I’m not going to rate this (though I will say Shearer’s impression is better than Crystal’s), but this was an interesting way to end the show.

The goodnights cut off on the original NBC broadcast before the credits roll, but if you watch a cable airing, you can see that the two-studio arrangement meant some extra technical crew (including eight cameramen). Mary Gross can be seen chatting with the guy playing Dwayne in SNL Mailbag, while Martin Short has his arm around Leon Mobley before he talks with Pamela Stephenson and a bored-looking Christopher Guest.

Final thoughts: A considerable step down from last week’s strong opening, but for the most part this was a show where the good and bad seemed to mitigate each other: Bob Uecker was a weak host, but he had some funny moments and a nice recovery from a line flub; the blackface aspect ultimately marring the otherwise well-done Ballplayers film; Peter Wolf’s energy and band elevating forgettable songs. There’s also a refreshing lack of the recurring sketches that would soon dominate the show this season, and a few genuinely overlooked pieces (7x4 being the most successful sketch of the night). It’s not a great show, but I give the cast and writers some credit for some good absurd humor and a willingness to take chances tonight.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

7x4

Snap, Crackle & Pop

Fresh Squeezed

The Mamie Eisenhower Center for the Dull

Tippi Turtle

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

The blackface in Ballplayers

Lost & Found

SNL Mailbag

MVP:

Harry Shearer

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

Jim Belushi : 3 appearances [Snap, Crackle & Pop, Lost & Found, Fresh Squeezed]

3 appearances [Snap, Crackle & Pop, Lost & Found, Fresh Squeezed] Billy Crystal : 5 appearances [Snap, Crackle & Pop, Little League Trade, Ballplayers, Saturday Night News, NBC Sports Update]

5 appearances [Snap, Crackle & Pop, Little League Trade, Ballplayers, Saturday Night News, NBC Sports Update] Mary Gross : 4 appearances [The Mamie Eisenhower Center for the Dull, 7x4, Saturday Night News, SNL Mailbag]; 1 voice-over [Tippi Turtle]

4 appearances [The Mamie Eisenhower Center for the Dull, 7x4, Saturday Night News, SNL Mailbag]; 1 voice-over [Tippi Turtle] Christopher Guest : 4 appearances [Password, Snap, Crackle & Pop, Ballplayers, Lost & Found], 1 voice-over [Tippi Turtle]

4 appearances [Password, Snap, Crackle & Pop, Ballplayers, Lost & Found], 1 voice-over [Tippi Turtle] Rich Hall : 2 appearances [7x4, Fresh Squeezed]

2 appearances [7x4, Fresh Squeezed] Gary Kroeger : 5 appearances [Snap, Crackle & Pop, Little League Trade, Brokaw’s Complaint, The Mamie Eisenhower Center for the Dull, 7x4]; 1 voice-over [Tippi Turtle]

5 appearances [Snap, Crackle & Pop, Little League Trade, Brokaw’s Complaint, The Mamie Eisenhower Center for the Dull, 7x4]; 1 voice-over [Tippi Turtle] Julia Louis-Dreyfus : 2 appearances [7x4, SNL Mailbag]; 1 voice-over [Monologue]

2 appearances [7x4, SNL Mailbag]; 1 voice-over [Monologue] Harry Shearer : 3 appearances [Monologue, Brokaw’s Complaint, NBC Sports Update]; 1 voice-over [The Mamie Eisenhower Center for the Dull]

3 appearances [Monologue, Brokaw’s Complaint, NBC Sports Update]; 1 voice-over [The Mamie Eisenhower Center for the Dull] Martin Short : 4 appearances [Password, Snap, Crackle & Pop, Brokaw’s Complaint, The Mamie Eisenhower Center for the Dull]

4 appearances [Password, Snap, Crackle & Pop, Brokaw’s Complaint, The Mamie Eisenhower Center for the Dull] Pamela Stephenson: 2 appearances [Password, An American Portrait]

crew and extras

Joe Dicso : 1 appearance [Monologue]

1 appearance [Monologue] Bob Tischler : 1 voice-over [Tippi Turtle]

: 1 voice-over [Tippi Turtle] Lily Nell Warren: 1 appearance [Snap, Crackle & Pop]

guests

Bob Uecker : 7 appearances [Monologue, Little League Trade, The Mamie Eisenhower Centre for the Dull, Saturday Night News, Lost & Found, Fresh Squeezed, NBC Sports Update]

: 7 appearances [Monologue, Little League Trade, The Mamie Eisenhower Centre for the Dull, Saturday Night News, Lost & Found, Fresh Squeezed, NBC Sports Update] Peter Wolf : 2 appearances [“Lights Out”, “I Need You Tonight”]

: 2 appearances [“Lights Out”, “I Need You Tonight”] The House of Hits All-Stars : 2 appearances [“Lights Out”, “I Need You Tonight”]

: 2 appearances [“Lights Out”, “I Need You Tonight”] Yogi Berra : 1 appearance [Ballplayers]

: 1 appearance [Ballplayers] Dave Winfield: 1 appearance [Ballplayers]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

Not rebroadcast on NBC

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.