Bernadette says she was just blessed to work with this group; she asks Tim what it was like to work opposite a monkey. Tim replies that he works with six of them every week as Eddie exclaims "Hey, that ain't funny!" in mock indignation.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

This seems to be the quintessential Michael O'Donoghue-period 1981-82 show. Peters was one of the more effective hosts this season, despite not being used a lot (I've started to notice Ebersol's SNL was more about the cast than the host anyway), while Billy Joel's performances were solid. I can't really say the same about The Go-Gos, though. Yes, it had some weak moments, such a worse-than-usual Newsbreak, and an overlong and less-than-successful showcase sketch, but there was a relentlessness and daring in the material that they would never match again this season, and the weak stuff was balanced out by the better material. It also lacks the compromise that marred the Donald Pleasence episode, and remains one of the most intriguing, if potentially alienating, episodes SNL ever did.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Making Love Alone

Hidden Photo

I Married A Monkey

A Message From Eddie Murphy

Rock 'N Roll Heaven, Incorporated

Sketch In The Dark

EPISODE LOWLIGHTS:

SNL Newsbreak

Bedtime Story

Texxon

Escape From Escape From New York

Man Ray & Mic

Belinda Carlisle's singing

MVP

Tim Kazurinsky

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

Robin Duke : 3 appearances [Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, Bedtime Story, 42nd Street]

: 3 appearances [Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, Bedtime Story, 42nd Street] Christine Ebersole : 3 appearances [Hidden Photo, Sketch In The Dark, 42nd Street]

: 3 appearances [Hidden Photo, Sketch In The Dark, 42nd Street] Mary Gross : 2 appearances [Nick The Knock, Bedtime Story]

: 2 appearances [Nick The Knock, Bedtime Story] Tim Kazurinsky : 4 appearances [I Married A Monkey, Sketch In The Dark, Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, SNL Newsbreak]

: 4 appearances [I Married A Monkey, Sketch In The Dark, Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, SNL Newsbreak] Eddie Murphy : 4 appearances [A Message From Eddie Murphy, Coming Up, Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, 42nd Street]

: 4 appearances [A Message From Eddie Murphy, Coming Up, Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, 42nd Street] Joe Piscopo : 5 appearances [Hidden Photo, Coming Up, Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, Nick The Knock, 42nd Street]

: 5 appearances [Hidden Photo, Coming Up, Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, Nick The Knock, 42nd Street] Tony Rosato: 4 appearances [Sketch In The Dark, Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, Bedtime Story, 42nd Street]

featured players

Brian Doyle-Murray: 3 appearances [Rock 'N Roll Heaven Incorporated, SNL Newsbreak, 42nd Street]

non-cast

Barry W. Blaustein : 1 appearance [Hidden Photo]

: 1 appearance [Hidden Photo] Mark O'Donnell : 1 appearance [Hidden Photo]

: 1 appearance [Hidden Photo] David Sheffield : 1 appearance [Hidden Photo]

: 1 appearance [Hidden Photo] Dave Wilson : 1 voiceover [Sketch In The Dark]

: 1 voiceover [Sketch In The Dark] Eliot Wald: 1 appearance [A Message From Eddie Murphy]

guests

Bernadette Peters : 3 appearances [Johnny Keep Your Gun Clean, "Making Love Alone", 42nd Street]

: 3 appearances [Johnny Keep Your Gun Clean, "Making Love Alone", 42nd Street] Billy Joel : 2 appearances ["Miami 2017", "She's Got A Way"]

: 2 appearances ["Miami 2017", "She's Got A Way"] The Go-Gos: 2 appearances ["Our Lips Are Sealed", "We Got The Beat"]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

January 9, 1982

August 14, 1982

Known alterations:

The Trouble With Fred is added from Tim Curry (12/05/81)

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.