Season 23 is the twenty-third season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 27, 1997, and May 9, 1998. The season premiered on September 27, 1997, hosted by actor Sylvester Stallone with musical guests Jamiroquai and ended on May 9, 1998, hosted by The X-Files star David Duchovny with musical guests Puff Daddy and Jimmy Page.
This season saw the deaths of two former cast members. Chris Farley, who hosted earlier this season during its Halloween episode, died unexpectedly from a drug overdose during the Christmas break hiatus early this season. In addition to Farley's untimely death, two weeks after the season ended, longtime former cast member Phil Hartman died in a murder-suicide by his wife Brynn, who then took her own life. Both former cast members have their own tributes during and after the season.
This season notable for the Weekend Update controversy held in late-1997 and early-1998. Anchor Norm Macdonald was reassigned by NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer, for "not being funny." He was replaced by Colin Quinn starting on the January 10, 1998 episode.
The 23rd season's opening montage to have no New York footage; the cast members still appear in the montage, but only in still photos.
Cast Changes[]
Before the season, Mark McKinney left the show after three seasons.[3] Colin Quinn was promoted to repertory status. This season is one of the few to not include any featured players or new cast members.
During the season, a controversy arose in which Weekend Update anchor Norm Macdonald was removed from the Update segment. Macdonald's final episode as Update anchor was on December 13, 1997.[4][5] Quinn was then promoted to the job and anchored the segment in the next live episode, which aired January 10, 1998. Macdonald performed in sketches, but was angry about the change-up and ultimately quit the show; his final appearance was on March 14, 1998.
This was also the final season for Jim Breuer as he left the show at season's end to move on to other acting opportunities.[6]
Cast[]
Repertory Players[]
Changes[]
- Norm MacDonald: Final Episode March 14
Births[]
- Emil Wakim (March 11, 1998)
Deaths[]
- Chris Farley (December 18, 1997)
- Phil Hartman (May 28, 1998)
Gallery[]
Opening montage[]
S23
This intro is from the infamous Chris Farley episode, hence the gag of him not showing up in his own monologue at the end.
| Preceded by: Season 22 |
Season 23 (1997— 1998) |
Followed by: Season 24 |
| Seasons | |
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