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Saturday Night Live
EpisodesSeason 2 Episode Guide
23 Episodes 1976 - 1977
The second season of the stellar late-night sketch-comedy series fine-tunes the funny even as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players undergo a major change: Chevy Chase leaves a third of the way into the season, succeeded shortly after by Bill Murray.\ (Chase's brief stay is made briefer still by a pratfall injury that forces him to participate in two episodes from a hospital bed.) In Chase's absence, Jane Curtin earns her comedic spurs as anchor of "Weekend Update," a segment that remains a high point---especially when Curtin tangles with Gilda Radner's Emily Litella ("Never mind!"). Other memorable bits include a presidential debate between Jimmy Carter (Dan Aykroyd) and Gerald Ford (Chase); an inventive drag race between Aykroyd and host Eric Idle; the Coneheads; John Belushi's samurai routines; and Murray's plea for audience support. One classic episode features host Paul Simon singing "Still Crazy After All These Years" in a turkey suit and also joining musical guest George Harrison for duets on Simon's "Homeward Bound" and Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun." The season's other hosts include wild-and-crazy Steve Martin (who does the deed twice); Lily Tomlin; a 14-year-old Jodie Foster; 80-year-old Ruth Gordon; Candice Bergen; Buck Henry (twice); Ralph Nader; football great Fran Tarkenton; and Dick Cavett. In addition to Harrison, musical performers include the Band; George Benson; Joe Cocker and his spastic twin (Belushi spoofing Cocker); Ry Cooder; the Kinks; James Taylor; Brian Wilson; and Frank Zappa.
Episode 1
Lily Tomlin; James Taylor
Sat, Sep 18, 1976 60 mins
Lily Tomlin hosts; James Taylor performs "Shower the People." Skits include a Ford-Carter debate; and Tomlin (as Ernestine) advertising Ma Bell.
Episode 2
Norman Lear; Boz Scaggs
Sat, Sep 25, 1976 90 mins
Norman Lear hosts; Boz Scaggs performs "What Can I Say." Comedy includes Dan Aykroyd as Jimmy Carter; John Belushi as Henry Kissinger; and Lear considering the creation of a TV series about a family of snake handlers.
Episode 3
Eric Idle; Joe Cocker
Sat, Oct 2, 1976 90 mins
Eric Idle hosts; Joe Cocker performs "Feelin' Alright" in a duet with John Belushi. Also: the Killer Bees want swine-flu vaccinations.
Episode 4
Karen Black; John Prine
Sat, Oct 16, 1976 90 mins
Karen Black hosts; John Prine performs "Hello in There." Skits include a Baba Wawa interview and a presidential debate between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter (Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd).
Episode 5
Steve Martin
Sat, Oct 23, 1976 90 mins
Steve Martin hosts. Skits include "Jeopardy 1999"; and a beatnik who auditions at a coffeehouse.
Episode 6
Buck Henry; the Band
Sat, Oct 30, 1976 90 mins
Buck Henry hosts; the Band performs "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Life Is a Carnival." Skits include "Samurai Stockbroker"; a Baba Wawa interview; and a spoof of "The Omen," with John Belushi as Damien.
Episode 7
Dick Cavett; Ry Cooder
Sat, Nov 13, 1976 90 mins
Host Dick Cavett; music guest Ry Cooder ("He'll Have to Go," "Tattler"); and comedy team Franken and Davis.
Episode 8
Paul Simon; George Harrison
Sat, Nov 20, 1976 90 mins
Host Paul Simon sings "Still Crazy After All These Years" in a turkey suit and joins guest George Harrison for "Here Comes the Sun." Also: a parody of "The Twilight Zone."
Episode 9
Jodie Foster; Brian Wilson
Sat, Nov 27, 1976 90 mins
Jodie Foster hosts; Brian Wilson is the music guest. Skits include the adventures of the Peter Pan Bees and a commercial for Puberty Helper.
Episode 10
Candice Bergen; Frank Zappa
Sat, Dec 11, 1976 90 mins
Candice Bergen hosts; Frank Zappa performs "Lagoon" and "Peaches." Skits include John Belushi as Santa Claus.
Episode 11
Ralph Nader; George Benson
Sat, Jan 15, 1977 90 mins
Ralph Nader hosts; George Benson performs "The Masquerade Is Over." Also: an appearance by comedian Andy Kaufman; and sketches on the Coneheads' family history and the first televised execution.
Episode 12
Ruth Gordon; Chuck Berry
Sat, Jan 22, 1977 90 mins
Ruth Gordon hosts; Chuck Berry performs "Johnny B. Goode." Also: Dan Aykroyd as Tom Snyder; Laraine Newman as Barbra Streisand.
Episode 13
Fran Tarkenton; Leo Sayer
Sat, Jan 29, 1977 90 mins
Fran Tarkenton hosts; Leo Sayer is the music guest. Comedy includes a Swiss-army gun demonstration.
Episode 14
Mardi Gras Special; Randy Newman
Sun, Feb 20, 1977 90 mins
The show's first prime-time special, aired from Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Jane Curtin and guest Buck Henry report on the Bacchus parade, while BaBa Wawa (Gilda Radner) interviews Bacchus king Henry Winkler. Also: Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams report on festivities at the Apollo Ball, and music guest Randy Newman performs "Kingfish" and "Sail Away."
Episode 15
Steve Martin; the Kinks
Sat, Feb 26, 1977 90 mins
Steve Martin hosts; the Kinks perform "Lola." Also: an appearance by Lily Tomlin; Martin as an IRS agent auditing the Coneheads.
Episode 16
Sissy Spacek; Richard Baskin
Sat, Mar 12, 1977 90 mins
Sissy Spacek hosts; Richard Baskin is the music guest. Skits include a President Carter phone-in show; and an editorial by Emily Litella (Gilda Radner).
Episode 17
Broderick Crawford; Dr. John
Sat, Mar 19, 1977 90 mins
Broderick Crawford hosts; Dr. John performs "Sing, Sing, Sing." Crawford appears in a "Highway Patrol" spoof and as J. Edgar Hoover confronting Richard Nixon (Dan Aykroyd).
Episode 18
Jack Burns; Santana
Sat, Mar 26, 1977 90 mins
Jack Burns hosts; Santana performs "Black Magic Woman."
Episode 19
Julian Bond; Tom Waits
Sat, Apr 9, 1977 90 mins
Julian Bond hosts; Tom Waits performs "Eggs & Sausage." Included: Bond debates Garrett Morris and critiques "Bad Cinema."
Episode 20
Elliott Gould; Kate and Anna McGarrigle
Sat, Apr 16, 1977 90 mins
Elliott Gould hosts; Kate and Anna McGarrigle perform ("Kiss and Say Goodbye").
Episode 21
Eric Idle; Alan Price
Sat, Apr 23, 1977 90 mins
Eric Idle hosts; Alan Price is the music guest. Comedy: a song about union-label marijuana; a Queen Elizabeth telethon.
Episode 22
Shelley Duvall; Joan Armatrading
Sat, May 14, 1977 90 mins
Shelley Duvall hosts; Joan Armatrading performs "Love and Affection."
Episode 23
Buck Henry; Jennifer Warnes
Sat, May 21, 1977 90 mins
Buck Henry hosts; Jennifer Warnes performs "Right Time of the Night."
