SNL page 5

 SNL page 5 by ric gustafson

On October 11 1975 was the premiere of Saturday Night Live. George Carlin was chosen to be the first guest host of the show. The show opened with what is called a cold open. A cold open is a sketch to hook the audience. For this first cold open, a sketch was performed by Michael O'Donoghue and John Belushi. Then Chevy Chase came out wearing a headset and holding a clipboard. He smiles into the camera. " Live from New York it's Saturday Night".

Instead of appearing in sketches, George Carlin performed 4 monologues. Included in the first show was a fake commercial. Then Billy Preston performed a song called ' Nothing from Nothing'. The first official SNL sketch was called ' The Trial'. Then Andy Kaufman does one of his many bizarre routines called ' Here I come to save the day'.

Then Janis Ian sang ' At Seventeen'. The second sketch was called ' Victim of Shark Bites'. ' Jamitol' was the name of the second fake commercial. Then there was Weekend Update with Chevy Chase. The third fake commercial was called ' Triopenin'. Then the Muppets did a sketch called ' the Land of Gorch'.

Then there was a short film by Albert Brooks. Then there was a sketch called ' Bee Hospital'. Then there was a fake commercial called ' Academy of Better Careers'. Then there was a comedy bit by Valri Bromfield. Then there was a fake Public Service Announcement called ' Show us your guns'. Then Billy Preston sang ' Fancy Lady'. 

Then there are two fake commercials in a row. ' Trojan Horse Home Security' and ' Because you'll believe anything'. Then Janis Ian sang ' In the Winter'. Then George Carlin and the cast said goodnight.

Some of the critics liked the show. Some did not. 

research help: ' The SNL Companion' by Stephen Tropiano and Steven Ginsberg

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric