Saturday Night Live aired its eighth season during the 1982–1983 season on NBC. The 8th season started on September 25, 1982 and ended on May 14, 1983. This was the third season to air since Lorne Michaels had left his first tenure as executive producer. Many changes happened before the start of the season. Brian Doyle-Murray, Christine Ebersole and Tony Rosato were dropped from the show to make room for new cast members. Hired in their places were Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Gary Kroeger. Dick Ebersol brought back the show's cold openings that ended with "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" and the monologues by the host. Ebersol also changed Weekend Update's name for the second time, to Saturday Night News. Since Doyle-Murray and Ebersole had both been dropped, a new anchor was needed for the segment. Hall got the gig and became the new anchor. Notable moments of this season included Drew Barrymore hosting the show—the youngest ever person to host the show. During the episode hosted by Barrymore, the audience at home was given the chance to vote on whether or not Andy Kaufman should be banned from the show. The vote was conducted by a 1-900 number. At the end of the show Kaufman was banned from ever performing on SNL again.
Release Date
PremieredSaturday Night Live Season 8 released on September 25, 1982.
Your Progress
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Sign In to Track ProgressSeasons
Chevy Chase/Queen
Sketches are ""Chevy Live from Burbank,"" ""Tyrone Green Art Gallery,"" ""Joe Piscopo In Love,"" ""John Hinckley for President,"" ""Mystery Theatre,"" ""Popeil Galactic Prophylactic,"" ""Late Night with David Letterman,"" and ""PTC Club."" Queen performs ""Crazy Little Thing Called Love"" and ""Under Pressure.""
Louis Gossett Jr./George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Sketches include: Our Pride Is Showing, Don't Hitch-Hike, Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, Sex Therapy, Mr. & Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix, What's the worst thing you've ever done?, Singing In The Stall, Don's Back, Musical Performance "Bad to the Bone", Donahue, Saturday Night Editorial, Father And Son, The Interesting Four, Musical Performance "Back in Wentzville"
Ron Howard/The Clash
Sketches include ""Opie's Back,"" ""Whiners Want a Baby,"" and ""Focus On Film."" The Clash performs ""Rock The Casbah.""
Howard Hesseman/Men at Work
Sketches include: Backstage, The Girls of Saturday Night Live, DeLorean Home, Good Morning America, Musical Performance "Who Can It Be Now", Confession, Caribbean Vacation, Naked Wake, Uncle Teddy's Little Theatre, Musical Performance "Down Under", The Amazing Ronco Answer Book
Michael Keaton/The New Joe Jackson Band
Sketches include: Makeup Room, The Interesting Four, A Sense Of Fear, Thank you, Ron Reagan, Snookie, Musical Performance "Steppin' Out", Bill Smith Cares, Topol The Idiot, Nutty President, Musical Performance "Another World", Pumpkin
Robert Blake/Kenny Loggins
Sketches include ""The Merv Griffin Show,"" ""Shuttle Mission,"" ""PBS Promo,"" ""Talent Show,"" ""Little House on the Prairie,"" ""Masterful Theatre,"" ""Eddie Murphy,"" ""No More Andy Kaufman,"" ""DTV""
Drew Barrymore/Squeeze
Sketches include ""Dressing Room Opening,"" ""Gertie Kills E.T.,"" ""The Whiners,"" ""Mr. Blunt,"" ""Tim Kazurinsky Babysits Drew,"" ""My Friend Zeus,"" ""Robin Duke's Biological Clock""
The Smothers Brothers/Laura Branigan
Sketches include: The Tonight Show, Thank you, Ron Reagan, Ledge, Rubbers, If you were a homosexual, who would you find attractive?, Truck Driving Women, TV, Musical Performance "Gloria", Pudge & Solomon, Magic Act, The Inside Story, Handsome Men With Big Noses, Musical Performance "Living a Lie"
Eddie Murphy/Lionel Richie
Sketches include ""A Message From Eddie,"" ""Merry Christmas, Dammit!,"" and ""April May June's Holiday Message.""
Lily Tomlin
Sketches include ""Lily Confronts Eddie,"" ""Geraldine,"" ""Irish-American Radio Hour,"" and ""Coffees of the World.""
Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas/The Bus Boys
Sketches include: Super Bowl Party, McKenzie Brothers, Whiners, I'll Be the Judge of That, Musical Performance "The Boys Are Back In Town", Hitchcock Hygiene, Guy Talk, Porta-Dish, Hell Bent For Glory, Rent Ed McMahon, Five Minutes To Reflect, The Biological Watch, Musical Performance "New Shoes", Don't Hitch-Hike
Sid Caesar/Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
Sketches include: Live, Funeral In A Cab, Whiners, Musical Performance "Up Where We Belong", Who Do You Hate?, Hotel, Crime and Self-Punishment, A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney, Musical Performance "Seven Days"
Howard Hesseman/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Sketches are ""Howard Works on his Monologue,"" ""Sleepy Boy 2000,"" ""Elvis Presley, Back and Black,"" ""The A-Team,"" and ""Dion and Margie's Dreams."" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform ""Change of Heart"" and ""The Waiting.""
Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges/Randy Newman
Sketches include: Childhood Stories, Texxon, Pimple, Rick's Cafe, Musical Performance "I Love L.A.", Cheap Hunt, Battered Husband, Saundra's House of Massage, Musical Performance "Real Emotional Girl", Guy Crazy
Bruce Dern/Leon Redbone
Sketches include: Backstage, Buckwheat Jeans, Donny & Marie St. Patrick's Day Special, Special Report, The Home For Disgusting Practices, Musical Performance "Sweet Sue", The Buckwheat Story, Gumbys, Old Jew Beer, Old Negro Beer, Veggie Burgers, Old Chinaman Beer, Jerry Lewis School of Manners, Musical Performance "When You Wish Upon A Star", "I Ain't Got Nobody", Songwriters
Robert Guillaume/Duran Duran
Tim Kazurinsky was attacked by the monkey during the dress rehearsal of ""I Married A Monkey."" Tim was able to escape, but the monkey (actually a male) ripped off the dress he was wearing and began pleasuring himself.
Joan Rivers/Musical Youth
Sketches include: Whiners, The David Susskind Show, The Enquirer, Joan vs. Joan, Oscars, Calvin Klein Jeans, Old Age Home, Musical Performance "Pass the Dutchie", Club Doolittle, Stand-Up, Caribbean Gyno, Musical Performance "Never Gonna Give You Up"
Susan St. James/Michael McDonald
Sketches include: The Exercises of Love, Sit On It!, Tootsie Cosmetics, Texxon, The Ladies Room, Musical Performance "If That's What It Takes", Our Generation, Takin' Care Of Business, Dung in the Oval Office, Killing Time, Musical Performance "I Can't Let Go Now", Magic Fish
Stevie Wonder
Sketches include ""VD,"" ""Kannon AE-1,"" ""Stevie Wonder Impersonator,"" ""Hitler: The Secret Diaries,"" ""The Story of Stevie Wonder,"" ""Stevie at Dion's Salon,"" ""Cotton Land,"" and ""The Hunchback Busboy."" Wonder performs the songs ""Fingertips,"" ""Overjoyed,"" and ""Go Home.""
Ed Koch/Dexys Midnight Runners
Sketches include ""What's the most disgusting thing you've seen in New York?"" ""Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood,"" ""Crowded Ledge,"" ""The Enquirer,"" ""Late Night with David Letterman,"" and ""Woman's Auxillery Meeting."" Dexy's Midnight Runners perform ""Come On, Eileen,"" while Kevin Rowland performs ""The Celtic Soul Brothers.""
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Maya Rudolph Transforms into Kamala Harris - SNL
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Saturday Night Live
Season 8
Saturday Night Live aired its eighth season during the 1982–1983 season on NBC. The 8th season started on September 25, 1982 and ended on May 14, 1983. This was the third season to air since Lorne Michaels had left his first tenure as executive producer. Many changes happened before the start of the season. Brian Doyle-Murray, Christine Ebersole and Tony Rosato were dropped from the show to make room for new cast members. Hired in their places were Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Gary Kroeger. Dick Ebersol brought back the show's cold openings that ended with "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" and the monologues by the host. Ebersol also changed Weekend Update's name for the second time, to Saturday Night News. Since Doyle-Murray and Ebersole had both been dropped, a new anchor was needed for the segment. Hall got the gig and became the new anchor. Notable moments of this season included Drew Barrymore hosting the show—the youngest ever person to host the show. During the episode hosted by Barrymore, the audience at home was given the chance to vote on whether or not Andy Kaufman should be banned from the show. The vote was conducted by a 1-900 number. At the end of the show Kaufman was banned from ever performing on SNL again.
Release Date
PremieredSaturday Night Live Season 8 released on September 25, 1982.
Your Progress
Track your watching progress by signing in
Sign In to Track ProgressChevy Chase/Queen
Sketches are ""Chevy Live from Burbank,"" ""Tyrone Green Art Gallery,"" ""Joe Piscopo In Love,"" ""John Hinckley for President,"" ""Mystery Theatre,"" ""Popeil Galactic Prophylactic,"" ""Late Night with David Letterman,"" and ""PTC Club."" Queen performs ""Crazy Little Thing Called Love"" and ""Under Pressure.""
Louis Gossett Jr./George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Sketches include: Our Pride Is Showing, Don't Hitch-Hike, Mister Robinson's Neighborhood, Sex Therapy, Mr. & Mrs. T Bloody Mary Mix, What's the worst thing you've ever done?, Singing In The Stall, Don's Back, Musical Performance "Bad to the Bone", Donahue, Saturday Night Editorial, Father And Son, The Interesting Four, Musical Performance "Back in Wentzville"
Ron Howard/The Clash
Sketches include ""Opie's Back,"" ""Whiners Want a Baby,"" and ""Focus On Film."" The Clash performs ""Rock The Casbah.""
Howard Hesseman/Men at Work
Sketches include: Backstage, The Girls of Saturday Night Live, DeLorean Home, Good Morning America, Musical Performance "Who Can It Be Now", Confession, Caribbean Vacation, Naked Wake, Uncle Teddy's Little Theatre, Musical Performance "Down Under", The Amazing Ronco Answer Book
Michael Keaton/The New Joe Jackson Band
Sketches include: Makeup Room, The Interesting Four, A Sense Of Fear, Thank you, Ron Reagan, Snookie, Musical Performance "Steppin' Out", Bill Smith Cares, Topol The Idiot, Nutty President, Musical Performance "Another World", Pumpkin
Robert Blake/Kenny Loggins
Sketches include ""The Merv Griffin Show,"" ""Shuttle Mission,"" ""PBS Promo,"" ""Talent Show,"" ""Little House on the Prairie,"" ""Masterful Theatre,"" ""Eddie Murphy,"" ""No More Andy Kaufman,"" ""DTV""
Drew Barrymore/Squeeze
Sketches include ""Dressing Room Opening,"" ""Gertie Kills E.T.,"" ""The Whiners,"" ""Mr. Blunt,"" ""Tim Kazurinsky Babysits Drew,"" ""My Friend Zeus,"" ""Robin Duke's Biological Clock""
The Smothers Brothers/Laura Branigan
Sketches include: The Tonight Show, Thank you, Ron Reagan, Ledge, Rubbers, If you were a homosexual, who would you find attractive?, Truck Driving Women, TV, Musical Performance "Gloria", Pudge & Solomon, Magic Act, The Inside Story, Handsome Men With Big Noses, Musical Performance "Living a Lie"
Eddie Murphy/Lionel Richie
Sketches include ""A Message From Eddie,"" ""Merry Christmas, Dammit!,"" and ""April May June's Holiday Message.""
Lily Tomlin
Sketches include ""Lily Confronts Eddie,"" ""Geraldine,"" ""Irish-American Radio Hour,"" and ""Coffees of the World.""
Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas/The Bus Boys
Sketches include: Super Bowl Party, McKenzie Brothers, Whiners, I'll Be the Judge of That, Musical Performance "The Boys Are Back In Town", Hitchcock Hygiene, Guy Talk, Porta-Dish, Hell Bent For Glory, Rent Ed McMahon, Five Minutes To Reflect, The Biological Watch, Musical Performance "New Shoes", Don't Hitch-Hike
Sid Caesar/Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
Sketches include: Live, Funeral In A Cab, Whiners, Musical Performance "Up Where We Belong", Who Do You Hate?, Hotel, Crime and Self-Punishment, A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney, Musical Performance "Seven Days"
Howard Hesseman/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Sketches are ""Howard Works on his Monologue,"" ""Sleepy Boy 2000,"" ""Elvis Presley, Back and Black,"" ""The A-Team,"" and ""Dion and Margie's Dreams."" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform ""Change of Heart"" and ""The Waiting.""
Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges/Randy Newman
Sketches include: Childhood Stories, Texxon, Pimple, Rick's Cafe, Musical Performance "I Love L.A.", Cheap Hunt, Battered Husband, Saundra's House of Massage, Musical Performance "Real Emotional Girl", Guy Crazy
Bruce Dern/Leon Redbone
Sketches include: Backstage, Buckwheat Jeans, Donny & Marie St. Patrick's Day Special, Special Report, The Home For Disgusting Practices, Musical Performance "Sweet Sue", The Buckwheat Story, Gumbys, Old Jew Beer, Old Negro Beer, Veggie Burgers, Old Chinaman Beer, Jerry Lewis School of Manners, Musical Performance "When You Wish Upon A Star", "I Ain't Got Nobody", Songwriters
Robert Guillaume/Duran Duran
Tim Kazurinsky was attacked by the monkey during the dress rehearsal of ""I Married A Monkey."" Tim was able to escape, but the monkey (actually a male) ripped off the dress he was wearing and began pleasuring himself.
Joan Rivers/Musical Youth
Sketches include: Whiners, The David Susskind Show, The Enquirer, Joan vs. Joan, Oscars, Calvin Klein Jeans, Old Age Home, Musical Performance "Pass the Dutchie", Club Doolittle, Stand-Up, Caribbean Gyno, Musical Performance "Never Gonna Give You Up"
Susan St. James/Michael McDonald
Sketches include: The Exercises of Love, Sit On It!, Tootsie Cosmetics, Texxon, The Ladies Room, Musical Performance "If That's What It Takes", Our Generation, Takin' Care Of Business, Dung in the Oval Office, Killing Time, Musical Performance "I Can't Let Go Now", Magic Fish
Stevie Wonder
Sketches include ""VD,"" ""Kannon AE-1,"" ""Stevie Wonder Impersonator,"" ""Hitler: The Secret Diaries,"" ""The Story of Stevie Wonder,"" ""Stevie at Dion's Salon,"" ""Cotton Land,"" and ""The Hunchback Busboy."" Wonder performs the songs ""Fingertips,"" ""Overjoyed,"" and ""Go Home.""
Ed Koch/Dexys Midnight Runners
Sketches include ""What's the most disgusting thing you've seen in New York?"" ""Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood,"" ""Crowded Ledge,"" ""The Enquirer,"" ""Late Night with David Letterman,"" and ""Woman's Auxillery Meeting."" Dexy's Midnight Runners perform ""Come On, Eileen,"" while Kevin Rowland performs ""The Celtic Soul Brothers.""