Saturday Night Liveseason 3

Thethird seasonofSaturday Night Live,an Americansketch comedyseries, originally aired in the United States onNBCbetween September 24, 1977, and May 20, 1978.

Saturday Night Live
Season 3
Starring	Dan Aykroyd John Belushi Jane Curtin Garrett Morris Bill Murray Laraine Newman Gilda Radner
No.of episodes	20
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 24, 1977(1977-09-24)– May 20, 1978(1978-05-20)
Season chronology

The DVD set of the entire season was released on May 13, 2008.

Cast

At the start of the season,Dan AykroydjoinedJane Curtinas an anchor for Weekend Update, becoming the first Weekend Update anchor team. This would be the final season that the cast was called "The Not Ready for Primetime Players".

Cast

The Not Ready for Prime Time Players

• Dan Aykroyd
• John Belushi
• Jane Curtin
• Garrett Morris
• Bill Murray
• Laraine Newman
• Gilda Radner

bolddenotesWeekend Updateanchor

Behind the scenes

In the "Anyone Can Host" episode—for which a contest found a non-celebrity to host the show—the musical guest,Elvis Costello,halted his band, the Attractions, seven seconds into the song "Less Than Zero",launching into"Radio Radio",an as-yet unreleased song critical of mainstream broadcasting. (TheSex Pistolswere originally booked to appear on the show, but were denied visas to enter America.) The change angeredLorne Michaels,and Costello would not be invited back to the show until 1989.

Chevy Chasehosted during the season, making him the first cast member to host after leaving the show. Right before thecurtain call,a heated argument broke out backstage between Chase and relatively new cast memberBill Murray.After several insults were exchanged (including Chase mocking Murray'sacne-scarred skinand Murray calling Chase a "medium talent" ), the two men struck each other. Although by most accounts the altercation had been at least partially instigated byJohn Belushi,he was the one (along withDan Aykroyd) who separated Murray and Chase moments before the entire cast regrouped in front of the live cameras. Before being banned from hosting altogether in 1997, Chasehosted the show several timesthroughout its history, though he was extremely unpopular with the cast and crew and regularly disagreed with them.

Comedy team/SNLwritersAl FrankenandTom Daviswere billed as special guests for five episodes this season, in which they performed their own segment. They were announced by Don Pardo in the opening credits as "the comedy team of Franken and Davis."Michael O'Donoghuewas credited as a special guest for two episodes under the name of his character "Mr. Mike," while new writerDon Novellowas credited as a special guest for one episode as "Father Guido Sarducci."

Writers

Main article:List of Saturday Night Live writers § season 3

Talent coordinator/extra Neil Levy (who is the cousin of producerLorne Michaels) was officially added to the writing staff.This was his only season as a writer, but stayed with the staff for the next several seasons.

Brian Doyle-Murray(Bill's brother) andDon Novello(best known for his characterFather Guido Sarducci) joined the writing staff midway through the season on January 21, 1978.

This season's writers were Dan Aykroyd, Anne Beatts, Tom Davis, Jim Downey, Brian Doyle-Murray, Al Franken, Neil Levy, Lorne Michaels, Don Novello, Herb Sargent, Tom Schiller, Rosie Shuster,Marilyn Suzanne Millerand Alan Zweibel. This was initially the last season forMichael O'Donoghue(who had been writing for the show since it's inception in1975), as he would leave after three years, but would return to the writing staff two times during the 1980s.

Episodes

Main article:List of Saturday Night Live episodes

No. overall	No.in season	Host	Musical guest(s)	Original release date
47	1	Steve Martin	Jackson Browne	September 24, 1977(1977-09-24)
Jackson Browne performs "Running on Empty"and"The Pretender". Special Guest: Franken and Davis First appearance of theFestrunk Brothers. John Belushiperforms asRoy Orbison. Dan Aykroyd's first episode asWeekend Updateco-anchor, alongsideJane Curtin. New Weekend Update set debuts featuring a blue chroma key background with the Update logo. Change toSaturday Night Livebecomes permanent beginning with this episode.
48	2	Madeline Kahn	Taj Mahal	October 8, 1977(1977-10-08)
Taj Mahal performs "Queen Bee". Special Guest: Australian comedianBarry Humphriesas his characterDame Edna Everage. Schiller's Reel,a series of short films made by writerTom Schillermakes its first appearance. The first Schiller's Reel film was "The Acid Generation: Where Are They Now?"
49	3	Hugh Hefner	Libby Titus	October 15, 1977(1977-10-15)
Libby Titus performs "Fool That I Am". Special Guest:Andy Kaufman
50	4	Charles Grodin	Paul Simon	October 29, 1977(1977-10-29)
Paul Simon performs "Slip Slidin' Away"and "You're Kind"(a song fromStill Crazy After All These Years), accompanied on both songs by harmonica playerToots Thielemansand a backing band. The first song was performed withThe Persuasions. A running gag throughout the episode involves Grodin breaking character and ruining sketches, as if he missed the dress rehearsal. While many speculated this was genuine and Grodin was banned from hosting, Grodin later confirmed that it was all part of the act. Regardless, Grodin would never host again. One sketch features Simon and Grodin attempting to sing "The Sound of Silence",with Grodin wearing an Art Garfunkel wig. After several aborted starts (with Grodin singing off-key and forgetting the lyrics), Simon walks off the stage. Grodin then proceeds to sing a verse of" Bridge Over Troubled Water ", after which the realArt Garfunkelwalks on stage and asks Grodin to take off the wig. Roseanne Roseannadannamade her debut in this episode's "Hire the Incompetent" sketch. New title sequence debuts showing the cast individually standing in front of the Times Square jumbotron. First appearance of Judy Miller. Grodin makes an appearance in the audience right after the football sketch with the caption "THIS WEEK'S HOST!"
51	5	Ray Charles	Ray Charles	November 12, 1977(1977-11-12)
Ray Charles performs "I Can See Clearly Now," "What'd I Say," "Oh! What a Beautiful Mornin'" and a medley of "I Got a Woman," "I Believe to My Soul," "Them That Got" and "Hit the Road Jack". Special Guest:Franklyn Ajaye Buck Henrymakes an uncredited guest appearance as himself to plug the next episode he hosts and tease the "Anyone Can Host" contest. Ray Charles led the band, cast and crew in a jam during the closing credits.
52	6	Buck Henry	Leon Redbone	November 19, 1977(1977-11-19)
Leon Redbone performs "Champagne Charlie" and "Please Don't Talk about Me When I'm Gone". Special Guest: Franken and Davis Henry uses his monologue to introduce the five finalists in the "Anyone Can Host" contest. The five finalists are then featured sporadically throughout the episode, including an appearance in a film byGary Weis. In a sketch,John Belushiplays himself as a retired athlete, endorsing "Little Chocolate Donuts," a parody ofCaitlyn Jenner'sWheatiesad. The voice over for the commercial while Belushi is running is done by sportscasterMarv Albert. A film byTom Schillerwas featured. With this episode, Henry becomes the first to host five times.
53	7	Mary Kay Place	Willie Nelson	December 10, 1977(1977-12-10)
Willie Nelson performs "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain","Whiskey River "and"Something to Brag About".The last song was performed as a duet with Mary Kay Place. Special Guest: Andy Kaufman Contains the classic Marilyn Suzanne Miller penned sketch, "Married in a Minute!" The Weekend Update set is slightly modified to include an image screen, before, the images were shown on the blue chroma key background.
54	8	Miskel Spillman	Elvis Costello	December 17, 1977(1977-12-17)
Elvis Costello performs "Watching the Detectives"and was scheduled to perform "Less Than Zero"but halted his band the Attractions seven seconds into the song, launching into"Radio Radio",an as-yet unreleased song critical of mainstream broadcasting. Miskel Spillman was the winner of SNL's "Anyone Can Host" contest. Special Guests: Franken and Davis,Mr. Mike Al Franken's parents, Joseph and Phoebe, appear in the "Franken and Davis Show" sketch. Emily Litellamakes her final regular appearance as Weekend Update's consumer affairs correspondent. TheSex Pistolswere originally scheduled to perform as announced byDon Pardoon the previous show during the closing credits. Buck Henrymakes a cameo appearance during the cold open and monologue (trying to snatch the bowl of fruit away held by Spillman, only to have his hands slapped) and during the "Startskey and Hutch" sketch.
55	9	Steve Martin	Randy Newman,The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band	January 21, 1978(1978-01-21)
Randy Newman performs "Short People"and" Rider in the Rain ".Members ofThe Nitty Gritty Dirt Bandperform backing vocals during Newman's set. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, in turn, performs "On the Loose" and "White Russia".(Martin accompanied them on banjo for the latter song.) Steve Martin announces that a snowstorm the day before caused limited rehearsals. Roseanne Roseannadannamakes herWeekend Updatedebut in this episode replacingEmily Litellaas consumer affairs correspondent. First appearance of the What if? sketch. (What if Napoleon had a B-17 bomber?)
56	10	Robert Klein	Bonnie Raitt	January 28, 1978(1978-01-28)
Bonnie Raitt performs "Give It Up or Let Me Go" and "Runaway".Klein joined Raitt on harmonica on the former song. The cold open featuresPaul ShafferasDon Kirshnerand Mr. Mike. Bill Murray's "Nick Winters" lounge singer performs "Star Wars, nothing but Star Wars... ". Paul Shafferappears asNick the Lounge Singer's pianist. First appearance of theOlympia Cafesketch,during which the word "cheeseburger" is said 80 times. First appearance ofThe Nerdssketch. Because of the then-recent crash of the highly radioactive Russian satelliteKosmos 954(which took place just 4 days earlier), this episode features a running gag about the radioactive debris having created giant mutant lobsters heading for the U.S. east coast which saw them attack30 Rockefeller Plazaat the show's end. Chevy Chasedoes the lobster roars as stated in the closing credits.
57	11	Chevy Chase	Billy Joel	February 18, 1978(1978-02-18)
Billy Joel performs "Only the Good Die Young"and"Just the Way You Are".When introducing Joel's first performance, Chevy Chase notes that Joel missed his high school reunion to perform on SNL. Chevy Chase becomes the first former cast member to come back and host with this episode. Chase appeared onWeekend Updateas "senior anchorperson". The season 1 and 2 opening title sequence is used for this episode.
58	12	O. J. Simpson	Ashford and Simpson	February 25, 1978(1978-02-25)
Ashford and Simpson perform "Don't Cost You Nothing" and "So, So Satisfied". Special Guest: Franken and Davis Every cast member, as well asDon Novelloand O.J. Simpson, are featured inSamurai Night Fever,a parody ofSaturday Night Fever.John Belushi dances to TheBee Gees'Stayin' Alive.
59	13	Art Garfunkel	Stephen Bishop	March 11, 1978(1978-03-11)
Stephen Bishop performs "On and On"and Art Garfunkel performs" Wonderful World "with Stephen Bishop on backup," Crying in My Sleep "and a medley of"All I Know"/"Scarborough Fair". Special Guest: Andy Kaufman This episode features the short film,Don't Look Back in Anger,in which an aged John Belushi visits the graves of the "Not Ready for Primetime Players" cast and claims he's the last living member. (The sketch is now seen as ironic due to Belushi's being the first of the original cast to die.)
60	14	Jill Clayburgh	Eddie Money	March 18, 1978(1978-03-18)
Eddie Money performs "Two Tickets to Paradise"and"Baby Hold On".
61	15	Christopher Lee	Meat Loaf	March 25, 1978(1978-03-25)
Meat Loafperforms "All Revved Up with No Place to Go" and "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad". Special Guest:Richard Belzer.He performs stand-up, includingMuzak versionsofRolling Stoneshits; he does an impersonation ofMick Jaggerwith the SNL band as backup. John Belushiwas billed as Kevin Scott for this episode. On "Weekend Update",theWriters Guildstrikes againstSesame Street( "picket" "scab" "don't, it might get infected" ) and the "Point/Counterpoint" segment is introduced. AGary Weisshort film titled "Cold as Ice" features an uncreditedStacy Keachbeing repeatedly stabbed with scissors and a gun and eventually shot with a shotgun, all inslow-motionby an unnamed blonde to the tune of theForeignersongof the same name. Bill Murray begins his annualOscarpicks. Mr. Billgoes to the circus. According to Murray during Weekend Update,John Travoltawas set to host an episode but canceled at the last minute.
62	16	Michael Palin	Eugene Record	April 8, 1978(1978-04-08)
Eugene Record performs "Have You Seen Her"and" Trying to Get to You ". In the opening monologue, Michael Palin plays his manager who ends up stuffing live cats down his trousers; one of the cats defecates freely all over his arm. Palin, with only a one-minute costume change afterward, performed the RC Priest and Very Famous Man (Trunk Escape) sketches with feces still on his clothes. Mr. Billpays his taxes. During Weekend Update, John Belushi does an editorial aboutRadio City Music Hall.
63	17	Michael Sarrazin	Keith Jarrett	April 15, 1978(1978-04-15)
Keith Jarrett performs "Country" and "My Song."Gravity performed "Tuba City Gitback." This episode features a short black and white film,La Dolce Gilda.
64	18	Steve Martin	The Blues Brothers	April 22, 1978(1978-04-22)
The Blues Brothers perform "I Don't Know". The cold opening featuresPaul ShafferasDon KirshnerintroducingThe Blues Brotherssinging "Hey Bartender". Sketches include the Czech brothers, The classic Franken and Davis skit, "Theodoric of York, Medieval Barber"a Martin and Radner dance sketch (Written by Miller), a performance of "King Tut,"aGary Weisfilm with ballet dancers and breakdancers and "Nerds at the Science Fair". This episode was nominated for anEmmy Awardand was later selected as TV Guide's #12 Top TV Episode of all time.
65	19	Richard Dreyfuss	Jimmy Buffett,Gary Tigerman	May 13, 1978(1978-05-13)
Jimmy Buffett performs "Son of a Son of a Sailor" and Gary Tigerman performs "White Oaxacan Moon". First appearance ofFather Guido Sarducci(Don Novello). Novello is credited as a special guest in the opening, under Sarducci's name. Novello performs in crutches, having injured himself in the hockey sketch in the Michael Sarrazin episode. Also Jimmy Buffett performs in a cast, having broken his leg. Paul Shafferappears as lounge singer Nick Winter's piano player and as Dreyfuss' piano player, as Dreyfuss sings "Seduced" by Gary Tigerman. John Belushijoins Dreyfuss on stage and, as part of the monologue, attempts to help Dreyfuss with the lines of his Shakespeare soliloquy (suggesting that he use the cue cards since he's not used to being on television) and then angrily mocks and argues with him saying he didn't deserve the Oscar he had received that year (over Richard Burton). Twice in the episode, Dreyfuss hears theJawstheme. During the "Cone Encounters of the Third Kind" sketch, Dreyfuss (reprising his role as Roy Neary from his 1977 filmClose Encounters of the Third Kind) accidentally and briefly speaks in the Coneheads tone. During the closing credits, Dreyfuss is attacked by theLand Shark.
66	20	Buck Henry	Sun Ra	May 20, 1978(1978-05-20)
Sun Ra performs a medley including "Space Is the Place," "The Sound Mirror" and "Watusa". Special Guests: Mr. Mike, Franken and Davis Final episode where the cast was referred to as "The Not Ready for Primetime Players". Dan Aykroyd's final episode asWeekend Updateco-anchor. Michael O'Donoghue's final episode as head writer. Final episode with Weekend Update's blue chroma key set. Final episode to feature audience caption bumpers

Home media

Season 3 was released on DVD May 13, 2008.