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 May 20, 1978
 Season 3 episode
 Episode 66
 Season Episode 20
 Host Buck Henry
 Musical Guest(s) Sun Ra
 Song(s) performed by
 Musical Guest(s)
"Space Is the Place"
"Space-Loneliness"
Previous Episode
May 13, 1978
Next Episode
October 7, 1978
(Season 4)

The 66th episode of Saturday Night Live and the season finale of Season 3, hosted by the actor Buck Henry with musical guest Sun Ra, a jazz composer, bandleader, piano, artist and poet. It premiered on May 20, 1978. This is Buck Henry's 6th time as host and the only musical guest appearance on SNL for Sun Ra.

This is Dan Aykroyd's last episode as Weekend Update anchor, after one season; he was replaced by Bill Murray on the following episode for the the season premiere.

Cast[]

The Not Ready For Primetime Players[]


Sketches and Music Performances[]

 Cold Open   Sketch   Pre-recorded   Weekend Update   Music Performance   Other 

Title Image Summary
Nixon’s Book Cold Open   Former President Richard Nixon (Dan Aykroyd) invites outraged viewers to buy his book just so they can kick it around.
Opening Montage   Last episode to use the season 3 opening(s). More importantly, it's the last episode to refer to the cast as the "Not Ready for Primetime Players".
Monologue by Buck Henry   As Buck Henry returned to hosted SNL for the sixth time, he speaks glowingly of “Heaven Can Wait” and his friendship with Warren Beatty, a scroll suggests that his career is actually over.
Nerd Prom
The_Nerds-_Nerd_Prom_-_SNL

The Nerds- Nerd Prom - SNL

Todd (Bill Murray) escorts Lisa (Gilda Radner) to their high school prom.
Samurai T.V. Repairman   Mr. Dantley (Buck Henry) has Futuba (John Belushi) repair his busted TV set.
Sodom Chamber of Commerce   Members of the Sodom Chamber of Commerce (Buck Henry, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner) seek ways to change their city’s vile image in the eyes of outside visitors.
Weekend Update with Jane Curtin & Dan Aykroyd Laraine Newman narrates drawings from the Son Of Sam trial and Stargazer Bill Murray gives his review of the “The Greek Tycoon” and attempts to call Jackie Onassis. Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd debate over who gets to hold which viewpoint during Point/Counterpoint. Dan Aykroyd's last episode as Weekend Update anchor.
The Olympia Cafe  
Mr. Mike's Least-Loved Music   Mr. Mike (Michael O’Donoghue) sings “Baby Ghouls” with backing vocals from a vampire (Laraine Newman).
More Insects to Worry About   Joan Face (Jane Curtin) discusses the dangerously artistic Bedanza mite with Dr. Russell Bedanza (Buck Henry).
Stunt Puppy   Howard (Buck Henry) is directed to inflict abuse on puppy in a tense family scene.
Bad Conceptual Art   Leonard Pinth-Garnell (Dan Aykroyd) presents an excerpt from Pavlov’s “Video Chicken I”.
The Franken and Davis Show   Tom Davis reveals that he and Al Franken are gay lovers, destroying Al’s family life immediately.
Sun Ra Performs “Space is the Place” & “Space-Loneliness”
Goodnights   Buck Henry announces that the cast will all be back in the fall and thanked everyone for coming.

Trivia[]

  • This was initially the final episode for original writer Michael O'Donoghue (who was named as the show’s head writer with its debut in 1975), as he left the show, after three years.
    • However, O'Donoghue would return to the show as a writer a few more times in the 1980s.
Preceded by:
May 13, 1978
Saturday Night Live episode Followed by:
October 7, 1978 (Season 4)
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