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Saturday Night Live Season 4 Episodes
Season 4 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 1978 - 1979
Season 4 is the last hurrah for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as members of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players (which also consist of Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner) as they dish out more over-the-top comedy\, joined by musical acts and such hosts as usual suspects Buck Henry and Steve Martin and vintage stars Milton Berle and Maureen Stapleton. The season gets under way with Ed Koch, New York's bombastic mayor, honoring Belushi with a "City of New York Certificate of Merit" for the success of Belushi's classic comedy film "Animal House." The same episode includes a spirited set by the Rolling Stones, who also appear in a few skits, and introduces new "Weekend Update" coanchor Murray alongside Curtin. Season 4's memorable bits include a "China Syndrome" parody; Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) dropping in on Frankie Avalon (Murray) and Annette Funicello (Radner) at the beach; a "Twilight Zone" takeoff with Rick Nelson; Julia Child (Aykroyd) bleeding to death; and Richard Nixon (Aykroyd) trying to convince his family that the Watergate tapes were meant as a joke; plus the ongoing "Mr. Bill" films and visits from "Vatican correspondent" Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello). In addition to Berle, Fisher, Henry, Martin, Nelson and Stapleton, hosts include Monty Python's Eric Idle and Michael Palin; Frank Zappa (who does double duty as musical guest); Gary Busey; Elliott Gould; Kate Jackson; Margot Kidder; Walter Matthau; Cicely Tyson; and Fred Willard. Other musical acts include jazz legend Eubie Blake; the Blues Brothers; Kate Bush; Judy Collins; Devo; the Doobie Brothers; the Grateful Dead; Rickie Lee Jones; Bette Midler; Van Morrison; Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow; Talking Heads; James Taylor; and Peter Tosh.
Episode 1
The Rolling Stones; Ed Koch
Sat, Oct 7, 1978 90 mins
The Rolling Stones host and perform "Respectable" and "Shattered." Also: a visit from Mayor Ed Koch; Roseanne Roseannadanna on her visit to Studio 54.
Episode 2
Fred Willard; Devo
Sat, Oct 14, 1978 90 mins
Fred Willard hosts; Devo performs "Satisfaction." Included: Mr. Bill goes to New York; Gilda runs a Scotch-tape store.
Episode 3
Frank Zappa
Sat, Oct 21, 1978 90 mins
Host Frank Zappa dates Connie Conehead (Laraine Newman). Music: "Dancing Fool" and "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing."
Episode 4
Steve Martin; Van Morrison
Sat, Nov 4, 1978 90 mins
Steve Martin hosts; Van Morrison sings "Kingdom Hall." Skits include Martin and Dan Aykroyd as the "wild and crazy" Festrunk brothers; Garrett Morris as Diana Ross; and Martin as Theodoric, the medieval judge.
Episode 5
Buck Henry; the Grateful Dead
Sat, Nov 11, 1978 90 mins
Buck Henry hosts; the Grateful Dead perform "I Need a Miracle." Also: Henry visits the Samurai Optometrist, and Bill Murray interviews Elizabeth Taylor (John Belushi) on Celebrity Corner.
Episode 6
Carrie Fisher; the Blues Brothers
Sat, Nov 18, 1978 67 mins
Carrie Fisher hosts; the Blues Brothers (John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd) perform "Soul Man." Skits include Princess Leia (Fisher) and Annette Funicello (Gilda Radner) at a '50s beach party.
Episode 7
Walter Matthau
Sat, Dec 2, 1978 90 mins
Walter Matthau hosts. Skits include "The Bad News Bees"; and soft-drink wars at the Greek restaurant.
Episode 8
Eric Idle; Kate Bush
Sat, Dec 9, 1978 90 mins
Eric Idle hosts; Kate Bush is the music guest. Skits include Dan Aykroyd as Julia Child; Gilda Radner as punk singer Candy Slice.
Episode 9
Elliott Gould; Peter Tosh
Sat, Dec 16, 1978 90 mins
Elliott Gould hosts; reggae artist Peter Tosh is joined by Mick Jagger on "Don't Look Back." Also: comedy by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding.
Episode 10
Michael Palin; the Doobie Brothers
Sat, Jan 27, 1979 90 mins
Michael Palin hosts; the Doobie Brothers perform "What a Fool Believes." Included: Lisa Loopner has a piano lesson; Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello) reports on Weekend Update.
Episode 11
Cicely Tyson; Talking Heads
Sat, Feb 10, 1979 90 mins
Cicely Tyson hosts; Talking Heads perform "Artists Only." Skits include Tyson and Garrett Morris in "Porky and Bess"; and a visit with the Widettes.
Episode 12
Rick Nelson
Sat, Feb 17, 1979 90 mins
Host Rick Nelson wanders into the "Twilight Zone" and gets lost in a maze of '50s sitcoms; Bill Murray hosts a Spanish game show in which contestants choose which actors are the most macho. Point/Counterpoint topic: cocaine.
Episode 13
Kate Jackson; Delbert McClinton
Sat, Feb 24, 1979 90 mins
Kate Jackson (host); Delbert McClinton ("Talkin' About You"); Andy Kaufman. Also: the Coneheads see a sci-fi film; Todd has a crush in Mrs. Loopner's nurse; a 6-year-old child psychiatrist (Laraine Newman) helps a "vegged out" girl.
Episode 14
Gary Busey; Eubie Blake; Gregory Hines
Sat, Mar 10, 1979 90 mins
Gary Busey hosts; Eubie Blake and Gregory Hines perform "I'm Just Wild About Harry." Bill Murray interviews Mr. Ed's widow, Mrs. Ed; a panel of men discusses women's problems.
Episode 15
Margot Kidder; the Chieftains
Sat, Mar 17, 1979 90 mins
Margot Kidder hosts; the Chieftains perform "Morning Dew." Lois Lane (Kidder) throws a party for superheroes; Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello) discusses St. Patrick. Also: Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute (Dan Aykroyd).
Episode 16
Richard Benjamin; Rickie Lee Jones
Sat, Apr 7, 1979 60 mins
Richard Benjamin hosts; Rickie Lee Jones performs "Chuck E.'s in Love." Included: Roseanne Roseannadanna (Gilda Radner); a skit about "Two Mile Island"; an interview with baseball's Chico Escuela (Garrett Morris).
Episode 17
Milton Berle; Ornette Coleman
Sat, Apr 14, 1979 90 mins
Milton Berle hosts; Ornette Coleman performs "Times Square." Berle plays the Widettes' Uncle Wayne; Chico Escuela (Garrett Morris) tries out with the Mets; "The Village Persons" perform "Bend Over Chuck Berry."
Episode 18
Michael Palin; James Taylor
Sat, May 12, 1979 90 mins
Michael Palin hosts; James Taylor performs "Up on the Roof." Also: a segment with Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello).
Episode 19
Maureen Stapleton; Linda Ronstadt; Phoebe Snow
Sat, May 19, 1979 90 mins
Maureen Stapleton hosts; Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow perform "It's in His Kiss". Nick Wings (Bill Murray) sings in an airport lounge; Idi Amin (Garrett Morris) wears out his welcome as a house guest.
Episode 20
Buck Henry; Bette Midler
Sat, May 26, 1979 90 mins
Buck Henry hosts; Bette Midler performs "Married Men." Included: "Samurai Bakery"; Richard Nixon (Dan Aykroyd) justifying the Watergate cover-up; Roseanne Roseannadanna discussing the fuel crunch. Also: Al Franken becomes a Hare Krishna; and a fire damages the Greek restaurant.
