SN-HELL: A Look Back At Saturday Night Live

Welcome to SN Hell! As we say goodbye to SNL's sophomore season, Matt and Keith took a few minutes to list their Top 5 musical performances of Season 2. With so much music to choose from, this probably should have been harder than it was. Full episodes of The SN Hell podcast are available on Youtube, Podbean and wherever podcasts are found. Please, subscribe if you like what we are putting down. L...

Keith and Matt, along with guest third chair Mark, wrap up their look at Season 2 with the great Buck Henry. Sketches Include: Samurai B.M.O.C, The Shower Microphone, The Return of the Coneheads, How Your Children Grow, Lucky Lindy and Michael O'Donoghue's impression of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Jennifer Warnes sings "Right Time of the Night," Kenny Vance performs "The Performer" and the SNL Ba...

Welcome to SN Hell! Keith and Matt are joined by Kevin for the penultimate episode of Season 2 featuring Shelley Duvall and musical guest Joan Armatrading. Sketches Include: Video Vixens, Bad Costume Bank Robber, Viva Las Vegas II, Continental Man, Van Argument & Baba Wawa with Richard Burton. Armatrading performs "Less Than Zero" and "Love And Affection. All this and Weekend Update are here.... i...

Welcome to SN Hell! Keith, Matt and Adrienne check in on Eric Idle's second SNL hosting gig. The Monty Python vet brings along fellow Rutle Neil Innes and one-time Animal Allan Pryce for this wacky Trans-Atlantic Romp. Sketches Include: The Battle of Britain, Trans-Eastern Airlines, Potato Torture, Half-Wit Championship and the Save Britain telethon featuring Queen Elizabeth doppleganger Jeannette...

Keith, Matt and Mark look at Elliot Gould's third time as SNL Host. Featuring music from The McGarrigle Sisters and Roslyn Kind. A strange episode top to bottom, but that may or may not be a bad thing. Sketches Include: The debut of Nick The Lounge Singer, The Coneheads, You've Come A Long Way, Buddy, United Face Bank and 24 Hour Bank. The McGarrigle Sisters sing "Kiss and Say Goodbye" and "Heart...

Welcome to SN Hell! Keith, Matt and Chilly take a look at SNL Season 2 Episode 18 featuring Georgia State Senator / Activist Julian Bond. Bond's musical guests are Tom Waits and Brick. While not one of the "go to" episodes of the era, it has more than its fair share of highlight reel material. Sketches Include: Mr. Mike Meets Uncle Remus, The Civil Rights Farbers, Dr X Family Counsellor, Creeley's...

Welcome to SN Hell! Comedian and comic writer Jack Burns hosts this March 1977 episode with musical guest Santana. Burns, the former comic partner of George Carlin and Avery Schrieber, was equally busy as a writer on shows like Hee Haw, Fridays and The Muppet Show. On this episode, Matt, Keith and - first time third chair Rebecca - wax about Burns' unique brand of humor. Sketches Include: Belsuhi'...

Welcome to SN Hell: In this short edition, Keith reveals how he, Matt and the third chairs ranked Saturday Night Live's Season 1 Cast based on their "Star of the Night" wins over the first year. There are some surprises and disappointments, but it's how the math worked out. Hope you all enjoy.

Keith, Matt and Chilly take a peak at tough guy actor Broderick Crawford's sole hosting appearance. Crawford is joined by mega-group The RCO All-Stars which features Levon Helm, Dr. John and Paul Butterfied. New Orleans funk group The Meters - recently bumped from The Mardi Gras Special - appear as well. Newcomer Bill Murray, floundering on and off camera, makes a memorable plea to the audience. S...

Welcome to SN Hell! Keith, Matt and Chilly share their thoughts on this March 1977 episode of Saturday Night Live. Fresh off the success of her break out role in Carrie, Sissy Spacek goes live on Saturday Night. Joining Spacek as her musical guest is Richard Baskin. Sketches Include: Dave Wilson Dies, Burger Master, John Belushi's Dream, Ask President Carter, Amy's Bed Time Story, How Your Childre...

Welcome to SN Hell: Steve Martin is back for his second of fifteen hosting appearances and he's loaded with surrealist energy. Joining Martin as musical guest are the legendary - but hardly over played - The Kinks. Lily Tomlin is also on the show to promote her new Broadway Show. Sketches Include: Hollywood Bingo, The Coneheads, Pull The Plug, Celebrity Weightlifting, The Lovers, Broadway Baby, Fr...

Welcome to SN Hell! Part lost gem, part hidden treasure, part train wreck it's SN Hell's look at the 1977 Live Prime Time Saturday Night Mardi Gras Special. Aired as a part of NBC's Big Event Special series, this one hid in the vault for a couple of decades until it was released on the Season 2 DVD set. Special guests include: Randy Newman, Buck Henry, The New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra,...

Keith, Matt and Mark check out SNL's first athlete host NFL QB Fran Tarkenton of the Minnesota Vikings. This week's episode is a rarity in that it features an episode long football theme. Leo Sayer and Donny Harper and the Voices of Tomorrow are on hand to provide some music. Sketches Include: Pre-Game Hype, Grand Stand, Alice, Steroids The Cereal, Black Perspectives, Amy Carter Goes To School and...

Welcome to SN Hell: The great Ruth Gordon takes the stage for tonight's episode from 1977. The first octogenarian to take the helm, Gordon (Rosemary's Baby, Harold and Maude) tests her meddle with the Not Ready For Primetime Players. The father of rock n' roll, Chuck Berry, as her musical guest, this multi-generational episode is something to behold. Sketches Include: The Litella Sisters At Home,...

Welcome to SN Hell! And welcome to 1977, Adrienne joins us for Ralph Nader & George Benson, fun host and musical guest, but the real story is "the new guys." First, we have a young up and comer by the name of Bill Murray joining the cast and the great Jim Downey sliding in for the first of his many episodes in the writer's room. One cast member is out with an injury and the show's response is simi...

We say good bye to 1976 with a bang! It's Season 2's Christmas Episode hosted by the always awesome Candice Bergen in her 3rd hosting appearance. The musical guest for the evening is the King of Laurel Canyon the legendary Frank Zappa. Loaded with memorable moments and highlight reel clips, this episode is a lot more than your typical holiday fare. Sketches Include: Santi-Wrap, The Right To Extrem...

Welcome to SN Hell! Fresh off her appearance in Taxi Driver, 14 year old Jodie Foster hosts this episode from November 1976. Her musical guest is the legendary Beach Boy / Producer Brian Wilson who has recently returned to touring and performing live. Keith and Matt welcome Ron to have a little chat about this unique episode of Saturday Night Live. Sketches Include: Pilson's Feebag Dinners, Peter...

Welcome to SN Hell: Paul Simon returns for the first time since SNL's second episode. This time around he's bringing the funny.... or is he? Musically, we are treated to some performances by former Beatle George Harrison. Matt and Keith are joined by frequent "third chair" Chilly for this well remembered episode. Sketches Include: The Turkey Monologue, The Twilight Zone, Quarry, Billy Paul, The To...

Welcome to SN Hell! Dick Cavett is back as host and joined by Ry Cooder. One of the few episodes that fall in the 6 cast member era between the departure of Chevy Chase and the arrival of Bill Murray. Just to throw in another monkey wrench, Cavett stepped in for the originally scheduled host Elliot Gould. Matt and Keith are joined by sketch comedy writer and all 'round good guy Kevin for a unique...

Welcome to SN Hell: In this bonus episode, Matt and Keith take a break from their chronological jaunt to chat about the departing Chevy Chase. We chat Chase's legacy, departure and future. Should he have left? Who benefitted from his going? How bright did Chase's future turn out to be? We love doing our special episodes, hope you enjoy. Like, Share, Subscribe and Follow. This Podcast Is Not Suitab...

Buck Henry, our favorite host from Season 1, is back again. Matt and Keith are joined by Mark, a huge fan of The Band, for this memorable episode from Season 2. Sketches Include: Samurai Stockbroker, Houdini's Grave, The Bat-o-Matic, Halloween Jaws and the debut of Mr. Mike's Least-Loved Bedtime Tales. The Band plays "Life is A Carnival," "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "Stage Fright" and "...

Welcome to SN Hell! Steve Martin sits at the top - very near it - of fans' list of favorite SNL guest hosts, but does his first episode hold up to the legend? Keith, Matt - joined by Mark - take a look at Martin's debut hosting gig from 1976. The musical guest for the evening is the multi-talented Texan Kinky Friedman. Sketches include: Speak Out For Milk, Jeopardy 1999! Plato's Cave, Mysteries In...

We're back with Episode 4 of Season 2. This edition features the quirky Karen Black and musical guest John Prine. In this episode: Chevy Chase returns from his "injury," Karen Black talks about mothers throughout history, another Carter / Ford debate, an ad for non-cancer causing cup cakes, the Amish fight injustice, Catherine The Great's true love and we see a reunion of high school contemporarie...

We're back with Episode 3 of Season 2.  This classic features Eric Idle, Joe Cocker and Stuff. In this episode we review the following bits: Eric tries to sing his new hit, Genetic Counselling, Nazi Spies, Dragnet, Cufflinks of the Gods and The Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau. Joe Cocker sings "You Are So Beautiful" and "two Joe Cockers" sing "Feelin' Alright."  Stuff dazzles us with "Foots."...

In this edition of SN Hell: A Look Back At Saturday Night Live Matt and Keith are joined by Chilly to take a look at the October 1976 edition of NBC's Saturday Night featuring Norman Lear and Boz Scaggs. TV Producer Norman Lear takes the helm for this hidden gem of the show's sophomore season.  In this episode: Jimmy Carter talks about the lust in his heart, The Snake Handling O'Sheas, Chevy's Gir...