Saturday Night Live: Season 10
Saturday Night Live aired its tenth season during the 1984-1985 television season on NBC. The season contained 18 episodes and was cut short due to a writer's strike and budget constraints. During the previous season Eddie Murphy left the show mid season. Because of Murphy's departure Joe Piscopo also left the show because he did not want to do it without Murphy. Dick Ebersol then fired Robin Duke, Brad Hall and Tim
Season 10 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Saturday Night Live Season 9.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Season overview
Saturday Night Live aired its tenth season during the 1984-1985 television season on NBC. The season contained 18 episodes and was cut short due to a writer's strike and budget constraints.
During the previous season Eddie Murphy left the show mid season. Because of Murphy's departure Joe Piscopo also left the show because he did not want to do it without Murphy. Dick Ebersol then fired Robin Duke, Brad Hall and Tim Kazurinsky.
Ebersol then wanted to blow up the show by adding seasoned comedians instead of newcomers. He hired Billy Crystal, Harry Shearer, New Zealander Pamela Stephenson, Rich Hall, Martin Short, and Christopher Guest. Guest would become the anchor of Saturday Night News.
In the middle of the season, Harry Shearer left the show, due to "creative differences". Despite his departure, his image is still shown in the opening credits.
Episode Guide
Season 10 Progress Shield
(no host)/Thompson Twins
Oct 6, 1984 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Lifestyles of Relatives of the Rich and Famous,"" ""Wheel of Fortune Interview,"" ""Grandpa Howard,"" ""Syncronized Swimming,"" ""First Draft Theater,"" ""Rich H
Bob Uecker/Peter Wolf
Oct 13, 1984 · 67 min
Live from New York, "it's a baby boy, Mr. Williams!" it's... Martin Short! Sketches include "Password," "Snap, Crackle & Pop," "An American Portrait," "Little League Trade," "Tom
Jesse Jackson/Andrae Crouch, Wintley Phipps
Oct 20, 1984 · 67 min
Rev. Jackson has his monologue sabotaged, meets Ed Grimley, sings two pop songs and hosts the parody game The Question is Moot!
Michael McKean/Chaka Khan, The Folksmen
Nov 3, 1984 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Gerry and the Mon-dells,"" ""Fernando's Hideaway,"" ""The Folksmen Reunion,"" ""First Draft Theater,"" ""Buddy Young Jr. Is Back,"" and ""Mondale's Strategy.""
George Carlin/Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Nov 10, 1984 · 67 min
Sketches were: ""Gary Kroeger's Last Mondale Impression,"" ""Profiles in Sports,"" ""Willie and Frankie as Night Watchmen,"" ""Rich Hall's Election Report,"" ""The Joe Franklin Sho
Ed Asner/The Kinks
Nov 17, 1984 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Lou Grant's Rescue Mission,"" ""Wing Tips,"" ""60 Minutes,"" and ""Nuclear Plant Retiree."" The Kinks perform ""Do It Again.""
Ed Begley, Jr./Billy Squier
Dec 1, 1984 · 67 min
Sketches included "Kate & Ali," "Strategic Airborne Contraceptive," "Book Beat," "Time Traveler," "Grim Reaper Trivial Pursuit," "Refridgerator Magnets" (film), "Let's Watch TV," "
Ringo Starr/Herbie Hancock
Dec 8, 1984 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Beatles Auction,"" ""Fernando's Hideaway,"" and ""Ed Grimley Meets Ringo.""
Eddie Murphy/The Honeydrippers
Dec 15, 1984 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Buckwheat Lives!"" ""White Like Me"" (film), ""Milestones,"" and ""Newsmakers."" Robert Plant and the Honeydrippers perform ""Santa Claus is Back in Town.""
Kathleen Turner/John Waite
Jan 12, 1985 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Donahue Green Room,"" ""Hypnotic Fireplace,"" ""The Joe Franklin Show,"" ""Boxing Stories,"" and ""Mr. Blackwell.""
Roy Scheider/Billy Ocean
Jan 19, 1985 · 67 min
Sketches include "Reagan's Inaguration," "Ricky & Phil," "Super Bowl XIX Tickets Sale," a performance by Steven Wright, "Foldgers Crystals," "In Praise of Women," "Penny Lane," "Go
Alex Karras/Tina Turner
Feb 2, 1985 · 67 min
Live from New York, its... Billy Crystal! Sketches include "Prince and Hulk Hogan," "Ed Grimley's Sexy Neighbor," "Time Magazine" (rerun 2/26/83), "A Couple Of White Guys Rap," "
Harry Anderson/Bryan Adams
Feb 9, 1985 · 67 min
Sketches are ""Robert Latta in Congress,"" ""The Kate and Ali's Valentine's Day Special,"" ""American Profiles,"" ""Dueling Magi,"" ""While You Were Gone,"" ""Ricky and Phil's Disc
Pamela Sue Martin/Power Station
Feb 16, 1985 · 67 min
Sketches include "Strategic Airborne Contraceptive" (rerun 11/10/84), "The Joe Franklin Show," "White Rappers," "Fernando at Radio City Music Hall," standup by Rich Hall, "Jim's Pr
Mr. T & Hulk Hogan/The Commodores
Mar 30, 1985 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Willie and Frankie In The Crew,"" ""Ed Grimley In The Hospital,"" ""Run and Throw Like a Girl Olympics,"" ""Sports Beat,"" and ""Good Sex."" Greg Kihn performs
Christopher Reeve/Santana
Apr 6, 1985 · 67 min
Sketches include ""A.D.13,"" ""Superman Auditions,"" ""Jackie Rogers Junior's $100,000 Jackpot Wad,"" ""Escaping the Germans,"" and ""Aging Superman.""
Howard Cosell/Greg Kihn
Apr 13, 1985 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Willie and Frankie In The Crew,"" ""Ed Grimley In The Hospital,"" ""Run and Throw Like a Girl Olympics,"" ""Sports Beat,"" and ""Good Sex."" Greg Kihn performs