Eddie conducts a mock interview with Larry as Daniel J. Travanti exclaims "Larry Lives!"

Mel Brandt announces next week's show with Johnny Cash and special guest Elton John and says "Good night from New York! ...which I don't think is the most dangerous city in America". Brandt didn't really do many comments like this on his show closing announcements, so this struck me as an odd attempt at something Don Pardo normally did.

For some reason, Brian Doyle-Murray is standing far behind everyone else.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

An above-average show with an interesting gimmick to carry it through. Despite not being used at all in the last half hour, Travanti was actually quite good in what he appeared in, and while sometimes the writing wasn't up to par (Hill Street Blues could have been so much better), there wasn't a terrible segment all night, except for a little bit of the overlong SNL Newsbreak. Even the debut of Whiners (never my favorite characters) didn't weigh the show down. Tony Rosato seemed to have the best night of his SNL tenure this week, especially in the first half of the show.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Reagan Brand Economics

The Merman Zone

Career Corner

Larry The Lobster Phone-in Vote

EPISODE LOWLIGHTS:

the Reagans Waving portion of SNL Newsbreak

Ridealong

Hill Street Blues

MVP:

Tony Rosato

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

Robin Duke : 4 appearances [Whiners, The Merman Zone, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Results]

: 4 appearances [Whiners, The Merman Zone, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Results] Christine Ebersole : 5 appearances [The Merman Zone, SNL Newsbreak, Hill Street Blues, Reagan Brand Economics, Larry: Results]

: 5 appearances [The Merman Zone, SNL Newsbreak, Hill Street Blues, Reagan Brand Economics, Larry: Results] Mary Gross : 4 appearances [The Merman Zone, SNL Newsbreak, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Results]

: 4 appearances [The Merman Zone, SNL Newsbreak, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Results] Tim Kazurinsky : 5 appearances [The Merman Zone, Next Week, SNL Newsbreak, Career Corner, Larry: Results]

: 5 appearances [The Merman Zone, Next Week, SNL Newsbreak, Career Corner, Larry: Results] Eddie Murphy : 7 appearances [Larry: Phone-In Vote, The Merman Zone, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Larry's Story, Career Corner, Larry: Night On The Town, Larry: Results]

: 7 appearances [Larry: Phone-In Vote, The Merman Zone, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Larry's Story, Career Corner, Larry: Night On The Town, Larry: Results] Joe Piscopo : 5 appearances [Whiners, SNL Newsbreak, Hill Street Blues, Reagan Brand Economics, Larry: Results]

: 5 appearances [Whiners, SNL Newsbreak, Hill Street Blues, Reagan Brand Economics, Larry: Results] Tony Rosato: 8 appearances [Larry: Phone-In Vote, Whiners, The Merman Zone, SNL Newsbreak, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Larry's Story, Reagan Brand Economics, Larry: Results]

featured player:

Brian Doyle-Murray: 4 appearances [The Merman Zone, SNL Newsbreak, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Results]

crew and extras:

Al Camoin : 1 appearance [The Merman Zone]

: 1 appearance [The Merman Zone] Audrey Peart Dickman : 1 appearance [The Merman Zone]

: 1 appearance [The Merman Zone] Dick Ebersol : 1 appearance [The Merman Zone]

: 1 appearance [The Merman Zone] Yvonne Hudson : 1 appearance [Whiners]

: 1 appearance [Whiners] Phil Hymes : 1 appearance [The Merman Zone]

: 1 appearance [The Merman Zone] Neil Levy : 2 appearances [Whiners, Hill Street Blues]

: 2 appearances [Whiners, Hill Street Blues] Lee Mayman : 1 appearance [Whiners]

: 1 appearance [Whiners] Andy Murphy : 4 appearances [Whiners, The Merman Zone, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Results]

: 4 appearances [Whiners, The Merman Zone, Hill Street Blues, Larry: Results] Terry Rohnke : 1 appearance [The Merman Zone]

: 1 appearance [The Merman Zone] Karen Roston : 1 appearance [Whiners]

: 1 appearance [Whiners] Robin Schlien : 1 appearance [The Merman Zone]

: 1 appearance [The Merman Zone] Bob Tischler : 1 appearance [The Merman Zone]

: 1 appearance [The Merman Zone] Dave Wilson : 1 appearances [The Merman Zone], 1 voiceover [SNL Newsbreak]

: 1 appearances [The Merman Zone], 1 voiceover [SNL Newsbreak] Akira Yoshimura: 2 appearances [SNL Newsbreak, Hill Street Blues]

guests:

Daniel J. Travanti : 5 appearances [Larry: Phone-In Vote, Ridealong, The Merman Zone, Larry: So Far, Hill Street Blues]

: 5 appearances [Larry: Phone-In Vote, Ridealong, The Merman Zone, Larry: So Far, Hill Street Blues] John Cougar : 2 appearances ["Hurt So Good", "Ain't Even Done With The Night"]

: 2 appearances ["Hurt So Good", "Ain't Even Done With The Night"] Barry Mitchell : 2 appearances [The Merman Zone, Larry: Results]

: 2 appearances [The Merman Zone, Larry: Results] Susan Saint James : 1 appearance [The Merman Zone]

: 1 appearance [The Merman Zone] Bruce Weitz: 1 appearance [Hill Street Blues]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

September 11, 1982

January 15, 1983

Known alterations:

Next Week is removed.

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.