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Season 13

Saturday Night Live

Season 13

  • 1987

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.

  1. Steve Martin/Sting Episode 1 Steve Martin/Sting October 17, 1987, 1 h 7 min Sketches include ""Ronald Reagan and George Bush,"" ""Gary Hart Ad,"" ""Common Knowledge,"" ""NFL Today,"" ""Slide Whistle Sound Effects,"" ""Bullets Aren't Cheap,"" ""Permission to Speak Freely,"" ""Adventures in the Lost Realm,""…
  2. Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull Episode 2 Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull October 24, 1987, 1 h 7 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," "Discover," "The Spimozo Brothers,"…
  3. Dabney Coleman/The Cars Episode 3 Dabney Coleman/The Cars October 31, 1987, 1 h 7 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," "Scary Campfire Stories,"…
  4. Robert Mitchum/Simply Red Episode 4 Robert Mitchum/Simply Red November 14, 1987, 1 h 7 min
  5. Candice Bergen/Cher Episode 5 Candice Bergen/Cher November 21, 1987, 1 h 7 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 Power of the…
  6. Danny DeVito/Bryan Ferry Episode 6 Danny DeVito/Bryan Ferry December 5, 1987, 1 h 7 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 Landers' Playhouse," and "Reminiscing with Doorman." Bryan…
  7. Angie Dickinson/Buster Poindexter & David Gilmour Episode 7 Angie Dickinson/Buster Poindexter & David Gilmour December 12, 1987, 1 h 7 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, The Assimilated Jew's Hannukah, and Drunk…
  8. Paul Simon/Linda Ronstadt & the Mariachi Vargas Episode 8 Paul Simon/Linda Ronstadt & the Mariachi Vargas December 19, 1987, 1 h 7 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 Sweeney Sisters,…
  9. Robin Williams/James Taylor Episode 9 Robin Williams/James Taylor January 23, 1988, 1 h 7 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.""
  10. Carl Weathers/Robbie Robertson Episode 10 Carl Weathers/Robbie Robertson January 30, 1988, 1 h 7 min Sketches include ""Bush-Whacked,"" ""The NFL Today,"" ""Handi-Off,"" ""Democratic Debate '88,"" ""Helen and Cheri,"" ""TV Actress,"" ""Master Thespian,"" and ""The Garden"" (film). Robbie Robertson performed ""Testimony"" and ""Somewhere Down the Crazy…
  11. Justine Bateman/Terrance Trent D’Arby Episode 11 Justine Bateman/Terrance Trent D’Arby February 13, 1988, 1 h 7 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 Episode)"", ""Blocked songwriter Derek Stevens loses…
  12. Tom Hanks/Randy Travis Episode 12 Tom Hanks/Randy Travis February 20, 1988, 1 h 7 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 First:…
  13. Judge Reinhold/10,000 Maniacs Episode 13 Judge Reinhold/10,000 Maniacs February 27, 1988, 1 h 7 min Sketches include ""Pumping Up With Hans & Franz,"" ""Church Chat,"" ""Friendly Dictator,"" and ""Big Bird Pirates.""