Saturday Night Live (season 8)

Saturday Night Live Season 8
The Saturday Night Live title card as seen in the opening credits of the 8th season.
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	20
Broadcast
Original channel	NBC
Original run	September 25, 1982 – May 14, 1983
Season chronology
← Previous 7 Next → 9
List of Saturday Night Live episodes

Saturday Night Live aired its eighth season during the 1982–1983 season on NBC. The 8th season started on September 25, 1982 and ended on May 14, 1983. This was the third season to air since Lorne Michaels had left his first tenure as executive producer.

Many changes happened before the start of the season. Brian Doyle-Murray, Christine Ebersole and Tony Rosato were dropped from the show to make room for new cast members. Hired in their places were Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Hall's future wife and future Seinfeld cast member), and Gary Kroeger.

Dick Ebersol brought back the show's cold openings that ended with "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" and the monologues by the host. Ebersol also changed Weekend Update's name for the second; this time, it was changed to Saturday Night News. Since Doyle-Murray and Ebersole were both dropped a new anchor was needed for the segment. Hall got the gig and became the new anchor.

Notable moments of this season included Drew Barrymore hosting the show—the youngest person ever to host the show. During the episode hosted by Barrymore, the audience at home was given the chance to vote on whether or not Andy Kaufman, should be banned from the show. The vote was conducted by a 1-900 number. At the end of the show Kaufman was banned from ever performing on SNL again.

Another notable moment was when Eddie Murphy hosted the show. Murphy substituted for his 48 Hours co-star Nick Nolte after Nolte fell ill (Nolte became hung over following a night of partying at Studio 54). Murphy became the only person to have hosted the show while still a cast member. He controversially announced "Live from New York, it's the Eddie Murphy Show!" Murphy's hosting gig angered most of the cast and crew, particularly Joe Piscopo.

Cast

Repertory cast members

• Robin Duke
• Mary Gross
• Brad Hall
• Tim Kazurinsky
• Gary Kroeger
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus
• Eddie Murphy
• Joe Piscopo

bold denotes Weekend Update anchor

Writers

Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers#Season 8

Episodes

See also: List of Saturday Night Live episodes

Saturday Night Live season 8 episodes

No.	#	Host(s)	Musical guest(s)	Original airdate
140	1	Chevy Chase	Queen	September 25, 1982
Host Chevy Chase performs from Burbank, California via satellite. Queen performs "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (introduced by Danny DeVito in a short cameo) and "Under Pressure." Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Gary Kroeger's first episode as cast members. Guest appearances by Siskel & Ebert who reviewed a few of the sketches.
141	2	Louis Gossett, Jr.	George Thorogood & the Destroyers	October 2, 1982
Guest appearance by Eddie Murphy's father. Mr. T appeared in the "Mister Robinson's Neighborhood" and "Mr. and Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix" sketches.
142	3	Ron Howard	The Clash	October 9, 1982
The Clash performs "Straight to Hell" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go" from their recently released album Combat Rock. Harry Anderson makes a guest appearance. In the "Mayberry 1982" sketch, Howard reprises his Opie Taylor character. Andy Griffith appears in the "Mayberry 1982" sketch, reprising his character Andy Taylor.
143	4	Howard Hesseman	Men at Work	October 23, 1982
Men at Work performs "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Down Under (song)."
144	5	Michael Keaton	The New Joe Jackson Band	October 30, 1982
Guest appearance by Michael Palin.
145	6	Robert Blake	Kenny Loggins	November 13, 1982
Merv Griffin appears in the cold opening.
146	7	Drew Barrymore	Squeeze	November 20, 1982
During this episode, the audience at home was given the chance to vote on whether or not Andy Kaufman, a regular guest on SNL, should be banned from the show. The vote was conducted by a 1-900 number. At the end of the night, the people had spoken, and Kaufman was banned from ever performing on SNL again.
147	8	The Smothers Brothers	Laura Branigan	December 4, 1982
148	9	Eddie Murphy	Lionel Richie	December 11, 1982
Eddie Murphy substituted for his 48 Hours co-star Nick Nolte after Nolte fell ill (Nolte became hung over following a night of partying at Studio 54. He controversially announced "Live from New York, it's the Eddie Murphy Show!" Steve Martin appears near the end to chastise Eddie Murphy for being a second choice. This was the only appearance by Steve Martin in an SNL episode not produced by Lorne Michaels (Seasons 6 through 10). Guest appearance by Harry Anderson.
149	10	Lily Tomlin	Tomlin as Pervis Hawkins	January 22, 1983
Lily Tomlin acts as both host and musical guest for this episode. She opens the show "Live from New York, it's the Lily Tomlin Show!" in reference to Murphy's opening the previous week. Andy Kaufman makes a guest appearance in a pre-taped segment ostensibly as "bought commercial time" since this is the only way that he can still get to appear on SNL. Guest appearances by Bob and Doug Mackenzie to promote the following week's show.
150	11	Rick Moranis Dave Thomas	The Bus Boys	January 29, 1983
151	12	Sid Caesar	Joe Cocker Jennifer Warnes	February 5, 1983
Guest appearance by Harry Anderson.
152	13	Howard Hesseman	Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers	February 19, 1983
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers performs "The Waiting" and "Change of Heart." Howard Hesseman presents a film tribute to the late John Belushi prepared by Belushi's wife.
153	14	Beau Bridges Jeff Bridges	Randy Newman	February 26, 1983
Lloyd Bridges appears in the monologue, telling his sons who he preferred more.
154	15	Bruce Dern	Leon Redbone	March 12, 1983
This show featurs the death of Buckwheat which would carry on to next week's episode.
155	16	Robert Guillaume	Duran Duran	March 19, 1983
Duran Duran preformed Hungry Like the Wolf and Girls on Film
156	17	Joan Rivers	Musical Youth	April 9, 1983
157	18	Susan Saint James	Michael McDonald	April 16, 1983
Guest appearance by Steven Wright.
158	19	Stevie Wonder	Stevie Wonder	May 7, 1983
Michael Davis, Greg Dean, and Andy Murphy make guest appearances. Wonder premieres "Overjoyed."
159	20	Ed Koch	Kevin Rowland Dexys Midnight Runners	May 14, 1983
Guest appearances by Harry Anderson, Don King, and Marv Albert.