Saturday Night Live season 8

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.

Saturday Night Live
Season 8
No. of episodes	20
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 25, 1982 (1982-09-25) – May 14, 1983 (1983-05-14)
Season chronology
List of episodes

Format changes

For the season, Dick Ebersol brought back the show's opening phrase "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" and the monologues by the hosts. Ebersol also changed Weekend Update's name for the second time, to Saturday Night News.^[1] Since Brian Doyle-Murray and Christine Ebersole had both been dropped,^[2] a new anchor was needed for the segment. Brad Hall got the gig and became the new anchor.^[3]

Notable moments

Notable moments of this season included Drew Barrymore hosting the show—the youngest ever person to host.^[4] 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.^[5] The vote was conducted by a 1-900 number. At the end of the show, Kaufman was banned from ever performing on SNL again.

With the release of the film 48 Hours during season eight, Murphy's star began to eclipse the other cast members.^[6] Murphy's co-star in the film, Nick Nolte, was scheduled to host the show, but canceled at the last minute. Ebersol offered Murphy the chance to host, a move that Piscopo would perceive as a major slight.^[7] Piscopo would later claim that Ebersol used Murphy's success to divide the two erstwhile friends and play them against one another.^[8]

Cast

Before the start of the season, Brian Doyle-Murray, Christine Ebersole and Tony Rosato were dropped from the cast. To fill the void, Dick Ebersol went to The Second City to look for performers; however, Second City was tired of losing their talent to network shows and instead directed him to The Practical Theatre Company,^[9] where Ebersol discovered Brad Hall, Gary Kroeger and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The three were hired to the SNL cast on the spot.^[10][9][11]

Cast roster

Repertory players

• Robin Duke
• Mary Gross
• Brad Hall
• Tim Kazurinsky

• Gary Kroeger
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• Eddie Murphy
• Joe Piscopo

bold denotes Weekend Update anchor

Writers

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers § season 8

Before the season, Paul Barrosse was added as a writer.^[11] This would be his only season on the writing staff. Returning cast members Robin Duke, Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo, previously uncredited for their writing contributions, were given writing credits starting this season.

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 writer was Bob Tischler.

Among a few one-season writers, this would also be the final season for writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield, who both leave the show after three seasons.^[12]

Episodes

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Host(s)	Musical guest(s)	Original air date
140	1	Chevy Chase	Queen	September 25, 1982 (1982-09-25)
Queen performs "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"[13] (introduced by Danny DeVito in a short cameo) and "Under Pressure"[13] (Queen's final live performance in America with Freddie Mercury) Host Chevy Chase performed from Burbank, California, via satellite. His segments were done from NBC's Studio 1 and the set of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Guest appearances by Siskel & Ebert who review a few of the sketches. Brad Hall, Gary Kroeger and Julia Louis-Dreyfus' first episode as cast members. Don Pardo returns as announcer.
141	2	Louis Gossett Jr.	George Thorogood & the Destroyers	October 2, 1982 (1982-10-02)
George Thorogood & The Destroyers performs "Bad to the Bone" and "Back to Wentzville".[13] Mr. T appears in the "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood" and "Mr. and Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix" sketches. Guest appearance by Robert Judd as Eddie Murphy's father.
142	3	Ron Howard	The Clash	October 9, 1982 (1982-10-09)
The Clash performs "Straight to Hell" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go",[13] from their recently released album Combat Rock. Guest appearance by Harry Anderson. Ron 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 (1982-10-23)
Men at Work performs "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Down Under".[13]
144	5	Michael Keaton	The New Joe Jackson Band	October 30, 1982 (1982-10-30)
Joe Jackson performs "Steppin' Out" and "Another World".[13] Guest appearance by Michael Palin. Robin Duke does not appear in this episode.
145	6	Robert Blake	Kenny Loggins	November 13, 1982 (1982-11-13)
Kenny Loggins performs "Heart to Heart" and "I Gotta Try".[13] Merv Griffin appeared in the cold opening. During the week, Blake was very hard to work with and reportedly threw a crumpled script into the face of cast member/writer Gary Kroeger.[14] Blake would be banned from ever hosting again.
146	7	Drew Barrymore	Squeeze	November 20, 1982 (1982-11-20)
Squeeze performs "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Pulling Mussels (from the Shell)".[13] At age 7, Barrymore is the youngest person to host Saturday Night Live. 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 via a 1-900 number. At the end of the night, the people had spoken, and Kaufman was banned from ever performing on SNL again.
147	8	The Smothers Brothers	Laura Branigan	December 4, 1982 (1982-12-04)
Laura Branigan performs "Gloria" and "Living a Lie".[13]
148	9	Eddie Murphy	Lionel Richie	December 11, 1982 (1982-12-11)
Lionel Richie performs "You Are" and "Truly".[13] Eddie Murphy substituted for his 48 Hours co-star Nick Nolte after Nolte fell ill. During the cold opening Murphy 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. Guest appearance by Harry Anderson.
149	10	Lily Tomlin	Tomlin as Purvis Hawkins	January 22, 1983 (1983-01-22)
Lily Tomlin acts as both host and musical guest for this episode. Tomlin (as Hawkins) performs "We Care"[15] As Murphy did the episode before, Tomlin opens the show by announcing: "Live from New York, it's the Lily Tomlin Show!" Andy Kaufman makes a guest appearance in a pre-taped segment, ostensibly as "bought commercial time" since this is the only way he can still get to appear on SNL. It would be the last time Kaufman would appear on any form on SNL. Guest appearances by Bob and Doug McKenzie to promote the following week's show.
150	11	Rick Moranis Dave Thomas	The BusBoys	January 29, 1983 (1983-01-29)
The BusBoys perform "The Boys Are Back in Town" and "New Shoes".[13]
151	12	Sid Caesar	Joe Cocker Jennifer Warnes	February 5, 1983 (1983-02-05)
Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes perform "Up Where We Belong" and Cocker performed "Seven Days".[13] Guest appearance by Harry Anderson.
152	13	Howard Hesseman	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers	February 19, 1983 (1983-02-19)
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers perform "The Waiting" and "Change of Heart".[13] 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 (1983-02-26)
Randy Newman performs "I Love L.A." and "Real Emotional Girl".[13] Lloyd Bridges appeared via telephone in the monologue, telling his sons to "put on the gloves to settle their differences like they used to as children."
154	15	Bruce Dern	Leon Redbone	March 12, 1983 (1983-03-12)
Leon Redbone performs "Sweet Sue", "When You Wish Upon a Star" and "I Ain't Got Nobody".[13] This show features the death of Buckwheat which would carry on to next week's episode.
155	16	Robert Guillaume	Duran Duran	March 19, 1983 (1983-03-19)
Duran Duran performs "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Girls on Film".[13]
156	17	Joan Rivers	Musical Youth	April 9, 1983 (1983-04-09)
Musical Youth performs "Pass the Dutchie" and "Never Gonna Give You Up".[13]
157	18	Susan Saint James	Michael McDonald	April 16, 1983 (1983-04-16)
Michael McDonald performs "If That's What It Takes" and "I Can Let Go Now".[13] Guest appearance by Steven Wright.
158	19	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	May 7, 1983 (1983-05-07)
Stevie Wonder performs "Overjoyed" and "Go Home".[13] Guest appearances by Michael Davis, Greg Dean and Andy Murphy.
159	20	Ed Koch	Kevin Rowland Dexys Midnight Runners	May 14, 1983 (1983-05-14)
Kevin Rowland and Dexys Midnight Runners perform "Come On Eileen" and "The Celtic Soul Brothers".[13] Guest appearances by Marv Albert, Harry Anderson and Don King.

References

1. Atwater, Carleton (January 6, 2011). "Looking Back at Saturday Night Live, 1980-1985". Vulture. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
2. Hill & Weingrad 1986, pp. 450, 461.
3. "SNL Weekend Update Hosts Through the Years". NBC. August 17, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
4. Ebersol 2022, p. 110.
5. Ebersol 2022, pp. 110–111.
6. Shales & Miller 2002, p. 239.
7. Hill & Weingrad 1986, p. 466.
8. Hill & Weingrad 1986, p. 467.
9. Saturday Night Live in the '80s: Lost and Found. NBC. November 13, 2005. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
10. Shales & Miller 2002, p. 213.
11. "New 'SNL' cast getting used to idea". Bangor Daily News. Associated Press. October 29, 1982. p. 5ME. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
12. "Brandon Tartikoff/John Cougar Mellencamp". Saturday Night Live. Season 9. Episode 1. October 8, 1983. Event occurs at Closing credits. NBC.
13. Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 124–127. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
14. Shales & Miller 2002, pp. 281–282.
15. "Classic SNL Review: January 22, 1983: Lily Tomlin / "Purvis Hawkins" (S08E10)". Brownyn Joan. August 20, 2014.

Works cited

• Ebersol, Dick (2022). From Saturday Night to Sunday Night: My Forty Years of Laughter, Tears, and Touchdowns in TV. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1982194482.
• Hill, Doug; Weingrad, Jeff (1986). Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live. Beech Tree Books. ISBN 978-0688050993.
• Shales, Tom; Miller, James Andrew (2002). Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0316781466.