Saturday Night Live Transcripts
Season 4: Episode 20
78t: Buck Henry / Bette Midler
Michael O’Donoghue’s Elvis Impression / Goodnights
…..Buck Henry
…..Michael O’Donoghue
Buck Henry: Ladies and gentlemen, the spectacularimpressions of Mr. Michael O’Donoghue.
[Applause. Music. Bearded, bespectacled MichaelO’Donoghue — perhaps better known as “Mr. Mike” –strides onstage]Michael O’Donoghue: Thank you very much. And, uh,thank you, Buck… You know, in the past, um, twentyor thirty years, we’ve seen a lot of rock and rollstars come and go. But there was one man, one man whostayed on top right from the very beginning and Iguess that’s why they called him … the King. And ofcourse I’m speaking about … Mr. Elvis Presley.[Applause] Yes! Yes! There was a man…! [O’Donoghuejoins applause. Applause stops] You know, when Elvisdied … I think a small piece of all of us died withhim. I know that’s how it was with me. I was homewatching television the other afternoon and I happenedto catch Spinout, a great Presley movie with anincredible cast — Nancy Sinatra, Bill Bixby.[TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: Presley’s 1966 film Spinout doesnot feature Sinatra and Bixby — they appear inPresley’s 1968 film Speedway. An understandable erroron O’Donoghue’s part.] I was watching this movie and afunny thought occurred to me. I thought, what ifsomeone took steel needles, say, mm, fifteen, eighteeninches long and plunged them, plunged them into ElvisPresley’s … eyes. What would his reaction be? We canonly guess … but I think it might go something likethis…
[turns his back to the camera, pulls up shirtcollar over his neck, removes eyeglasses and pocketsthem, then spins quickly, his right hand clutched tohis eyes, screaming, shrieking at the top of hislungs. He staggers, collapses to the floor, tries toget up. Laughter and applause as O’Donoghue falls offstage and rolls into audience. ] [Buck Henry returns to shout something to the crowd as the band begins to play the closing theme. O’Donoghue continues screaming, struggling through the audience and bumping into startled audience members as the final credits roll and the cast, host Buck Henry, and musical guest Bette Midler gather at center stage and wave good night, Bill Murray hopping up and down and dancing along with the music, etc.]Submitted Anonymously
