Saturday Night Live

Season 2

Saturday Night Live aired its second season during the 1976–1977 television season on NBC. The second season started on September 18, 1976, and ended on May 21, 1977.

This season saw the first of many SNL cast changes. Chevy Chase, who was pursuing a movie career in California, left the show after the October 30th episode hosted by Buck Henry with musical guest, The Band. Jane Curtin became the first female cast member to become a Weekend Update anchor following Chase's departure. On the January 15, 1977 episode, Bill Murray joined the cast to fill the void left by Chase's departure.

This season also saw another change in the show: its name. Following the cancellation of ABC's Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, NBC changed the name of the show from NBC's Saturday Night to its current title, Saturday Night Live in the episode hosted by Jack Burns in 1977.

It was the last time that the Muppet sketches would appear on the show. In a 1977 interview with Playboy, O'Donoghue who was head writer/performer, referred to the Muppets as "those fucking Muppets, those little hairy facecloths" and were "made from the refuse after they cleaned up after Woodstock". He also refused to write for them, saying "I don’t write for felt". O'Donoghue also had a lynched Big Bird hanging in the writer's office.
22 Episodes
  • Lily Tomlin/James Taylor
    E1
    Lily Tomlin/James TaylorEpisode 1
  • Norman Lear/Boz Scaggs
    E2
    Norman Lear/Boz ScaggsEpisode 2
  • Eric Idle/Joe Cocker and Stuff
    E3
    Eric Idle/Joe Cocker and StuffEpisode 3
  • Karen Black/John Prine
    E4
    Karen Black/John PrineEpisode 4
  • Steve Martin/Kinky Friedman
    E5
    Steve Martin/Kinky FriedmanEpisode 5
  • Buck Henry/The Band
    E6
    Buck Henry/The BandEpisode 6
  • Dick Cavett/Ry Cooder
    E7
    Dick Cavett/Ry CooderEpisode 7
  • Paul Simon/Paul Simon, George Harrison
    E8
    Paul Simon/Paul Simon, George HarrisonEpisode 8
  • Jodie Foster/Brian Wilson
    E9
    Jodie Foster/Brian WilsonEpisode 9
  • Candice Bergen/Frank Zappa
    E10
    Candice Bergen/Frank ZappaEpisode 10
  • Ralph Nader/George Benson
    E11
    Ralph Nader/George BensonEpisode 11
  • Ruth Gordon/Chuck Berry
    E12
    Ruth Gordon/Chuck BerryEpisode 12
  • Fran Tarkenton/Leo Sayer
    E13
    Fran Tarkenton/Leo SayerEpisode 13
  • Steve Martin/The Kinks
    E14
    Steve Martin/The KinksEpisode 14
  • Sissy Spacek/Richard Baskin
    E15
    Sissy Spacek/Richard BaskinEpisode 15
  • Broderick Crawford/Dr. John, The Meters
    E16
    Broderick Crawford/Dr. John, The MetersEpisode 16
  • Jack Burns/Santana
    E17
    Jack Burns/SantanaEpisode 17
  • Julian Bond/Brick
    E18
    Julian Bond/BrickEpisode 18
  • Elliott Gould/McGarrigle Sisters
    E19
    Elliott Gould/McGarrigle SistersEpisode 19
  • Eric Idle/Neil Innes
    E20
    Eric Idle/Neil InnesEpisode 20
  • Shelley Duvall/Joan Armatrading
    E21
    Shelley Duvall/Joan ArmatradingEpisode 21
  • Buck Henry/Kenny Vance, Jennifer Warnes
    E22
    Buck Henry/Kenny Vance, Jennifer WarnesEpisode 22
Cast of Season 2
  • John BelushiSelf - Various Characters
  • Laraine NewmanSelf - Various Characters
  • Gilda RadnerSelf - Various Characters
  • Jane CurtinSelf - Various Characters
  • Dan AykroydSelf - Various Characters
  • Garrett MorrisSelf - Various Characters

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