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Saturday Night Live season 23

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Saturday Night Live
Season 23
The title card for the twenty-third season of Saturday Night Live.
No. of episodes20
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseSeptember 27, 1997 (1997-09-27) –
May 9, 1998 (1998-05-09)
Season chronology
← Previous
season 22
Next →
season 24
List of episodes

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 May 9, 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

[edit]

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]

Cast roster

[edit]

Repertory players

bold denotes Weekend Update anchor

Writers

[edit]
Main article: List of Saturday Night Live writers § season 23

Future cast member/head writer Tina Fey joins the writing staff in this season.

Adam McKay continues as the sole head writer, while Tim Herlihy is promoted to a producer alongside Steve Higgins.[8]

With the Sarah Michelle Gellar-hosted episode, future Parks and Recreation/The Good Place creator Michael Schur joined the writing staff.[9]

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]

Episodes

[edit]
Main article: List of Saturday Night Live episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		HostMusical guest(s)Original air date
4271Sylvester StalloneJamiroquaiSeptember 27, 1997 (1997-09-27)

  • Jamiroquai performs "Alright".
  • 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.
4282Matthew PerryOasisOctober 4, 1997 (1997-10-04)

4293Brendan FraserBjörkOctober 18, 1997 (1997-10-18)

4304Chris FarleyThe Mighty Mighty BosstonesOctober 25, 1997 (1997-10-25)

  • The Mighty Mighty Bosstones performs "The Impression That I Get".
  • Chevy Chase and Chris Rock have cameo appearances in the cold opening and the monologue.
  • Chicago news anchor and reporter Bill Kurtis along with George Wendt and Mike Ditka appear in a short film showing the lives of the "Bill Swerski's Superfans" after their run on SNL.
  • 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.
4315Jon LovitzJane's AddictionNovember 8, 1997 (1997-11-08)

4326Claire DanesMariah CareyNovember 15, 1997 (1997-11-15)

  • Mariah Carey performs "Butterfly" and "My All".
  • During the monologue, show writer and future cast member Tina Fey makes a brief appearance as an audience member.
4337Rudolph GiulianiSarah McLachlanNovember 22, 1997 (1997-11-22)

  • Sarah McLachlan performs "Sweet Surrender". She also appeared in the Weekend Update segment.
4348Nathan LaneMetallicaDecember 6, 1997 (1997-12-06)

4359Helen HuntHansonDecember 13, 1997 (1997-12-13)

43610Samuel L. JacksonBen Folds FiveJanuary 10, 1998 (1998-01-10)

  • Ben Folds Five performs "Brick".
  • Colin Quinn's first episode as Weekend Update anchor.
43711Sarah Michelle GellarPortisheadJanuary 17, 1998 (1998-01-17)

43812John GoodmanPaula ColeFebruary 7, 1998 (1998-02-07)

  • Paula Cole performs "I Don't Want to Wait".
  • 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.
43913Roma DowneyMissy Misdemeanor ElliottFebruary 14, 1998 (1998-02-14)

44014Garth BrooksGarth BrooksFebruary 28, 1998 (1998-02-28)

  • Garth Brooks performs "Two Piña Coladas".
  • 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.
44115Scott WolfNatalie ImbrugliaMarch 7, 1998 (1998-03-07)

  • Natalie Imbruglia performs "Torn".
  • In the cold open, show writer and future cast member Tina Fey appears as Kathleen Willey on Larry King Live.
  • 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.
44216Julianne MooreBackstreet BoysMarch 14, 1998 (1998-03-14)

44317Steve BuscemiThird Eye BlindApril 4, 1998 (1998-04-04)

44418Greg KinnearAll SaintsApril 11, 1998 (1998-04-11)

44519Matthew BroderickNatalie MerchantMay 2, 1998 (1998-05-02)

  • Natalie Merchant performeds "Kind & Generous".
  • Tenacious D appears as a special guest, performing "The History of Tenacious D" and "Double Team".
  • Regis Philbin appeared in the pre-filmed "Viagra" commercial.
44620David DuchovnyPuff Daddy & Jimmy PageMay 9, 1998 (1998-05-09)

Specials

[edit]
# Special Original airdate
1"SNL Halloween '97"November 1, 1997 (1997-11-01)
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".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NBC to Air Chris Farley Tribute". Chicago Tribune. May 11, 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "'SNL' Salute to Hartman Pure Genius". New York Daily News. June 16, 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  3. ^ Wright, Megh (June 6, 2012). "Saturday Night's Children: Mark McKinney (1995-1997)". Vulture. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Hugar, John (February 13, 2015). "The Bizarre Circumstances And Shaky Aftermath Of Norm Macdonald's Dismissal From Weekend Update". UPROXX. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  5. ^ Garrity, Katie (September 16, 2021). "Norm Macdonald Was Fired From 'Saturday Night Live' in 1998, but Why Exactly?". Distractify. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  6. ^ Evans, Bradford (November 22, 2013). "Adam McKay Responds to Jim Breuer Saying He Got Him Fired from 'SNL'". Vulture. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Season 23: Opening Montage Variants (The WORST Ever!)". r/LiveFromNewYork. March 31, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Sylvester Stallone/Jamiroquai". Saturday Night Live. Season 23. Episode 01. September 27, 1997. Event occurs at Closing credits. NBC.
  9. ^ "Sarah Michelle Gellar/Portishead". Saturday Night Live. Season 23. Episode 11. January 17, 1998. Event occurs at Closing credits. NBC.
  10. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (March 3, 2008). "'SNL' Writer Narrows the Gap Between Politics and Farce". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Sacks, Mike (June 24, 2014). "'SNL's James Downey on Working with Norm Macdonald and Getting Fired for Making Fun of OJ Simpson". Vulture. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "David Duchovny/Puff Daddy". Saturday Night Live. Season 23. Episode 20. May 9, 1998. Event occurs at Closing credits. NBC.
  13. ^ Lindbergh, Ben (December 13, 2022). "The Oral History of the "Baseball Dreams Come True" 'Saturday Night Live' Sketch". The Ringer. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
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