SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE {HUGH HEFNER; LIBBY TITUS} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of live, late-night comedy/variety programs featuring topical satire. Playboy founder and publisher Hugh Hefner hosts this program, with musical guest Libby Titus. In the opening sequence, Laraine Newman portrays a ditzy Playboy Bunny with minimal comedic skills. During his opening monologue, Hefner, dressed in silk pajamas, admits that he is not an entertainer, but offers a rendition of "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" – which, the onscreen text declares, is merely a demonstration of his strong religious beliefs.

Sketches include the following: a soap advertisement for "beautiful but stupid" customers; a futuristic outer space battle between the citizens of the Planet of Men and the Planet of Women, who find that their enemies are "different but basically equal"; Garrett Morris' introduction of the "Anyone Can Host" contest for the upcoming Christmas show; a visit from "The X-Police," who accidentally murder a young husband and then frame his wife for his "marijuana-related death"; a young co-ed's attempts to interview Hefner for her thesis paper on humanity sexuality, though they are repeatedly interrupted by Hefner's fans, including President Jimmy Carter; a "Listening to Great Music" installment, in which John Belushi goes overboard in illustrating the power of Richard Wagner's famous "Ride of the Valkyries"; and "Weekend Update," with Jane Curtin and Dan Aykroyd discussing a recent Nobel Prize winner; an attack on conservative pageant winner Anita Bryant by the "Gay Bakers"; new guidelines for laxative advertisements; Lillian Carter's dislike of sportscaster Howard Cosell; an impromptu visit from a tour group; a rash of murders of diamond dealers; changes in abortion laws; teenage Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci's world tour; the Yankees' current success in the World Series; and the first overseas broadcast of "Saturday Night Live."

Other highlights include the following: "Sex in Cinema," hosted by Hefner, who introduces a scene from a "lost-long" screwball comedy starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn that was censored for its suggestive content; an installment of "The 3 Rs," in which a stern Greek father attempts to sue his daughter's school district for allowing her to graduate while still illiterate, until the girl reveals that it is all a scam for money; "The Story of H," covering Hefner's life story and many struggles with "temptation"; examination of "The Playboy Philosophy" in 400 B.C. Athens; a funeral at which the dead man's best friend attempts to cheer up the mourners with some jokes and tricks; an appearance by Andy Kaufman, who sings "Oklahoma!" and "That's the Way It Goes" with the audience's assistance before breaking into an Elvis Presley impersonation and singing "I Need Your Love Tonight"; and a trip to the Playboy Club with squabbling married couple the Farbers, who are impressed when Hefner himself visits their table. Titus also performs "Fool That I Am." Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: NBC
• DATE: October 15, 1977 11:35 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:16:46
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:47434
• GENRE: Comedy/Variety
• SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy/Variety; Music
• SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1975-
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Behold furniture polish
  • TV - Commercials - Bic shavers
  • TV - Commercials - Excedrin Extra Strength pain reliever
  • TV - Commercials - Freshen-Up chewing gum
  • TV - Commercials - General Electric flashbulbs
  • TV - Commercials - King Koil Posture Bond mattresses
  • TV - Commercials - Marriott's Essex House hotel
  • TV - Commercials - Mirro Watta Pizzaria electric pizza baker
  • TV - Commercials - Pillsbury Frosting Supreme
  • TV - Commercials - Pillsbury cinnamon rolls
  • TV - Commercials - Polaroid cameras
  • TV - Commercials - Quasar electronics
  • TV - Commercials - RCA ColorTrak televisions
  • TV - Commercials - Rubbermaid bird feeders
  • TV - Commercials - Sharp stereo systems
  • TV - Commercials - Soft & Dri deodorant
  • TV - Commercials - United States Army
  • TV - Promos - "79 Park Avenue"
  • TV - Promos - "Big Hawaii"

CREDITS

• Lorne Michaels … Producer, Writer
• Jean Doumanian … Associate Producer
• Audrey Peart Dickman … Associate Producer
• Dave Wilson … Director
• Dan Aykroyd … Writer
• Anne Beatts … Writer
• James Downey … Writer
• Al Franken … Writer
• Tom Davis … Writer
• Neil Levy … Writer
• Marilyn Suzanne Miller … Writer
• Michael O'Donoghue … Writer
• Herb Sargent … Writer
• Tom Schiller … Writer
• Rosie Shuster … Writer
• Alan Zweibel … Writer
• Hugh Hefner … Host, Performer
• Don Pardo … Announcer
• Libby Titus … Guest, Performer
• Andy Kaufman … Cast
• Dan Aykroyd … Cast
• John Belushi … Cast
• Jane Curtin … Cast
• Garrett Morris … Cast
• Bill Murray … Cast
• Laraine Newman … Cast
• Gilda Radner … Cast
• Anita Bryant
• Jimmy Carter
• Lillian Carter
• Nadia Comaneci
• Howard Cosell
• Cary Grant
• Katharine Hepburn
• Elvis Presley
• Richard Wagner