
Saturday Night Live — Season 2
The 1976-1977 television season marked a pivotal second year for *Saturday Night Live* on NBC, running from September 18th, 1976 to May 21st, 1977. This period brought significant shifts both on and off stage. As Chevy Chase’s burgeoning film career pulled him away from the show, he departed after a memorable episode hosted by Buck Henry and featuring The Band. Stepping into the spotlight, Jane Curtin made history as the first woman to anchor *Weekend Update*. Shortly thereafter, Bill Murray joined the cast, bringing fresh energy to fill the space left by Chase’s absence. The season also witnessed a crucial rebranding moment. With ABC's separate program, *Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell*, now off the air, NBC officially adopted the title *Saturday Night Live* during an episode hosted by Jack Burns – a name that has endured ever since. Adding another layer to this evolving era, the beloved Muppet sketches bowed out after this season. Behind-the-scenes tensions simmered as well; head writer and performer Joe O’Donoghue famously voiced his displeasure with the Muppets in a candid Playboy interview, dismissing them with colorful language and refusing to contribute to their writing. His sentiments were underscored by a rather unsettling display in the writers' room – a mock lynching of Big Bird.

From New York City, here is Chevy Chase. The program features sketches with Lily Tomlin, arriving as the celebrated actress and performing without rehearsal; "Debate '76"; a segment on Legionnaire's Disease Outbreak; "The Phone Company";…

From New York, this is...Chevy Chase (by telephone). Tonight’s sketches feature Gilda’s plans for the autumn season, a discussion with Jimmy Carter on matters of sexual performance within the White House, Chevy’s Girls, a trial sitcom ti…

From New York City, this is Chevy Chase, by telephone! Tonight's sketches feature: A hospitalized Chevy confronting an imposter; a satirical look at Designer Babies; a portrayal of a KLOG Deejay; The Killer Bees; Cufflinks of the Gods; D…

From New York City, here is Chevy Chase! The program features sketches including his return, "Baba Wawa at Large," Debate '76, A*M*I*S*H, Cancer-free Cupcakes, "Love Russian Style," The Lunch Counter Reunion, Mr. Bill, and an Ode to America…

The collection features pieces titled "Yankees Lose," "Jeopardy 1999," "Speak Out For Milk," "The Beatnik Club," "Ted Baxter Kills Mary Richards," "Looks at Books," and "Mysteries in Medicine." Kinky Friedman performed "Dear Abby."

The collection features—a Halloween tale of a land-dwelling shark, a story titled "Not For Ladies Only," the adventures of a samurai stockbroker, Garrett Morris recounting his family history, a spirited debate from 1976, the marvel of the S…

From New York City, it's Gilda Radner. Her memorable sketches include: Chroma Trak Girl, Puppy Uppers and Doggie Downers, a satirical take on Nixon's Watergate scandal, Crossroads, Grandparent Bees, Mr. Mike’s less-than-popular bedtime …

From New York City, here is George Harrison. The program features sketches including a meeting between Paul Simon and Chevy Chase, portrayed as a pauper, on a city sidewalk; a conversation between Lorne and George Harrison, of the Quarr…

From New York City, it’s Gilda Radner. Tonight’s program features sketches including: Gilda’s limited appearance, "Wendy, Bee, Peter Pan and Tinkerbee," "Rovco's Puberty Helper," "Metal Man," Steve Bashekis, "I'm Not Black," "The Crush o…

From New York City, here is Gilda Radner! Tonight’s performance features sketches including: “Patty Hearst At Home,” “Jimmy Carter Can’t Keep His Promises,” “Santi-Wrap,” Consumer Probe, a public service announcement for the Right to Ext…

From New York City, it's Ralph Nader. Segments include: "Ralph Nader Wants to Break Free," "Badmouthing Grandfather," "Dress Rehearsal for Execution," "The Confederate Takeover," "Baba Wawa At Large," "The Coneheads," "Youth Ask Questio…

From New York City, here is Ruth Gordon! Tonight’s sketches feature—John Belushi is unwell and unable to appear, Barbara Streisand, Emily Litella and Her Sister, *Tomorrow with Tom Snyder*, *Little Old Ladies of The Night*, *Asking the B…

From New York City, here is Fran Tarkenton! Tonight’s offerings include: “Locker Room Pep Talk,” “Swiss Army Gun,” “Amy Carter in School,” “Chambers’ Missing Arm,” “Black Perspective,” “Home Restaurant,” “Community Appeal,” “Fran’s One-Nigh…

From New York City, here is Steve Martin! His comedic repertoire includes sketches from "Steve Martin's Ego Trip," a tax audit scene from "Coneheads," a bit on celebrity weightlifting, "Dr. Breadloaf's Quickloss Diet Book," "Pulling the Plu…

From the heart of New York City, here is Sissy Spacek! Tonight’s program features sketches including "Dave Wilson's Dead," "Burger Master," "Ask President Carter," "Belushi's Olympic Dream," "Gidget's Disease," "Bad Playhouse," and "White T…

From New York City, here is Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, and Linda Ronstadt! Tonight’s sketches feature “Goodbye Saccharine,” “Samurai Hit-Man,” “Broderick’s Old Neighborhood” (a film), “Mel’s Hide Heaven,” “Bill Murray, The N…

From New York City, presented here is John Belushi. The sketches include: "Belushi Refuses to Say," "The Coneheads," "Marine Wedding," segments from "The Untouchables" and "The Story of the Squatters," "Ask Big Daddy," Washed-Up Comedy Writ…

From the heart of New York City, here is Gilda Radner. Her memorable sketches include: Emily Litella’s New Love, Lowell Brock, Black Perspective, “Dr. X, Family Counselor,” Right On Afro Lustre, Great Moments in Motown, Creeley’s Soup, B…

From New York City, here is John Belushi! The sketches include: Brezhnev's desire to appear on *The Tonight Show*, The Castration Walk, Nick the Lounge Singer, "You've Come a Long Way, Buddy," United Face Bank, Jason and Sunshine, and Pilso…

From New York City, this is Bill Murray. The sketches include "Potato Torture," "The American Dope Growers Union," "The Nixon Interviews," Flight Attendant Sherry, "Plain Talk," "Heavy Wit Championship," a segment on Bill Murray's Bad Child…

From New York City, here is John Belushi. The program features sketches including—the "Bee Sketch," preempted by the Norton-Bobick fight; "Video Vixens"; a portrayal of a badly disguised bank robber; excerpts from *Viva Las Vegas II*; "B…

From the heart of New York City, here is Gilda Radner. Her memorable sketches include: Carter's earnest plea for energy conservation, Buck's audacious live performance, Samurai B.M.O.C.'s improbable battles, the enigmatic Shower Mike, th…


