With some time to kill, Charlene Tilton asks Charlene Rocket how he's doing. Rocket replies: "Oh man, it's the first time I've ever been shot in my life. I'd like to know who the fuck did it", then smirks. Everyone's reaction is priceless: Tilton cackles, Dillon looks shocked, Risley puts her hand over her mouth, Murphy makes a face similar to his Mister Robinson reaction shot before breaking into a huge grin, Laurance really seems to enjoy it, and Matthius has a naughty look on her face.

The band start to play, and the camera makes a rare pan over to the side stage: you can see pretty much the whole group there.

Over the closing theme, Don Pardo announces the next show will be in two weeks with Bill Murray, and confesses that he shot Charles Rocket for fooling around with his wife, with a Smith & Wesson bought from the Spiegel catalog ("Chicago, 60608").

FINAL THOUGHTS:

If it weren't for the incident during the goodnights, this would just be a typical 1980-81 show, with maybe a slight improvement over the three previous shows thanks to Mister Robinson and one of the better Rocket Reports. There's still a long and pointless sketch, a few bits that either fail to fully live up to their promise or are only saved by their brevity, and a Weekend Update that seems to be aware of how bad it is, but there are still signs of life throughout the show. One thing I've noticed about watching this particular episode is that now that you know what happens during the goodnights, it helps the runner feel more like it's leading up to something.

Rocket's comment seems more deliberate than just a mere slip a la Jenny Slate or Paul Shaffer, but it still has the feeling of something tossed off and in-the-moment. It would lead to the end of the line for Doumanian's version of the show and follow Rocket to his grave, but the use of the word "fuck" seems more like a quick lapse in judgement than anything overtly premeditated.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

The reaction to Rocket during the goodnights.

Mister Robinson's Neighborhood

The Rocket Report

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

Pork Parade

Weekend Update

Speaking Out

Submissive Sugar Daddies

Backstage

Mary Louise

Lincoln Bedroom

MVP:

Eddie Murphy

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast:

Denny Dillon : 6 appearances [Pork Parade, Lincoln Bedroom, Speaking Out, Women Behind Bars, Mary Louise, After Midnight]

: 6 appearances [Pork Parade, Lincoln Bedroom, Speaking Out, Women Behind Bars, Mary Louise, After Midnight] Gilbert Gottfried : 5 appearances [Greatest Records of All Time, Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, Weekend Update, Backstage, After Midnight]

: 5 appearances [Greatest Records of All Time, Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, Weekend Update, Backstage, After Midnight] Gail Matthius : 7 appearances [Monologue, Pork Parade, Weekend Update, Lincoln Bedroom, The Competition, Women Behind Bars, After Midnight]

: 7 appearances [Monologue, Pork Parade, Weekend Update, Lincoln Bedroom, The Competition, Women Behind Bars, After Midnight] Eddie Murphy : 4 appearances [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, A Fiddler Be On The Roof, Lincoln Bedroom, After Midnight]

: 4 appearances [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, A Fiddler Be On The Roof, Lincoln Bedroom, After Midnight] Joe Piscopo : 5 appearances [Super Fight, Monologue, The Competition, SNL Sports, After Midnight], 2 voiceovers [A Fiddler Be On The Roof, The Competition]

: 5 appearances [Super Fight, Monologue, The Competition, SNL Sports, After Midnight], 2 voiceovers [A Fiddler Be On The Roof, The Competition] Ann Risley : 6 appearances [Monologue, Greatest Records of All Time, Pork Parade, Lincoln Bedroom, Women Behind Bars, After Midnight]

: 6 appearances [Monologue, Greatest Records of All Time, Pork Parade, Lincoln Bedroom, Women Behind Bars, After Midnight] Charles Rocket: 5 appearances [Monologue, Pork Parade, The Rocket Report, Weekend Update, After Midnight]

featured players

Yvonne Hudson : 2 appearances [Pork Parade, Women Behind Bars]

: 2 appearances [Pork Parade, Women Behind Bars] Matthew Laurance: 2 appearances [Backstage, Speaking Out]

crew and extras

Billy Brown : 1 appearance [After Midnight]

: 1 appearance [After Midnight] Joe Dicso : 1 appearance [After Midnight]

: 1 appearance [After Midnight] Neil Levy : 2 appearances [A Fiddler Be On The Roof, After Midnight]

: 2 appearances [A Fiddler Be On The Roof, After Midnight] Liz Welch: 1 appearance [After Midnight]

guests

Charlene Tilton : 7 appearances [Monologue, Pork Parade, The Rocket Report, Backstage, Women Behind Bars, Submissive Sugar Daddies, After Midnight]

: 7 appearances [Monologue, Pork Parade, The Rocket Report, Backstage, Women Behind Bars, Submissive Sugar Daddies, After Midnight] Todd Rundgren : 2 appearances ["Healer", "Time Heals"]

: 2 appearances ["Healer", "Time Heals"] Prince : 1 appearance ["Partyup"]

: 1 appearance ["Partyup"] Don King : 1 appearance [SNL Sports]

: 1 appearance [SNL Sports] Marc Weiner: 2 appearances [Super Fight, SNL Sports]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

Not rebroadcast on NBC.

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.