Saturday Night Live: Season 8
The eighth season of Saturday Night Live aired on NBC between September 25, 1982, and May 14, 1983. This period marked the third season following the departure of the show's original executive producer, Lorne Michaels. Under the leadership of Dick Ebersol, the production underwent significant personnel and structural changes. Cast members Brian Doyle-Murray, Christine Ebersole, and Tony Rosato were replaced by newcom
Season 8 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- The show is a late-night live television sketch comedy and variety program.
- Lorne Michaels, the original executive producer, is no longer with the series.
- Dick Ebersol serves as the executive producer during this era of the show.
- The series relies on a rotating cast of performers and guest hosts for its sketches.
Season overview
The eighth season of Saturday Night Live aired on NBC between September 25, 1982, and May 14, 1983. This period marked the third season following the departure of the show's original executive producer, Lorne Michaels. Under the leadership of Dick Ebersol, the production underwent significant personnel and structural changes. Cast members Brian Doyle-Murray, Christine Ebersole, and Tony Rosato were replaced by newcomers Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Gary Kroeger. Ebersol reinstated the show's traditional cold openings, concluding with the iconic phrase, Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!, followed by the host's monologue. The Weekend Update segment was rebranded as Saturday Night News, with Brad Hall stepping in as the new anchor. A notable highlight of the season involved Drew Barrymore, who became the youngest person ever to host the program. During her episode, the production utilized a 1-900 number to allow viewers to vote on whether Andy Kaufman should be banned from the show. The audience ultimately voted in favor of the ban, resulting in Kaufman being prohibited from future appearances on the series. These adjustments reflected the ongoing evolution of the variety show during its post-Michaels era, balancing new talent with established comedic formats.
Episode Guide
Season 8 Progress Shield
Chevy Chase/Queen
Sep 25, 1982 · 67 min
Sketches are ""Chevy Live from Burbank,"" ""Tyrone Green Art Gallery,"" ""Joe Piscopo In Love,"" ""John Hinckley for President,"" ""Mystery Theatre,"" ""Popeil Galactic Prophylacti
Louis Gossett Jr./George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Oct 2, 1982 · 67 min
Sketches include Mister Robinson's Neighborhood #4.
Ron Howard/The Clash
Oct 9, 1982 · 67 min
Sketches include "Opie's Back", "Whiners Want a Baby" and "Focus On Film". The Clash performs "Rock The Casbah".
Robert Blake/Kenny Loggins
Nov 13, 1982 · 67 min
Sketches include ""The Merv Griffin Show,"" ""Shuttle Mission,"" ""PBS Promo,"" ""Talent Show,"" ""Little House on the Prairie,"" ""Masterful Theatre,"" ""Eddie Murphy,"" ""No More
Drew Barrymore/Squeeze
Nov 20, 1982 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Dressing Room Opening,"" ""Gertie Kills E.T.,"" ""The Whiners,"" ""Mr. Blunt,"" ""Tim Kazurinsky Babysits Drew,"" ""My Friend Zeus,"" ""Robin Duke's Biological C
Eddie Murphy/Lionel Richie
Dec 11, 1982 · 67 min
Sketches include ""A Message From Eddie,"" ""Merry Christmas, Dammit!,"" and ""April May June's Holiday Message.""
Lily Tomlin
Jan 22, 1983 · 67 min
Sketches include ""Lily Confronts Eddie,"" ""Geraldine,"" ""Irish-American Radio Hour,"" and ""Coffees of the World.""
Howard Hesseman/Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Feb 19, 1983 · 67 min
Sketches are ""Howard Works on his Monologue,"" ""Sleepy Boy 2000,"" ""Elvis Presley, Back and Black,"" ""The A-Team,"" and ""Dion and Margie's Dreams."" Tom Petty and the Heartbr
Robert Guillaume/Duran Duran
Mar 19, 1983 · 67 min
Tim Kazurinsky was attacked by the monkey during the dress rehearsal of ""I Married A Monkey."" Tim was able to escape, but the monkey (actually a male) ripped off the dress he wa
Stevie Wonder
Apr 16, 1983 · 67 min
Sketches include ""VD,"" ""Kannon AE-1,"" ""Stevie Wonder Impersonator,"" ""Hitler: The Secret Diaries,"" ""The Story of Stevie Wonder,"" ""Stevie at Dion's Salon,"" ""Cotton Land,
Ed Koch/Dexys Midnight Runners
May 14, 1983 · 67 min
Sketches include ""What's the most disgusting thing you've seen in New York?"" ""Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood,"" ""Crowded Ledge,"" ""The Enquirer,"" ""Late Night with David Letterm