Saturday Night Live (season 8)

Saturday Night Live (season 8)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	20
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 25, 1982 – May 14, 1983
Season chronology

The eighth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 25, 1982, and May 14, 1983.

Cast changes

Many changes happened before the start of the season. Brian Doyle-Murray, Christine Ebersole and Tony Rosato were dropped from the show to make room for new cast members. Hired in their places were Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Hall's future wife and future Seinfeld cast member), and Gary Kroeger. All three had been members of Chicago's Practical Theatre Company along with Paul Barrosse, who was hired as a writer.

Format changes

Dick Ebersol brought back the show's cold openings that ended with "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" and the monologues by the host. Ebersol also changed Weekend Update's name for the second time, to Saturday Night News. Since Doyle-Murray and Ebersole had both been dropped, a new anchor was needed for the segment. Hall got the gig and became the new anchor.

Notable sketches

Notable moments of this season included Drew Barrymore hosting the show—the youngest ever person to host. During the episode, the audience at home was given the chance to vote on whether or not Andy Kaufman should be banned from the show. The vote was conducted by a 1-900 number. At the end of the show, Kaufman was banned from ever performing on SNL again.

Another notable moment was when Eddie Murphy hosted the show. Murphy substituted for his 48 Hours co-star Nick Nolte after Nolte fell ill (Nolte became hungover following a night of partying at Studio 54). Murphy became the only person to have hosted the show while still a cast member. He controversially announced "Live from New York, it's the Eddie Murphy Show!" Murphy's hosting gig angered most of the cast and crew, particularly Joe Piscopo.

Cast

Repertory cast members Robin Duke Mary Gross Brad Hall Tim Kazurinsky Gary Kroeger Julia Louis-Dreyfus Eddie Murphy Joe Piscopo bold denotes Weekend Update anchor Writers This season's writers were Paul Barrosse, Barry W. Blaustein, Robin Duke, Ellen L. Fogle, Nate Herman, Tim Kazurinsky, Andy Kurtzman, Eddie Murphy, Pamela Norris, Margaret Oberman, Joe Piscopo, David Sheffield, Andrew Smith, Bob Tischler, Tracy Tormé and Eliot Wald. The head writers were Bob Tischler and Andrew Smith. Episodes No. overall No. in season Host(s) Musical guest(s) Original air date 140 1 Chevy Chase Queen September 25, 1982 Host Chevy Chase performed from Burbank, California, via satellite Queen performed "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"[1] (introduced by Danny DeVito in a short cameo) and "Under Pressure"[1] (Queen's final live performance in America with Freddie Mercury) Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Gary Kroeger's first episode as cast members Don Pardo returns to his announcing duties Guest appearances by Siskel & Ebert who review a few of the sketches 141 2 Louis Gossett, Jr. George Thorogood & the Destroyers October 2, 1982 Guest appearance by Eddie Murphy's father. George Thorogood & The Destroyers performed "Bad to the Bone" and "Back in Wentzville."[1] Mr. T appeared in the "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood" and "Mr. and Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix" sketches. 142 3 Ron Howard The Clash October 9, 1982 The Clash performed "Straight to Hell" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go,"[1] from their recently released album Combat Rock Guest appearance by Harry Anderson Howard reprised his Opie Taylor character in the "Mayberry 1982" sketch; Andy Griffith also appeared in the sketch, reprising his character Andy Taylor 143 4 Howard Hesseman Men at Work October 23, 1982 Men at Work performed "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Down Under".[1] 144 5 Michael Keaton The New Joe Jackson Band October 30, 1982 Guest appearance by Michael Palin. Joe Jackson performed "Steppin' Out" and "Another World."[1] Robin Duke does not appear in this episode. 145 6 Robert Blake Kenny Loggins November 13, 1982 Merv Griffin appeared in the cold opening. Kenny Loggins performed "Heart to Heart" and "I Gotta Try."[1] 146 7 Drew Barrymore Squeeze November 20, 1982 During this episode, the audience at home was given the chance to vote on whether or not Andy Kaufman, a regular guest on SNL, should be banned from the show. The vote was conducted by a 1-900 number. At the end of the night, the people had spoken, and Kaufman was banned from ever performing on SNL again. Squeeze performed "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Pulling Mussels (from the Shell)."[1] 147 8 The Smothers Brothers Laura Branigan December 4, 1982 Laura Branigan performed "Gloria" and "Living a Lie".[1] 148 9 Eddie Murphy Lionel Richie December 11, 1982 Eddie Murphy substituted for his 48 Hours co-star Nick Nolte after Nolte fell ill (Nolte became hung over following a night of partying at Studio 54) During the cold opening, Murphy controversially announced "Live from New York, it's the Eddie Murphy Show!" Steve Martin appeared near the end to chastise Eddie Murphy for being a second choice. This was the only appearance by Steve Martin in an SNL episode not produced by Lorne Michaels (seasons 6–10) Guest appearance by Harry Anderson Lionel Richie performed "You Are" and "Truly."[1] 149 10 Lily Tomlin Tomlin as Pervis Hawkins January 22, 1983 Lily Tomlin acts as both host and musical guest for this episode Tomlin opens the show by announcing "Live from New York, it's the Lily Tomlin Show!" in reference to Murphy's opening the previous week Andy Kaufman makes a guest appearance in a pre-taped segment ostensibly as "bought commercial time" since this is the only way that he can still get to appear on SNL Guest appearances by Bob and Doug McKenzie to promote the following week's show 150 11 Rick Moranis Dave Thomas The Bus Boys January 29, 1983 The Bus Boys performed "The Boys Are Back in Town" and "New Shoes."[1] 151 12 Sid Caesar Joe Cocker Jennifer Warnes February 5, 1983 Guest appearance by Harry Anderson. Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes performed "Up Where We Belong," and Cocker performed "Seven Days."[1] 152 13 Howard Hesseman Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers February 19, 1983 Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers performed "The Waiting" and "Change of Heart"[1] Howard Hesseman presents a film tribute to the late John Belushi prepared by Belushi's wife 153 14 Beau Bridges Jeff Bridges Randy Newman February 26, 1983 Lloyd Bridges appeared in the monologue, telling his sons who he preferred more. Randy Newman performed "I Love L.A." and "Real Emotional Girl."[1] 154 15 Bruce Dern Leon Redbone March 12, 1983 This show features the death of Buckwheat which would carry on to next week's episode. Leon Redbone performed "Sweet Sue," "When You Wish Upon a Star," and "I Ain't Got Nobody."[1] 155 16 Robert Guillaume Duran Duran March 19, 1983 Duran Duran performed "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Girls on Film."[1] 156 17 Joan Rivers Musical Youth April 9, 1983 Musical Youth performed "Pass the Dutchie" and "Never Gonna Give You Up."[1] 157 18 Susan Saint James Michael McDonald April 16, 1983 Guest appearance by Steven Wright. Michael McDonald performed "If That's What It Takes" and "I Can't Let Go Now."[1] 158 19 Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder May 7, 1983 Michael Davis, Greg Dean, and Andy Murphy make guest appearances. Stevie Wonder performed "Overjoyed" and "Go Home."[1] 159 20 Ed Koch Kevin Rowland Dexys Midnight Runners May 14, 1983 Guest appearances by Harry Anderson, Don King, and Marv Albert. Kevin Rowland and Dexys Midnight Runners performed "Come On Eileen" and "The Celtic Soul Brothers."[1] References Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 124–127. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.