Home > Saturday Night Live > Season 1 « TV Series Page Saturday Night Live: Season 1 (1975 - 1976) SEASON: Season 1 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Season 8 Season 9 Season 10 Season 11 Season 12 Season 13 Season 14 Season 15 Season 16 Season 17 Season 18 Season 19 Season 20 Season 21 Season 22 Season 23 Season 24 Season 25 Season 26 Season 27 Season 28 Season 29 Season 30 Season 31 Season 32 Season 33 Season 34 Season 35 Season 36 Season 37 Season 38 Season 39 Season 40 Season 41 Season 42 Season 43 Season 44 Season 45 Want to see Episode List Season 1 Saturday Night Live Critics Consensus No consensus yet. 89% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 9 86% Audience Score User Ratings: 15 More Info × Close Submit review Want to see Submit review Super Reviewer Super Reviewer Tap to review this movie Review this tv season Edit Review Super Reviewer Rate this season Oof, that was Rotten. Meh, it passed the time. It’s good – I’d recommend it. Awesome! 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Episodes 1 George Carlin; Janis Ian; Billy Preston Air date: Oct 11, 1975 The premiere episode of the long-running and influential sketch comedy series features host George Carlin and musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston. Most of the show's soon-to-be familiar elements are already in place, such as the announcement of "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night," the host monologue, Weekend Update news report, and parody commercials. Memorable moments include the first appearance of the Bees, guest star Andy Kaufman's "Mighty Mouse" routine, and the opening absurdist skit in which a professor (Michael O'Donaghue) teaches a non-English speaker (John Belushi) phrases such as, "I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines." Although the series would later be known as Saturday Night Live, this episode was introduced as NBC's Saturday Night, a moniker it would keep until the 14th episode, when the "NBC's" was dropped. The series would not actually be called Saturday Night Live until late in the second season. More 2 Paul Simon Air date: Oct 18, 1975 The second episode of NBC's Saturday Night is dominated by music. Host Paul Simon is joined by musical guests Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow, and Art Garfunkel, who, together and separately, perform a total of 11 songs. Notable non-musical content includes a short film by Albert Brooks and a humorous segment featuring Simon playing basketball against Connie Hawkins. More 3 Rob Reiner; John Belushi Air date: Oct 25, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Rob Reiner and also features then-Mrs. Reiner Penny Marshall, Andy Kaufman, and the funk-dance band The Lockers. More 4 Candice Bergen; Esther Phillips Air date: Nov 8, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Candice Bergen and features musical guest Esther Phillips. More 5 Robert Klein; Loudon Wainwright III Air date: Nov 15, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Robert Klein and features musical guests ABBA and Loudon Wainwright III. More 6 Lily Tomlin Air date: Nov 22, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Lily Tomlin and features musical guest Howard Shore and His All Nurse Band. Tomlin performs her famous Ernestine and Edith Ann characters on the show. More 7 Richard Pryor; Gil Scott-Heron Air date: Dec 13, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is guest-hosted by Richard Pryor--who appears in a samurai sketch with John Belushi--and features two songs by musical guest Gil Scott-Heron, and a terrific short film by Albert Brooks. More 8 Candice Bergen; Martha Reeves; the Stylistics Air date: Dec 20, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Candice Bergen and features musical guests the Stylistics and Martha Reeves. More 9 Elliott Gould; Anne Murray Air date: Jan 10, 1976 This 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Elliott Gould and features the show's timeless parody of Star Trek, with John Belushi as Captain Kirk and Chevy Chase as Spock. More 10 Buck Henry; Bill Withers; Toni Basil Air date: Jan 17, 1976 This videotape contains two episodes--one dating from 1978, one from 1979--hosted by comedian/author Buck Henry. More Show More Episodes Saturday Night Live: Season 1 Photos View All Photos (27) Tv Season Info Series 1 of the star studded variety show. Genre: Comedy Network: NBC Premiere Date: Oct 11, 1975 Creator: Lorne Michaels Exec. Producer: Lorne Michaels Cast Elliott Gould Buck Henry as Host Buck Henry Elliott Gould as Host Candice Bergen Louise Lasser Kris Kristofferson Candice Bergen as Host Louise Lasser as Host Kris Kristofferson as Host Dan Aykroyd John Belushi Leon Redbone John Belushi Rita Coolidge as Musical Guest Gordon Lightfoot Preservation Hall Jazz Band as Musical Guest George Carlin as Host Rob Reiner as Host Lily Tomlin Peter Cook Dick Cavett as Host Desi Arnaz as Host/Musical Guest Jill Clayburgh as Host Anthony Perkins as Host Raquel Welch as Host Madeline Kahn George Carlin Paul Simon as Host Rob Reiner Robert Klein as Host Peter Cook Dick Cavett Desi Arnaz Jill Clayburgh Anthony Perkins Raquel Welch Dyan Cannon as Host Paul Simon Robert Klein Robert Klein Peter Boyle as Host Ron Nessen as Host Lily Tomlin as Host Richard Pryor as Host Peter Boyle Madeline Kahn as Host Kenan Thompson Andy Kaufman Chevy Chase Gilda Radner Phoebe Snow as Musical Guest Phoebe Snow Toni Basil Jane Curtin Garrett Morris Billy Preston Laraine Newman Chevy Chase Janis Ian as Musical Guest Art Garfunkel Randy Newman as Musical Guest Loudon Wainwright III Richard Pryor Martha Reeves Anne Murray Bill Withers as Musical Guest Marshall Erwin Efron as Musical Guest Janis Ian Esther Phillips as Musical Guest ABBA as Musical Guest Gil Scott-Heron as Musical Guest The Stylistics as Musical Guest Bill Withers Al Jarreau as Musical Guest Carly Simon as Musical Guest Kate McKinnon Leon Redbone as Musical Guest Esther Phillips Howard Shore as Musical Guest Dudley Moore Al Jarreau Desi Arnaz Jr. as Musical Guest Andy Kaufman as Musical Guest Betty Carter Carly Simon Gordon Lightfoot as Musical Guest Penny Marshall Anne Murray as Musical Guest Dudley Moore Jimmy Cliff Desi Arnaz Jr. as Musical Guest Ron Nessen Leon Russell as Musical Guest Gilda Radner Dan Aykroyd Patti Smith as Musical Guest Patti Smith Billy Preston as Musical Guest Gil Scott-Heron Toni Basil as Musical Guest Neil Sedaka as Musical Guest Jimmy Cliff as Musical Guest John Sebastian Cecily Strong Albert Brooks Loudon Wainwright III as Musical Guest Martha Reeves as Musical Guest Neil Sedaka Billy Crystal Mary Russell Matt Damon Aidy Bryant Art Garfunkel as Musical Guest Miley Cyrus Jane Curtin Connie Hawkins Beck Bennett Kyle Mooney Colin Jost Mark Ronson Michael Che Pete Davidson Leslie Jones Mikey Day Melissa Villasenor Andy Kaufman Heidi Gardner Chris Redd Alex Moffat Ego Nwodim Darrell Hammond Show More Cast Episodes 1 George Carlin; Janis Ian; Billy Preston Air date: Oct 11, 1975 The premiere episode of the long-running and influential sketch comedy series features host George Carlin and musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston. Most of the show's soon-to-be familiar elements are already in place, such as the announcement of "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night," the host monologue, Weekend Update news report, and parody commercials. Memorable moments include the first appearance of the Bees, guest star Andy Kaufman's "Mighty Mouse" routine, and the opening absurdist skit in which a professor (Michael O'Donaghue) teaches a non-English speaker (John Belushi) phrases such as, "I would like to feed your fingertips to the wolverines." Although the series would later be known as Saturday Night Live, this episode was introduced as NBC's Saturday Night, a moniker it would keep until the 14th episode, when the "NBC's" was dropped. The series would not actually be called Saturday Night Live until late in the second season. More 2 Paul Simon Air date: Oct 18, 1975 The second episode of NBC's Saturday Night is dominated by music. Host Paul Simon is joined by musical guests Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow, and Art Garfunkel, who, together and separately, perform a total of 11 songs. Notable non-musical content includes a short film by Albert Brooks and a humorous segment featuring Simon playing basketball against Connie Hawkins. More 3 Rob Reiner; John Belushi Air date: Oct 25, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Rob Reiner and also features then-Mrs. Reiner Penny Marshall, Andy Kaufman, and the funk-dance band The Lockers. More 4 Candice Bergen; Esther Phillips Air date: Nov 8, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Candice Bergen and features musical guest Esther Phillips. More 5 Robert Klein; Loudon Wainwright III Air date: Nov 15, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Robert Klein and features musical guests ABBA and Loudon Wainwright III. More 6 Lily Tomlin Air date: Nov 22, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Lily Tomlin and features musical guest Howard Shore and His All Nurse Band. Tomlin performs her famous Ernestine and Edith Ann characters on the show. More 7 Richard Pryor; Gil Scott-Heron Air date: Dec 13, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is guest-hosted by Richard Pryor--who appears in a samurai sketch with John Belushi--and features two songs by musical guest Gil Scott-Heron, and a terrific short film by Albert Brooks. More 8 Candice Bergen; Martha Reeves; the Stylistics Air date: Dec 20, 1975 This 1975 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Candice Bergen and features musical guests the Stylistics and Martha Reeves. More 9 Elliott Gould; Anne Murray Air date: Jan 10, 1976 This 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Elliott Gould and features the show's timeless parody of Star Trek, with John Belushi as Captain Kirk and Chevy Chase as Spock. More 10 Buck Henry; Bill Withers; Toni Basil Air date: Jan 17, 1976 This videotape contains two episodes--one dating from 1978, one from 1979--hosted by comedian/author Buck Henry. More Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for Saturday Night Live Season 1 All Critics (9) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (1) The longest running, most iconic sketch show in American history. Sep 13, 2018 | Full Review… Rolling Stone Staff Rolling Stone Top Critic NBC changed television forever. Sep 12, 2018 | Full Review… David Wiegand San Francisco Chronicle Top Critic Much of the appeal of "Saturday Night" lies in its contrast with this ubiquitous show-business language. Sep 12, 2018 | Full Review… Michael J. Arlen New Yorker Top Critic The 90 minute show was plagued throughout with a lack of exciting guests and innovative writing, helping to keep the debut at a lackluster pace. Sep 12, 2018 | Full Review… Richard Hack Hollywood Reporter Top Critic Saturday Night is a show worth rooting for. Sep 12, 2018 | Full Review… Jeff Greenfield New York Magazine/Vulture Top Critic Clayburgh was seldom as much fun in her movies as she is here, whether she's doing a full sketch or just introducing Leon Redbone or picking out "volunteers" for Andy Kaufman's act. Sep 12, 2018 | Full Review… Phil Dyess-Nugent AV Club Top Critic Over the years, the quality of the show has varied, both from season to season and from episode to episode. But for the most part, Saturday Night Live has been a place to see solid, live comedy with a broad, mature appeal. Sep 12, 2018 | Full Review… Sierra Filucci Common Sense Media There have been many popular recurring SNL characters over the years but few are as absurdly simple and memorably hilarious as the Land Shark. Sep 12, 2018 | Full Review… Brian Zoromski IGN Movies Although the show may appear dated, most of the comedy isn't. Yes, we did say most. Sep 12, 2018 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review… Dan Iverson IGN Movies View All Critic Reviews (9) Audience Reviews for Saturday Night Live: Season 1 There are no featured audience reviews yet. Click the link below to see what others say about Saturday Night Live: Season 1! See All Audience Reviews News & Features 150 Erotic Movies Ranked worst to best! 2019's Most Anticipated 63 movies coming up this year 200 Essential Movies Chosen by RT staff! 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