Michael Palin says his mother can host by herself for her 90th birthday; Clint Smith is in his black sheep costume from "House Of Mutton", while a put-out Joe Piscopo mostly hangs around in the back.

"Lord Donald Pardo" announces next week's show in a bad British accent.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Eddie Murphy's presence continues to be missed in this mixed bag of a show. Michael Palin was a welcome presence, doing what he could with a fair bit of weak material this week; fortunately, there are some stronger highlights compared to last week, including one of the better Eddie-on-tape pieces from last September. Murphy's absence means the cast is relatively balanced in terms of airtime, though, with Mary Gross making up for her low sketch count with the highlight of the night's weakest piece. As mentioned before, this is also a turning point for the season, with the post-Brad Hall era of Saturday Night News beginning in earnest tonight, and the addition of filmed sketches letting the writers stretch beyond the limitations of Studio 8H.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

Mister Robinson's Neighborhood

A Boy's Life On The Mississippi

Shoplifter

Donahue

That's Okay

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

House Of Mutton

Mick Pitwhistle Does It All

Powerful Living Snaps

Boy George Burns: The Man and His Music

MVP:

Michael Palin

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

Jim Belushi : 4 appearances [Boy George Burns: The Man And His Music, Man On A Chain, That's Okay, Shoplifting]

: 4 appearances [Boy George Burns: The Man And His Music, Man On A Chain, That's Okay, Shoplifting] Robin Duke : 3 appearances [Man On A Chain, Mick Pitwhistle Does It All, House Of Mutton]

: 3 appearances [Man On A Chain, Mick Pitwhistle Does It All, House Of Mutton] Mary Gross : 2 appearances [Donahue, House Of Mutton]

: 2 appearances [Donahue, House Of Mutton] Brad Hall : 4 appearances [Donahue, Man On A Chain, That's Okay, House Of Mutton]

: 4 appearances [Donahue, Man On A Chain, That's Okay, House Of Mutton] Tim Kazurinsky : 5 appearances [Donahue, That's Okay, Shoplifting, Saturday Night News Science Report, House Of Mutton]; 1 voice-over [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood]

: 5 appearances [Donahue, That's Okay, Shoplifting, Saturday Night News Science Report, House Of Mutton]; 1 voice-over [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood] Gary Kroeger : 4 appearances [Donahue, That's Okay, Shoplifting, A Boy's Life On The Mississippi]

: 4 appearances [Donahue, That's Okay, Shoplifting, A Boy's Life On The Mississippi] Julia Louis-Dreyfus : 3 appearances [Donahue, That's Okay, House Of Mutton]

: 3 appearances [Donahue, That's Okay, House Of Mutton] Eddie Murphy : 1 appearance [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood]

: 1 appearance [Mister Robinson's Neighborhood] Joe Piscopo: 4 appearances [Donahue, Powerful Living Snaps, That's Okay, Saturday Night News Sports Report]; 1 voice-over [Boy George Burns: The Man And His Music]

crew and extras

Andy Breckman : 1 appearance [Donahue]

: 1 appearance [Donahue] Bob Christianson : 1 appearance [Boy George Burns: The Man And His Music]

: 1 appearance [Boy George Burns: The Man And His Music] Joe Dicso : 2 appearances [Donahue, Would You Believe It III]

: 2 appearances [Donahue, Would You Believe It III] Kevin Haney : 1 appearance [Donahue]

: 1 appearance [Donahue] Nate Herman : 1 appearance [Donahue]

: 1 appearance [Donahue] Kevin Kelton : 1 appearance [Donahue]

: 1 appearance [Donahue] Andrew Kurtzman : 1 appearance [Donahue]

: 1 appearance [Donahue] Lee Mayman : 1 appearance [Donahue]

: 1 appearance [Donahue] Michael Clayton McCarthy : 1 appearance [Donahue]

: 1 appearance [Donahue] Barry Nichols : 1 appearance [Donahue]

: 1 appearance [Donahue] Clint Smith: 1 appearance [House Of Mutton]

guests

Michael Palin : 9 appearances [Monologue, Man On A Chain, Mick Pitwhistle Does It All, Would You Believe It I, Would You Believe It II, Would You Believe It III, House Of Mutton, Save Lots Of Plankton, A Boy's Life On The Mississippi]

: 9 appearances [Monologue, Man On A Chain, Mick Pitwhistle Does It All, Would You Believe It I, Would You Believe It II, Would You Believe It III, House Of Mutton, Save Lots Of Plankton, A Boy's Life On The Mississippi] Mary Palin : 1 appearance [Monologue]

: 1 appearance [Monologue] The Motels: 2 appearance ["Suddenly Last Summer", "Remember The Nights"]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

June 16, 1984

Known alterations:

A Boys Life on the Mississippi edited.

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.