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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SCTV Review: Writer Strike (2-5) / Municipal Election (2-6)

SCTV Review: Writer Strike (2-5) / Municipal Election (2-6)

“Writer Strike” sketches include “Restless Doctors”, “SCTV News Bulletin”, “Master Ralph Roister Doister”, “Palmoval”, “SCTV News”, “LaRue By Night”, “Harlett Romances”, and “Ernest Kirsch, SCTV Writer”.

“Municipal Election” sketches include “Johnny LaRue for City Council”, “SCTV Election Central”, “Promo: One Is Enough” and “Career Home Study”.

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Classic SNL Review: October 24, 1987: Sean Penn / LL Cool J, The Pull (S13E02)

Classic SNL Review: October 24, 1987: Sean Penn / LL Cool J, The Pull (S13E02)

Sketches include “Fatal Attraction II”, “Wall Street Week”, “Church Chat”, “Pitman And Bullock”, “Teeny Cafe”, “After The Date”, “Discover”, “Joey Comes Home”, and “Cat Dentist”. LL Cool J performs “Go Cut Creator Go”. The Pull performs “This & That”.

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SCTV Review: The Kidnapping of Moe Green (2-3) / SCTV Solid Gold Telethon (2-4)

SCTV Review: The Kidnapping of Moe Green (2-3) / SCTV Solid Gold Telethon (2-4)

“The Kidnapping of Moe Green” sketches include “SCTV Editorial”, “Donna”, “Promo: Master Sergeant Chef”, “SCTV News”, “Cup ‘N Soup”, “Petty Claims Court”, “Linkin Mercurry: Dali Edition”, “K-Tel Dali Car Stash Wax”, “SCTV Movie Of The Week: Nice Kids From Hell”, and “SCTV News Bulletin”.

“SCTV Solid Gold Telethon” features a show-length telethon hosted by Sammy Maudlin (Joe Flaherty), Bobby Bittman (Eugene Levy), and Johnny LaRue (John Candy), with commercials for “Beef and Booze Restaurant” and “Max Lax”.

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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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SCTV Review: Premiere (2-1) / Bob Hope Desert Classic (2-2)

SCTV Review: Premiere (2-1) / Bob Hope Desert Classic (2-2)

“Premiere” sketches include “SCTV Editorial”, “Ernest Kirsch, SCTV Writer”, “Promo: Lola Heatherton in Concert”, “Promo: The Love Craft”, “Waterspray from Pocketpic”, “SCTV News”, “Words To Live By: Rev. Ernest Kirsch”, “The Incredible Bulk”, “Moxwell House Decaffeinated Coffee”, and “Feedback”.

“Bob Hope Desert Classic” sketches include “Promo: Monster Chiller Horror Theatre: The House of Cats”, “SCTV Sports Central”, “Delay”, “Betty Bain: Professional Juror”, “Masterpiece Theatre: Naughty Chambermaids”, and “Bob Hope Desert Classic”.

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SNL Up Close: 1987-88

SNL Up Close: 1987-88

By the summer of 1987, Saturday Night Live had survived leadership changes, cast and writer turnover, and the threat of cancellation several times over; for the first time in years, the show was in a period of stability. New performers such as Dana Carvey, Jan Hooks and Phil Hartman quickly made their mark with characters such as the Church Lady and the Sweeney Sisters, and the writing had noticeably improved, with a renewed emphasis on political satire. It would make sense that the new season would look very similar to the last.

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SNL 1986-87: Final thoughts

SNL 1986-87: Final thoughts

After barely getting renewed following the 1985-86 season, the next year was a make-or-break year for Saturday Night Live. Fortunately for Lorne Michaels, the show, and NBC, this reprieve paid off with the strongest season since the original cast’s heyday in the late 70’s.

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Classic SNL Review: May 23, 1987: Dennis Hopper / Roy Orbison (S12E20)

Classic SNL Review: May 23, 1987: Dennis Hopper / Roy Orbison (S12E20)

Sketches include “Easy Rider”, “Church Chat”, “Frank Booth’s ‘What’s That Smell?’”, “Problem Drinkers From Outer Space”, “This Week with David Brinkley”, “Cannibalism Interview”, “Last Chance”, and “Sweeney Sisters”. Roy Orbison performs “Crying”, “Oh, Pretty Woman”, and “In Dreams”.

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Classic SNL Review: May 16, 1987: Garry Shandling / Los Lobos (S12E19)

Classic SNL Review: May 16, 1987: Garry Shandling / Los Lobos (S12E19)

Sketches include “Iran-Contra Hearings”, “Returning A Sweater”, “The Puppy”, “Support Group”, “Teeny Cafe”, “Redneck Airline”, “Hollywood Mom”, and “Happy Couple”. Los Lobos performs “Is This All There Is?” and “One Time, One Night”.

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Classic SNL Review: May 9, 1987: Mark Harmon / Suzanne Vega (S12E18)

Classic SNL Review: May 9, 1987: Mark Harmon / Suzanne Vega (S12E18)

Sketches include “The New Charlie’s Angels”, “The Sexiest Man Alive 1986”, “Very Smart Theater”, “Iran-Contra Hearings”, “Einstein Express”, “Salmon Spawning”, “Dave’s Party”, “He’s The One”, “Pet Chicken Shop”, “Myowling Bible”, and “Portrait Artist”. Suzanne Vega performs “Luka” and “Marlene On The Wall”.

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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: April 11, 1987: John Lithgow / Anita Baker (S12E16)

Classic SNL Review: April 11, 1987: John Lithgow / Anita Baker (S12E16)

Sketches include “U.S. Embassy”, “Laramie Vice”, “Reverend Dwight Henderson, World’s Meanest Methodist Minister”, “The Pat Stevens Show”, “Master Thespian”, “Discover”, “Cross Country” and “The Fighter”. Anita Baker performs “Sweet Love” and “Same Ole Love”

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Classic SNL Review: March 28, 1987: Charlton Heston / Wynton Marsalis (S12E15)

Classic SNL Review: March 28, 1987: Charlton Heston / Wynton Marsalis (S12E15)

Sketches include “Oral Roberts University”, “The Fruiting”, “The New Paper Chase”, “The President Has Mustard On His Chin”, “Brookfield Zoo Banquet”, “The Hustler of Money”, “The Slave Drivers” and “UNLV”. Wynton Marsalis performs “J Mood” and “Juan (E. Mustaad)”.

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Classic SNL Review: February 28, 1987: Valerie Bertinelli / The Robert Cray Band (S12E13)

Classic SNL Review: February 28, 1987: Valerie Bertinelli / The Robert Cray Band (S12E13)

Sketches include “Affair”, “Dinner at the Van Halen’s”, “Hard News Cafe”, “Discover”, “Pet Chicken Shop”, “Washington Center (two parts)”, “Let’s Go To The Movies”, “On Broadway” and “Opera Singer Doctor”. The Robert Cray Band performs “Smoking Gun” and “Right Next Door”. Eddie Van Halen performs “Stompin’ 8H” with G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band.

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Classic SNL Review: February 21, 1987: Willie Nelson (S12E12)

Classic SNL Review: February 21, 1987: Willie Nelson (S12E12)

Sketches include “Afterlife Styles of the Rich and Famous”, “Great Moments in the History of White Trash (three segments)”, “Police Wire”, “Church Chat”. “Redneck Tanning Parlor”, “Bar”, “The Boyfriend Song”, and “Truck Stop Cafe”. Willie Nelson and the Family perform “Nightlife”, “Partners After All”, and “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain”.

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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 31, 1987: Paul Shaffer / Bruce Hornsby and The Range (S12E10)

Classic SNL Review: January 31, 1987: Paul Shaffer / Bruce Hornsby and The Range (S12E10)

Sketches include “Hip”, “What’s My Addiction?”, “Synthesizer”, “The Grenada Experience”, “The Pat Stevens Show”, “Chinese New Year”, “Ticket Line”, “Asociacion Mexicana del Riñon”, and “SNL Memories”. Bruce Hornsby and The Range perform “The Way It Is” and “Mandolin Rain”.

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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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