Saturday Night Live
Season 11
TV-14
43%
Saturday Night Live aired its 11th season during the 1985-1986 television season on NBC. The season started on November 9, 1985 and ended on May 24, 1986, 18 episodes were produced.
Dick Ebersol left the show after the 1984-85 season, when the network refused his request to shut the program down entirely for six months and shift much of the material onto tape, not live broadcast. Once again, NBC briefly considered cancelling the show, but programming head Brandon Tartikoff decided to continue the show and re-hire erstwhile producer Lorne Michaels.
In some ways the job Michaels returned to was more challenging than the one he took on in 1975. For starters, Michaels' "golden boy" reputation was somewhat tarnished. His most recent effort, the previous season's The New Show confused critics and was ignored by audiences. Also, the 1984-1985 season had been a critical and ratings hit, generating memorable characters and stand-out performers. However, Michaels would not be the only member of the old guard to return: original writers Al Franken and Tom Davis would return as producers, and Jim Downey would be head writer. Fans and critics welcomed Michaels and many of the original producers and writers back, calling it a return to the show's roots.
Dick Ebersol left the show after the 1984-85 season, when the network refused his request to shut the program down entirely for six months and shift much of the material onto tape, not live broadcast. Once again, NBC briefly considered cancelling the show, but programming head Brandon Tartikoff decided to continue the show and re-hire erstwhile producer Lorne Michaels.
In some ways the job Michaels returned to was more challenging than the one he took on in 1975. For starters, Michaels' "golden boy" reputation was somewhat tarnished. His most recent effort, the previous season's The New Show confused critics and was ignored by audiences. Also, the 1984-1985 season had been a critical and ratings hit, generating memorable characters and stand-out performers. However, Michaels would not be the only member of the old guard to return: original writers Al Franken and Tom Davis would return as producers, and Jim Downey would be head writer. Fans and critics welcomed Michaels and many of the original producers and writers back, calling it a return to the show's roots.
Where to Watch Season 11
18 Episodes
- Chevy Chase/Sheila E.
E2Chevy Chase/Sheila E.Sketches include ""Smoky Hallway,"" ""Wacky Glue,"" ""Those Unlucky Andersons"", ""Ford and Reagan,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Pathological Liars Anonymous,"" ""Craig Sundburg-Idiot Savant,"" ""Trojans,"" ""The Blue, The Gray and The Yellow,"" ""Vlad the Impaler,"" ""Drums Drums Drums,"" and ""Jose Cuervo's Party School Bowl."" Sheila E. performed ""Hollyrock"" and ""A Love Bizarre."" - Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band
E3Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco BandSketches include ""Twin Towers Tightrope,"" ""Pee Wee Herman's Thanksgiving Special"", ""Marital Problems,"" ""Pee Wee's School Romance,"" ""Find the Mouse in the Coke,"" and ""Hal Fisher's Money Magnet Method."" - Teri Garr/Dream Academy, The Cult
E6Teri Garr/Dream Academy, The CultSketches include ""The Wrapper Rapper,"" ""Critic,"" ""The Price of Eggs,"" ""Hildy,"" ""A Roy Orbison Christmas,"" ""The Big Tree,"" and ""Time Traveling Trivial Pursuit."" The Dream Academy performed their one and only hit, ""Life In A Northern Town."" - Harry Dean Stanton/The Replacements
E7Harry Dean Stanton/The ReplacementsLive from New York, it's... Dennis Miller! Sketches include "Herb's Press Conference," "Gulf Coast Furniture Warehouse," "Cleveland Vice," "Death Of A Gunfighter," "What You Said During Labor," "That Black Girl," "Big Ball Of Sports" (film), "The Friendly Drunk," "Jack's Discount Emporium," and "Say No To The Army." The Replacements performed "Bastards of the Young" and "Kiss Me on the Bus." - Ron Reagan/The Nelsons
E9Ron Reagan/The NelsonsLive From New York, it's...Ronald Reagon, Jr. Sketches include: White House Risky Business, You're Going To Hell: A Message From The Almighty (repeat from the Madonna/Simple Minds episode), The Pat Stevens Show, Dalkon Shield Trout Lure, Back To The Future, Penn And Teller Guest Performance, Limits of the Imagination, Shakespeare In The Slums With Flotilda Williams, and The Woody Allen Fan The Nelsons performs: Walk Away and Do You Know What I Mean - Jerry Hall/Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
E10Jerry Hall/Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double TroubleLive from New York, it's... Mick Jagger! Sketches include "Tommy Flanagan," "The Limits Of The Imagination," and "Models Against The Wilderness," "Master Thespian," "The Line of Death," "Sam Kinison Stand-Up," "The Pat Stevens Show," and "Dad's Sore Big Toe." Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughn perform "Say What" and "Change It." - Griffin Dunne/Rosanne Cash
E12Griffin Dunne/Rosanne Cash""Tommy Flanagan's Pathological Liars Anonymous"", ""Griffin Dunne's One-Handed Drum Solo from Wipeout"", ""Ferdinand Marcos Malacanang Palace Liquidation Sale"", ""You bet your finger"", ""Weekend Update with Dennis Miller"", ""Two Jones' Cable Installers"", ""Penn & Teller"". - George Wendt/Philip Glass
E13George Wendt/Philip GlassFrancis Ford Coppola directs and co-hosts with George Wendt in this 1986 special episode. Selected sketches and segments include "Commercials," "Fish Market," and "Actors," as well as a Grand Finale. For clearance reasons, episodes have been edited from their original version. - Oprah Winfrey/Joe Jackson
E14Oprah Winfrey/Joe JacksonMedia giant Oprah Winfrey hosts this 1986 episode. Selected sketches and segments include A Color Purple take-off in the Cold Opening, "Cute Shop," "The Wart Hog," and "Craig Sundberg: Idiot Savant." For clearance reasons, episodes have been edited from their original version. - Tony Danza/Laurie Anderson
E15Tony Danza/Laurie AndersonLive from New York, it's... Randy Quaid, Robert Downey Jr., and Anthony Michael Hall! Sketches include "Vietnam Horror Story," "Nancy Reagan's Workout," "Lyndon LaRouche Theatre," "The 30-Second Count," a guest performance by Penn & Teller, "Big Time Professional Golf," "My Unconditional Love," "Master Thespian," and "The Further Adventures Of Biff And Salena." Laurie Anderson performed "Baby Doll" and "Day The Devil." - Catherine Oxenberg & Paul Simon/Ladysmith Black Mambazo
E16Catherine Oxenberg & Paul Simon/Ladysmith Black MambazoSelected sketches and segments from this 1986 special episode co-hosted by Catherine Oxenberg and Paul Simon, which includes a special performance by Penn and Teller. Sketches include "Prison," "The Late Show With Joan Rivers," "Beverly Hills," and "A Mother's Day Message." For clearance reasons, episodes have been edited from their original version. - Jimmy Breslin & Marvin Hagler/Level 42, E.G. Daily
E17Jimmy Breslin & Marvin Hagler/Level 42, E.G. DailySketches are ""Mike 'The Menace' Hall,"" ""Kill Kaddafi?"" ""Tornadoville,"" ""Marvin's Knockout Tips,"" ""Lone Wolf McCord,"" ""The Pat Stevens,"" ""Cabrini Green's Assembly,"" ""Jody Hagler,"" ""Midday with Jennifer Hicks: Bond's Supervillains"", ""Weekend Update with Dennis Miller"", ""Sam Kinison's standup act"". Level 42 performs ""Something About You"" and EG Daily performs ""Say It, Say It"" with Jon Lovitz. - Anjelica Huston & Billy Martin/George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
E18Anjelica Huston & Billy Martin/George Clinton & Parliament-FunkadelicLive from New York, it's...Randy Quaid Sketches include: Hands Across America, Moments of Doubt, Glamorous Drinking, National Council of Liquor and Spirits, Actors on Film, Hallmark Cards, Lesbian Pick-Ups, Bocce Ball My Way, Tempting Billy, The People's Second Choice Award, Book Minute, LaBelles At The Movies, My Friend, and Backstage SNL: Lorne Kills The Cast (except for Jon Lovitz, Nora Dunn, and Dennis Miller) George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic perform: ""Let's Take It To The Stage"" and ""Do Fries Go With That Shake""
