Saturday Night Live (season 9)

The ninth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between October 8, 1983, and May 12, 1984.

Saturday Night Live
Season 9
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes19
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseOctober 8, 1983 (1983-10-08) –
May 12, 1984 (1984-05-12)
Season chronology

Format changes

Dick Ebersol had taken Brad Hall off Weekend Update (known as Saturday Night News during this time) mid-season. The segment then had a revolving door of other anchors mostly involving the episode's host and, in one case, Joe Piscopo (although Piscopo only introduced a commentary and didn't tell any actual jokes).

Hosts

Future cast member Billy Crystal hosted twice this season: once with musical guest Al Jarreau and again on the season finale with Ed Koch, Edwin Newman, Betty Thomas and former cast member Don Novello, with The Cars as musical guest.

Cast

Before the start of the season, the entire cast returned for another season. The only change was the hiring (and firing, then rehiring) of Jim Belushi). Jim Belushi became the first person to be hired then fired then rehired, future cast member Chris Parnell will later become the second. Eddie Murphy left the program two episodes before of the end of the season. When the season ended, Robin Duke, Brad Hall, Tim Kazurinsky and Joe Piscopo left the show.

Cast roster

Repertory players

bold denotes Weekend Update anchor

Writers
Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers § season 9

This season's writers were Jim Belushi, Andy Breckman, Robin Duke, Adam Green, Mary Gross, Nate Herman, Tim Kazurinsky, Kevin Kelton, Andy Kurtzman, Michael McCarthy, Eddie Murphy, Pamela Norris, Margaret Oberman, Joe Piscopo, Andrew Smith, Bob Tischler, Eliot Wald and Herb Sargent. The head writers were Bob Tischler and Andrew Smith.

Episodes
Main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		Host(s)Musical guest(s)Original air date
1601Brandon TartikoffJohn Cougar MellencampOctober 8, 1983 (1983-10-08)

1612Danny DeVito
Rhea Perlman		Eddy GrantOctober 15, 1983 (1983-10-15)

1623John CandyMen at WorkOctober 22, 1983 (1983-10-22)

1634Betty ThomasStray CatsNovember 5, 1983 (1983-11-05)

  • Stray Cats performs "(She's) Sexy + 17" and "I Won't Stand in Your Way",[1] the latter of which featured a cameo appearance by 14 Karat Soul.
  • Eddie Murphy performs one of SNL's most iconic sketches, "James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub Party". In a tease before the break, James Brown is seen in the hot tub with Dr. Joyce Brothers.[2]
1645Teri GarrMick Fleetwood's ZooNovember 12, 1983 (1983-11-12)

  • Mick Fleetwood's Zoo performs "Tonight"[1] and "Way Down".
  • Magician and future creator/star of Mystery Science Theater 3000 Joel Hodgson made a guest appearance.
  • Jim Belushi was not present nor credited for this episode due to performing in a play, True West.
1656Jerry LewisLoverboyNovember 19, 1983 (1983-11-19)

1667The Smothers BrothersBig CountryDecember 3, 1983 (1983-12-03)

1678Flip WilsonStevie NicksDecember 10, 1983 (1983-12-10)

1689Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello)Huey Lewis and the NewsJanuary 14, 1984 (1984-01-14)

16910Michael PalinThe MotelsJanuary 21, 1984 (1984-01-21)

17011Don RicklesBilly IdolJanuary 28, 1984 (1984-01-28)

  • Billy Idol performs "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell".[1]
  • Cameo appearances by Brandon Tartikoff and John Madden during the monologue as members of the audience.
  • Dr. Joyce Brothers appears in the "Fascinating People and Their Friends" sketch.
  • Don Rickles repeatedly ad-libs extra lines and gestures throughout his sketches (mostly with Joe Piscopo), causing other cast members to break character, and a few sketches even include improvised face-slapping competitions.[3]
  • An off-screen Dave Wilson talks to Don Rickles during the monologue.
17112Robin WilliamsAdam AntFebruary 11, 1984 (1984-02-11)

17213Jamie Lee CurtisThe FixxFebruary 18, 1984 (1984-02-18)

17314Edwin NewmanKool & the GangFebruary 25, 1984 (1984-02-25)

17415Billy CrystalAl JarreauMarch 17, 1984 (1984-03-17)

  • Al Jarreau performs "Mornin'" and "Trouble in Paradise".[1]
  • Cameo appearance by New York City mayor Ed Koch during the cold open.
  • Billy Crystal debuts his Fernando character.
17516Michael DouglasDeniece WilliamsApril 7, 1984 (1984-04-07)

  • Deniece Williams performs "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and "Wrapped Up".[1]
  • Michael Douglas anchors Saturday Night News.

First episode where *Eddie Murphy is not credited as a cast member nor appears.

17617George McGovernMadnessApril 14, 1984 (1984-04-14)

17718Barry BostwickSpinal TapMay 5, 1984 (1984-05-05)

17819Billy Crystal, Ed Koch, Edwin Newman, Don Novello, Betty ThomasThe CarsMay 12, 1984 (1984-05-12)

References
  1. Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 124–127. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  2. https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/james-brown-celebrity-hot-tub-party/n9133
  3. "January 28, 1984". SNL Archives. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011.
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