Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live Season 3

TV Show"Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!"

Season 3 Plot

Saturday Night Live aired its third season during the 1977–1978 television season on NBC. The season began on September 24, 1977 and ended on May 20, 1978. The DVD for the entire season was released on May 13, 2008. The entire cast from the previous season returned for season three. The show also introduced the concept of the "featured player." Writers Tom Davis and Al Franken became cast members. The season is also notable for the contest, Anyone Can Host. During the start of the season the show advertised the contest for a non-celebrity to host the show. The winner was 80 year-old grandmother Miskel Spillman, the only non-celebrity to host an SNL episode. During Spillman's show the musical guest, Elvis Costello, halted his band, the Attractions, seven seconds into the song "Less Than Zero", launching into "Radio Radio", an as-yet unreleased song critical of mainstream broadcasting. The change angered Lorne Michaels, who banned future appearances on the show for a while. Chevy Chase's hosted during the season, making him the first cast member to host after leaving the show. Backstage during the show Chase and Bill Murray engaged in a physical altercation that was broken up by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Chase later accused Murray of trying to upstage him on set and for making explicit remarks about Chase's wife. Chase would host the show several times throughout the show's history, though he was unpopular with the cast and crew.

Saturday Night Live Season 3 aired on September 24th, 1977.

Watch 'Saturday Night Live' Season 3 Online

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Season 3 Episodes

77

1. Steve Martin/Jackson Browne

September 24th, 19771 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"Bert Lance National Express Card", "Kromega III", "Wild & Crazy Guys", "Mike McMack, Defense Lawyer", "Trinity 3000 Computer", "Great Moments In Rock & Roll", "Mr. U.S.A. Pageant", "Royal Deluxe II"

60

2. Madeline Kahn/Taj Mahal

October 8th, 19771 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Bill Murray Sketches include--"Lee Harry Oswald", "Swill", "Bad Opera", "The 'Anyone Can Host' Contest", "Bianca Jagger Talks with Close Personal Friends", "The Acid Generation - Where Are They Now?", "Blind African-American", "Autumn In New York", "Ultra-Personal Feminine Product", "Dubbing Hercules", "Dame Edna Everage", "Pocket Pal", "Phone Secrets""

50

3. Hugh Hefner/Libby Titus

October 15th, 19771 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman Sketches include--"Playboy Bunny", "Angora Bouquet", "Planet Of The Men Vs. Planet Of The Women", "The 'Anyone Can Host' Contest", "The X-Police", "Circular Bed Sex Research", "Listening To Great Music", "Sex In Cinema", "3 R's", "The Story Of H", "Funeral Magician", "The Farbers at the Playboy Club"

60

4. Charles Grodin/Paul Simon and The Persuaders

October 29th, 19771 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include--"Grodin Misses Dress Rehearsal", "Weekend Update Ad", "The Coneheads", "Long-Winded Set-Up", "Consumer Probe", "The 'Anyone Can Host' Contest", "Samurai Dry Cleaners", "Trick-or-Treating Killer Bees", "Judy Miller"", "The Professional School of Football", "Incompetents"

60

5. Ray Charles and the Raylettes

November 12th, 19771 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include-- "Don Corleone", "A Message From the President of the United States", "Mamorex", "Howdy Doody's Widow", "Tomorrow", "The Young Caucasians", "Ray Charles Medley", "Franklyn Ajaye", "Evelyn Woodski Slow Reading Course", "Blackout Burglary", "Buck Henry Announcement".

60

6. Buck Henry/Leon Redbone

November 19th, 19771 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Anyone Can Host Contest Finalists Sketches include--"The 'Anyone Can Host' Contest Finalists", "Little Chocolate Donuts", "Samurai Psychiatrist", "Stunt Babies", "Motel Sanitation Items", "Tomorrow", "Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow", "The Rickey Rat Club", "The History of Franken & Davis", "Jackie Onassis", "'Anyone Can Host' Contest Film ", "Life After Death"

65

7. Mary Kay Place/Willie Nelson

December 10th, 19771 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Mary Kay Place, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, & Jane Curtin Sketches include--"Peppiest Show Ever", "Hey, You!", "More Insects To Worry About", "Total Womanhood", "Married In A Minute!", "Bad Musical", "Hanukkah Explanation".

55

8. Mrs. Miskel Spillman/Elvis Costello and the Attractions

December 17th, 19771 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include ""America's Oldest Living Doper," "Meat Wagon Toy Ambulance," "Dating the Self-Conscious & Extremely Obnoxious," "Gift of the Magi," "Starsky and Hutch," "The Al Franken and Tom Davis Show," "E. Buzz Miller's Art Classics," "College Students Home For Christmas," "Drunken Santa," "Madame Butterfly"

77

9. Steve Martin/The Nitty Gritty Dirty Band

January 21st, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"State of the Union Address", "Swill", "Searching For Bigfoot", "Wild & Crazy Guys", "Body Floss", "The Coneheads On 'Family Feud'", "'Close Personal Friends' Film", "What If?"

70

10. Robert Klein/Bonnie Raitt

January 28th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Paul Shaffer Sketches include--"Mr. Mike & Tina Turner Review", "Olympia Cafe", "The X-Police", "Nick Winters", "Nerds Album", "Frogs Look At Film ", "Giant Lobster Attack Warning", "Rhonda Weiss", "Attack Of The Giant Lobsters", "Lobsters Wreck The Studio""

65

11. Chevy Chase/Billy Joel

February 18th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Chevy Chase Sketches include--"A Former President Speaks to the Nation", "The Moth Masher", "Post-Sex Discussion", "King", "Customs Trainee", "Bad Day Soundtrack Film", "Sermonette", "World War II GI Quiz", "Sketch With No Ending"

70

12. O.J. Simpson/Ashford and Simpson

February 25th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include--"Gilda Answers Audience Questions", "Samurai Night Fever", "Great Moments In Sports", "The Mohawk Master", "The Raid On Nicosia", "Voodoo", "The Franken & Davis Show", "Mandingo II", "E. Buzz Miller's Animal Kingdom", "Hertz Ad", "Celebrity Battle of the Sexes"

75

13. Art Garfunkel/Stephen Bishop

March 11th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include--"Modern Crimes", "Kromega III", "Tomorrow", "Miracle In Chicago", "Stage Door Guard", "Looks At Books", "Don't Look Back In Anger", "Looking For Mr. Goodbar Playset""

55

14. Jill Clayburgh/Eddie Money

March 18th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Garrett Morris Sketches include--"Garrett Morris sings 'Danny Boy'", "Royal Deluxe II", "Olympia Cafe", "Sybil III", "Bad One-Man Theater", "Nutrifix", "Myopia", "Shower Mike", "The Coneheads On Earth", "Celebrity Crack-Up"

55

15. Christopher Lee/Meat Loaf

March 25th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...John Belushi Sketches include--"Kevin Scott", "Movie Trailers", "My Fair Lady", "Mr. Death", "Anwar Sadat", "Cold As Ice", "Dell Stator's Rabbit Hut", "Vampire Hunters", "Richard Belzer", "Mr. Bill Goes To The Circus""

70

16. Michael Palin/Eugene Record

April 8th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"Oscar Awards", "Little Chocolate Donuts", "Tax Deductions", "H&L Brock", "Great Escape", "Nerds Piano Lesson", "The Case of the Scarlet Membrane", "Good Time At Party", "Mr. Bill Pays His Taxes", "Danger Probe"

55

17. Michael Sarrazin/Keith Jarrett

April 15th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Laraine Newman Sketches include--"A Message From the President of the United States", "Angora Bouquet", "Judy Miller", "E. Buzz Miller's Exercise World", "La Dolce Gilda", "Abraham Lincoln in the Audience", "Archaeologicus"

77

18. Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers

April 22nd, 19781 hr 7 min

*Nominated for an Emmy Award* Live From New York, It's...Paul Shaffer Sketches include--"Don Kirshner's Rock Concert", "Hey You!", "Wild & Crazy Guys", "Theodoric of York", "Dancing In The Dark", "Extramarital Foreplay", "Swan Lake", "Troff 'n' Brew", "Nerds Science Fair", "Next Week In Review".

65

19. Richard Dreyfuss/Jimmy Buffett

May 13th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Bill Murray Sketches include--"Paraquat", "Cone Encounters of the Third Kind", "Sex Test", "Nick 'Springs'", "Annoying Lovers' Traits", "The David Susskind Show", "Father Guido Sarducci",

60

20. Buck Henry/Sun Ra

May 20th, 19781 hr 7 min

Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include-- "Nixon Kicks His Book Around", "Nerds Go To The Prom", "Samurai TV Repairman", "Sodom Chamber of Commerce", "Olympia Cafe", "Mr. Mike's Least Loved Music", "More Insects To Worry About", "Stunt Puppy", "Bad Conceptual Art", "The Franken & Davis Show".

All Seasons

Season 50

Season 50

Sep 28, 2024
Season 49

Season 49

Oct 14, 2023
Season 48

Season 48

Oct 1, 2022
Season 47

Season 47

Oct 2, 2021
Season 46

Season 46

Oct 3, 2020
Season 45

Season 45

Sep 28, 2019
Season 44

Season 44

Sep 29, 2018
Season 43

Season 43

Sep 30, 2017
Season 42

Season 42

Oct 1, 2016
Season 41

Season 41

Oct 3, 2015
Season 40

Season 40

Sep 27, 2014
Season 39

Season 39

Sep 28, 2013
Season 38

Season 38

Sep 15, 2012
Season 37

Season 37

Sep 24, 2011
Season 36

Season 36

Sep 25, 2010
Season 35

Season 35

Sep 26, 2009
Season 34

Season 34

Sep 13, 2008
Season 33

Season 33

Sep 29, 2007
Season 32

Season 32

Sep 30, 2006
Season 31

Season 31

Oct 1, 2005
Season 30

Season 30

Oct 2, 2004
Season 29

Season 29

Oct 4, 2003
Season 28

Season 28

Oct 5, 2002
Season 27

Season 27

Sep 29, 2001
Season 26

Season 26

Oct 7, 2000
Season 25

Season 25

Oct 2, 1999
Season 24

Season 24

Sep 26, 1998
Season 23

Season 23

Sep 27, 1997
Season 22

Season 22

Sep 28, 1996
Season 21

Season 21

Sep 30, 1995
Season 20

Season 20

Sep 24, 1994
Season 19

Season 19

Sep 25, 1993
Season 18

Season 18

Sep 28, 1992
Season 17

Season 17

Sep 28, 1991
Season 16

Season 16

Sep 29, 1990
Season 15

Season 15

Sep 30, 1989
Season 14

Season 14

Oct 8, 1988
Season 13

Season 13

Oct 17, 1987
Season 12

Season 12

Oct 11, 1986
Season 11

Season 11

Nov 9, 1985
Season 10

Season 10

Oct 6, 1984
Season 9

Season 9

Oct 8, 1983
Season 8

Season 8

Sep 25, 1982
Season 7

Season 7

Oct 3, 1981
Season 6

Season 6

Nov 15, 1980
Season 5

Season 5

Oct 13, 1979
Season 4

Season 4

Oct 7, 1978
Season 3

Season 3

Sep 24, 1977
Season 2

Season 2

Sep 18, 1976
Season 1

Season 1

Oct 11, 1975
Specials

Specials

Feb 20, 1977