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 March 22, 1986
 Season 11 episode
S11-e13 george wendt-

Ffc presents
Glass-S11
 Episode 208
 Season Episode 13
 Host George Wendt
Francis Ford Coppola
 Musical Guest(s) Philip Glass
 Song(s) performed by
 Musical Guest(s)
"Lightning"
"Rubric"
Previous Episode
March 15, 1986
Next Episode
April 12, 1986

The 13th episode of Season 11 and the 208th episode of Saturday Night Live premiered on March 22, 1986. It was hosted by comedian and actor George Wendt, star of the NBC's hit sitcom, Cheers & film director, producer, and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola with composer and pianist Philip Glass as the musical guest. This is George Wendt's hosting debut and the only hosting appearance for Francis Ford Coppola. This is also the only musical guest appearance for Philip Glass on SNL.

Cast[]

Repertory Players[]


Sketches and Music Performances[]

 Cold Open   Sketch   Pre-recorded   Weekend Update   Music Performance   Other 

Title Image Summary
Pep Talk Cold Open Lorne Michaels tells the cast that NBC has given Francis Ford Coppola complete creative control over tonight’s show.
Opening Montage
S11-E13

S11-E13

A very unique montage for this episode. With a moody, feature film-esque vibe to it. Additionally, there’s no Don Pardo announcements. The names of the guests and cast are just superimposed over a darkened wide shot of SNL’s studio, while a soft, dramatic music score plays. Also, the cast is listed “in order of appearance”. Damon Wayans is no longer credited in the intro, as he was fired from the cast at the end of the previous episode.
Monologue by George Wendt Francis Ford Coppola has George Wendt and the audience do another take of his monologue joke and their reaction; afterward, Terry Sweeney volunteers his services.
The Honeymooners: The Lost Episodes Ralph (George Wendt) makes good on his threat to hit Alice (Nora Dunn).
Commercials Francis Ford Coppola objects when a Tic-Tac commercial runs; posing as Grant Tinker, Tommy Flanagan (Jon Lovitz) told him tonight would be commercial-free.
Mystery Playhouse Francis Ford Coppola takes over the live camera switching from Dave Wilson and botches all the cues.
Philip Glass and Janice Pendarvis performed "Lightning"
Weekend Update with Dennis Miller Another Weekend Update Dancers routine, this time interpreting the revelations about the Marcos’ financial holdings to the tune of “What You Need” by INXS, with dancers holding shoes, ornate frames and buildings, as well as one bejeweled dancer playing Imelda. This is probably more notable for Dennis Miller using the term “kleptocracy” in his preamble (which he mispronounces as “klepto-tocracy”). Joan Cusack has her first Weekend Update commentary to review Oscar front-runner Out of Africa, panning the film for not being funny. It’s nice to see Cusack appear as herself, but it’s a shame to see her wasted on this weak piece (though I did like her interpretation of Midnight Cowboy as a funny situation). The obligatory reference to tonight’s runner is limited to Francis Ford Coppola nixing Miller’s satellite interview with Pinochet for “not being original” and “too derivative of Ted Koppel”; this also ties into the running joke about the pronunciation of Coppola’s last name (“Cope-o-la” vs. “Coppel-a”) when he pronounces the Nightline anchor’s name as “Ted Kope-ol”. Unfortunately, in the live show, Coppola’s microphone isn’t working, rendering most of his dialogue barely audible (Dave Wilson can be heard saying “Get a boom on him”).
That Black Girl Francis Ford Coppola doesn’t feel that Danitra Vance is playing a “real” black girl, so he revises the sitcom spoof into a gritty monologue.
Fish Market Fishmonger Mr. Morrone (George Wendt) tries to unload a whale mistakenly delivered to his shop.
Actors Pretentious actors Ashley Ashley (Nora Dunn) and Jimmy Chance (Robert Downey Jr.) discuss how the last scene is actually about Francis Ford Coppola and share anecdotes about the director.
Ghost of Thespians Past
The ghost of Master Thespian (Jon Lovitz) encourages Francis Ford Coppola to take a creative risk by celebrating Studio 8H’s history in a grand finale (starring himself).
Vietnam Sketch Francis Ford Coppola has a crisis of confidence when the actors revolt after his use of live ammunition injures Anthony Michael Hall.
Philip Glass performs "Rubric"
Confrontational Monologue
Suitcase_Boy_-_Saturday_Night_Live

Suitcase Boy - Saturday Night Live

Joan Cusack horns in on Robert Downey Jr.'s “confrontational monologue” performance art piece.
Grand Finale
Master Thespian (Jon Lovitz) narrates Francis Ford Coppola’s tribute to live television, NBC and Studio 8H'; George Wendt has escaped to a bar tended by producers Al Franken and Tom Davis.
Goodnights Francis, Philip Glass, the Update Dancers and the cast wave goodnight from home base as George Wendt tries to hail a cab. The SNL Band plays a slower, more mellow version of the closing theme.


Preceded by:
March 15, 1986
Saturday Night Live episode Followed by:
April 12, 1986
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