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Saturday Night Live season 7

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Saturday Night Live
Season 7
No. of episodes20
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseOctober 3, 1981 (1981-10-03) –
May 22, 1982 (1982-05-22)
Season chronology
← Previous
season 6
Next →
season 8
List of episodes

The seventh season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between October 3, 1981, and May 22, 1982. It was the first full season produced by Dick Ebersol.

History

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New cast members for the 1981 season included Christine Ebersole, Mary Gross, and 1979 featured player Brian Doyle-Murray, who ran the Weekend Update (under the title Saturday Night Live Newsbreak & Current Affairs) desk for one season.[1] Also returning were Second City veterans Robin Duke, Tim Kazurinsky, and Tony Rosato, who had debuted April 11.

Ebersol ran a very different show to that Lorne Michaels had in the 1970s. Many of the sketches were built less on "smart" and "revolutionary" comedy that was abundant in the early days and followed a much more "straightforward" approach.[2][3] This shift alienated some fans and even some writers and cast members. Ebersol was eager to attract the younger viewers that advertisers craved.[4] He dictated that no sketch should run longer than five minutes, so as not to lose the attention of teenagers.[5]

Having come from the ranks of management, Ebersol was adept at dealing with the network.[6] Ebersol was also not fond of political humor, and he and NBC mostly eschewed jokes about President Reagan during his time as showrunner.[7] Later in his tenure, he was handling much of the business aspects and day-to-day production affairs, leaving producer Bob Tischler in charge of most of the creative facets of the show.

Unlike Michaels,[8] Ebersol had no difficulty firing people. Among the first casualties after the 1981 season were Rosato (who later said that the firing was the best thing to ever happen to him, as he felt that the show's atmosphere encouraged his drug addiction)[9] and Ebersole, who got the axe because of her frequent complaints that the women on the show had little airtime and what they did receive cast them in sexist and humiliating light.[10] Michael O'Donoghue was fired in December 1981, after repeated arguments with Ebersol over the creative direction of the show, and because of his abusive treatment of the cast.[11]

Murphy's rise

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Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy were the only performers from Doumanian's cast to appear on SNL for season seven. Murphy, who had already emerged as a breakout star on Doumanian's season, continued to thrive under Ebersol, and his soaring popularity helped restore the show's ratings.[12] He created memorable characters, including the empty-headed former child movie star Buckwheat and an irascible, life-size version of the Gumby toy character, complete with life-size star ego. Piscopo was also popular, renowned for his Frank Sinatra impersonation, as well as his character Paulie Herman.[13]

Cast

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After the end of the previous season, which was cut short because of the 1981 Writers Guild of America strike, Ebersol dismissed two more of Jean Doumanian's hires, repertory players Denny Dillon and Gail Matthius.[14] Featured players Laurie Metcalf and Emily Prager, who were hired for and credited in the previous season's final episode (though Metcalf only appeared in a pre-recorded piece, and Prager didn't appear at all), were not asked back as cast members. Prager would appear, however, as an uncredited participant in a short film in this season's second episode.

The new cast of Saturday Night Live for season 7 included returning veterans Robin Duke, Tim Kazurinsky, Tony Rosato, Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo.[15] Two new cast members were added: Second City alum Mary Gross[16] and Broadway actress Christine Ebersole.[15] Writer Brian Doyle-Murray joined as a featured player. Doyle-Murray became the new Weekend Update (then called SNL Newsbreak) host, and was teamed first with Mary Gross before anchoring solo for three months, then back again with Gross for one more month.[17] For the remainder of the season, Doyle-Murray was paired with Christine Ebersole.

Murphy, who had already emerged as a cast breakout last season, continued to rise in popularity in season 7, and Dick Ebersol heavily featured both Murphy and Piscopo in the show.[18][19]

Cast roster

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bold denotes Weekend Update anchor

Writers

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Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers § season 7

The only writers brought back from the previous season were Barry Blaustein, Pamela Norris, and David Sheffield; as well as Michael O'Donoghue and Bob Tischler (who were hired at the end of the previous season), who were named as this season's head writers.

O'Donoghue, whom Ebersol brought back to the show in March, remained as head writer for the first half of season 7. Some sketches, as well as the appearances of artists like Fear and William S. Burroughs, reflected the increasingly bizarre ideas O'Donoghue had for the show.[18] However, after developing a tense relationship with Ebersol and berating the cast in a meeting following the December 12 episode, O'Donoghue was fired, with Bob Tischler becoming the sole head writer.[20]

This season's writers were Barry W. Blaustein, Joe Bodolai, Brian Doyle-Murray, Nate Herman, Tim Kazurinsky, Nelson Lyon, Maryilyn Suzanne Miller, Pamela Norris, Mark O'Donnell, Michael O'Donoghue, Margaret Oberman, Tony Rosato, David Sheffield, Rosie Shuster, Andrew Smith, Terry Southern, Bob Tischler and Eliot Wald. The head writers were Michael O'Donoghue (episodes 1–8) and Bob Tischler.[15][21]

Episodes

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Main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		Host(s)Musical guest(s)Original air date
1201NoneRod StewartOctober 3, 1981 (1981-10-03)

1212Susan Saint JamesThe KinksOctober 10, 1981 (1981-10-10)

1223George KennedyMiles DavisOctober 17, 1981 (1981-10-17)

1234Donald PleasenceFearOctober 31, 1981 (1981-10-31)

  • Fear performs "I Don't Care About You", "Beef Bologna", "New York's Alright If You Like Saxophones" and "Let's Have a War".[22] Shortly after beginning "Let's Have a War," the group was cut off by a repeat of the filmed piece "Prose and Cons" previously shown on October 3.[25]
  • In the cold opening, Donald Pleasence tries to open the show with the "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night" announcement in a different type of spelling, (the only line used for the 7th season, despite it normally didn't use the "Live from New York" catchphrase until its following season.) until Eddie Murphy shows up to suggest Pleasence for a vomit for luck. As Eddie Murphy leaves the bathroom, John Belushi appears from the other stall, stares into the camera, and says nothing.
  • Guest appearance by Michael Davis.
  • Neil Levy plays the corpse in the "I'm So Miserable" sketch.
1245Lauren HuttonRick JamesNovember 7, 1981 (1981-11-07)

1256Bernadette PetersThe Go-Go's
Billy Joel		November 14, 1981 (1981-11-14)

1267Tim CurryMeat LoafDecember 5, 1981 (1981-12-05)

1278Bill MurrayThe Spinners
The Whiffenpoofs		December 12, 1981 (1981-12-12)

  • The Spinners performs a medley of "Then Came You", "I'll Be Around" and "Working My Way Back to You".[22]
  • Bill Murray delivers a short monologue about Santa and introduces "Saint Nick".
  • The Whiffenpoofs performs a medley of Christmas songs with Bill Murray and the SNL cast.
  • Guest appearances by Michael Davis and Father Guido Sarducci.
  • Bill Hanrahan fills in for Mel Brandt as announcer.
  • A young Fred Stoller makes an uncredited appearance as an extra in the first sketch.
  • A very young Seth Green appears as one of the children Mary Gross interviews during her segment on SNL Newsbreak
  • The live East Coast feed of the show is momentarily interrupted by breaking news from NBC News over Poland declaring a state of emergency. The feed rejoins the show during the sketch At Home With The Psychos.[26]
1289Robert ConradThe Allman Brothers BandJanuary 23, 1982 (1982-01-23)

12910John MaddenJennifer HollidayJanuary 30, 1982 (1982-01-30)

13011James CoburnLindsey BuckinghamFebruary 6, 1982 (1982-02-06)

13112Bruce DernLuther VandrossFebruary 20, 1982 (1982-02-20)

  • Luther Vandross performs "Never Too Much" and "A House Is Not a Home".[22]
  • Bruce Dern appears in a surreal and dark parody of The Wild One called "The Mild One".
  • Among those interviewed in the "Who Do You Hate?" film is theatre critic/historian Peter Filichia.
  • Contains the second and final Bizarro World sketch "Bizarro Broadcasting Company" which pokes fun at NBC which was in last place Among the big three.
13213Elizabeth AshleyHall & OatesFebruary 27, 1982 (1982-02-27)

13314Robert UrichMink DeVilleMarch 20, 1982 (1982-03-20)

  • Mink DeVille performs "Maybe Tomorrow" and "Love & Emotion".[22]
  • Brian Doyle-Murray gives tribute to John Belushi, who died two weeks before this show aired, at the episode's conclusion.
13415Blythe DannerRickie Lee JonesMarch 27, 1982 (1982-03-27)

  • Rickie Lee Jones performs "Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)", "Lush Life" and "Woody and Dutch On the Slow Train to Peking".[22]
  • Guest appearance by Michael Davis.
  • First appearance of Eddie Murphy as Gumby.[27]
13516Daniel J. TravantiJohn Cougar MellencampApril 10, 1982 (1982-04-10)

13617Johnny CashElton JohnApril 17, 1982 (1982-04-17)

13718Robert CulpThe Charlie Daniels BandApril 24, 1982 (1982-04-24)

13819Danny DeVitoSparksMay 15, 1982 (1982-05-15)

  • Sparks performs "I Predict" and "Mickey Mouse",[22] the latter with an introductory monologue by Ron Mael, from its album Angst in My Pants.
  • During his monologue, Danny DeVito brings his castmates from Taxi for a farewell bow after ABC canceled the show (NBC later picked up the sitcom).
  • Danny DeVito appeared in a film where he blew up the ABC corporate headquarters.
  • Andy Kaufman appeared to apologize for wrestling women.
13920Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-JohnMay 22, 1982 (1982-05-22)

References

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  1. ^ Hill & Weingrad 1986, p. 448.
  2. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, pp. 223–224.
  3. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, p. 219.
  4. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, p. 227.
  5. ^ Hill & Weingrad 1986, p. 452.
  6. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, pp. 220–221, 227.
  7. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, pp. 223, 274.
  8. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, p. 314.
  9. ^ Hill & Weingrad 1986, p. 450.
  10. ^ Hill & Weingrad 1986, p. 461.
  11. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, pp. 215–216.
  12. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, pp. 230–231.
  13. '^ Rabin, Nathan (September 5, 2012). "How Bad Can It Be? Case File #23: Saturday Night Lives aborted 1980-81 season". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Deeb, Gary (July 26, 1981). "'Saturday Night's' doctor has some new prescriptions". Pensacola News Journal. p. 106. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c Schwartz, Tony (October 3, 1981). "'Saturday Night Live' is Back in Third Incarnation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  16. ^ "Mary not cut out to be cut up". St. Joseph News-Press. November 6, 1982. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  17. ^ Shales, Tom (October 4, 1981). "'Saturday Night' Lives". Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Director, Roger (November 23, 1981). "Fear and Laughing at 'Saturday Night Live'". New York. pp. 62–68. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  19. ^ Shales & Miller 2002, pp. 232–233.
  20. ^ Hill & Weingrad, pp. 453-457.
  21. ^ O'Connor, John J. (October 11, 1981). "TV View; Salvaging 'Saturday Night Live'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 124–127. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  23. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 138–140. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  24. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 141–143. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  25. ^ Hill & Weingrad 1986, p. 454.
  26. ^ @ThatWeekInSNL (December 12, 2023). "42 years ago, on Dec. 12, 1981, the show was interrupted on the East Coast by sudden breaking news about Poland declaring a State Of Emergency..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 144–146. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  28. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 147. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  29. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 148–149. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.

Works cited

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