[Open on a close-up of a brown, high-heeled boot covered on top by the cuff of a pair of jeans and a hand with fingernails painted pink in a white, empty setting. The boot begins tapping as we hear someone whistling, “Oh, My Darling Clementine”]
[Pan across the hand as its fingers spider up the jean leg, revealing the other jean leg and the boot. The hand is lifted offscreen and the whistling is interrupted by an “Ouch!”]
[Camera continues to pan and stops at brunette 1980s jean model, Brooke Shields, wearing a white blouse and plucking the hairs from her eyebrows with her fingers as she continues whistling and plucks another hair, again interrupting her song with an “Ouch!”. Brooke notices the camera, stops plucking, and lowers her hand]
Brooke Shields: [breathlessly]: Do you want to know what comes between me and my Clovins? [tilts her head and smiles]: My brains.
[Open on pan across a pair of feet covered in orange socks with the legs covered in blue jeans as someone sings “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”]
Voice: [singing] “Take me out to the ball game Take me out to the crowd ”
[Pan continues across the blue jeans and white fuzzy tank top]
Voice: [continues singing] “Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks ”
[Pan stops to reveal 1980s jean model Brooke Shields to be the voice singing as shes bent over and on her knees]
Brooke Shields: [singing] “I dont care if I never get back ”
[Brooke stops singing. Her eyes dart around as she realizes where she is]
Brooke Shields: [as she picks her head up] I have seven Clovins in my closet. [faces camera with a blank stare on her face]: and if they could talk [bends right arm over her head so her hand can rest on her cheek]: I could act. [smiles]
Grace…..Ann Risley Anna Louise Ryder…..Jamie Lee Curtis Daughter…..Denny Dillon Husband…..Joe Piscopo Diane Pierpont…..Gail Matthius
[ open on title card ]
[ dissolve to talk show set ]
Grace: Welcome to the women’s poetry corner, “Dying To Be Heard.” As we all know, the list of great women poets who committed suicide is endless. Sylvia Plath, Virginia Wolff, and Martha Mitchell, to name a few.
In this chauvinistic society, a poetess is driven to the extremes of suicide to make her work known. We’ve chosen just a few of the poems and suicide notes we’ve received from little-known women poets all around the world. From Des Moines, Iowa, let’s talk to Anna Louise Ryder. Anna, are you there?
[ dissolve to Anna sitting on a couch in her home, surrounded by her daughter and husband. Grace appears in a bubble in the upper left corner of the screen. ]
Anna Louise Ryder: [ nervous ] Yes, Grace. I’m.. I’m ready and willing.
Grace: Now, your letter says here that your chosen method of suicide is self-punishment.
Anna Louise Ryder: Yes, Grace. That’s right. I will be beating myself to death with the hardcover edition of The Joy of Cooking.
Grace: Well, how inventive. I’m sure you’re aware of the rules. Once you’ve lofted upon the winged chariot that never descends, before our home viewers, I will read your poem, “My Family, My Life,” to the world, and your voice will be heard to millions and millions of television viewers. Anna. Are you ready?
Anna Louise Ryder: Y-yes.
Daughter: Mommy.. Mommy, don’t do it. Please! I gotta go to school tomorrow!
Husband: Dear, we love you.. isn’t there some other way?
Anna Louise Ryder: [ with fury ] Get away! Get away, you never cared about my poems! You never cared about my work! All you ever wanted was dinner!! Don’t spoil it for me now!! [ begins to beat herself in the head with the book she’s holding ] Aiiiiigggghhhh!! [ srops dead across her daughter’s lap ]
Grace: [ without missing a beat ] I would like to read a poem by the late Anna-Louise Ryder. “My Family, My Life”:
“My husband A curl of black hair Dark, sinewy arms Strong thighs And a teeny, weeny, little ding-a-ling.
My children Fresh as new-mown menure Yet already set in their ways.
My family, my life I hate you.”
[ Daughter and Husband are stunned by the poem. Daughter shoves Anna off of her lap, and onto the floor with a thud. ]
[ dissolve back to Grace on her set ]
Grace: Anna, we’ll always remember you. That was one from the gut. Our second poetess tonight is Diane Pierpont of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Diane, it says here that you plan to strangle yourself with the cord of your Cuisinart. But, before you do, would you like to say a few words about the poem I’m about to read?
[ dissolve to Diane laying across the kitchen table, already strangled dead with her Cuisinart cord. Her arm flops to the side of the table ]
Grace: Diane? Oh, my, it seems that Diane has slabbed out a little ahead of schedule. So, we’ll just go right to her poem. It’s a short sonnet entitled “Nature”:
“A bird pecks the ground A frog hops in circles I’m depressed I think I’ll kill myself.”
That was wonderful, Diane, I know our viewers enjoyed it. Tune in next week, when we’ll be presenting a replay of Ms. L. Lansing’s dramatic “Drowning in a Bidet.” Until then, good night.
Jamie Lee Curtis: Goodbye! I had a great time. And please remember, 2 p.m., there will be a ten-minute vigil for John Lennon. Goodbye!
James Brown: Goodbye!
Announcer: Join us next week, when our host will be David Carradine, with special musical guest Linda Ronstadt, with Rex Smith, Estelle Parsons, George Rose, and Kevin Kline. This is Don Pardo, saying… “Good night!”
[Open on Denny Dillon, Gail Matthius, and Charles Rocket standing behind a gray curtain with angry faces and arms crossed over their chests]
Denny Dillon: [nastily] Hello. Were speaking to you on behalf of an organization of decent, moral Americans.
Gail Matthius: Were the folks who listen to the preachers on television to vote conservative. We did, and we won. So, listen up, losers!
Charles Rocket: [snidely]: So, who are we?
Denny Dillon: Were The Mean Majority. Were very, very mean.
Gail Matthius: Who are we mean to? Just about everybody.
Charles Rocket: We believe that the vast majority of Americans in their hearts are just like us – mean! [a scroll at the bottom of the screen crawls from right to left with the following list of the “vast majority of Americans”: NEGROES, HOMOSEXUALS, COMMUNISTS, INTELLECTUALS, JEWS, INTELLECTUAL JEWS, NEGRO COMMUNISTS, COMMUNIST HOMOSEXUAL JEWS ]: And these last twenty years of civil rights was just an attempt to be nice.
Gail Matthius: Those days are over!
Denny Dillon: And you know who told us so? [points skyward] Hes like us mean!
Charles Rocket: He told us to tell you, the television viewers of America, that there are certain TV shows you are not to watch, so you better not! The television shows are…
[SUPER: “Sex In A Condo”]
Denny Dillon: Sex In A Condo.
[SUPER: “Wet T-Shirt Party”]
Charles Rocket: Wet T-Shirt Party.
[SUPER: “Lets Spit On The Flag”]
Gail Matthius: Lets Spit On The Flag.
Denny Dillon: And theres another one. I cant remember the name, but its live.
Charles Rocket: Its from New York.
Gail Matthius: Its Saturday Night.
[All three of them smile as we dissolve on opening credits of SNL]
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen – Jamie Lee Curtis!
Jamie Lee Curtis: Thank you. [ the audience can’t stop cheering and applauding ] Far out! Far out! I’ve gotta tell you all it is absolutely great to be here, and I finally have something to do on a Saturday night!
You know, I gotta tell you, one thing I’ve always seem to notice is that audiences expect certain things from certain performers. They always want Steve Martin to say, “I’m a wild and crazy guy!” Right?And you can never hear Springsteen sing, without hearing “Born To Run.” Right?
Male Audience Member: Right!
Jamie Lee Curtis: If you ever see Rodney Dangerfield, you always have to hear him say, “I tell you, I get no respect!” Well.. I know a lot of people out there have seen me in “Halloween” and “The Fog”, and..
[ audience applauds ]
Jamie Lee Curtis: Thank you. And, they’re all expecting me to do one thing. Well.. this is for you:
SummaryConsidered the worst period in SNL’s history, the 1980 season seemed doomed from the start. The last of the original cast (Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner, not to mention Bill Murray) had left “Saturday Night Live” along with producer Lorne Michaels, and NBC promoted talent co-ordinator Jean Doumanian to take over the show and hire a new cast. Though Doumanian’s comedy expertise was practically nonexistent, she did manage to bring an eclectic collection of musical guests to the show during her short stint as producer. The new cast, which included eventual stars Denny Dillon and Gilbert Gottfried, had the misfortune of being the first new cast since the original cast, a transition which has since become easier on future eras of SNL.
Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy became the quick standouts (Murphy, especially, who started as an extra, became a featured performer, then was promoted to full cast member – all during the course of a 13-episode season) in a seemingly awkward cast. Doumanian was fired and replaced by Dick Ebersol after the season’s 12th broadcast. But even then it was too late for most of the cast, as a writer’s strike took place after Ebersol’s first broadcast.
Charles Rocket – billed as the next Chevy Chase, especially behind the reins of Weekend Update – was fired for saying “fuck” on the air, and everyone except Murphy and Piscopo were released soon after as well. 1980 was the most awkward season in SNL’s history, but look closely, and you’ll find a few bright moments in a period of SNL that was weighed down by its own success.
Saturday Night Live Transcripts Season 6: Episode 1 ]]>
Air Date: Host: Musical Guest: Special Guests: Cameos: November 15th, 1980 Elliot Gould Kid Creole & The Coconuts None None Elliot & Gail & Charles & Ann & Joe & Gilbert & DennySummary: In a scene reminiscent of “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice”, Elliot Gould wakes up in bed with the new cast members, compares them to the original cast members, then answers their questions about SNL’s glory days. Transcript
MontageNote: Elliot Gould was unaware that the original cast and crew had left SNL, and was surprised to find himself surrounded by all new faces when he entered Studio 8-H.
Elliot Gould’s MonologueSummary: Elliot Gould shows off his old underwear to the audience, then swap pieces with Denny Dillon. Also Hosted: 75i, 75v, 76s, 78i, 79k. Transcript
A Public Service Announcement: Highway EducationSummary: Highway billboards contain the text for classic novels, with new dialogue made available along each passing mile. Transcript
Cheering Up JimmySummary: Rosalynn Carter (Ann Risley) convinces Jimmy (Joe Piscopo) that he should be glad he lost the election, because now they can have sex again. Recurring Characters: Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter, Amy Carter. Transcript
Singing Billy-GramSummary: A cohabitating couple (Elliot Gould, Ann Risley) receive a singing Billy-Gram (Charles Rocket). Transcript
American Cancer SocietySummary: A topless Gail Matthius demonstrates how women can self-examine themselves for breast cancer. Bio: Though Gail Matthius (1953-) failed to make an impact during “SNL”‘s ill-fated sixth season, she would find more success off-screen as a voice actress for animated children’s shows like “Animaniacs” and “Tiny Toon Adventures.” Transcript
What’s It All AboutSummary: Pinky (Denny Dillon) and Leo Waxman (Gilbert Gottfried) interview Elliot Gould. Recurring Characters: Pinky Waxman, Leo Waxman.
“Foot Fetish”Summary: In a film by Randal Kleiser, a pair of shoes have sex on the beach.
Kid Creole & The Coconuts perform “Mister Softee”Bio: Kid Creole and the Coconuts are August Darnell and a glamorous trio of female backing vocalists that includes his wife Adriana Kaegi and vibraphone player Andy Hernandez (Coati Mundi). Their music incorporated many different styles of music, among them, Caribbean/Latin American salsa and disco.
Weekend Update with Charles RocketSummary: Gail Matthius tries to avoid telling John Anderson (Joe Piscopo) that he lost the election. In his first “Rocket Report”, Charles Rocket seeks gossip on the new album by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. In his new book, author Barry Grosscup (Gilbert Gottfried) makes the claim that Ronald Reagan is already dead. Transcript
At One With…Summary: Sgt. Steve Brick (Joe Piscopo) drills Cpl. Peter Thomas (Charles Rocket) of the Gay Brigade. Transcript
“Heart To Heart”Summary: In a film by Mitchell Kriegman, a man (Mitchell Kriegman) can’t seem to put his finger on what’s changed in his relationship, as different actresses portray his girlfriend.
SNL SportsSummary: Joe Piscopo delivers the play-by-play at the nose wrestling match between Scottie Bockman (Elliot Gould) and James Walker (Charles Rocket).
Vickie’s DateSummary: Vickie (Gail Matthius), the Valley girl teenager, has a dinner date with 40 year-old Mark Doyle (Elliott Gould). Recurring Characters: Vickie. Transcript
The Accordian KillerSummary: A detective (Gail Matthius) goes undercover to trap Chuck LeVinto (Charles Rocket), AKA The Accordion Killer. Transcript
Kid Creole & The Coconuts perform “There But For The Grace of God Go I”
“Gidgette Goes To Hell”Summary: In a Suburban Lawns music video directed by Jonathan Demme, Gidgette is eaten by a shark while surfing in the ocean.
Speed ListeningSummary: Spokeswoman (Denny Dillon) doubly relaxes by speedreading a book and listening to classical music at an accelerated rate. Transcript
[ open on interior, police station, Captain’s office, as Detective enters ]
Detective: Bad news, sir. Another woman has been found slain on the Upper West Side.
Captain: [ snaps his finger ] That’s the sixth one this week! They find anything in the apartment?
Detective: Ah, just this sheet music. “Roll Out the Barrel”.
Captain: [ examining the sheet music ] That woman wasn’t just murdered — she was POLKAED to death!
Detective: You’re saying he’s — ?
Captain: Yes, I am! Only one person can be responsible for such a GHASTLY crime! Only ONE man could be so CRUEL, so VICIOUS, so SADISTIC! As long as he’s loose, no woman is safe. I’m talking about… [ he faces the camera for a quick zoom ] The Accordian Killer!
[ dissolve to interior, Susan’s apartment, as the title card superimposes on screen ]
[ doorbell buzzes ]
[ Susan rises to answer the door ]
Susan: Who is it?
Chuck LeVinto: It’s Chuck LeVinto! Your computer date!
[ Susan opens the door, as Chuck enters with flowers and a case ]
Susan: Oh, hi! [ she giggles ] I’m Susan. It’s nice to meet you.
Chuck LeVinto: [ holding out his flowers ] These are for you!
Susan: Ohhh…
Chuck LeVinto: It’s so rare to meet someone with the same interests as you.
Susan: [ she giggles ] I know what you mean! Come in.
[ they sit down next to one another on the couch ]
Susan: Boy, I’m really glad this computer put us together.
Chuck LeVinto: It really is amazing! ‘Cause, like… well… you like movies, a-and I like movies. Aaaand you like music, and I LOVE music! We were MADE for each other!
Susan: I hope so.
Chuck LeVinto: I-I-I do impressions! Do you want to hear one?
Susan: Sure.
Chuck LeVinto: This one’s my favorite — it’s my main guy, Lawrence Welk: “Tank you, tank you, tank you! That was Bobby and Cissum, with his musical tribute to World War Eye!”
[ she laughs pleasantly ]
Chuck LeVinto: A-and now it’s time for an accordian tune!
[ he unlocks his case and pulls out an accordian ]
Susan: [ worried ] No, no! No, please! Please put that away!
Chuck LeVinto: What’s the matter? Don’t you like the accordian?
Susan: Wait! Wait, I know who you are! I read about you in the papers! Please don’t hurt me! I’ll give you all my money! I promise I won’t tell anyone!
Chuck LeVinto: But the accordian… is a NICE instrument! [ maniacally stroking the accordian ] It’s a fine instrument! It’s a BAND by itself!
Susan: PLEASE!! NO, NO!! DON’T! PLEASE! NO!
Chuck LeVinto: Perhaps you’d like to hear “Lady of Spain”!
Susan: NO!!!
[ he begins to play the meddlesome tune ]
Susan: NO, NO!! PLEASE, DON’T!
[ she holds her ears, but still drops dead to the floor as Chuck smiles satisfactorily ]
[ dissolve to Captain’s office, as he shakes his head while reading the murder report in the newspaper ]
Detective: Looks like The Accordian Killer has struck again.
Captain: [ thrusting the paper on his desk ] Poor girl didn’t have a chance!
Detective: How can we stop him?
Captain: We’ve got to set a TRAP! And I think we’ve got JUST the right person for that.
Detective: Who is he?
Captain: Not he — SHE!
[ dissolve to interior, Susan’s apartment, now occupied by Gail ]
[ doorbell buzzes ]
[ Gail rises to answer the door ]
Gail: Who is it?
Chuck LeVinto: It’s Chuck LeVinto! Your computer date!
[ Gail opens the door, as Chuck enters with flowers and a case ]
Gail: Hi! I’m Gail. Nice to meet you.
Chuck LeVinto: Hi! [ holding out his flowers ] These are for you!
Gail: Ohhh…
Chuck LeVinto: It’s so rare to meet someone with the same interests as you.
Gail: [ she smiles ] I know what you mean! Come on in.
Chuck LeVinto: Thanks!
[ they sit down next to one another on the couch ]
Chuck LeVinto: [ apprehensive ] You like movies… and I like movies. [ he opens his case ]
Gail: [ cutting him off ] You like music — I like music!
Chuck LeVinto: [ stumbling ] You know, I haven’t missed a single “Lawrence Welk Show”! Ever NEVER!
Gail: [ setting the trap ] I really like his music!
Chuck LeVinto: [ surprised ] You do? Maybe you’d like to hear a song on the accordian.
Gail: I’d love to!
Chuck LeVinto: D-do you have a special song?
Gail: Uh — “Lady of Spain”, of course!
Chuck LeVinto: “L-L-L-Lady of Spain”?!
[ he begins to play the meddlesome tune ]
[ Gail covers her ears and shudders, then jumps up and points a gun at Chuck ]
Gail: Alright, that’s enough!! I’m with the police! Yuor playing days are over!
Chuck LeVinto: [ ignoring her ] You can’t make me stop!
Gail: Alright, I’m warning you!
[ Chuck inores her and continues playing the accordian ]
Gail: OKAY, GUYS!!! GET HIM!!!
[ suddenly, a trio of bagpipe players saunter into the apartment playing their noisy tune ]
Chuck LeVinto: [ crying, as he continues to play the accordian ] NO!!! NOT THAT MUSIC!! PLEASE!! MAKE IT STOP!!! NOOOOOO!!!!
[ Chuck drops his accordian and topples dead over the ottoman ]
[ the bagpipe players cease their playing, as the Captain rushes in ]
Captain: Are you alright?
Gail: Fine.
Captain: I’m sorry we had to do it this way. But maybe this will convince people once and for all… that EVERY accordian is a lethal weapon! [ to the bagpipe players ] Take care of it, guys!
[ Gail and the Captain exit the apartment, as the bagpipe players begin to attack Chuck’s accordian with their hatchets ]
[ pull out to wideshot, with SUPER: “There’s no abyssness like show abyssness.” ]
[ open on close-up of new cast member, Gail Matthius, asleep in bed. She yawns, awakes, then turns to her left to look at the man lying next to her – tonight’s host, Elliot Gould ]
Gail Matthius: Sir? [ rises, taps his shoulder ] Mr. Gould?
Elliot Gould: [ groggy ] Oh. Oh, uh, hi, uh..?
Gail Matthius: Gail. Gail Matthius. [ rubs her head ] Don’t you think we’d better get ready? It’s almost time for the show – oh, God..
Elliot Gould: Oh, relax. What are they gonna do, start without us?
[ camera pans back to reveal new cast member, Charles Rocket, asleep at Gail’s right ]
Elliot Gould: You’re gonna do just fine on this show. You’re sort of a cross between.. [ thinking ] Gilda.. and Jane.
Gail Matthius: [ she smiles, as Charles cuddles closer to her ] Oh, hi, Charlie. [ he begins to nibble her ear ] Don’t! Oh, don’t!
Elliot Gould: Hey, how’s it going?
Charles Rocket: Oh, just great!
Elliot Gould: Let’s see – you’re – you’re the one —
Charles Rocket: Oh. Kind of a cross between Chevy Chase and Bill Murray.
Elliot Gould: Okay.
[ camera pans back further to reveal new cast member, Ann Risley, lying to Elliot’s left ]
Ann Risley: [ wakes up ] Oh, hi.
Gail Matthius: Hi, Ann.
Ann Risley: [ extends her hand to Elliot ] I’m Ann Risley.
Elliot Gould: Hi.
Ann Risley: Hi. Kind of a cross between Gilda and.. Laraine.
[ camera pans back even further to reveal new cast member, Joe Piscopo, lying to Ann’s left; she nudges Joe awake ]
Ann Risley: Joe, Joe! Wake up! Say hello to the man!
Joe Piscopo: Oh. Hello, Mr. Gould. How are you?
Elliot Gould: Hi, Joe.
Joe Piscopo: Joe Piscopo, yeah. You know, I’ve seen you do “Saturday Night”, uh, in the past – what was it really like back then? I mean, did they really use drugs?
Elliot Gould: Suuuuure. They all did. Cocaine was everywhere. And not just the cast – the studio crew, the cameramen, everybody.
Joe Piscopo: Tell us about Belushi.
Elliot Gould: John? Oh, well, he was the worst! He’d come into the studio with a big bag of coke in his pocket, and he’d ask you to have some. And if you didn’t want any, he’d push you down on the floor and Aykroyd would hold your head between his legs and they’d sort of, uh, jam in up your nostrils!
[ the cast reacts both with horrir and intrigue ]
Ann Risley: Well, what do you know about Tom Snyder? I mean, is he really as big as he looks on television?
Gail Matthius: Yeah.
Elliot Gould: Well, he thinks he’s big when he gets a little bit of toot up his nose.
Joe Piscopo: Snyder?
Elliot Gould: Well, how else do you think he stays up so late? And all the rest of them – Roger Mudd, Tom Brokaw, Edwin Newman – they all snort a few lines before they go on! Except, uh – Brinkley. I think he’s into downers.
Charles Rocket: That’s incredible.
Elliot Gould: Hey, listen – wait ’til you see, uh — get in the elevator, and there’s Gene Shalit kind of piled in a heap in the corner, completely luded out!
[ new cast member, Gilbert Gottfried, rises from under part of the bedsheets sprawled onto the floor ]
Gilbert Gottfried: You mind holding it down? [ he stands – for some reason, a pair of pantyhose is wrapped around his neck ]
Elliot Gould: Let me guess – let me guess —
Gilbert Gottfried: Uh, Gilbert Gottfried. [ sits on the edge of the bed ] I’m kind of a cross between John Belushi and.. that guy from last year – he did the Ron Serling, nobody could remember his name?
Elliot Gould: Harry.
Gilbert Gottfried: [ pulls the pantyhose off of his neck ] Yeah. Hey, hey, where’s, uh – Denny?
Charles Rocket: I don’t know. Where is she?
[ Elliot and the cast look around the bed for final new cast member, Denny Dillon ]
Ann Risley: Denny? Denny?
Elliot Gould: [ acknowledging a bulge in the bedsheets ] Is that her on the — ?
Charles Rocket: Oh? What’s this?
[ they pull the bedsheets away to reveal Denny’s lifeless body underneath ]
Ann Risley: Denny? Denny, are you okay?
Charles Rocket: Are you okay?
Ann Risley: Denny?
Charles Rocket: [ nudging her awake ] Denny? You alright?
Denny Dillon: Suuuure. I’m.. “Live, from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”