Madeline's first stint as guest host of Saturday Night Live, with musical guest Carly Simon. This episode includes such classic scenes as Baba Wawa (Gilda Radner) interviewing Mawena Doitchwand (Madeline), Pat Nixon (Madeline) recalling The Final Days of the Nixon Presidency, Madeline and John Belushi in a musical version of "Chinatown," and Madeline's performance of "I Feel Pretty." My favorite moment in the show is the very last scene: Madeline performs "Lost in the Stars" sitting on a stool by herself on the stage. It was very simply done, and quite touching. The complete episode was on video at one point, but I don't believe it is available anymore. I think selected scenes from the episode make up part of the "SNL Annual 1976" video.
Sketches
- Ronald Reagan: Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris.
- Monologue: Madeline Kahn.
- Wilderness Comedian: John Belushi.
- Not for Ladies Only: Gilda Radner, Madeline Kahn.
- Slumber Party: Madeline Kahn, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman.
- Fondue Sets for Namibia: Garrett Morris.
- Chevy and the Muppets
- Madeline sings "I Feel Pretty."
- Weekend Update: Chevy Chase.
- Super-Absorbent Dry Hose Commercial: Madeline Kahn, Jane Curtin.
- Weekend Update Cont'd: Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner.
- Carly Simon sings "Half a Chance" and "You're So Vain."
- The Final Days of the Nixon Presidency: Madeline Kahn, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Garrett Morris.
- "New York's My Home" (film by Gary Weis)
- Musical Chinatown: John Belushi, Madeline Kahn.
- Madeline and Gilda's Hidden Talents: Madeline Kahn, Gilda Radner.
- Madeline sings "Lost in the Stars."
- Goodnights: Madeline, cast.
Sound Files
mono76.wav -- a clip from Madeline's monologue.
wighting.wav -- three clips from the "Not for Ladies Only" sketch.
sleeping.wav -- a clip from the slumber party sketch.
pretty.wav -- Madeline sings "I Feel Pretty."
follow.wav -- a clip from Madeline and Belushi's "Chinatown" sketch.
myparty.wav -- another clip from the "Chinatown" sketch.
lost.wav -- Madeline sings "Lost in the Stars."
Madeline's second outing as SNL host. Madeline is precious in the monologue, as she notes the show's late start and invites the audience to "revel in the unknown." In the various sketches, Madeline plays, among other things, Bianca Jagger and a bad opera singer. I thoroughly enjoyed Gary Weis's short film "Autumn in New York," which had Madeline walking around New York City and singing. The last sketch of the show was also a gem: Madeline and Gilda Radner, sitting in a living room, waiting for a man to call and just being funny. But my favorite sketch of the evening, if you can call it a sketch, is Madeline singing "Life is Like a Bowling Alley" in between Bill Murray's impassioned sermon.
Sketches
- The Trial of Lee Harry Oswald: Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, John Belushi.
- Monologue: Madeline Kahn.
- Swill Commercial: Bill Murray.
- Bad Opera: Madeline Kahn, Dan Aykroyd, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Bill Murray.
- "Anyone Can Host" Contest: Lorne Michaels.
- Bianca Jagger and Three or Four of Her Close Personal Friends: Madeline Kahn, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman.
- Taj Mahal performs "Queen Bee."
- "The Acid Generation: Where are They Now?" (Schiller's Reel)
- Weekend Update: Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Bill Murray.
- "Life is Like a Bowling Alley": Madeline Kahn, Bill Murray.
- Law School Applicants: Bill Murray, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi.
- "Autumn in New York": Madeline Kahn.
- Woman's Product Commercial: Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner.
- Dubbed Hercules Movie: Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Garrett Morris, Gilda Radner.
- Madeline Interviews Dame Edna Everage: Madeline Kahn, Barry Humphries.
- Pocket Pal Commercial: Dan Aykroyd.
- Judith and Gail Wait for a Call: Madeline Kahn, Gilda Radner.
- Goodnights: Madeline Kahn, Taj Mahal, Barry Humphries and cast.
Pictures
Sound Files
mono77.wav -- a clip from Madeline's monologue.
badopera.wav -- a clip from the Bad Opera sketch.
bianca4.wav -- clips from the Bianca Jagger sketch.
bowling.wav -- Madeline sings "Life is Like a Bowling Alley."
autumn.wav -- Madeline sings "Autumn in New York."
sexy.wav -- clips from the Judith and Gail sketch.
By 1995, "Saturday Night Live" had competition, in the form of Fox's "Mad TV," a very similar variety-sketch-comedy show affiliated with Mad Magazine. I remember exactly how my local newspaper's TV critic judged the two programs on this particular occasion: "MAD TV: Pauly Shore hosts. Consider that a warning. SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: Madeline Kahn hosts. Consider that a recommendation." And sure enough, Madeline managed to enliven the show with her brilliance, especially in her fun monologue, where she sings "Ain't Got No Home" by Clarence "Frogman" Henry.
Sketches
- NBC's Christmas Salute to Our Bosnian Troops: Darrell Hammond, Tim Meadows, Molly Shannon, Norm Macdonald, Cheri Oteri.
- Monologue: Madeline Kahn.
- Gangsta Bitch Barbie Commercial
- Cheerleaders: Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri, Nancy Walls.
- John-John Mackey's Storm Tracker Accu-Cast Commercial: Will Ferrell, Tim Meadows.
- Giant Bird Sketch: Madeline Kahn, David Koechner.
- Leg Up: Madeline Kahn, Molly Shannon, Cheri Oteri.
- Bush performs "Comedown."
- Weekend Update with Norm Macdonald: Norm Macdonald, Colin Quinn.
- The Fops' Antique Shop: Madeline Kahn, David Koechner, Mark McKinney, Will Ferrell.
- Fuzzy Memories by Jack Handey
- Spade in America: David Spade.
- Bush performs "Glycerine."
- Self-written Wedding Vows: Madeline Kahn, Will Ferrell, Mark McKinney.
- Fuzzy Memories by Jack Handey
- Old Glory Life Insurance Commercial: special guest Sam Waterston.
- Goodnights: Madeline Kahn, Bush, cast.
Pictures
Sound Files
nohome.wav -- the song from Madeline's monologue.