Mary Gross and the cast present Sid Caesar with a plaque declaring him to be an honorary cast member of Saturday Night Live; Gross tells him "you'll always have a home here!". Various cast members including Robin Duke and Eddie Murphy hug Caesar; Murphy (either earnestly or facetiously) is in tears afterward. Jennifer Warnes can be seen jumping up and down in the back.

The original broadcast cuts the credits off; the repeat ends with a nice closeup of Caesar.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Probably Saturday Night Live's biggest display of reverence towards a host until Betty White's 2010 appearance, it's hard to dislike this show. Sure, there was a Whiners sketch and Saturday Night News was underwhelming as usual, but Caesar really carried a lot of the show, and the cast and writers seemed more than willing to step aside and watch the man work. Having the focus on Caesar also meant the cast was fairly balanced in terms of airtime (the exception was Gary Kroeger, who only appears in the cold opening and Crime and Self-Punishment). The big centerpiece sketch (Crime and Self-Punishment) may not have been a home run, but was a nice way to let Caesar shine and was an interesting break in format. It's too deferential to the host to truly be considered the best of the season, but any week where are more highs than lows are welcome, and this was one of them.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

Hotel

Funeral In A Cab

Saturday Night News Extra

The Scheme

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

Hospital Whiners

Saturday Night News

MVP:

Sid Caesar

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN

cast

Robin Duke : 4 appearances [The Scheme, Hospital Whiners, Hotel, Crime and Self-Punishment]

: 4 appearances [The Scheme, Hospital Whiners, Hotel, Crime and Self-Punishment] Mary Gross : 4 appearances [The Scheme, Hotel, Saturday Night News, Crime and Self-Punishment]

: 4 appearances [The Scheme, Hotel, Saturday Night News, Crime and Self-Punishment] Brad Hall : 4 appearances [The Scheme, Saturday Night News, Crime and Self-Punishment, Saturday Night News Extra]

: 4 appearances [The Scheme, Saturday Night News, Crime and Self-Punishment, Saturday Night News Extra] Tim Kazurinsky : 4 appearances [The Scheme, Hospital Whiners, Saturday Night News, Crime and Self-Punishment]

: 4 appearances [The Scheme, Hospital Whiners, Saturday Night News, Crime and Self-Punishment] Gary Kroeger : 2 appearances [The Scheme, Crime and Self-Punishment]

: 2 appearances [The Scheme, Crime and Self-Punishment] Julia Louis-Dreyfus : 4 appearances [The Scheme, Hospital Whiners, Saturday Night News, Crime and Self-Punishment]

: 4 appearances [The Scheme, Hospital Whiners, Saturday Night News, Crime and Self-Punishment] Eddie Murphy : 3 appearances [The Scheme, Funeral In A Cab, Hotel]

: 3 appearances [The Scheme, Funeral In A Cab, Hotel] Joe Piscopo: 3 appearances [The Scheme, Hospital Whiners, A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney]

crew & extras

Paul Barrosse : 1 appearance [Crime and Self-Punishment]

: 1 appearance [Crime and Self-Punishment] David Spinozza: 2 appearances ["Up Where We Belong", "Seven Days"]

guests

Sid Caesar: 6 appearances [The Scheme, Monologue, Hospital Whiners, Hotel, Crime and Self-Punishment, Saturday Night News Extra]

6 appearances [The Scheme, Monologue, Hospital Whiners, Hotel, Crime and Self-Punishment, Saturday Night News Extra] Joe Cocker: 2 appearances ["Up Where We Belong", "Seven Days"]

2 appearances ["Up Where We Belong", "Seven Days"] Jennifer Warnes : 1 appearance ["Up Where We Belong"]

: 1 appearance ["Up Where We Belong"] Harry Anderson: 1 appearance [Guest Performance]

PERSONNEL CHANGE:

Tracy Torme is no longer listed as a writer; Pamela Norris returns after a 10-month break.

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

July 2, 1983

Known alterations:

Who Do You Hate removed

Crime & Self-Punishment and "Seven Days" edited

Rubik's Grenade (from 12/11/82) added

Additional screen captures from this episode can be seen here.