Saturday Night Live - Season 3

Saturday Night Live - Season 3

Season 3

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.
Network
Episodes20
DatesSep 24, 1977 - May 20, 1978
Previous SeasonNext Season

Episodes

Steve Martin / Jackson Browne
Season 3Episode 190 min

Steve Martin / Jackson Browne

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"
Sep 24, 1977
Madeline Kahn / Taj Mahal
Season 3Episode 290 min

Madeline Kahn / Taj Mahal

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""
Oct 8, 1977
Hugh Hefner / Libby Titus
Season 3Episode 390 min

Hugh Hefner / Libby Titus

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"
Oct 15, 1977
Charles Grodin / Paul Simon and The Persuasions
Season 3Episode 490 min

Charles Grodin / Paul Simon and The Persuasions

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"
Oct 29, 1977
Ray Charles / Ray Charles and The Raelettes
Season 3Episode 590 min

Ray Charles / Ray Charles and The Raelettes

Ray Charles hosts and performs.

Nov 12, 1977
Buck Henry / Leon Redbone
Season 3Episode 690 min

Buck Henry / Leon Redbone

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"
Nov 19, 1977
Mary Kay Place / Willie Nelson
Season 3Episode 790 min

Mary Kay Place / Willie Nelson

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".
Dec 10, 1977
Mrs. Miskel Spillman / Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Season 3Episode 890 min

Mrs. Miskel Spillman / Elvis Costello and the Attractions

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"
Dec 17, 1977
Steve Martin / The Nitty Gritty Dirty Band
Season 3Episode 990 min

Steve Martin / The Nitty Gritty Dirty Band

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?"
Jan 21, 1978
Robert Klein / Bonnie Raitt
Season 3Episode 1090 min

Robert Klein / Bonnie Raitt

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""
Jan 28, 1978
Chevy Chase / Billy Joel
Season 3Episode 1190 min

Chevy Chase / Billy Joel

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"
Feb 18, 1978
O.J. Simpson / Ashford & Simpson
Season 3Episode 1290 min

O.J. Simpson / Ashford & Simpson

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"
Feb 25, 1978
Art Garfunkel / Stephen Bishop
Season 3Episode 1390 min

Art Garfunkel / Stephen Bishop

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""
Mar 11, 1978
Jill Clayburgh / Eddie Money
Season 3Episode 1490 min

Jill Clayburgh / Eddie Money

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"
Mar 18, 1978
Christopher Lee / Meat Loaf
Season 3Episode 1590 min

Christopher Lee / Meat Loaf

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""
Mar 25, 1978
Michael Palin / Eugene Record
Season 3Episode 1690 min

Michael Palin / Eugene Record

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"
Apr 8, 1978
Michael Sarrazin / Keith Jarrett
Season 3Episode 1790 min

Michael Sarrazin / Keith Jarrett

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"
Apr 15, 1978
Steve Martin / The Blues Brothers
Season 3Episode 1890 min

Steve Martin / The Blues Brothers

*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".
Apr 22, 1978
Richard Dreyfuss / Jimmy Buffett
Season 3Episode 1990 min

Richard Dreyfuss / Jimmy Buffett

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",
May 13, 1978
Buck Henry / Sun Ra
Season 3Episode 2090 min

Buck Henry / Sun Ra

Buck Henry hosts with musical guest Sun Ra.

May 20, 1978

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