give them wonderful ideas, and they wouldn't know how to fly with them," Juhl recalled.[2] In a 1977 interview with Playboy, head writer/performer Michael O'Donoghue referred to the Muppets as "fucking Muppets... little hairy facecloths" made from the refuse after they cleaned up after Woodstock. He also refused to write for them, saying "I don't write for felt". O'Donoghue also had a lynched Big Bird hanging in the writer's office.[3]
Jim Downey joined the writing staff in what would be a long career on the show.[4]
The season included a Live from Mardi Gras Special.
Cast
During the prior season, cast members George Coe and Michael O'Donoghue had already left the cast, but O'Donoghue stayed on as the show's head writer. Meanwhile, during the season Chevy Chase left the show following an injury, he returned for Weekend Update in a wheelchair for three episodes before leaving permanently. Jane Curtin took over as Weekend Update anchor. Bill Murray was hired as a replacement for Chevy Chase.
This season's writers included Dan Aykroyd, Anne Beatts, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Tom Davis, Jim Downey, Al Franken, Bruce McCall, Lorne Michaels, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Bill Murray, Michael O'Donoghue, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Rosie Shuster and Alan Zweibel. The head writer was Michael O'Donoghue.
The episode marks the final appearance of the characters from "The Land of Gorch". In this appearance, King Ploobis, Queen Peuta, Scred and Wisss wake up in a filing cabinet assuming that they are in the afterlife. When they think that their sketch has been revived, they find The Mighty Favog under a dust cover that King Ploobis removes. The Mighty Favog states that this may be their last chance on the show and that they must do whatever they tell them to do. "The Land of Gorch" Muppets are then visited by Lily Tomlin. When Lily states that she heard about The Muppet Show that came out last week, Wisss states that they won't let them be on their show since it's a family show. Lily and "The Land of Gorch" Muppets try to sing "I Whistle a Happy Tune". Unfortunately, "The Land of Gorch" Muppets can't whistle. Lily Tomlin leaves planning to find something else for her and "The Land of Gorch" Muppets to do.
The show ends with Paul Shaffer and Lily Tomlin performing the Antler Dance as the entire cast, crew, the characters from "The Land of Gorch", and the audience join in.
Chevy Chase's voice and photo are used in a cold open in which Gilda Radner uses a telephone receiver to act out Chase's customary show-opening pratfall as the injured Chevy Chase speaks over the line warning her not to attempt such a fall.
Richard Belzer, the show's warm-up comedian during season 1, makes a cameo appearance during the cold open impersonating the still-injured Chase, who contributes via phone.
There is a recurring joke throughout this episode where Eric Idle tries to sing George Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun" in a gruff, angry voice before getting stopped by various cast members. Harrison himself performed the song with Paul Simon on the show almost 2 months later.
First US television appearance of The Rutles, in response to Lorne Michaels' Beatles offer from the previous season.
Buck Henry was cut on his forehead by John Belushi's sword during Samurai Stockbroker sketch. Henry, as well as cast members, continued the show with bandaged heads. During this sketch Henry refers to Belushi's character as "Mr. Mikuraki." Belushi's character is typically cited as "Samurai Futaba."
This episode was performed in Brooklyn, while Studio 8H was used for election coverage.[7]
Paul Simon and George Harrison play George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun" and Paul Simon's "Homeward Bound".[5] Harrison's appearances were pre-taped.
Promo videos for George Harrison's songs "Crackerbox Palace" and "This Song" air during the show.
Jodie Foster makes an appearance in the audience as the show goes to a commercial.
During the cold open, George Harrison and Lorne Michaels can be seen discussing Lorne Michaels' Beatles offer from the previous season. Harrison says the opening spiel.
NBC re-aired the episode on October 13, 2018, in honor of Simon's 77th birthday. It was the same night Simon made his record 9th appearance as musical guest on SNL.
Brian Wilson appears solo, though he's promoting the current Beach Boys release 15 Big Ones. He performs "Back Home", "Love is a Woman", and the Beach Boys' hit, "Good Vibrations".[5] He also appears in the "Metal Detector" sketch as a security guard.
Chevy Chase appears in the Pilson’s Feedbag Dinner commercial.
The fourth wall is broken as Jodie Foster addresses the audience in the Bee sketch.
A running gag throughout the episode involves Gilda's appearances kept to a minimum, as if she was being quietly phased out of the show.
During the "Right to Extreme Stupidity" sketch, Candice Bergen slips up and addresses Gilda Radner's character as Fern, which is actually the name of Bergen's character. While Bergen is reduced to spontaneous laughter, Radner responds by inverting the sketch's premise ("We can't all be brainy like Fern here!").
Candice Bergen and the cast perform "Let's Kill Gary Gilmore for Christmas".
The show ends with Candice Bergen ad-libbing a closing and the cast ice skating around Rockefeller Plaza.
Truman Capote was originally set to host this episode but had to bow out due to illness.
The first episode to carry the title Saturday Night Live, though NBC's Saturday Night would continue to be used for the remainder of season 2. The name change became permanent beginning with the season 3 premiere episode.[5]
Alan Price performs "In Times Like These" and "Poor People".[5]
Neil Innes performs "Cheese and Onions" (as Nasty) and "Shangri-La".[5]
"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth" (played by Jeannette Charles) assists in the telethon to "Save Great Britain" at "555-1066", which is a running sketch throughout the show.
Joan Armatrading performs "Love and Affection" and "Down to Zero".[5]
Lorne Michaels appears in the opening sketch, with Shelley Duvall and John Belushi in Bee costumes.
The opening montage is only shown on a backstage TV, as the camera follows Shelley Duvall, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner onto the stage to sing as the "Video Vixens."
Chevy Chase appears in the audience during one of the commercial bumpers, with the caption "USED TO BE ON THE SHOW."
Spalding Gray narrates and appears in the video "Brides".
Final episode with the original Weekend Update set.
Special
Title
Original air date
"Live from Mardi Gras"
February 20, 1977 (1977-02-20)
The cast and crew participate in the annual Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans. Jane Curtin and Buck Henry try to provide commentary on the parade. Eric Idle, Penny Marshall and Henry Winkler cameo in the special. Randy Newman performed "Louisiana 1927", "Marie", "Kingfish", and "Sail Away".[5]
Home media
The Mardi Gras Special and all 22 episodes were released on a DVD set on December 4, 2007.[10]
