Saturday Night Live — Season 5
The 1979–1980 television season marked a pivotal moment for Saturday Night Live – its fifth year on NBC, and poignantly, the last with the iconic original cast. Premiering October 13, 1979, and wrapping up May 24, 1980, this season arrived after the departure of beloved stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the show’s future. Determined to keep the laughs coming, creator Lorne Michaels ingeniously elevated several talented writers to cast member roles: Peter Aykroyd, Jim Downey, Brian Doyle-Murray, Don Novello, Tom Schiller, and Alan Zweibel. Adding another layer of innovation, bandleader Paul Shaffer joined the ensemble, making history as the first musician from the SNL band to become a performer. Harry Shearer also came aboard as a featured player, quickly rising to repertory status throughout the season. What viewers didn’t know at the time was that this would be a farewell of sorts for everyone involved. While Tom Davis and Downey would return in later years as writers, and Al Franken, Doyle-Murray, Novello, and Shearer would eventually rejoin the cast, Season Five represented a definitive chapter's close – a moment preserved on DVD when it was released December 1, 2009.
The collection features pieces titled "The Pope's Doorman," "Craig's Travellers' Checks," "Free Spanish Lesson," "Juvenile Delinquent Vandal," "Rise," "Carole King," "The David Susskind Show," "Bolshoi Ballet," "The All-New Mr. Bill Show," …
The collection features pieces titled "Eric's Sick," "Hotel-Motel Art Fair," "Mr. Howard's Shoe Store," "Prince Charles Tells You How To Pick Up Girls!," "Hardcore II," "Heavy Sarcasm," and "Ask Elvis." Bob Dylan performs "Gotta Serve So…
The collection features pieces titled "Kennedy in '80," "Banshee," "The Black Shadow," "The Landers Files," "Mr. Bill at Home," "Nick in the Arctic," "Eleanor Roosevelt," "Sports Hot Line," and "Big n' Tall That's All." Chicago performs…
The collection features several short pieces: parodies of commercials for Harley's Bristol Cream and a film by Aviva Slesin titled "First Love," alongside sketches such as "Rush Home to the Bathroom," "Find the Popes in the Pizza Contest dr…
The collection features stories such as "Sex Change," "The Backers' Audition," and "First, He Cries."
The collection features excerpts from the "Steve Marvin Radio Show," alongside the first episodes of "The Al Franken Decade."
The collection features narratives such as "Quick Sex Change Operation," "Le Shoe," "Afraid of the Dark," "Striking Teachers," "Apocalypse Now," "First Love, Part 2," "Foreveready," "Criminals," "Minota AM-3 Camera," "Revisions of Freudian …
The collection features several short pieces, including "A Christmas Gift from the Shah," "Nerds Nativity," and "Java Junkie."
The collection features pieces titled "Paul McCartney in Japan: Day 11," "Craig's," "Somewhere Near Mason City, Iowa," "Debs Behind Bars," "Anchovy Council of America," "Bad Playhouse," "Baby Casting Director," and "The Mr. Bill Show." The …
From New York City, here is Chevy Chase! Tonight’s sketches feature “Henry Kissinger and Gerald Ford,” “Pre-Chewed Charlies,” The Bel Airabs, “You Can’t Win,” Speaking of Fashion, “Linden Palmer, Hollywood’s Forgotten Director,” and “Hondur…
The collection features works such as "Kramer vs. Godzilla," "The Incredible Man," Andy Aaron’s film "Get Rid of That Building," and "All-Time Radio."
The collection features the following pieces: "Kirk's Greatest Kirks," "What If?," "Arlene Meets Kirk Douglas," "Greg's Bar Mitzvah," "Prime Time Saturday," and "Mask of Fear."
The collection features—an account of the Dressing Room opening, a visit to Dr. Shockley's House of Sperm, observations on the people of Niggerands in Manhasset, a piece on The Substitute Judge, and Celebrity Corner, where Bill Murray conve…
The collection features stories such as "Anniversary Seance," "Todd's Campaign," "The Biggest Leprechaun," "The Flogging Musicians," "Talk or Die," and "The David Susskind Show." Paul Simon and James Taylor perform "Cathy's Clown / Take…
The collection features pieces entitled "Women Empowerment" and "Hotel Room/Smell You."
The collection features stories such as "Burt's Not Angry," "Vomitorium," "The Burt Book," "Be a Pepper," and "Baba Wawa at Large." Anne Murray lends her voice to the song "Lucky Me."
Strother Martin hosts the episode, with The Specials as the musical guest. The sketches for this installment include Rosalyn Carter discussing sections of the 1980 census purportedly designed for undocumented immigrants. These sections repo…
The collection features pieces titled "Mysteries of the Universe," "The Dating Zone," "Writing Home," and "Mr. Bill." The Amazing Rhythm Aces, with Bill Murray on vocals, present "Third-Rate Romance."
The collection features: "Father Guido Sarducci, Live from London," "Real Incredible People," "Stretch Marks Record Offer," "Reagan's Dinner," and "The Hominids." 3-D presented "All-Night Television."
Greetings from New York City, this is Harry Shearer. Tonight’s performance features sketches including "Election '80: Almost Halfway Over," the "SNL Stars of the Future" monologue, "Lord and Lady Douchebag," "Uncle Roy," and "Nick at Tr…
