Blythe Danner is dressed in the tuna fish costume from Blythe's Plea, and Eddie Murphy introduces Piscopo's dog All-Star, who was in the cold opening. Mel Brandt announces the encore presentation of SNL with "Football's John Madden" on April 3 and a special prime time presentation of "The Best of the New Saturday Night Live" on Monday April 5. I'm curious what sketches were included the special.

Interesting that Robin Duke and Rickie Lee Jones were standing beside each other talking since Duke actually impersonated Jones about a year before when she was on SCTV.

The credits show that Margaret Oberman is now a writer on the show. I believe Urich was actually her first show but there were no credits on the original broadcast and my tape is currently packed up.

Addendum: This is the final show this season with Pam Norris credited as a writer.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Despite a fairly unremarkable host, I thought this was actually a pretty strong outing that seemed to move by pretty fast. A lot of the credit goes to Eddie Murphy, who actually had a productive night despite appearing in only two segments: he made more of an impression in those two segments than most of the other cast did that night. Christine Ebersole also made a comeback this week, going from the least featured cast member last week to the most this week. SNL Newsbreak's change in anchors was welcome too, although the segment still had its weaknesses. Besides that, the show was helped by a strong run of sketches in the first hour and the always welcome Michael Davis.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Michael Davis

The New Celibacy

Poets

Come On Out America

The Uncle Tom Show

EPISODE LOWLIGHTS:

the commentaries on SNL Newsbreak (usually it's the other way around!)

Blythe's Plea

MVP:

Eddie Murphy

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN

cast

Robin Duke : 4 appearances [The New Celibacy, Poets, SNL Newsbreak, Meet The People]

: 4 appearances [The New Celibacy, Poets, SNL Newsbreak, Meet The People] Christine Ebersole : 6 appearances [Monologue, The New Celibacy, 20/20, Fab Fifties, SNL Newsbreak, Meet The People]

: 6 appearances [Monologue, The New Celibacy, 20/20, Fab Fifties, SNL Newsbreak, Meet The People] Mary Gross : 3 appearances [Monologue, Poets, SNL Newsbreak]

: 3 appearances [Monologue, Poets, SNL Newsbreak] Tim Kazurinsky : 3 appearances [The New Celibacy, 20/20, Fab Fifties]

: 3 appearances [The New Celibacy, 20/20, Fab Fifties] Eddie Murphy : 2 appearances [Poets, The Uncle Tom Show]

: 2 appearances [Poets, The Uncle Tom Show] Joe Piscopo : 4 appearances [Lorne Greene, 20/20, SNL Newsbreak, The Uncle Tom Show]

: 4 appearances [Lorne Greene, 20/20, SNL Newsbreak, The Uncle Tom Show] Tony Rosato: 2 appearances [20/20, Meet The People]

featured players

Brian Doyle-Murray: 4 appearances [The New Celibacy, Fab Fifties, SNL Newsbreak, Meet The People]

crew and extras

Neil Levy : 1 appearance [20/20]

: 1 appearance [20/20] Lee Mayman : 1 appearance [20/20]

: 1 appearance [20/20] John Murray : 1 appearance [Come On Out America]

: 1 appearance [Come On Out America] Rosie Shuster: 1 appearance [Come On Out America]

guests

Blythe Danner : 5 appearances [Monologue, 20/20, Fab Fifties, Meet The People, Blythe's Plea]

: 5 appearances [Monologue, 20/20, Fab Fifties, Meet The People, Blythe's Plea] Rickie Lee Jones : 2 appearances ["Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)", "Lush Life/Woody & Dutch"]

: 2 appearances ["Pirates (So Long Lonely Avenue)", "Lush Life/Woody & Dutch"] Michael Davis: 1 appearance [Guest performance]

REBROADCAST HISTORY

June 26, 1982

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.