Saturday Night Live - Season 3
Description: Saturday Night Live aired its third season during the 1977–1978 television season on NBC. The season began on September 24, 1977 and ended on May 20, 1978. The DVD for the entire season was released on May 13, 2008.
The entire cast from the previous season returned for season three. The show also introduced the concept of the "featured player." Writers Tom Davis and Al Franken became cast members.
The season is also notable for the contest, Anyone Can Host. During the start of the season the show advertised the contest for a non-celebrity to host the show. The winner was 80 year-old grandmother Miskel Spillman, the only non-celebrity to host an SNL episode. During Spillman's show the musical guest, Elvis Costello, halted his band, the Attractions, seven seconds into the song "Less Than Zero", launching into "Radio Radio", an as-yet unreleased song critical of mainstream broadcasting. The change angered Lorne Michaels, who banned future appearances on the show for a while.
Chevy Chase's hosted during the season, making him the first cast member to host after leaving the show. Backstage during the show Chase and Bill Murray engaged in a physical altercation that was broken up by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Chase later accused Murray of trying to upstage him on set and for making explicit remarks about Chase's wife. Chase would host the show several times throughout the show's history, though he was unpopular with the cast and crew.
Episodes
Steve Martin/Jackson Browne
Aired: Sep 24, 1977
Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"Bert Lance National E...
Madeline Kahn/Taj Mahal
Aired: Oct 8, 1977
Live From New York, It's...Bill Murray Sketches include--"Lee Harry Oswald", "S...
Hugh Hefner/Libby Titus
Aired: Oct 15, 1977
Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman Sketches include--"Playboy Bunny", "A...
Charles Grodin/Paul Simon and The Persuaders
Aired: Oct 29, 1977
Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include--"Grodin Misses Dress ...
Ray Charles and the Raylettes
Aired: Nov 12, 1977
Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include-- "Don Corleone", "A M...
Buck Henry/Leon Redbone
Aired: Nov 19, 1977
Live From New York, It's...Anyone Can Host Contest Finalists Sketches include--...
Mary Kay Place/Willie Nelson
Aired: Dec 10, 1977
Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Mary Kay...
Mrs. Miskel Spillman/Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Aired: Dec 17, 1977
Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include ""America's Oldest Liv...
Steve Martin/The Nitty Gritty Dirty Band
Aired: Jan 21, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"State of the Union Ad...
Robert Klein/Bonnie Raitt
Aired: Jan 28, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Paul Shaffer Sketches include--"Mr. Mike & Tina Turn...
Chevy Chase/Billy Joel
Aired: Feb 18, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Chevy Chase Sketches include--"A Former President Sp...
O.J. Simpson/Ashford and Simpson
Aired: Feb 25, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include--"Gilda Answers Audien...
Art Garfunkel/Stephen Bishop
Aired: Mar 11, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include--"Modern Crimes", "Kro...
Jill Clayburgh/Eddie Money
Aired: Mar 18, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Garrett Morris Sketches include--"Garrett Morris sin...
Christopher Lee/Meat Loaf
Aired: Mar 25, 1978
Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include--"Kevin Scott", "Movie...
Michael Palin/Eugene Record
Aired: Apr 8, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"Oscar Awards", "Littl...
Michael Sarrazin/Keith Jarrett
Aired: Apr 15, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman Sketches include--"A Message From the...
Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers
Aired: Apr 22, 1978
*Nominated for an Emmy Award* Live From New York, It's...Paul Shaffer Sketche...
Richard Dreyfuss/Jimmy Buffett
Aired: May 13, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Bill Murray Sketches include--"Paraquat", "Cone Enco...
Buck Henry/Sun Ra
Aired: May 20, 1978
Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include-- "Nixon Kicks His Book...