Every Host And Musical Guest From SNL’s First Season—Do You Remember Them All?

Every Host And Musical Guest From SNL’s First Season—Do You Remember Them All?


May 12, 2025 | Jesse Singer

Every Host And Musical Guest From SNL’s First Season—Do You Remember Them All?


Live From New York, It's Season One!

The first ever episode of Saturday Night Live aired on October 11, 1975 and was hosted by... wait, we'll get to that in a second. In fact, we are going to get to every host and every musical guest that joined the "Not Ready for Primetime Players" during that fateful first season. And they were...

Episode 1: October 11, 1975

Host: George Carlin

Musical Guest: Janis Ian & Billy Preston

Episode Facts: George Carlin didn't appear in any sketches (per his request).

It was on this very first episode that Andy Kaufman did his now-famous Mighty Mouse theme performance.

George CarlinMonologue: George Carlin on Football and Baseball - SNL, Saturday Night Live

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Episode 2: October 18, 1975

Host: Paul Simon

Musical Guest: Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow, Art Garfunkel & Jessy Dixon Singers

Episode Facts: There were so many musical performances in this episode that the Not Ready for Primetime Players only appeared once (as the Bees, when Paul Simon tells them that their sketch has been cut).

Paul SimonSNL Promo for Oct 18, 1975 (1-2), SeanH777

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Episode 3: October 25, 1975

Host: Rob Reiner

Musical Guest: None

Episode Facts: There was no musical guest, but John Belushi did impersonate Joe Cocker and sing "With a Little Help from My Friends".

File:Rob Reiner at Commonwealth Club 2013.jpgCommonwealth Club from San Francisco, San Jose, United States, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 4: November 8, 1975

Host: Candice Bergen    

Musical Guest: Esther Phillips 

Episode Facts: A malfunction in the control room led to only Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Michael O'Donoghue, and Gilda Radner being credited for the episode.

This episode marked the debut of Chevy Chase's "Good Evening, I'm Chevy Chase and you're not" Weekend Update greeting.

File:Candice Bergen (cropped).jpgAlan Light, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 5: November 15, 1975

Host: Robert Klein 

Musical Guest: ABBA & Loudon Wainwright III

Episode FactsLorne Michaels makes his first appearance on the show—via voice over in a sketch with Chevy Chase impersonating rockstar Gregg Allman.

ABBA lip-synced to pre-recorded tracks for both their performances ("SOS" and "Waterloo").

File:RobertKleinByPhilKonstantin.jpgPhilkon Phil Konstantin, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 6: November 22, 1975

Host: Lily Tomlin

Musical Guest: Lily Tomlin with Howard Shore & the All Nurse Band

Episode Facts: Tomlin performed three songs ("St James Infirmary Blues", "Bee Bop", "I Got You Babe") with Scred and The Muppets.

 Lily TomlinHard Hats - SNL, Saturday Night Live

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Episode 7: December 13, 1975

HostRichard Pryor    

Musical Guest: Gil Scott-Heron 

Episode Facts: Pryor was the first African American host—and as such, Garrett Morris said the "Live from New York..." line. This was the first time it wasn't Chevy Chase saying it.

This episode also marked the first appearance of John Belushi's Samurai character.

Richard Pryor Word Association - Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live

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Episode 8: December 20, 1975

Host: Candice Bergen        

Musical Guest: Martha Reeves & The Stylistics

Episode Facts: Candice Bergen became the first two-time host.

Candice Bergen  Super Executive - Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live

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Episode 9: January 10, 1976

HostElliott Gould         

Musical GuestAnne Murray 

Episode FactsLorne Michaels appears in a "Killer Bees" sketch gone wrong—it is the first time Michaels appeared on camera on the show.

It was this episode that they submitted for Emmy Award consideration—leading to the show's first Emmy win in 1977.

 Elliott Gould  The Killer Bees: Home Invasion - SNL, Saturday Night Live

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Episode 10: January 17, 1976

Host: Buck Henry         

Musical GuestBill Withers & Toni Basil

Episode FactsBill Withers performed "Ain't No Sunshine" on the show, and this episode also marked the first appearance of The Blues Brothers (in the Bees costumes, performing "I'm a King Bee").

File:Buck Henry (4970849739).jpgAlan Light, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 11: January 24, 1976

HostPeter Cook & Dudley Moore    

Musical GuestNeil Sedaka 

Episode Facts: The opening montage of this episode was the first to feature Don Pardo reading aloud the names of the Not Ready for Primetime Players.

File:Peter Cook Dudley Moore Good Evening 1974.JPGDavid Powers Publicity; photographer-Martha Swope, New York, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 12: January 31, 1976

HostDick Cavett    

Musical GuestJimmy Cliff

Episode Facts: At the end of the third "Lowell Brock" sketch, you can see Lorne Michaels playing a prank on John Belushi (tying his shoelaces together). When Belushi realizes what happened, you can just barely make out the multiple swear words he utters over the audience's applause (applauding the sketch, not the prank).

Dick CavettCavett's School of Hydroplane Operation - Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live

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Episode 13: February 14, 1976

HostPeter Boyle        

Musical GuestAl Jarreau 

Episode FactsSteven Spielberg can be seen in the audience while Peter Boyle sings a love song to his "wife"

File:Peter Boyle.jpgAlan Light, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 14: February 21, 1976

Host: Desi Arnaz         

Musical GuestDesi Arnaz & Desi Arnaz Jr

Episode Facts: This all "Desi" episode ended with Arnaz Sr leading the cast and crew and the audience in a conga line.

Desi Arnaz Late Night Saturday: History & Commentary for SNL S1E14, Late Night Saturday

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Episode 15: February 28, 1976

Host: Jill Clayburgh         

Musical GuestLeon Redbone & The Idlers

Episode Facts: This episode marked the first appearance of Mister Bill and the last time the Land of Gorch set was seen on camera.

File:Jill Clayburgh.JPGABC, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 16: March 13, 1976

Host: Anthony Perkins         

Musical GuestBetty Carter

Episode Facts: At this point, the show was still called NBC's Saturday Night. However, starting with this 16th episode, only Saturday Night appeared on the opening credits.

File:Anthony Perkins colour.jpgAllan warren, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 17: April 17, 1976

Host: Ron Nessen         

Musical Guest: Patti Smith

Episode Facts: President Gerald Ford delivers the "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" line during a filmed segment in the cold open.

File:Patti Smith in Rosengrten 1978.jpgKlaus Hiltscher, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 18: April 24, 1976 

Host: Raquel Welch             

Musical Guest: Phoebe Snow & John Sebastian

Episode Facts: Phoebe Snow became the first two-time musical performer and this episode was the first appearance of Gilda Radner as Baba Wawa.

File:Saturday night live welch radner 1976.JPGNBC Television Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 19: May 8, 1976        

Host: Madeline Kahn     

Musical GuestCarly Simon

Episode FactsChevy Chase played the cowbell in a pre-taped segment featuring Carly Simon singing "Half a Chance/You're So Vain".

File:Carly Simon (1989).jpgAlan Light, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 20: May 15, 1976 

Host: Dyan Cannon             

Musical Guest: Leon and Mary Russell

Episode FactsJohn Belushi as Joe Cocker performs "Daylight" with Leon and Mary Russell.

File:Dyan Cannon.jpgSateIIite, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 21: May 22, 1976

Host: Buck Henry         

Musical Guest: Gordon Lightfoot & Garrett Morris

Episode Facts: In reference to the full-page ads at the time, offering The Beatles millions of dollars to reunite and perform in New York City—Lorne Michaels appeared during the monologue and offered the band $3,200 and free hotel accommodations to perform three songs.

File:Gordon Lightfoot.jpgOriginal uploader was Piedmontstyle at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 22: May 29, 1976

HostElliott Gould             

Musical Guest: Leon Redbone, Harlan Collins & Joyce Everson

Episode Facts: Introduced by Don Pardo in the opening credits as "new talent Franken and Davis", writers Al Franken and Tom Davis did a comedy bit together in this episode.

Elliott Gould SNLStar Trek: The Last Voyage - SNL, Saturday Night Live

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Episode 23: July 24, 1976 

Host: Louise Lasser             

Musical Guest: Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Episode Facts: Host Louise Lasser pretended to have stage fright during her monologue and locked herself in her dressing room. In actuality, Lasser had actually done exactly that just prior to the show going live on the air—leading to the cast dividing her parts up amongst themselves. This behavior caused Lorne Michaels to keep this episode out of syndication.

File:Louise Lasser Mary Hartman 1976.JPGNBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

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Episode 24: July 31, 1976 

HostKris Kristofferson             

Musical GuestRita Coolidge

Episode Facts: Allegedly, Kris Kristofferson got so drunk that he couldn't even say his lines during dress rehearsal—leading Lorne Michaels to send his staff on a quest to find "the biggest coffee pot you can".

File:(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher - Cash Box ad 1977.jpgA&M Records, Wikimedia Commons

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Memories?

What memories do you have of this first season? Best or worst hosts, skits, etc? Let us know in the comments.

jarmolukjarmoluk, Pixabay

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You might also like:

Saturday Night Live 50: Performers Who Were Banned From The Show

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Thought-Provoking George Carlin Trivia (And Some Of His Funniest Jokes)

Sources: 1 

 

 


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