Saturday Night Live season 14

Season of television series
Saturday Night Live
Season 14
The title card for the fourteenth season of Saturday Night Live.
No. of episodes20
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseOctober 8, 1988 (1988-10-08) –
May 20, 1989 (1989-05-20)
Season chronology
← Previous
season 13
Next →
season 15
List of episodes

The fourteenth season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between October 8, 1988 and May 20, 1989.

A new show logo was used starting with this season. It was made up of the words SATURDAY + NIGHT + LIVE styled in a circle. It was used until the end of the show's 20th season in 1995.

This season notably saw the death of a second original cast member, Gilda Radner, who died on the day of the season finale from ovarian cancer. In memory of Radner, Steve Martin showed a clip from the "Dancing in the Dark" sketch from the 1978 episode hosted by Martin in lieu of his planned monologue.

This season introduced the "Wayne's World" skits.

Cast

Repertory players

  • Dana Carvey
  • Nora Dunn
  • Phil Hartman
  • Jan Hooks
  • Victoria Jackson
  • Jon Lovitz
  • Dennis Miller
  • Kevin Nealon

Featured players

bold denotes Weekend Update anchor

Writers

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
season
HostMusical guest(s)Original air date
2471Tom HanksKeith RichardsOctober 8, 1988 (1988-10-08)

2482Matthew BroderickThe SugarcubesOctober 15, 1988 (1988-10-15)

2493John LarroquetteRandy Newman & Mark KnopflerOctober 22, 1988 (1988-10-22)

  • Randy Newman and Mark Knopfler perform "It's Money That Matters" and "Dixie Flyer".[1]
  • Dana Carvey appeared as Dennis Miller on Weekend Update.
2504Matthew ModineEdie Brickell and New BohemiansNovember 5, 1988 (1988-11-05)

2515Demi MooreJohnny Clegg & SavukaNovember 12, 1988 (1988-11-12)

  • Johnny Clegg & Savuka perform "I Call Your Name" and "Take My Heart Away".[1]
  • Kirsten Dunst appeared in the cold opening as one of George Bush's (Dana Carvey) grandchildren.
2526John LithgowTracy ChapmanNovember 19, 1988 (1988-11-19)

2537Danny DeVitoThe BanglesDecember 3, 1988 (1988-12-03)

2548Kevin KlineBobby McFerrinDecember 10, 1988 (1988-12-10)

  • Bobby McFerrin performs "Drive" and "The Star-Spangled Banner".[1]
  • This episode was dedicated to Roy Orbison, the musical guest of the 1986-1987 season finale, who died on December 6. At the end of the episode, Kline introduces Roy's performance of Crying from that show as a tribute.
2559Melanie GriffithLittle FeatDecember 17, 1988 (1988-12-17)

25610John MalkovichAnita BakerJanuary 21, 1989 (1989-01-21)

  • Anita Baker performs "Giving You the Best That I Got" and "Just Because".[1]
  • Mike Myers' first episode as a cast member.
25711Tony DanzaJohn HiattJanuary 28, 1989 (1989-01-28)

25812Ted DansonLuther VandrossFebruary 11, 1989 (1989-02-11)

25913Leslie NielsenCowboy JunkiesFebruary 18, 1989 (1989-02-18)

26014Glenn CloseGipsy KingsFebruary 25, 1989 (1989-02-25)

26115Mary Tyler MooreElvis CostelloMarch 25, 1989 (1989-03-25)

  • Elvis Costello performs "Veronica" and "Let Him Dangle".[1] (This marked Costello's return to SNL following his infamous performance of Radio, Radio 11 years earlier which resulted in Costello being banned from appearing on the show again. As of 2017, Costello is one of three people who have had a ban from SNL lifted.)
  • Ben Stiller's first episode as a cast member.
26216Mel GibsonLiving ColourApril 1, 1989 (1989-04-01)

  • Living Colour performs "Cult of Personality" and "Open Letter (To a Landlord)".[1]
  • Danny Glover appears in the "Lethal Weapon VI" sketch.
26317Dolly PartonDolly PartonApril 15, 1989 (1989-04-15)

26418Geena DavisJohn MellencampApril 22, 1989 (1989-04-22)

  • John Mellencamp performs "Pop Singer" and "Jackie Brown".[1]
  • Ben Stiller's final episode as a cast member.
26519Wayne GretzkyFine Young CannibalsMay 13, 1989 (1989-05-13)

  • Fine Young Cannibals perform "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing".[1]
  • Gretzky's wife Janet Jones appears in the "Wayne's World" sketch.
  • This episode was released as part of the three-episode "Best of Saturday Night Live: Special Edition" VHS (1992).
26620Steve MartinTom Petty & the HeartbreakersMay 20, 1989 (1989-05-20)

  • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers perform "Runnin' Down a Dream" and "Free Fallin'".[1]
  • In the opening monologue, Steve Martin visibly struggled to hold back tears as he paid tribute to Gilda Radner, who had died of cancer in the afternoon on the day of the broadcast. Martin and Radner's "Dancing in the Dark" sketch, originally shown in episode 64 in 1978, was also offered in tribute. The show's bandleader G.E. Smith, who was also Radner's ex-husband, wore a black armband throughout the live show.
  • Timothy Busfield appears in the "New Coneheads" sketch.
  • Paulina Porizkova appears in the "Get to Know Me" sketch.
  • The first Toonces sketch appears in this episode.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 124–127. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  2. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 202–203. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  3. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 237. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  4. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 264. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  5. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 226–229. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  6. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 230–232. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
  7. ^ Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 1994. pp. 234–236. ISBN 0-395-70895-8.
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