Saturday Night Live: Season 13
Saturday Night Live aired its thirteenth season during the 1987–1988 television season on NBC. Season 13 started on October 17, 1987 and ended on February 27, 1988. Before the start of the season few changes happened. Kevin Nealon was promoted to repertory status and Al Franken returned to the cast. Although the changes to the cast were minimal there were, however, major events that impeded the show's production. D
Season 13 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 12.
- 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 thirteenth season during the 1987–1988 television season on NBC. Season 13 started on October 17, 1987 and ended on February 27, 1988.
Before the start of the season few changes happened. Kevin Nealon was promoted to repertory status and Al Franken returned to the cast.
Although the changes to the cast were minimal there were, however, major events that impeded the show's production. During production of the season premiere, a fire broke out near Studio 8H during dress rehearsal.
Despite plans to cancel the show for the week, Steve Martin pushed the cast to perform, making the Steve Martin/Sting episode the only episode without a dress rehearsal.
On March 7, 1988, the Writers Guild of America went on strike, cancelling many planned episodes, including one originally planned to be hosted by former "Not Ready for Primetime" player Gilda Radner. Radner, however, would never get the chance to host due to her death from ovarian cancer the following year. The host for the March 12, 1988 broadcast was never confirmed.
Episode Guide
Season 13 Progress Shield
Steve Martin/Sting
Oct 17, 1987 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Ronald Reagan and George Bush,"" ""Gary Hart Ad,"" ""Common Knowledge,"" ""NFL Today,"" ""Slide Whistle Sound Effects,"" ""Bullets Aren't Cheap,"" ""Permission t
Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull
Oct 24, 1987 · 67 min
Live from New York, it's... Sean Penn! Sketches include "Fatal Attraction 2," "Wall Street Week," "Church Chat," "Pitman & Bullock," "The Teeny Cafe," "Keister Family Talk," "Dis
Dabney Coleman/The Cars
Oct 31, 1987 · 67 min
Live from New York, it's... Dana Carvey! Sketches include "Lifestyles of the Rich, Famous, and Scary," "Nature's Broom," "The Winning Spirit," "Don't Go Down To The Basement," "S
Candice Bergen/Cher
Nov 21, 1987 · 67 min
Sketches include ""George Bush,"" ""Pumping Up with Hans & Franz,"" ""Anne Boleyn,"" ""The First Thanksgiving,"" and ""Having Sex by an Open Window."" ""PITMAN and BULLOCK: Put the
Danny DeVito/Bryan Ferry
Dec 5, 1987 · 67 min
ive from New York, it's... Danny Devito! Sketches include: "Gorbachev-Reagan," "Siskel & Ebert," "Church Chat," "Eddie Spimozo's Jungle Room," "White Trash Appraiser," "Ann Lande
Angie Dickinson/Buster Poindexter & David Gilmour
Dec 12, 1987 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Kevin Nealon Sketches include: Amateur Translator, Docu-Fresh, Who Can Land The Plane?, Donahue, Wedgie Fever, Traumatic Memories Party, Police Women, T
Paul Simon/Linda Ronstadt & the Mariachi Vargas
Dec 19, 1987 · 67 min
Live From New York, it's...Jan Hooks Sketches include: Jesus's Surprise Party, Gary Hart Ad, Pumping Up With Hans and Franz, Christmas on a Desert Island, Master Thespian, The Swe
Robin Williams/James Taylor
Jan 23, 1988 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Pumping Up with Hans and Franz,"" ""Compulsion,"" ""Birthing Video,"" ""Cable ACE Awards,"" ""Hard to Say I Love You,"" ""Discover,"" and ""Robin's 60th Birthday
Carl Weathers/Robbie Robertson
Jan 30, 1988 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Bush-Whacked,"" ""The NFL Today,"" ""Handi-Off,"" ""Democratic Debate '88,"" ""Helen and Cheri,"" ""TV Actress,"" ""Master Thespian,"" and ""The Garden"" (film).
Justine Bateman/Terrance Trent D'Arby
Feb 13, 1988 · 67 min
""53rd. Debate of the 1988 Republican Presidential Candidates"", ""Learning to Feel with Denise Venetti, Ph.D."", ""Family Ties: If These Old Walls Could Talk (Flashback-Flashback
Tom Hanks/Randy Travis
Feb 20, 1988 · 67 min
""A male figure skater's flawed perfomance in tight pants"", ""The Pat Stevens Show with Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Dole"", ""The Bean Cafe: We only serve beans"", ""On 49th and F
Judge Reinhold/10,000 Maniacs
Feb 27, 1988 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Pumping Up With Hans & Franz,"" ""Church Chat,"" ""Friendly Dictator,"" and ""Big Bird Pirates.""