The season premiere of Season 17 and the 307th episode of Saturday Night Live premiered on September 28, 1991, hosted by former longtime NBA basketball player Michael Jordan, with the rap group Public Enemy as the musical guests. This was Michael Jordan's only time hosting and Public Enemy's only musical guest appearance on SNL.
Cold Open Sketch Pre-recorded Weekend Update Music Performance Other
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Summary
Wayne's World Cold Open
Wayne (Mike Myers) & Garth (Dana Carvey) pick the best & worst of the summer of ’91.
Opening montage
The same intro as the previous season, except that Dennis Miller and Jan Hooks are removed, since they left the show prior to this season. Chris Farley, Chris Rock, and Julia Sweeney were also promoted to Repertory Status. Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and David Spade are moved to the middle-category group of featured players, thus being credited every week, and having a live-action shot in the montage. Additionally, this is the first credit for Ellen Cleghorne, Siobhan Fallon, and Robert Smigel as cast members, though they're all featured players (Cleghorne and Fallon are in the middle-category, though).
Michael Jordan Monologue
Douche, porno commercials featuring host Michael Jordan didn’t make it to air.
Schmitt's Gay
Two gay guys (Adam Sandler, Chris Farley) live a pool fantasy.
The First Black Harlem Globetrotter
A man (Michael Jordan) helps integrate basketball. This is Ellen Cleghorne's first appearance as an SNL cast member.
Bill Swerski's Superfans
Michael Jordan joins Bob Swerski (George Wendt) & other Super Fans (Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Robert Smigel) in a Bulls good luck ritual. This is Sibohan Fallon and Robert Smigel's first appearances as cast members (though Smigel had made several uncredited appearances as a writer throughout previous seasons).
Public Enemy performed "Can't Truss It"
Weekend Update with Kevin Nealon
In Kevin Nealon's first episode as Weekend Update anchor, the Rev. Jesse Jackson reads from Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs & Ham.
Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley
Stuart (Al Franken) unnecessarily instills confidence in Michael Jordan.
Backstage
NBC page Zoraida (Ellen Cleghorne) accosts Michael Jordan - she wants to play “one-on-one”.
The Dark Side with Nat X
LaToya Jackson (Victoria Jackson) & Spike Lee visit Nat X (Chris Rock).
Tales from the Barbecue
How grilling pork helped defeat a Nazi submarine.
In memoriam of Miles Davis, three seconds of silence are observed; ”Public Enemy performed "Bring the Noise"
Elevator
One of Sting’s elevator fans (Dana Carvey) sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” for Michael Jordan.
Goodnights
Trivia[]
Before joining the cast, Robert Smigel had been a writer for six seasons, and was still a writer for the show at this point (which was his seventh season overall in the writing staff).