Classic SNL Review: February 27, 1988: Judge Reinhold / 10,000 Maniacs (S13E13)

Classic SNL Review: February 27, 1988: Judge Reinhold / 10,000 Maniacs (S13E13)

Sketches include “Pumping Up With Hans & Franz”, “Wilson Trap Doors”, “Church Chat”, “Airline”, “Jorge Garcia, Nice Guy Dictator”, “The Cop & The Prostitute”, “When Great Minds Meet” and “Pirates”. 10,000 Maniacs performs “Like The Weather” and “What’s The Matter Here”.

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Classic SNL Review: February 13, 1988: Justine Bateman / Terence Trent D'Arby (S13E11)

Classic SNL Review: February 13, 1988: Justine Bateman / Terence Trent D'Arby (S13E11)

Sketches include “Republican Debate 88”, “Family Ties”, “Learning To Feel”, “Derek’s Comeback”, “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre”, “What Do Your Friends Think”, and “Friday Night Videos”. Terence Trent D’Arby performs “Wishing Well” and “Under My Thumb”.

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Classic SNL Review: January 30, 1988: Carl Weathers / Robbie Robertson (S13E10)

Classic SNL Review: January 30, 1988: Carl Weathers / Robbie Robertson (S13E10)

Sketches include “BushWhacked!”, “The NFL Today”, “Democratic Debate 88”, “Mother-In-Law II”, “Not An Actress”, “Master Thespian”, and “The Garden”. Robbie Robertson performs “Testimony” and “Somewhere Down The Crazy River” with Maria McKee and the BoDeans.

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Classic SNL Review: January 23, 1988: Robin Williams / James Taylor (S13E09)

Classic SNL Review: January 23, 1988: Robin Williams / James Taylor (S13E09)

Sketches include “Pumping Up With Hans & Franz”, “Proud Dad”, “Learning To Feel”, “Robin Jr.”, “The 8th Annual ACE Awards”, “Discover” and “I Wuv You”. James Taylor performs “Never Die Young”, “Sweet Potato Pie”, and “That Lonesome Road”.

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Classic SNL Review: December 12, 1987: Angie Dickinson / David Gilmour, Buster Poindexter (S13E07)

Classic SNL Review: December 12, 1987: Angie Dickinson / David Gilmour, Buster Poindexter (S13E07)

Sketches include “Translator”, “Stewardess”, “Donahue”, “Wedgie Fever!”, “Christmas Party”, “Police Women”, “The Assimilated Jew’s Hanukkah” and “Drunk Man”. Buster Poindexter performs “Hot Hot Hot” with The Banshees of Blue and the Uptown Horns. David Gilmour performs “Song For My Sara” with the SNL Band.

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Classic SNL Review: November 21, 1987: Candice Bergen / Cher (S13E05)

Classic SNL Review: November 21, 1987: Candice Bergen / Cher (S13E05)

Sketches include “A Message From The Vice-President”, “Pumping Up With Hans & Franz”, “Anne Boleyn”, “Manufacturers of Machine Part Components United To Save Our Courts”, “Ching Change”, “Mayflower Madam”, “Country Through And Through”, “Thought Bubbles”, and “Peeping Tom”. Cher performs “We All Sleep Alone” and “I Found Someone” with Paul Shaffer & The World’s Most Dangerous Band.

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Classic SNL Review: October 31. 1987: Dabney Coleman / The Cars (S13E03)

Classic SNL Review: October 31. 1987: Dabney Coleman / The Cars (S13E03)

Sketches include “Lifestyles of the Rich, Famous and Scary”, “Fiber”, “The Winning Spirit”, “Don’t Go Down To The Basement”, “Scoutmaster”, “Marriage Counselor”, “Count Dracula, Self-Taught Auto Mechanic”, “The Pat Stevens Show”, “Mascots”, and “Stockbroker”. The Cars perform “Strap Me In” and “Double Trouble”. Special guest appearance by Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson).

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Classic SNL Review: October 17, 1987: Steve Martin / Sting (S13E01)

Classic SNL Review: October 17, 1987: Steve Martin / Sting (S13E01)

Sketches include “White House Dinner”, “Gary Hart”, “Common Knowledge”, “The NFL Today”, “Slide Whistles”, “Bullets Aren’t Cheap”, “Free Speaking”, “Adventures In The Lost Realm”, and “Pumping Up with Hans & Franz”. Sting performs “We’ll Be Together” and “Little Wing”.

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Classic SNL Review: April 18, 1987: John Larroquette / Timbuk 3 (S12E17)

Classic SNL Review: April 18, 1987: John Larroquette / Timbuk 3 (S12E17)

Sketches include “Pagan Easter Special”, “Sold Out Gold”, “Mother-In-Law”, “Collecting Evidence”, “Instant Coffee”, “Heaven”, “ICM” and “Enigma”. Timbuk 3 perform “Just Another Movie” and “Hairstyles and Attitudes”. The cast also presents a tribute to retiring cameraman Al Camoin.

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Classic SNL Review: February 14, 1987: Bronson Pinchot / Paul Young (S12E11)

Classic SNL Review: February 14, 1987: Bronson Pinchot / Paul Young (S12E11)

Sketches include “Heaven”, “Amerida”, “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue”, “Jingle”, “Valentine’s Day”, “The Life of Golda Meir”, “Sketch Artist”, “Hardware Store” and “Miss Connie’s Fable Nook”. Paul Young performs “War Games” and “in The Long Run”. Buster Poindexter performs “Heart of Gold”. Supermodel Paulina Porizkova also appears.

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Classic SNL Review: January 24, 1987: Joe Montana and Walter Payton / Debbie Harry (S12E09)

Classic SNL Review: January 24, 1987: Joe Montana and Walter Payton / Debbie Harry (S12E09)

Sketches include “NFL Video Countdown”, “Bar”, “The Honest Man”, “Crack”, “The NFL Today”, “Mace”, “Chick Hazard, Private Investigator”, “Church Chat”, “The Michael Jackson Workout Tape” and “United Way”. Debbie Harry performs “French Kissin’ in the USA” and “In Love With Love”.

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Classic SNL Review: December 20, 1986: William Shatner / Lone Justice (S12E08)

Classic SNL Review: December 20, 1986: William Shatner / Lone Justice (S12E08)

Sketches include “Ballad of the Mute Marine”, “Trekkies”, “Christmas Party”, “T.J. Hooker”, “Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise”, “Look At That!”, “Christmas Memories”, “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “The True Life Story of Frankie Toussaint”. Lone Justice performs “Shelter” and “I Got Love”. G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band with Buster Poindexter performs “Zat You, Santa Claus?” Kevin Meaney also appears.

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Classic SNL Review: December 13, 1986: Steve Guttenberg / The Pretenders (S12E07)

Classic SNL Review: December 13, 1986: Steve Guttenberg / The Pretenders (S12E07)

Sketches include “Iranian National Assembly”, “McSooshi”, “Derek Stevens”, “Two Guys”, “Sideshow of the Stars”, “Movie Talk”, “The Back Page”, “Marge and Steve”, “Casting Director”, “Bob Roberts”, and “Christmas Tree”. The Pretenders perform “Don’t Get Me Wrong” and “How Much Did You Get For Your Soul?”. G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band with Buster Poindexter performs “A Rockin’ Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love)” with Chrissie Hynde. Penn & Teller also appear.

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SNL Up Close: 1986-87

SNL Up Close: 1986-87

Lorne Michaels’s first year back at Saturday Night Live after a five-year hiatus wasn’t what you would call a success. While the writing staff included a mix of SNL veterans and unknowns that would soon establish themselves on the show, the new cast (which included movie stars Anthony Michael Hall and Randy Quaid) never quite clicked, and the ratings and reviews were less than favorable. The show was on the brink of cancellation that spring, but NBC president Brandon Tartikoff decided to give Michaels and SNL another chance.

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Classic SNL Review: May 24, 1986: Anjelica Huston & Billy Martin / George Clinton & The Parliament Funkadelic (S11E18)

Classic SNL Review: May 24, 1986: Anjelica Huston & Billy Martin / George Clinton & The Parliament Funkadelic (S11E18)

Sketches include “Hands Across America”, “The People’s Second Choice Awards”, “Moments of Doubt”, “Glamorous Drinking”, “Actors on Film”, “Mafia Greeting Cards”, “Lesbian Pick-Ups”, “Bocce Ball My Way”, “Backstage”, “Book Minute”, “Movie Theatre”, “My Friend” and “Fire”, George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic perform two medleys. Damon Wayans also appears.

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Classic SNL Review: April 19, 1986: Tony Danza / Laurie Anderson (S11E15)

Classic SNL Review: April 19, 1986: Tony Danza / Laurie Anderson (S11E15)

Sketches include “Vietnam Story”, “AT&T”, “Nancy’s Workout”, “Lyndon LaRouche Theatre”, “30 Second Count”, “Big Time Professional Golf”, “Love Scene”, “Master Thespian” and “The Further Adventures of Biff and Salena”. Laurie Anderson performs “Babydoll” and “The Day The Devil”. Penn & Teller also appear.

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Classic SNL Review: March 22, 1986: George Wendt and Francis Ford Coppola / Philip Glass (S11E13)

Classic SNL Review: March 22, 1986: George Wendt and Francis Ford Coppola / Philip Glass (S11E13)

Sketches include “Pep Talk”, “The Honeymooners: The Lost Episodes”, “Commercials”, “Mystery Playhouse”, “That Black Girl”, “Whale”, “Actors”, “Ghost of Thespians Past”, “Vietnam Sketch”, “Suitcase Boy” and “Finale”. Philip Glass and the Philip Glass Ensemble perform “Lightning” and “Rubric”.

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Classic SNL Review: January 18, 1986: Harry Dean Stanton / The Replacements (S11E07)

Classic SNL Review: January 18, 1986: Harry Dean Stanton / The Replacements (S11E07)

Sketches include: “Press Conference”, “Gulf Coast Furniture Warehouse” “Cleveland Vice”, “Death of a Gunfighter”, “Hospital”, “That Black Girl”, “Big Ball Of Sports”, “No Offense” and “Jack’s Discount Emporium”. The Replacements perform “Bastards Of Young” and “Kiss Me On The Bus”. Sam Kinison also appears.

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Classic SNL Review: November 23, 1985: Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) / Queen Ida (S11E03)

Classic SNL Review: November 23, 1985: Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) / Queen Ida (S11E03)

Sketches include “Tightrope”, “Say No”, “Locker Room”, “Pee-Wee’s Thanksgiving Special”, “The Pat Stevens Show”, “Die Foreigner Die!”, “Big House”, “Dinosaur Town”, “Love Letter”, “Pregnancy Tips”, and “Money Magnetism Seminar”. Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band perform “La Louisiane” and “Frisco Zydeco”.

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