Saturday Night Live -- Candice Bergen / Esther Phillips -- 11/8/75 -- Sketch by Sketch Review

The first thing that strikes you is how far SNL's set building has come in 33 years. The set looks like it was cobbled together from stuff in a school play, complete with a cheesy Presidential Seal. Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford helped shape how the nation saw the man, and here Chevy gives it his all, pounding his head, slipping, stumbling over words, pouring himself water than drinking the wrong glass, and various other blunders ending in a not so daring fall over some folding card table chairs to do the "Live From New York...." One interesting piece of trivia. Chevy Chase's Ford mentions "Harvey Cosell's Saturday Night". Howard Cosell had a show called Saturday Night Live that was competing with SNL back in 1975, so SNL was called NBC's Saturday Night. The skit has dated rather poorly, as Chevy Chase puts nothing into his Gerald Ford beyond injuring himself. Funny then, not so much now.

Monologue -- Candice Bergen -- 7

Candice Bergin mentions that she is the first woman to host Saturday Night Live. She mentions the failure of an ERA vote and begins her monologue and John Belushi walks in wearing the "Killer Bee" costume. John Belushi manages to bring charm and innocence to the stupid costume as he is swatted down by Chevy Chase. Candice appears nervous, but the opening is much more charming than many are today.

Ambassador Training Institute Commercial -- 1

An unfunny commercial about a correspondence school that allows you to become an ambassador. No laughs here.

CIA Department of Records -- 2

The sketch begins with Dan Aykroyd taking down the picture of the old CIA director and putting up one of George Bush Sr. Garrett Morris comes in to find out if there is a file on him. The point of the sketch seems to be that the CIA is spying on everyone, as Dan Aykroyd tells Mr. Morris that there are far too many people like him who have committed radical acts to possibly find any information on him. The only amusing bit is that as soon as he leave, the CIA desk jockey immediately begins a file on him.

Jaws II -- 10

This silly sketch with Chevy Chase playing a "land shark" is one of the all time classics. A series of unsuspecting women are attacked by Chevy's goofy costumed shark. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi play the Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss characters, providing some truly funny commentary on the action. One of my favorite sketches.

Esther Phillips -- What a Difference A Day Makes -- 1

Wow, this hasn't aged well, if it was even good then. Esther's voice sounds like someone is punching her in the throat rapidly. The music's a bit funky, but her singing makes you wonder if your speaker is broken.

Hamlet / Polaroid Commercial -- 5

Chevy opens doing Shakespeare and drops the skull of poor Yorick, causing him to have to read bits of paper he has with him. Eventually he reads that it is time to do a Polaroid commercial which leads to a real Polaroid Commercial with Chevy and Candice Bergen talking up the SX-70. This is one for the time capsule.

Long Distance -- 2

Another unfunny commercial that seems pointless. Perhaps it was more amusing back then.

Weekend Update -- 6

The political commentary is rather tame, with most jokes at the expense of Ford simply being about him being a klutz or a simpleton. Chevy blows a joke about Manhattan's Womens Bank, which would have been a lot funnier (and certainly risque for 1975) if he hadn't completely stepped on it. The jokes here are a lot sillier than today, several of them have nothing to do with the news, they're just simple gags. A commentary by Jane Curtain (playing Congresswoman Jane Curtain) is again played for silliness as Chevy Chase merely mocks her as she speaks. WU is amusing, but would have been funnier if Chase hadn't kept stepping on jokes.

Triopenin -- 6

This classic SNL commercial about an arthritis remedy that is impossible to open is amusing, if only because in the not so distant future from the time this episode aired, pharmacies would begin addressing this problem by offering easier opening bottles to seniors.

Chanel -- Catherine Deneuve -- 6

Candice Bergen does a commercial for Chanel as Catherine Deneuve with a phony French accent. It's mildly amusing, but notable for the fact that after a sight gag, the sketch ended and the show moved on. Today's SNL could benefit from some tighter sketches. Do the jokes and get out.

Andy Kaufman -- 7

His first appearance on SNL, Kaufmann plays a foreign man like Latka Gravis on Taxi. He starts telling a dumb joke and the audience seems more charitable than I would imagine. His act seems less surprising these days in which it seems everything is a put on. It still holds up.

Gilda Radner Talks To Candice Bergen -- 7

Gilda and Candice discuss guys, and Candice tries to perk up her self-confidence. A discussion about the then current Equal Rights Amendment leads Gilda to talk about going to the bathroom with men would be difficult. Sweet.

Albert Brooks -- NBC's New Season -- 8

Albert Brooks does a series of fake promos for the new NBC season. His drama "Medical Season" is funny as ultra serious doctors say ultra silly things.

"The Three of Us" is a swinging 70's sitcom with Albert Brooks, where Albert tries to convince his wife to have a threesome with her college roommate who happens to be living with them. (look for actress Kay Lenz).

"Black Vet" is about a Vietnam Vet who becomes a Veterinarian in a Southern Town who faces racism from the animals he treats and has to deal with many other hardships.

The shows portrayed feel very much like the ones that might premiere in that time period, and "The Three of Us" even hints at Three's Company's cheap smutty humor. Albert Brooks' film isn't laugh out loud, but it did make me smile at the knowing portrayal of mid 70's TV.

Midnight Probe -- 6

Kiwi trappers discuss their trade with talk show host Candice Bergen. The men talk tough about the silly looking bird and the difficulties in trapping them. The sketch is supremely silly and seems mostly to be an excuse for Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi to capture Candice in a bag. Slight, but amusing.

Trans American Airlines Call -- 3

Sicko Michael O' Donaghue places a prank phone call to an airline where he describes all the horrible things he wants to do to the woman who answers the phone. O'Donaghue liked this sort of comedy. What was once probably considered dark and funny, now seems a bit disturbed and decidedly unfunny.

Jim Henson's Muppets -- 6

It is odd to see a strange set of alien lizard muppets with very familiar voices on SNL. I remember these sketches, but it is more clear to me now that these sketches didn't fit in at all. Frank Oz's Mighty Favog is quite funny.

Candice Bergen Interviews a King -- 7

Candice Bergen is interviewing a third world leader and decides to play old practical jokes on him, cutting off his tie, pouring coffee on him, and more. The sketch ends on an amusing note with Bergen being arrested by the king and then using that as an opportunity to talk to the camera about how all the reports that he is a tyrant are true.

Black Perspectives -- 5

Jane Curtain plays a radical black author, even though she is quite obviously white. Funny premise, but goes nowhere.

Pong -- 6

Al Franken and Tom Davis talk over a pong game about Al's Thanksgiving plans and Al wanting to bring his girlfriend. Lots of build up for a funny ending.

Esther Phillips -- I Can Stand a Little Rain -- 4

Esther's vibrato, which probably was cool at some point, simply is grating to the point of sounding like parody today. The music is quite fine, ruined by her vocal tics.

Overall -- 8

First female host, first bees, first Andy Kaufman and the land shark make this a keeper episode of the show, even 34 years later.