Saturday Night Live: Season 20
The twentieth season of Saturday Night Live aired on NBC between September 24, 1994, and May 13, 1995. This period is historically noted for a significant decline in critical reception, with reviewers lambasting the show for sketches based on thin premises. A recurring theme throughout the season was the frequent mention of the 1995 O. J. Simpson murder trial. Due to the perceived drop in quality, NBC executives cons
Season 20 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- The show is a long-running late-night live television sketch comedy and variety program created by Lorne Michaels.
- The series has a history of serving as a launchpad for numerous famous actors and comedians.
- The show has previously faced periods of intense NBC executive scrutiny and quality concerns, specifically during the 1980–1981 and 1985–1986 seasons.
- The production maintains a tradition of featuring alumni and special guests, such as Bill Murray, who have historical ties to the program.
Season overview
The twentieth season of Saturday Night Live aired on NBC between September 24, 1994, and May 13, 1995. This period is historically noted for a significant decline in critical reception, with reviewers lambasting the show for sketches based on thin premises. A recurring theme throughout the season was the frequent mention of the 1995 O. J. Simpson murder trial. Due to the perceived drop in quality, NBC executives considered canceling the series entirely, marking a period of intense scrutiny comparable to the 1980–1981 and 1985–1986 seasons. Producer Lorne Michaels later identified this season as the point when he was closest to being fired. The resulting pressure from network executives led to a massive overhaul of the cast and crew, representing the most significant executive intervention in the show's affairs since the early 1980s. During this time, the production also mourned the deaths of two alumni, Danitra Vance and Michael O'Donoghue. The latter was honored during the Sarah Jessica Parker episode, where Bill Murray appeared to introduce a clip of Mr. Mike's Least Favorite Bedtime Stories in his memory.
Episode Guide
Season 20 Progress Shield
Steve Martin/Eric Clapton
Sep 24, 1994 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Clinton Auditions,"" ""The Ron Wood Show,"" ""Baseball Cruise,"" ""Steve Martin's All-Natural Penis Beauty Creme,"" and ""Bad Ad Campaign."" ""Court TV: O.J. Sim
Marisa Tomei/Bonnie Raitt
Oct 1, 1994 · 67 min
Sketches include "Bill Clinton," "Court TV: O.J. Simpson Trial," "Adult Education Class," "Daily Affirmation with Stuart Smalley," and "Monsters of Monologue '94."
John Travolta/Seal
Oct 15, 1994 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Bathroom Monkey,"" ""Coffee Talk With Linda Richman,"" ""Dracula's Not Gay,"" ""Quentin Tarantino's Welcome Back Kotter,"" ""Women's Self-Defense,"" ""Larry King
Dana Carvey/Edie Brickell
Oct 22, 1994 · 67 min
Sketches include ""George Bush,"" ""Virtual Reality Books,"" ""Johnny Carson,"" ""Ross Perot,"" ""Pepper Boy,"" ""Nobel Prize Awards,"" ""Work Excuses,"" ""Office Space""
Sarah Jessica Parker/R.E.M.
Nov 12, 1994 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Concession Speech,"" ""Good Morning Brooklyn,"" ""Nice and Naughty Guitarists,"" ""Confucius,"" ""The Casting Couch,"" ""The Munchkins,"" and ""Tribute to Michae
John Turturro/Tom Petty
Nov 17, 1994 · 67 min
Sketches include ""It's a Wonderful Newt,"" ""Christopher Walken's Celebrity Psychic Friends Network,"" ""Phone Hang-Ups,"" ""Taxi Driver: The Musical,"" ""Stop That,"" ""The Movie
Roseanne/Green Day
Dec 3, 1994 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Jesse Helms,"" ""Roseanne Goes to Therapy,"" ""USAir,"" ""Rescue 911,"" ""Civil War Memories,"" and ""Yogurt Store.""
Alec Baldwin/Beastie Boys
Dec 10, 1994 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Joycelyn Elders,"" ""Japanese Game Show,"" ""Los Angeles Breast and Penis,"" ""Celebrity Memorial Auction,"" and ""Family Auto Trip.""
George Foreman/Hole
Dec 17, 1994 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Bill Clinton,"" ""Time Boxer,"" ""Looking Good,"" ""Matt Foley,"" ""Uncle Joe,"" ""The Incredible Hulk,"" ""Chris Elliot's Bedtime Story,"" ""Jackie Stallone's P
Jeff Daniels/Luscious Jackson
Jan 14, 1995 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Newt Gingrich,"" ""Connie Chung and Newt Gingrich's Mom,"" ""Martin Luther King Day,"" ""Mystery Dinner Theatre,"" ""Eterna-Rest,"" ""Film Beat,"" ""Entertainmen
David Hyde Pierce/Live
Jan 21, 1995 · 67 min
Sketches include "O.J. Simpson", "Rock Poetry Class", "Tales of Little Women", "Scottish Soccer Hooligan Weekly", "Robot Spy Onboard", "Nervous Habits", "Jersey Kids Meet the Forei
Bob Newhart/Des'ree
Feb 11, 1995 · 67 min
Sketches include ""C-SPAN: Colin Ferguson,"" ""Ricki Lake,"" ""Book Buzz,"" ""Baywatch,"" ""Poster Worker Evaluation,"" ""Hi Bob,"" and ""Sports Beat."" Des'ree performed ""You Go
Deion Sanders/Bon Jovi
Feb 18, 1995 · 67 min
Sketches include: ""O.J. Simpson Tour,"" ""The 1995 ESPY Awards,"" ""Rappers With Simple Lyrics,"" ""Perspectives,"" ""Deep Thoughts By Jack Handey,"" and ""Sick Boy""
George Clooney/The Cranberries
Feb 25, 1995 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Black History Month,"" ""Mandy the Whale,"" ""Tales of Fraud and Malfeasance in Railroad Hiring Practices,"" ""Taxicab Confessions,"" and ""Zagat's"".
Paul Reiser/Annie Lennox
Mar 18, 1995 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Newt Gingrich's Sister,"" ""Where's Superman?,"" ""Mad About You Aliens,"" ""Sparklebrite Toothpaste,"" and ""One Brother Cafe.""
John Goodman/Tragically Hip
Mar 25, 1995 · 67 min
Live from New York, it's…Dan Aykroyd! Sketches include ""This Week With David Brinkley,"" ""Superfans Return,"" ""The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder,"" ""Dog Park,"" ""Howard St
Damon Wayans/Dionne Farris
Apr 8, 1995 · 67 min
Sketches include: ""Judge Ito,"" ""Men on Film,"" ""Spit Valves,"" ""Black Names,"" ""Christopher Walken for Skittles"", and ""Court TV: The O.J. Trial.""
Courteney Cox/Dave Matthews Band
Apr 15, 1995 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Matt Foley,"" ""Good Morning Brooklyn,"" ""Gapardy,"" ""Melanie Babysits,"" ""Charles Manson,"" ""Truth vs. Jokes,"" ""Replacement Baseball,"" ""His Muse Friday,
Bob Saget/TLC
May 6, 1995 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Tony Vallencourt,"" ""Fast,"" ""America's Funniest Hate Videos,"" ""Fashion Designer,"" ""Where In the World is San Diego, California?"", ""Boyz II Men,"" ""Karl
David Duchovny/Rod Stewart
May 13, 1995 · 67 min
Live from New York, for the last time, it's…Michael McKean! Sketches include ""Beastman of Studio 8H,"" You Think You're Better Than Me?, Zagat's, ""New England General Store,""