September 24, 2011

September 24, 2011  Season 37 episode
Episode	703
Season Episode	1
Host	Alec Baldwin
Musical Guest(s)	Radiohead
Song(s) performed by  Musical Guest(s)	"Lotus Flower" "Staircase"

Previous Episode May 21, 2011 (Season 36)

Next Episode October 1, 2011

The 703rd episode of Saturday Night Live and the season premiere of Season 37, hosted by comedian and actor Alec Baldwin, and the musical guest being Radiohead, who performed "Lotus Flower" and "Staircase". It premiered on September 24, 2011. This was Alec Baldwin's 16th time hosting, thus beating out Steve Martin as the most frequent host.

The last time Radiohead was the musical guest was on October 14, 2000, the second episode of Season 26 with actress Kate Hudson as the host. This was also the 2nd time as musical guest on SNL for Radiohead.

Alec Baldwin's goodnights speech is Thanks to Radiohead, Steve Martin, and Seth Rogen! (Cheers and applause). [as the credits roll, Baldwin holds up a sign that reads "She's My Carla!"]

Cast

Repertory Players

• Fred Armisen
• Abby Elliott
• Bill Hader
• Seth Meyers
• Bobby Moynihan
• Nasim Pedrad
• Andy Samberg
• Jason Sudeikis
• Kenan Thompson
• Kristen Wiig

Featured Players

• Vanessa Bayer
• Paul Brittain
• Taran Killam
• Jay Pharoah†

† Credited, but does not appear in this episode

Cameos by Steve Martin and Seth Rogen

Vocal cameo by Jon Hamm

Onscreen appearance by then-writing supervisor/future cast member Colin Jost

Sketches and Musical Performances

Title	Image	Summary
Either The 7th Or 8th GOP Debate		Shepard Smith (Bill Hader) moderates the latest debate between Republican frontrunners Mitt Romney (Jason Sudeikis), Rick Perry (Alec Baldwin), and other candidates who don’t stand a chance at their party’s nomination.
Opening Montage		The opening montage is the same as in the two previous seasons, and it was unchanged as everyone from the previous year returned, and Nasim Pedrad being upgraded to a repertory player.
Alec Baldwin's Monologue		Alec Baldwin jokes about Ben & Jerry’s new Schweddy Balls flavor, then triumphs that his 16th hosting gig finally puts him ahead of Steve Martin’s record. Martin then shows up to make sure that Baldwin is hosting without the aid of steroids, and employs drug expert Seth Rogen to analyze Baldwin’s urine sample.
Red Flag		The enchanting fragrance that warns would-be suitors that the attractive woman in the bar might not be worth the pursuit.
"All My Children" Wrap Party		Susan Lucci (Vanessa Bayer) toasts her glass to a roomful of actors and actresses whose real-life quirks are just as overdramatic as their soap opera characters.
WDHX Channel 19		Denise Fineman (Kristen Wiig) reports live, via tape delay, from Costa Rica, where her desk anchors (Alec Baldwin, Abby Elliott) are unable to protect her from jungle creatures about to attack.
Radiohead performs "Lotus Flower.
Weekend Update with Seth Meyers		Tony Bennett’s (Alec Baldwin) summer movie wrap-up derails into a discussion about women’s hygeine products.
Who's On Top?		Contestants (Alec Baldwin, Vanessa Bayer) try to guess which of two male celebrities would be on top if they were involved in a hypothetical gay relationship.
Top Gun 25th Anniversary DVD		The 25th Anniversary DVD re-release features audition outtakes from unlikely 80’s-era celebrities. Onscreen appearance by then-writing supervisor Colin Jost.
Child Psychologist		Child psychologist (Alec Baldwin) ignores his whiny daughter (Nasim Pedrad) for her own good during a dinner date at home with Elaine (Vanessa Bayer).
Radiohead performs "Staircase."
Angels in the Trenches		Captain (Alec Baldwin) gives his private (Taran Killam) unusual final requests after being shot by the enemy.
Goodnights		Alec Baldwin thanked Radiohead, Steve Martin, and Seth Rogen. As the credits roll, Baldwin holds up a sign that reads "She's My Carla!".

Notes/Trivia

• As of the broadcast, Baldwin attains the record of most frequent host, formerly shared between him and Steve Martin, with sixteen times hosting. Also, this is Baldwin's first time hosting a season premiere, and has joined Martin in becoming one of two men to host a season premiere, finale and a Christmas episode.
• Steve Martin and Seth Rogen appeared in the opening monologue.
• Clive Deamer played drums and percussion for both of Radiohead's performances.
• This marked the first episode for Chris Kelly, Zach Kanin, and Peter Schultz as writers on SNL.
  • Also, Sarah Schneider was added to the writing staff, after serving as a guest writer for the last episodes of the previous season.
  • Schultz was mainly hired as a writer for Weekend Update.
• Lastly, writers Erik Kenward (a longtime writer since 2001) and John Mulaney (who was hired as a writer in 2008, and was a writing supervisor from 2009-2011) are named as producers of the show.

Preceded by: May 21, 2011 (Season 36)

Saturday Night Live episode

Followed by: October 1, 2011