SNL50 - Top 20 Sketches (Season 1 - 10)

 

These are sketches from Season 1 to 10. I call them ‘pure’ sketches as they are done live and don’t feature recurring characters or bits (maybe a celebrity impression or two). Despite the classic nature of early SNL, there were not tons to choose from; some years were pretty sparse. You’ll notice that Eddie Murphy features heavily for obvious reasons. If you are wondering why some of the titles are bland, that is because the writers don’t want to give away the joke early. Now enjoy some early SNL.

20. LARRY’S CORNER
EPISODE: S09E06 (11.19.1983)
HOST: Jerry Lewis
MUSICAL GUEST: Loverboy
A quick sketch about the luckiest guy alive.
LINK: Click here

19. SHOWER MIKE
EPISODE: S02E22 (05.21.1977)
HOST: Buck Henry
MUSICAL GUESTS: Jennifer Warnes, Kenny Vance
Bill Murray loves his shower microphone so much he even invites his wife’s lover as a surprise guest. Such a silly sketch.
LINK: Click here

18. FOCUS ON FILM
EPISODE: S08E03 (10.09.1982)
HOST: Ron Howard
MUSICAL GUEST: The Clash
Ron Howard wants to talk about being a director instead of his time on The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days but Eddie Murphy’s host won’t have it.
LINK: Not Available

17. WINSTON UNIVERSITY
EPISODE: S09E15 (03.17.1984)
HOST: Billy Crystal
MUSICAL GUEST: Al Jarreau
A university presenter proposes a great scam to get rich with a fake school. I think this became the basis of the Justin Long film, Accepted.
LINK: Click here

16. BLACK HISTORY MINUTE
EPISODE: S10E09 (12.15.1984)
HOST: Eddie Murphy
MUSICAL GUEST: Robert Plant
Eddie Murphy talks about George Washington Carver getting screwed out of a fortune. But it is his mess ups and trying not to laugh that makes this work.
LINK: Click here

15. PLANET OF THE MEN VS
THE PLANET OF THE WOMEN
EPISODE: S03E03 (10.15.1977)
HOST: Hugh Hefner
MUSICAL GUEST: Libby Titus
Loads of sexual innuendo with fun character names and gender interactions. Juvenile but funny.
LINK: Not Available

14. LIE DETECTOR
EPISODE: S09E18 (05.05.1984)
HOST: Barry Bostwick
MUSICAL GUEST: Spinal Tap
Jim Belushi tries to hide a bunch of things from the government in order to get a job.
LINK: Click here

13. THE FORUM
EPISODE: S09E06 (11.19.1983)
HOST: Jerry Lewis
MUSICAL GUEST: Loverboy
Where were you when JFK was shot? The guests didn’t know he was shot years ago. Proof that many Americans don’t watch the news. Cute.  
LINK: Not Available

12. WITNESS RELOCATION
EPISODE: S09E11 (01.28.1984)
HOST: Don Rickles
MUSICAL GUEST: Billy Idol
This one goes off the rails as Don Rickles and Joe Piscopo have fun slapping each other and going off script. Jim Belushi manages to keep it together.
LINK: Click here

11. THE LITTLE RICHARD SIMMONS SHOW
EPISODE: S07E01 (10.03.1981)
HOST: No Host
MUSICAL GUEST: Rod Stewart
A bizarre mashup of Little Richard and Richard Simmons. Of course, Eddie Murphy makes it work.
LINK: Not Available

10. CAREER CORNER
EPISODE: S07E16 (04.10.1982)
HOST: Daniel J Travanti
MUSICAL GUEST: John Cougar
Eddie Murphy as the Tooth Fairy. Need I say more?
LINK: Click here

9. LIVELYS  
EPISODE: S06E07 (01.17.1981)
HOST: Karen Black
MUSICAL GUESTS: Cheap Trick, Stanley Clarke Trio
A game show host at home having a dinner party. Charles Rocket plays the host beautifully.
LINK: Not Available

8. SUBSTITUTE JUDGE
EPISODE: S05E13 (03.08.1980)
HOST: Rodney Dangerfield
MUSICAL GUEST: The J Geils Band
Imagine how students treat substitute teachers, now imagine a whole courtroom doing the same thing with a substitute judge. A fun premise.
LINK: Not Available

7. JAMES BROWN CELEBRITY
HOT TUB PARTY
EPISODE: S09E04 (11.05.1983)
HOST: Betty Thomas
MUSICAL GUEST: Stray Cats
Such a simple concept but executed with perfection by the incomparable Eddie Murphy.
LINK: Click here

6. BAGGAGE INSPECTION
EPISODE: S03E11 (02.18.1978)
HOST: Chevy Chase
MUSICAL GUEST: Billy Joel
I love the amount of loose cocaine in the luggage. These people need to learn to pack better.  
LINK: Not Available

5. ROCK & ROLL AND THEN SOME
EPISODE: S09E12 (02.11.1984)
HOST: Robin Williams
MUSICAL GUEST: Adam Ant
Eddie Murphy plays Clarence, the fifth Beatle, for a dubious Joe Piscopo. The back-masking message from John Lennon is hilarious.
LINK: Click here

4. EBONY & IVORY
EPISODE: S07E20 (05.22.1982)
HOST: Olivia Newton-John
MUSICAL GUEST: Olivia Newton-John
Joe Piscopo was always worried that he would anger Frank Sinatra. Eddie Murphy as Stevie Wonder is fantastic and the lyrics are so catchy.
LINK: Click here

3. ROYAL PARTY
EPISODE: S05E20 (05.24.1980)
HOST: Buck Henry
MUSICAL GUEST: Andrew Gold
In a time where everything is named after someone, nothing tops Lord and Lady Douchebag.
LINK: Click here

2. DARK SHADOWS
EPISODE: S05E07 (12.15.1979)
HOST: Martin Sheen
MUSICAL GUEST: David Bowie
Gilda Radner is simply adorable as a little girl who keeps getting woken up by strange people appearing in her bedroom including a handyman and tribe of gypsies living under her bed.
LINK: Not Available

1. WORD ASSOCIATION
EPISODE: S01E07 (12.13.1975)
HOST: Richard Pryor
MUSICAL GUEST: Gil Scott-Heron
You would never get away with this today. This back and forth between Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase is a stone-cold classic.
LINK: Click here