SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE {MICHAEL MCKEAN; CHAKA KHAN} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of live, late-night comedy/variety programs featuring topical satire. Actor Michael McKean hosts this program, with musical guest Chaka Khan. In the opening sequence, Vice-Presidential hopeful Geraldine Ferraro sings a song about the need for a female political leader, backed up by "the Mon-dells." During his opening monologue, McKean attempts to "break the ice" by straying from his comedic roots and singing an eighteenth-century Scottish dirge, but he is heckled from the audience by a fan (an unseen Larry David) preferring his usual style, and he quickly grows annoyed, protesting that he can be a serious dramatic actor as well.
Sketches include the following: a passive-aggressive message from President Reagan about prayer in schools; an advertisement for the horror movie "Baby Double"; an installment of "Fernando's Hideaway" in which guest Barry Manilow cancels at the last minute and is replaced by a crew member who does not quite share the pop star's "sex appeal"; a reunion of the fictional singing group The Folksmen (McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest) and a performance of "Old Joe's Place"; the return of comedian Buddy Young, Jr., whose audience loves his insulting routine; an installment of "First Draft Theatre" featuring Reginald Rose's "12 Angry Men," in which the jurors are more interested in ordering lunch than in agreeing on a verdict; a performance of "Lucky Star" by Madonna featuring a number of strange fashion accessories; a PBS pledge featuring actor Vincent Price, promoting his surprisingly creepy cooking show "Recipe"; a young man's plea for advice about his philandering wife from his rabbi, who suggests a drastic measure inspired by his own version of scripture; and "Saturday Night News," with Edwin Newman discussing his own impartiality to the upcoming elections and various upcoming changes in state songs, and talking with ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick, who is unnerved by Reverend Jesse Jackson's apparent crush on her, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, who compares the campaign season to sex, and Rich Hall, who cautions against "VWI," voting while intoxicated.
Other highlights include the following: a meeting at Presidential candidate Walter Mondale's headquarters, in which he is delighted to learn that he may win the state of Minnesota, though will likely lose the other 49; and a "Fashion Report" from eccentric Talking Heads frontman David Bryne, who recommends wearing hugely oversized suits. Chaka Khan also performs "I Feel For You" and "This Is My Night." Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 3, 1984 11:35 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:26:51
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:65389
- GENRE: Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy/Variety
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1975-
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Coty Wild Musk cologne spray
- TV - Commercials - Levi's 501 jeans
- TV - Commercials - Mars Bars candies
- TV - Commercials - Nikon cameras
- TV - Commercials - Riunite wine
- TV - Commercials - Slim-Fast weight loss shakes
- TV - Commercials - Velamints chewing gum
- TV - Promos - "A Soldier's Story" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Airplane!" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Just The Way You Are" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "No Small Affair" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Oh, God! You Devil" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "The Terminator" motion picture
- TV - Promos - Sunday night football
CREDITS
- Dick Ebersol … Executive Producer
- Bob Tischler … Producer, Writer
- Audrey Peart Dickman … Associate Producer
- Barbara Lieberman … Film Producer
- Jack Briggs … Film Associate Producer
- Kim Myers … Film Associate Producer
- Dave Wilson … Director
- Bill Crystal … Writer
- Andy Breckman … Writer
- Larry David … Writer
- Jim Downey … Writer
- Christopher Guest … Writer
- Rich Hall … Writer
- Nate Herman … Writer
- Kevin Kelton … Writer
- Andy Kurtzman … Writer
- Rob Riley … Writer
- Herb Sargent … Writer
- Harry Shearer … Writer
- Martin Short … Writer
- Eliot Wald … Writer
- Michael McKean … Host
- Edwin Newman … Guest
- Chaka Khan … Guest, Music Group
- The Folksmen … Guest, Music Group
- Billy Crystal … Cast
- Jim Belushi … Cast
- Mary Gross … Cast
- Christopher Guest … Cast
- Rich Hall … Cast
- Gary Kroeger … Cast
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus … Cast
- Harry Shearer … Cast
- Martin Short … Cast
- Pamela Stephenson … Cast
- David Byrne
- Geraldine Ferraro
- Jesse Jackson
- Jean Kirkpatrick
- Madonna
- Barry Manilow
- Walter Mondale
- Vincent Price
- Ronald Reagan
- Reginald Rose
- Ruth Westheimer