Saturday Night Live
Season 13
TV-14
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.
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.
Where to Watch Season 13
13 Episodes
- Steve Martin/Sting
E1Steve Martin/StingSketches 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,"" and ""Pumping Up With Hans and Franz"". - Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull
E2Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the PullLive 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," and "Cat Dentist" (film). LL Cool J performs "Go Cut Creator Go." Michael Penn and The Pull performs "This & That." - Dabney Coleman/The Cars
E3Dabney Coleman/The CarsLive 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," "Marriage Counselor," "Count Dracula, Self-Taught Auto Mechanic," "The Pat Stevens Show," "New High School Mascot," and "Lambert & Fitch Securites." The Cars performs "Strap Me In" and "Double Trouble." - Robert Mitchum/Simply Red
E4Robert Mitchum/Simply RedNoir star Robert Mitchum hosts this 1987 episode. Selected sketches and segments include "The Mountain Man," "Weekend Update," and the commercial parodies "Compulsion" and "Beauty Bath." For clearance reasons, episodes have been edited from their original version. - Danny DeVito/Bryan Ferry
E6Danny DeVito/Bryan Ferryive 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 Ferry performs "The Right Stuff" and "Kiss and Tell." - Angie Dickinson/Buster Poindexter & David Gilmour
E7Angie Dickinson/Buster Poindexter & David GilmourLive 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 Man Buster Poindexter performs: ""Hot, Hot, Hot"" David Gilmour performs: ""Ah, Robertson, It's You"" - Paul Simon/Linda Ronstadt & the Mariachi Vargas
E8Paul Simon/Linda Ronstadt & the Mariachi VargasLive 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, Subway Beggar, Succinctly Speaking, Seasons Greetings From Tonto, Frankenstein, and Tarzan, Educated Anita, and A Message To Future Viewers Linda Ronstadt and the Mariachi Vargas perform: ""Los Laureles, La Cigarra"" and ""Under African Skies"" - Robin Williams/James Taylor
E9Robin Williams/James TaylorRobin Williams returns to host this 1988 episode. Selected sketches and segments include "Pumping Up With Hans and Franz," "Birth Tape," "Learning To Feel," the 8th Annual Cable Ace Awards, and "60th Birthday." Robin does stand up about safe sex and condoms. James Taylor performs "Never die young" - Carl Weathers/Robbie Robertson
E10Carl Weathers/Robbie RobertsonSketches 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 River."" - Justine Bateman/Terrance Trent D'Arby
E11Justine Bateman/Terrance Trent D'Arby""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 his Muse"", ""An older man, the bimbo girlfriend Linda and his Judgemental Friends"". - Tom Hanks/Randy Travis
E12Tom Hanks/Randy TravisWatch selected sketches from this 1988 episode hosted by SNL favorite Tom Hanks. Sketches include "Girl Watchers," "The Pat Stevens Show," "Stand-Ups," and "Sentimental Value Pawn Shop." For clearance reasons, episodes have been edited from their original version. - Judge Reinhold/10,000 Maniacs
E13Judge Reinhold/10,000 ManiacsHost and Beverly Hills Cop co-star Judge Reinhold helps bring this 1987/88 season to a close. Selected sketches and segments include "Church Chat," "Deregulated Airline," "When Great Minds Meet," and "Pirates." For clearance reasons, episodes have been edited from their original version.
