Koch invites viewers to come visit New York City. Robin Duke looks particularly happy, and Brad Hall is wearing a Practical Theatre Co. shirt. Julia Louis-Dreyfus yells "Happy birthday, Stevie!" (Stevie Wonder's birthday was the day before, though I'm not sure whether she's sending birthday greetings to last week's host or another Stevie).

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The 1982-83 season of SNL ends with a weaker outing; not a truly bad show, but it felt like everyone was going through the motions. Koch, while not a performer, was still a decent emcee for tonight's show despite not being used for anything aside from introductions in the last hour, but he didn't really stray too far outside his safety zone (aside from "singing"). There are times when bringing back audience favorites can boost a particular week's show, but aside from Letterman, a lot of the return engagements tonight felt uninspired; at worst, they felt calculated. In a way, it reminds me of how the current SNL often panders to the audience. It may have been end-of-season exhaustion on the cast and writers' part, or they may have used their energy on Stevie Wonder's show, but it felt like they went for the easy jokes a few times too often this week.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

Late Night with David Letterman

Guest Performance

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

Whiners Vietnam

Saturday Night News

Bald No More

Ledge

MVP:

Joe Piscopo

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

Robin Duke : 2 appearances [Vietnam Whiner, Birthday A Go-Go]

: 2 appearances [Vietnam Whiner, Birthday A Go-Go] Mary Gross : 3 appearances [Ledge, Saturday Night News, Birthday A Go-Go]

: 3 appearances [Ledge, Saturday Night News, Birthday A Go-Go] Brad Hall : 3 appearances [Ledge, Saturday Night News, Vietnam Whiner]

: 3 appearances [Ledge, Saturday Night News, Vietnam Whiner] Tim Kazurinsky : 4 appearances [Ledge, Saturday Night News, Vietnam Whiner, Birthday A Go-Go]

: 4 appearances [Ledge, Saturday Night News, Vietnam Whiner, Birthday A Go-Go] Gary Kroeger : 4 appearances [Ledge, Vietnam Whiner, Late Night with David Letterman, Birthday A Go-Go]; 1 voice-over [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood]

: 4 appearances [Ledge, Vietnam Whiner, Late Night with David Letterman, Birthday A Go-Go]; 1 voice-over [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood] Julia Louis-Dreyfus : 3 appearance [Ledge, Saturday Night News, Birthday A Go-Go]

: 3 appearance [Ledge, Saturday Night News, Birthday A Go-Go] Eddie Murphy : 5 appearances [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, Ledge, Bald No More, Vietnam Whiner, Late Night with David Letterman]

: 5 appearances [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, Ledge, Bald No More, Vietnam Whiner, Late Night with David Letterman] Joe Piscopo: 5 appearances [Ledge, Bald No More, Saturday Night News, Vietnam Whiner, Late Night with David Letterman]; 1 voice-over [Late Night with David Letterman]

guests

Mayor Ed Koch : 3 appearances [Monologue, Ledge, Bald No More]

: 3 appearances [Monologue, Ledge, Bald No More] Kevin Rowland & Dexy's Midnight Runners : 2 appearances ["Come On Eileen", "The Celtic Soul Brothers"]

: 2 appearances ["Come On Eileen", "The Celtic Soul Brothers"] Harry Anderson : 1 appearance [Guest Performance]

: 1 appearance [Guest Performance] Marv Albert : 1 appearance [Late Night with David Letterman]

: 1 appearance [Late Night with David Letterman] Don King : 2 appearances [Bald No More, Late Night with David Letterman]

: 2 appearances [Bald No More, Late Night with David Letterman] Leslie Pollock: 1 appearance [Guest Performance]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

January 7, 1984

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.