Saturday Night Live: The 1970s

Summary (1975)

Killer bees, land sharks, the Blues Brothers and Mr. Bill take over the stage in SNL's Emmy-winning first season, which introduced the world to Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Dan Akroyd and the rest of the original cast. The premiere season's unforgettable skits include the Bass-O-Matic commercial, Chase's impersonation of Gerald Ford and samurai divorce court. Andy Kaufman, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Carly Simon and many others guest star.

• 1George Carlin/Janis Ian & Billy Preston
  Season 1 : Episode 1 65 minutes

  George Carlin/Janis Ian & Billy Preston

  George Carlin hosts the first-ever episode of SNL, which features classic sketches, Carlin's stand-up, and a short film by Albert Brooks.
• 2Paul Simon/Art Garfunkel, Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow
  Season 1 : Episode 2 65 minutes

  Paul Simon/Art Garfunkel, Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow

  Paul Simon hosts this musical-performance-packed episode, which features "The Mighty Favog" and the classic "The Bees Have Been Cut" skit.
• 3Rob Reiner/Joe Cocker
  Season 1 : Episode 3 65 minutes

  Rob Reiner/Joe Cocker

  Watch such classic segments as "Fashion Faux Pas," "Felina Cat Food," John Belushi's Joe Cocker impression, and an appearance by Andy Kaufman.
• 4Candice Bergen/Esther Phillips
  Season 1 : Episode 4 67 minutes

  Candice Bergen/Esther Phillips

  The infamous Landshark makes its debut in this episode, which also features "Gerald Ford's Address" and "Garrett Morris and the CIA."
• 5Robert Klein/ABBA, Loudon Wainwright III
  Season 1 : Episode 5 66 minutes

  Robert Klein/ABBA, Loudon Wainwright III

  The Not Ready for Prime Time Players perform "Jamitol," "Minute Mystery," "Bee-Centennial Minute," and "Ploobis' Migraine" with the Muppets.
• 6Lily Tomlin/Howard Shore and His All Nurse Band
  Season 1 : Episode 6 64 minutes

  Lily Tomlin/Howard Shore and His All Nurse Band

  The cast delivers such classic sketches as "Jaws III," "Spud Beer," "Ford Addresses the Nation," and the "Beethoven Composes..." series.
• 7Richard Pryor/Gil-Scott Heron, Thalamus Rasulala
  Season 1 : Episode 7 66 minutes

  Richard Pryor/Gil-Scott Heron, Thalamus Rasulala

  The anachronistic Samurai Futaba makes his first appearance, the cast performs "Police Line-Ups," and Weekend Update introduces a classic catchphrase.
• 8Candice Bergen/The Stylistics, Martha Reeves
  Season 1 : Episode 8 66 minutes

  Candice Bergen/The Stylistics, Martha Reeves

  The cast performs "Mel's Char Palace" and "Send Us Your Home Movies" in an episode that also includes the short film "Homeward Bound."
• 9Elliott Gould/Anne Murray
  Season 1 : Episode 9 67 minutes

  Elliott Gould/Anne Murray

  Frequent host Elliot Gould makes his first appearance in this Emmy-winning episode, which includes the famous "Killer Bees" sketch.
• 10Buck Henry/Bill Withers, Toni Basil
  Season 1 : Episode 10 66 minutes

  Buck Henry/Bill Withers, Toni Basil

  The Blues Brothers make their first-ever appearance in an episode that also features "Citizen Kane II," "Samurai Deli," and "Japanese Sex Device."
• 11Peter Cook, Dudley Moore/Neil Sedaka
  Season 1 : Episode 11 66 minutes

  Peter Cook, Dudley Moore/Neil Sedaka

  The Not Ready for Prime Time Players perform "Bomb Squad," "Don Pardo's Holiday in an Elevator," and the short film "The Paramount Novelty Store."
• 12Dick Cavett/Jimmy Cliff
  Season 1 : Episode 12 67 minutes

  Dick Cavett/Jimmy Cliff

  Marshall Efron makes an appearance in this episode, which features "H&L Brock," "Voodoo on Chevy Chase," and the "Dick Cavett School of..." series.
• 13Peter Boyle/Al Jarreau, The Shapiro Sisters
  Season 1 : Episode 13 62 minutes

  Peter Boyle/Al Jarreau, The Shapiro Sisters

  Peter Boyle and John Belushi face off in "Dueling Brandos" while the cast performs "New Dad," "The Corrida," and "Samurai Divorce Court."
• 14Desi Arnaz/Desi Arnaz, Jr
  Season 1 : Episode 14 66 minutes

  Desi Arnaz/Desi Arnaz, Jr

  The players perform "National Express," "No Sex on His Birthday," "President Ford's Word Association," "The Failed Pilots of I Love Lucy," and more.
• 15Jill Clayburgh/Leon Redbone
  Season 1 : Episode 15 66 minutes

  Jill Clayburgh/Leon Redbone

  Mister Bill makes his first-ever appearance in an episode that also includes such skits as "Great Moments in History" and "White Guilt Relief Fund."
• 16Anthony Perkins/Betty Carter
  Season 1 : Episode 16 67 minutes

  Anthony Perkins/Betty Carter

  This classic episode includes the skits "SNL is Not Ad-Libbed," "A President's View on Marijuana," and "Norman Bates School of Hotel Management."
• 17Ron Nessen/Toni Basil, Patti Smith
  Season 1 : Episode 17 66 minutes

  Ron Nessen/Toni Basil, Patti Smith

  In this episode hosted by Gerald Ford's press secretary, Billy Crystal makes his first appearance, and Dan Aykroyd does his take on Tom Snyder.
• 18Raquel Welch/Phoebe Snow, John Sebastian
  Season 1 : Episode 18 67 minutes

  Raquel Welch/Phoebe Snow, John Sebastian

  The cast performs "Purina Rat Chow" and "One Flew Over the Hornet's Nest," and Lorne Michaels offers the Beatles $3000 to appear on the show.
• 19Madeline Kahn/Carly Simon
  Season 1 : Episode 19 66 minutes

  Madeline Kahn/Carly Simon

  Chevy Chase plays the cowbell for Carly Simon as the cast performs "Slumber Party," "Wilderness Comedian," and "Ronald Reagan's Jam Session."
• 20Dyan Cannon/Leon and Mary Russell
  Season 1 : Episode 20 66 minutes

  Dyan Cannon/Leon and Mary Russell

  This classic episode features "Hearing Test," "The Adulterer," "Sugar-Free Zing," "Vacationland Adventure," and "Marine Corps Commercial Shoot."
• 21Buck Henry/Gordon Lightfoot
  Season 1 : Episode 21 66 minutes

  Buck Henry/Gordon Lightfoot

  Samurai Futaba interrupts Gordon Lightfoot's musical performance in between sketches such as "Talk Back!," "Looks at Books," and "Samurai Tailor."
• 22Elliott Gould/Leon Redbone, Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson
  Season 1 : Episode 22 66 minutes

  Elliott Gould/Leon Redbone, Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson

  The cast performs "The Bee Honeymooners," "Shirley Temple Black," and the cult-classic sketch "The Last Voyage of the Starship Enterprise."
• 23Louise Lasser/Preservation Hall Jazz Band
  Season 1 : Episode 23 66 minutes

  Louise Lasser/Preservation Hall Jazz Band

  This classic episode features "The Diner," "Ode to Television," "Human Hair Potholders," "Belushi Trash-Talks Chevy," and "Belushi Sells His Clothes."
• 24Kris Kristofferson/Rita Coolidge
  Season 1 : Episode 24 66 minutes

  Kris Kristofferson/Rita Coolidge

  An admittedly drunk Kris Kirstofferson hosts this classic episode, which features "The Great White Athlete" and "Samurai General Practitioner."