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Season 2

Saturday Night Live

Season 2

  • 1976

Saturday Night Live aired its second season during the 1976–1977 television season on NBC. The second season started on September 18, 1976, and ended on May 21, 1977.

This season saw the first of many SNL cast changes. Chevy Chase, who was pursuing a movie career in California, left the show after the October 30th episode hosted by Buck Henry with musical guest, The Band. Jane Curtin became the first female cast member to become a Weekend Update anchor following Chase’s departure. On the January 15, 1977 episode, Bill Murray joined the cast to fill the void left by Chase’s departure.

This season also saw another change in the show: its name. Following the cancellation of ABC’s Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, NBC changed the name of the show from NBC’s Saturday Night to its current title, Saturday Night Live in the episode hosted by Jack Burns in 1977.

It was the last time that the Muppet sketches would appear on the show. In a 1977 interview with Playboy, O’Donoghue who was head writer/performer, referred to the Muppets as “those fucking Muppets, those little hairy facecloths” and were “made from the refuse after they cleaned up after Woodstock”. He also refused to write for them, saying “I don’t write for felt”. O’Donoghue also had a lynched Big Bird hanging in the writer’s office.

  1. Lily Tomlin/James Taylor Episode 1 Lily Tomlin/James Taylor September 18, 1976, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, It's...Chevy Chase Sketches include-- Big shot Lily Tomlin will do the show without rehearsing, "Debate 76", Legionnaire's Disease Outbreak, The Phone Company, "Women In Literature", Tess…
  2. Norman Lear/Boz Scaggs Episode 2 Norman Lear/Boz Scaggs September 25, 1976, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, It's...Chevy Chase (On telephone) Sketches include-- Gilda plans to do the fall, Jimmy Carter speaks on sexual performance in the White House, Chevy's Girls, Trial sitcom--"The…
  3. Eric Idle/Joe Cocker and Stuff Episode 3 Eric Idle/Joe Cocker and Stuff October 2, 1976, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, it's..Chevy Chase (on telephone)! Sketches include-- Hospitalized Chevy confronts impostor, Designer Babies, KLOG Deejay, The Killer Bees, Cufflinks of the Gods, Drag is Not Funny, Dragnet,…
  4. Karen Black/John Prine Episode 4 Karen Black/John Prine October 16, 1976, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, it's...Chevy Chase! Sketches include-- Chevy returns, "Baba Wawa at Large," Debate '76, A*M*I*S*H, Cancer-free Cupcakes, "Love Russian Style," The Lunch Counter Reunion, Mr. Bill, Ode to…
  5. Steve Martin/Kinky Friedman Episode 5 Steve Martin/Kinky Friedman October 23, 1976, 1 h 7 min Sketches include "Yankees Lose," "Jeopardy 1999," "Speak Out For Milk", "The Beatnik Club," "Ted Baxter Kills Mary Richards," "Looks at Books," and "Mysteries in Medicine." Kinky Friedman performed "Dear Abby."
  6. Buck Henry/The Band Episode 6 Buck Henry/The Band October 30, 1976, 1 h 7 min Sketches include-- Trick or Treating Land Shark, "Not For Ladies Only", Samurai Stockbroker, Garrett Morris's Family History, Debate 76, Super Bass-O-Matic 77, "The OintMENt", Mr. Mike's Least Loved Bedtime Tales,…
  7. Dick Cavett/Ry Cooder Episode 7 Dick Cavett/Ry Cooder November 13, 1976, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include-- Chroma Trak Girl, Puppy Uppers and Doggie Downers, Nixon's Watergate Frame-up, Crossroads, Grandparent Bees, Mr.Mike's Least Loved Bedtime Tales--"The Blind Chicken", Mobile…
  8. Paul Simon/Paul Simon, George Harrison Episode 8 Paul Simon/Paul Simon, George Harrison November 20, 1976, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, It's...George Harrison Sketches include-- Paul Simon meets pauper Chevy Chase on sidewalk while Lorne talks with George Harrison, Quarry, "Baba Wawa at Large", The Twilight Zone,…
  9. Jodie Foster/Brian Wilson Episode 9 Jodie Foster/Brian Wilson November 27, 1976, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include-- Gilda wont be in much of tonight's show, Wendy, Bee Peter Pan and Tinkerbee, Rovco's Puberty Helper, Metal Man, Steve Bashekis, Im…
  10. Candice Bergen/Frank Zappa Episode 10 Candice Bergen/Frank Zappa December 11, 1976, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, it's... Gilda Radner! Sketches include: "Patty Hearst At Home," "Jimmy Carter Can't Keep His Promises," "Santi-Wrap," Consumer Probe, Fern and Friend in PSA for The Right…
  11. Ralph Nader/George Benson Episode 11 Ralph Nader/George Benson January 15, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, It's...Ralph Nader Sketches include-- Ralph Nader wants to cut loose, Badmouthing Grandfather, Dress Rehearsal for Execution, The Confederate Takeover, "Baba Wawa At Large"" The Coneheads, "Youth…
  12. Ruth Gordon/Chuck Berry Episode 12 Ruth Gordon/Chuck Berry January 22, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, it's...Ruth Gordon! Sketches include-- Belushi's too sick to do the show, Barbara Streisand, Emily Litella and Her Sister, Tomorrow with Tom Snyder, Little Old Ladies of…
  13. Fran Tarkenton/Leo Sayer Episode 13 Fran Tarkenton/Leo Sayer January 29, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, it's...Fran Tarkenton! Sketches include "Locker Room Pep Talk," "Swiss Army Gun," "Amy Carter in School," "Chambers' Missing Arm," "Black Perspective," "Home Restaurant," "Community Appeal," "Fran's One-Night…
  14. Steve Martin/The Kinks Episode 14 Steve Martin/The Kinks February 26, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live from New York, It's... Steve Martin! Sketches include "Steve Martin's Ego Trip," "Coneheads' Tax Audit," "Celebrity Weightlifting," "Dr. Breadloaf's Quickloss Diet Book," "Pulling the Plug," "Broadway Baby," "Hollywood Bingo,"…
  15. Sissy Spacek/Richard Baskin Episode 15 Sissy Spacek/Richard Baskin March 12, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live From New York, It's...Sissy Spacek! Sketches include-- "Dave Wilson's Dead," "Burger Master," "Ask President Carter", ""Belushi's Olympic Dream," "Gidget's Disease," "Bad Playhouse," and "White Trash Couple.
  16. Broderick Crawford/Dr. John, The Meters Episode 16 Broderick Crawford/Dr. John, The Meters March 19, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live From New York, it's... Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, & Linda Ronstadt! Sketches include "Goodbye Saccharine," "Samurai Hit-Man," "Broderick's Old Neighborhood" (film), "Mel's Hide Heaven", "Bill Murray, The…
  17. Jack Burns/Santana Episode 17 Jack Burns/Santana March 26, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include-- Belushi Refuses to Say Live From New York, The Coneheads, Marine Wedding, "The Untouchables", "The Story of The Squatters", "Ask Big Daddy",…
  18. Julian Bond/Brick Episode 18 Julian Bond/Brick April 9, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include-- Emily Litella's New Love, Lowell Brock, Black Perspective, "Dr.X, Family Counselor", Right On Afro Lustre, Great Moments In Motown, Creeley's Soup, Bad…
  19. Elliott Gould/McGarrigle Sisters Episode 19 Elliott Gould/McGarrigle Sisters April 16, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live From New York, It's...John Belushi! Sketches include-- Brezhnev Wants to Appear on Carson, The Castration Walk, Nick The Lounge Singer, You've Come a Long Way, Buddy, United Face Bank,…
  20. Eric Idle/Neil Innes Episode 20 Eric Idle/Neil Innes April 23, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live From New York, It's...Bill Murray Sketches include-- Potato Torture, The American Dope Growers Union, "The Nixon Interviews", Flight Attendant Sherry, "Plain Talk", "Heavy Wit Championship", Bill Murray's Bad Childhood…
  21. Shelley Duvall/Joan Armatrading Episode 21 Shelley Duvall/Joan Armatrading May 14, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include-- Bee Sketch Is Pre-Empted by Norton-Bobick Fight, Video Vixens, Badly Disguised Bank Robber, Viva Las Vegas II, "Baba Wawa At Large", Feuding…
  22. Buck Henry/Kenny Vance, Jennifer Warnes Episode 22 Buck Henry/Kenny Vance, Jennifer Warnes May 21, 1977, 1 h 7 min Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include-- Carter's Energy Saving Message, Buck Performs A Live Sex Act, Samurai B.M.O.C, The Shower Mike, The Coneheads Return to Remulak, Rhonda Weiss's…