Season Seven is a transitional one for the show - after the Season Six debacle and the firing of just about everyone involved, it had to show that it could still be funny enough to warrant a spot in NBC’s lineup. And the pressure was on Dick Ebersol to make a product that carried the momentum of the final show of the previous season, his first show as a producer.
In are newcomers Christine Ebersole, a veteran of musical theater, Mary Gross, a Chicago Second City performer (recommended by John Belushi), and Tony Rosato, a minor SCTV cast member. They were joined by Robin Duke and Tim Kazurinsky, whom Ebersol brought on for the final episode of Season Six.
And then, of course, there were holdovers Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy. This duo would eventually take over the show in Season Seven, casting the rest of the members aside. In the middle of the season, Ebersole actually sang a song on the show bemoaning the fact that the women on the show were only being given degrading roles.
But Murphy’s air time domination was warranted. Every week, he cranked out a new classic sketch, from Buckwheat to Velvet Jones, to Tyrone Green, to Mr. Robinson. When people say he single-handedly saved the show, they are not wrong.
But under Ebersol, the show underwent a number of structural changes. The “Live from New York” cold opens were now gone. The show featured a lot more variety, from magicians to jugglers to dramatic readings by William S. Burroughs.
This season also marks the return of two staples of the first several seasons of SNL: Writer Mike O’Donoghue and cocaine. Both would cause much behind-the-scenes drama throughout the year.
We discuss all these issues, including our awards for the best sketches, best cast members, and most memorable hosts on this episode.
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