The twenty-third season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 27, 1997, and May9, 1998.
This season saw the deaths of two former cast members. Six weeks after he came back to host, Chris Farley became the fifth SNL cast member to die. Influenced by his idol, John Belushi, Farley died of a speedball overdose at the age of 33. Two weeks after the season finale, long-time performer Phil Hartman was murdered by his wife who then committed suicide. Following their deaths, NBC aired two SNL specials as tributes to Farley and Hartman in dedication to their legacies during this season.[1][2]
Cast
Before the season, Mark McKinney left the show after three seasons.[3]Colin Quinn was promoted to repertory status. This season is the first season to not include any featured players or new cast members.
During the season, a controversy arose in which Weekend Update anchor Norm Macdonald was removed from the Update segment. Macdonald's final episode as Update anchor was on December 13, 1997.[4][5] Quinn was then promoted to the job and anchored the segment in the next live episode, which aired January 10, 1998. Even though Macdonald still performed in sketches, he was not happy and eventually quit the show; his final appearance was on March 14, 1998.
This was also the final season for Jim Breuer as he left the show at season's end to move on to other acting opportunities.[6]
It was also the only season to have an opening sequence that did not show any shots of New York City, instead featuring a 1950s-inspired design.[7]
Longtime writer Jim Downey is fired coinciding with Norm Macdonald being taken off of Weekend Update.[10][11] Downey is still credited as a writer until the end of the season.[12]
The initial 1996 Olympics bombing suspect Richard Jewell makes a guest appearance, where, in a highly publicized sketch, he punches Janet Reno (played by Will Ferrell) in the gut, with Reno responding, "Same time next week?" Jewell also appeared alongside Norm Macdonald on Weekend Update.
Chris Farley reprises his characters Matt Foley and Todd O'Connor.
This was Chris Farley's final television appearance before his death on December 18, 1997. The Vice TV network series "Dark Side of Comedy" made Farley's hosting return the center of their series premiere, noting that he had no movie or other entertainment event to promote and was tabbed to return as host in hopes that being around his friends and Lorne Michaels would lead him to get professional help to battle his multiple addictions. Sadly, the effort failed as Farley was off the wagon and both sick and out of shape during the filming process and was nearly replaced as host before barely completing his work. It was the last time most of the SNL community saw him before he died.
Former cast member Dana Carvey makes a cameo appearance in this episode as Ross Perot in the "Wedding Reception" sketch and as George Michael in the "Set Our Nanny Free!" commercial.
Dan Aykroyd cameos in this episode, reprising two of his popular recurring characters, Elwood Blues from The Blues Brothers during the monologue and Irwin Mainway from "Consumer Probe" in the Judge Judy sketch. He also impersonates Bob Dole in the cold opening.
Aykroyd and Goodman performed "Lookin' For a Fox" with the Blues Brothers Band.
Robert Duvall makes a guest appearance in the "Who's More Grizzled?!" sketch and the "Lay Lady Lay" sketch as well as introducing Garth Brooks' musical performance.
This episode is referenced in Jordan Peele's movie Nope when Yeun describes a childhood tragedy that was parodied in the fictitious "Bad Gordy" sketch.
A clip show hosted by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey featuring material from previous shows.
2
"SNL Sports Extra '98"
January 24, 1998 (1998-01-24)
A clip show featuring material from previous shows.
3
"Best of the New Season '97-'98"
January 31, 1998 (1998-01-31)
A clip show featuring some of the best material from the first half of the '97-'98 season. Sketches include "Well Babies Tragedy," "Cookie Dough Sport," "The View," "The Ladies' Man," and "The Ambiguously Gay Duo".
4
"SNL Remembers Chris Farley"
February 21, 1998 (1998-02-21)
The special, introduced by Tim Meadows, featured some of the best material featuring Chris Farley during his stint on the show. Sketches include "Chippendales Auditions," "Superfans," "The Chris Farley Show," "Bobby Watches Grandma," "Schmitts Gay," "Focus On Beauty II," "Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker," "Giuliani's Inauguration," "Tater Junction," "Lunchlady Land", "Lillehammer", "Clinton Auditions," "Good Morning Brooklyn," "Japanese Game Show," "Juggernaut Force," "Zagat's," and "Hidden Camera Commercials".
5
"SNL Remembers Phil Hartman"
June 13, 1998 (1998-06-13)
The special featured some of the best material featuring Phil Hartman during his stint on the show. Sketches include "Donahue," "The Crosby Show," "Star Trek Convention," "Discover," "On Broadway," "Church Chat," "Cumpulsion," "Anne Boleyn," "Succinctly Speaking," "All-Drug Olympics," "Nicknames," "Win, Lose, or Tie," "Love is a Dream (film)," "Nancy Reagan Visits," "Robot Repair," "Cooking with the Anal Retentive Chef," "A Betty Ford Straight Arrow Christmas," "Celebrity Lawyer Court," "Greenhilly," "The Sinatra Group," "Clarence Thomas Hearings," "Campaign '92," "Sprockets," "Dick Clark's Snotty Receptionist," "Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer," "Johnny Carson's Last Episode," "Perot and Stockdale Car Trip," "Clinton at McDonald's," "Sassy's Sassiest Boys," and "Acting Class".
6
"The Best of Eddie Murphy"
August 22, 1998 (1998-08-22)
The special featured some of the best material featuring Eddie Murphy during his tenure on the show. Sketches include "The Little Richard Simmons Show," "Prose and Cons" (film), "Velvet Jones School Of Technology," "Career Corner," "Ebony & Ivory," "Buckwheat Dead," "Stevie Wonder Impersonator," "Rock & Roll... and then some," "Black History Minute," "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood," "Gumby," "Buckwheat Sings," and "James Brown's Hot Tub Party".
