1984 • 17 Episodes
Saturday Night Live aired its tenth season during the 1984-1985 television season on NBC. The season contained 18 episodes and was cut short due to a writer's strike and budget constraints. During the previous season Eddie Murphy left the show mid season. Because of Murphy's departure Joe Piscopo also left the show because he did not want to do it without Murphy. Dick Ebersol then fired Robin Duke, Brad Hall and Tim Kazurinsky. Ebersol then wanted to blow up the show by adding seasoned comedians instead of newcomers. He hired Billy Crystal, Harry Shearer, New Zealander Pamela Stephenson, Rich Hall, Martin Short, and Christopher Guest. Guest would become the anchor of Saturday Night News. In the middle of the season, Harry Shearer left the show, due to "creative differences". Despite his departure, his image is still shown in the opening credits.
October 6, 1984
Sketches include ""Lifestyles of Relatives of the Rich and Famous,"" ""Wheel of Fortune Interview,"" ""Grandpa Howard,"" ""Syncronized Swimming,"" ""First Draft Theater,"" ""Rich Hall's Election Report,"" and ""Olympics 1984."" Thompson Twins perform their hit ""Hold Me Now.""
October 13, 1984
Live from New York, "it's a baby boy, Mr. Williams!" it's... Martin Short! Sketches include "Password," "Snap, Crackle & Pop," "An American Portrait," "Little League Trade," "Tom Brokaw," "Mamie Eisenhower Center For The Dull," "7 x 4," "Negro Leaguers" (film), "Lost and Found Department," "Tippi Turtle" (cartoon), "SNL Mailbag," "Baseball Juice," and "Color Commentary." Peter Wolf performed "Lights Out" and "I Need You Tonight.
October 20, 1984
Rev. Jackson has his monologue sabotaged, meets Ed Grimley, sings two pop songs and hosts the parody game The Question is Moot!
November 3, 1984
Sketches include ""Gerry and the Mon-dells,"" ""Fernando's Hideaway,"" ""The Folksmen Reunion,"" ""First Draft Theater,"" ""Buddy Young Jr. Is Back,"" and ""Mondale's Strategy.""
November 10, 1984
Sketches were: ""Gary Kroeger's Last Mondale Impression,"" ""Profiles in Sports,"" ""Willie and Frankie as Night Watchmen,"" ""Rich Hall's Election Report,"" ""The Joe Franklin Show,"" ""Ye Olde Comedy Shoppe,"" ""The Ghostbusters Show,"" ""Strategic Airborne Contraceptive,"" ""In Thickeness and In Health,"" ""International Health News,"" and ""Relunctant Cop."" Frankie Goes to Hollywood performs ""Two Tribes"" and ""Born to Run.""
November 17, 1984
Sketches include ""Lou Grant's Rescue Mission,"" ""Wing Tips,"" ""60 Minutes,"" and ""Nuclear Plant Retiree."" The Kinks perform ""Do It Again.""
December 1, 1984
Sketches included "Kate & Ali," "Strategic Airborne Contraceptive," "Book Beat," "Time Traveler," "Grim Reaper Trivial Pursuit," "Refridgerator Magnets" (film), "Let's Watch TV," "Chayefsky," "Meshugana," "Eyeball to Eyeball," and "Elevator Stool." Billy Squier performes "Rock Me Tonight" and "All Night Long."
December 8, 1984
Sketches include ""Beatles Auction,"" ""Fernando's Hideaway,"" and ""Ed Grimley Meets Ringo.""
December 15, 1984
Sketches include ""Buckwheat Lives!"" ""White Like Me"" (film), ""Milestones,"" and ""Newsmakers."" Robert Plant and the Honeydrippers perform ""Santa Claus is Back in Town.""
January 12, 1985
Sketches include ""Donahue Green Room,"" ""Hypnotic Fireplace,"" ""The Joe Franklin Show,"" ""Boxing Stories,"" and ""Mr. Blackwell.""
January 19, 1985
Sketches include "Reagan's Inaguration," "Ricky & Phil," "Super Bowl XIX Tickets Sale," a performance by Steven Wright, "Foldgers Crystals," "In Praise of Women," "Penny Lane," "Good Cop, Bad Cop," and "Mental Hospital." Billy Ocean performs "Carribean Queen" and "Loverboy."
February 2, 1985
Live from New York, its... Billy Crystal! Sketches include "Prince and Hulk Hogan," "Ed Grimley's Sexy Neighbor," "Time Magazine" (rerun 2/26/83), "A Couple Of White Guys Rap," "Kelly Cola," "Power From Giving," "New York On Five Dollars a Day," "Walter Mondale in Minnesota," and "The Auctioneer." Tina Turner performs "What's Love Got To Do With It," "Better Be Good To Me," and "Private Dancer."
February 9, 1985
Sketches are ""Robert Latta in Congress,"" ""The Kate and Ali's Valentine's Day Special,"" ""American Profiles,"" ""Dueling Magi,"" ""While You Were Gone,"" ""Ricky and Phil's Discuss Movies,"" ""Salem Witch Trial,"" ""Hats,"" and ""Small Time Agency."" Bryan Adams performs ""Somebody"" and ""Run to You.""
February 16, 1985
Sketches include "Strategic Airborne Contraceptive" (rerun 11/10/84), "The Joe Franklin Show," "White Rappers," "Fernando at Radio City Music Hall," standup by Rich Hall, "Jim's Promise," "First Draft Theatre," "Linda & Joan: The Catfight Album," "Tom, Dick & Horny", and "Bullet Cartoon." The Power Station performed "Some Like It Hot" and "Bang a Gong (Get It On)."
March 30, 1985
Sketches include ""Willie and Frankie In The Crew,"" ""Ed Grimley In The Hospital,"" ""Run and Throw Like a Girl Olympics,"" ""Sports Beat,"" and ""Good Sex."" Greg Kihn performs ""Lucky.""
April 6, 1985
Sketches include ""A.D.13,"" ""Superman Auditions,"" ""Jackie Rogers Junior's $100,000 Jackpot Wad,"" ""Escaping the Germans,"" and ""Aging Superman.""
April 13, 1985
Sketches include ""Willie and Frankie In The Crew,"" ""Ed Grimley In The Hospital,"" ""Run and Throw Like a Girl Olympics,"" ""Sports Beat,"" and ""Good Sex."" Greg Kihn performs ""Lucky.""