Saturday Night Live

Season 3

September 24, 1977

20Episodes

6.5

Saturday Night Live aired its third season during the 1977–1978 television season on NBC. The season began on September 24, 1977 and ended on May 20, 1978. The DVD for the entire season was released on May 13, 2008. The entire cast from the previous season returned for season three. The show also introduced the concept of the "featured player." Writers Tom Davis and Al Franken became cast members. The season is also notable for the contest, Anyone Can Host. During the start of the season the show advertised the contest for a non-celebrity to host the show. The winner was 80 year-old grandmother Miskel Spillman, the only non-celebrity to host an SNL episode. During Spillman's show the musical guest, Elvis Costello, halted his band, the Attractions, seven seconds into the song "Less Than Zero", launching into "Radio Radio", an as-yet unreleased song critical of mainstream broadcasting. The change angered Lorne Michaels, who banned future appearances on the show for a while. Chevy Chase's hosted during the season, making him the first cast member to host after leaving the show. Backstage during the show Chase and Bill Murray engaged in a physical altercation that was broken up by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Chase later accused Murray of trying to upstage him on set and for making explicit remarks about Chase's wife. Chase would host the show several times throughout the show's history, though he was unpopular with the cast and crew.

Episodes

1. Steve Martin/Jackson Browne

7.7

September 24, 1977

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"Bert Lance National Express Card", "Kromega III", "Wild & Crazy Guys", "Mike McMack, Defense Lawyer", "Trinity 3000 Computer", "Great Moments In Rock & Roll", "Mr. U.S.A. Pageant", "Royal Deluxe II"

Guest Stars:

Other Seasons

Season 1

24 Episodes

Season 2

22 Episodes

Season 4

20 Episodes

Season 5

20 Episodes

Season 6

13 Episodes

Season 7

20 Episodes

2. Madeline Kahn/Taj Mahal

6.0

October 8, 1977

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Bill Murray Sketches include--"Lee Harry Oswald", "Swill", "Bad Opera", "The 'Anyone Can Host' Contest", "Bianca Jagger Talks with Close Personal Friends", "The Acid Generation - Where Are They Now?", "Blind African-American", "Autumn In New York", "Ultra-Personal Feminine Product", "Dubbing Hercules", "Dame Edna Everage", "Pocket Pal", "Phone Secrets""

Guest Stars:

Madeline Kahn, Taj Mahal, Barry Humphries, Lorne Michaels, Tom Schiller

3. Hugh Hefner/Libby Titus

5.0

October 15, 1977

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman Sketches include--"Playboy Bunny", "Angora Bouquet", "Planet Of The Men Vs. Planet Of The Women", "The 'Anyone Can Host' Contest", "The X-Police", "Circular Bed Sex Research", "Listening To Great Music", "Sex In Cinema", "3 R's", "The Story Of H", "Funeral Magician", "The Farbers at the Playboy Club"

Guest Stars:

Libby Titus, Hugh Hefner, Andy Kaufman, Anne Beatts, Tom Davis

4. Charles Grodin/Paul Simon and The Persuaders

6.0

October 29, 1977

67 min

Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include--"Grodin Misses Dress Rehearsal", "Weekend Update Ad", "The Coneheads", "Long-Winded Set-Up", "Consumer Probe", "The 'Anyone Can Host' Contest", "Samurai Dry Cleaners", "Trick-or-Treating Killer Bees", "Judy Miller"", "The Professional School of Football", "Incompetents"

Guest Stars:

Charles Grodin, Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Michael O'Donoghue, Alan Zweibel

5. Ray Charles and the Raylettes

6.0

November 12, 1977

67 min

Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include-- "Don Corleone", "A Message From the President of the United States", "Mamorex", "Howdy Doody's Widow", "Tomorrow", "The Young Caucasians", "Ray Charles Medley", "Franklyn Ajaye", "Evelyn Woodski Slow Reading Course", "Blackout Burglary", "Buck Henry Announcement".

Guest Stars:

Ray Charles, Franklyn Ajaye, Michael O'Donoghue, Buck Henry, Tom Davis

6. Buck Henry/Leon Redbone

6.0

November 19, 1977

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Anyone Can Host Contest Finalists Sketches include--"The 'Anyone Can Host' Contest Finalists", "Little Chocolate Donuts", "Samurai Psychiatrist", "Stunt Babies", "Motel Sanitation Items", "Tomorrow", "Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow", "The Rickey Rat Club", "The History of Franken & Davis", "Jackie Onassis", "'Anyone Can Host' Contest Film ", "Life After Death"

Guest Stars:

Miskel Spillman, Leon Redbone, Michael O'Donoghue, Buck Henry, Al Franken

7. Mary Kay Place/Willie Nelson

6.5

December 10, 1977

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Mary Kay Place, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, & Jane Curtin Sketches include--"Peppiest Show Ever", "Hey, You!", "More Insects To Worry About", "Total Womanhood", "Married In A Minute!", "Bad Musical", "Hanukkah Explanation".

Guest Stars:

Willie Nelson, Andy Kaufman, Mary Kay Place, Tom Davis, Jim Downey

8. Mrs. Miskel Spillman/Elvis Costello and the Attractions

5.5

December 17, 1977

67 min

Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include ""America's Oldest Living Doper," "Meat Wagon Toy Ambulance," "Dating the Self-Conscious & Extremely Obnoxious," "Gift of the Magi," "Starsky and Hutch," "The Al Franken and Tom Davis Show," "E. Buzz Miller's Art Classics," "College Students Home For Christmas," "Drunken Santa," "Madame Butterfly"

Guest Stars:

Tom Davis, Elvis Costello, Miskel Spillman, Buck Henry, Tom Schiller

9. Steve Martin/The Nitty Gritty Dirty Band

7.7

January 21, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"State of the Union Address", "Swill", "Searching For Bigfoot", "Wild & Crazy Guys", "Body Floss", "The Coneheads On 'Family Feud'", "'Close Personal Friends' Film", "What If?"

Guest Stars:

Steve Martin, Randy Newman, Tom Davis, Mitchell Laurance

E10

10. Robert Klein/Bonnie Raitt

7.0

January 28, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Paul Shaffer Sketches include--"Mr. Mike & Tina Turner Review", "Olympia Cafe", "The X-Police", "Nick Winters", "Nerds Album", "Frogs Look At Film ", "Giant Lobster Attack Warning", "Rhonda Weiss", "Attack Of The Giant Lobsters", "Lobsters Wreck The Studio""

Guest Stars:

Bonnie Raitt, Michael O'Donoghue, Robert Klein, Anne Beatts, Rosie Shuster

E11

11. Chevy Chase/Billy Joel

6.5

February 18, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Chevy Chase Sketches include--"A Former President Speaks to the Nation", "The Moth Masher", "Post-Sex Discussion", "King", "Customs Trainee", "Bad Day Soundtrack Film", "Sermonette", "World War II GI Quiz", "Sketch With No Ending"

Guest Stars:

Billy Joel, Valri Bromfield, Chevy Chase, Tom Davis, Al Franken

E12

12. O.J. Simpson/Ashford and Simpson

8.0

February 25, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include--"Gilda Answers Audience Questions", "Samurai Night Fever", "Great Moments In Sports", "The Mohawk Master", "The Raid On Nicosia", "Voodoo", "The Franken & Davis Show", "Mandingo II", "E. Buzz Miller's Animal Kingdom", "Hertz Ad", "Celebrity Battle of the Sexes"

Guest Stars:

O. J. Simpson, Tom Davis, Paul Shaffer, Tom Schiller, Al Franken

E13

13. Art Garfunkel/Stephen Bishop

7.5

March 11, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include--"Modern Crimes", "Kromega III", "Tomorrow", "Miracle In Chicago", "Stage Door Guard", "Looks At Books", "Don't Look Back In Anger", "Looking For Mr. Goodbar Playset""

Guest Stars:

Stephen Bishop, Art Garfunkel, Lorne Michaels, Howard Shore, Andy Kaufman

E14

14. Jill Clayburgh/Eddie Money

5.5

March 18, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Garrett Morris Sketches include--"Garrett Morris sings 'Danny Boy'", "Royal Deluxe II", "Olympia Cafe", "Sybil III", "Bad One-Man Theater", "Nutrifix", "Myopia", "Shower Mike", "The Coneheads On Earth", "Celebrity Crack-Up"

Guest Stars:

Jill Clayburgh, Tom Schiller, Rosie Shuster, Eddie Money, Anne Beatts

E15

15. Christopher Lee/Meat Loaf

6.7

March 25, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include--"Kevin Scott", "Movie Trailers", "My Fair Lady", "Mr. Death", "Anwar Sadat", "Cold As Ice", "Dell Stator's Rabbit Hut", "Vampire Hunters", "Richard Belzer", "Mr. Bill Goes To The Circus""

Guest Stars:

Meat Loaf, Walter Williams, Stacy Keach, Richard Belzer, Christopher Lee

E16

16. Michael Palin/Eugene Record

7.0

April 8, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"Oscar Awards", "Little Chocolate Donuts", "Tax Deductions", "H&L Brock", "Great Escape", "Nerds Piano Lesson", "The Case of the Scarlet Membrane", "Good Time At Party", "Mr. Bill Pays His Taxes", "Danger Probe"

Guest Stars:

Eugene Record, Walter Williams, Tom Davis, Jim Downey, Al Franken

E17

17. Michael Sarrazin/Keith Jarrett

5.5

April 15, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman Sketches include--"A Message From the President of the United States", "Angora Bouquet", "Judy Miller", "E. Buzz Miller's Exercise World", "La Dolce Gilda", "Abraham Lincoln in the Audience", "Archaeologicus"

Guest Stars:

Michael Sarrazin, Keith Jarrett, Paul Shaffer, Anne Beatts, Tom Davis

E18

18. Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers

7.7

April 22, 1978

67 min

*Nominated for an Emmy Award* Live From New York, It's...Paul Shaffer Sketches include--"Don Kirshner's Rock Concert", "Hey You!", "Wild & Crazy Guys", "Theodoric of York", "Dancing In The Dark", "Extramarital Foreplay", "Swan Lake", "Troff 'n' Brew", "Nerds Science Fair", "Next Week In Review".

Guest Stars:

Steve Cropper, Steve Martin, Donald 'Duck' Dunn, Lou Marini, Tom Schiller

E19

19. Richard Dreyfuss/Jimmy Buffett

6.5

May 13, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Bill Murray Sketches include--"Paraquat", "Cone Encounters of the Third Kind", "Sex Test", "Nick 'Springs'", "Annoying Lovers' Traits", "The David Susskind Show", "Father Guido Sarducci",

Guest Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Shaffer, Anne Beatts, Rosie Shuster

E20

20. Buck Henry/Sun Ra

6.0

May 20, 1978

67 min

Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include-- "Nixon Kicks His Book Around", "Nerds Go To The Prom", "Samurai TV Repairman", "Sodom Chamber of Commerce", "Olympia Cafe", "Mr. Mike's Least Loved Music", "More Insects To Worry About", "Stunt Puppy", "Bad Conceptual Art", "The Franken & Davis Show".

Guest Stars:

Sun Ra, Tom Davis, Buck Henry, Tom Schiller, Al Franken