Saturday Night Live Samurai

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In the early years of Saturday Night Live, John Belushi portrayed a samurai -- he had a dedicated concept of honor, spoke only (mock) Japanese, and wielded a katana. Each sketch had him located in a different place and time that was typically inappropriate for a samurai, yet he performed his tasks perfectly, despite scaring Mr. Dantley quite a few times.

Belushi's performance was likely inspired by Akira Kurosawa's films. His slovenly, unshaved appearance, casual manner, and tendency to pull a hand out of his sleeve and scratch his chin-stubble all suggest Toshiro Mifune's mannerisms in the classic film Yojimbo, and the sequel, Sanjuro.

Samurai Futaba would probably not have become a recurring character if it weren't for Buck Henry's insistence that there be a second sketch featuring him when he first hosted on January 17, 1976. It is perhaps due to these origins that it became standard practice on SNL to feature a samurai sketch nearly every time Henry hosted (and each time he would play the same character, Mr. Dantley).

In issue #74 of Marvel Team-Up (cover dated October, 1978), Belushi (in character as Samurai Futaba) dueled Marvel Comics supervillain Silver Samurai, who believed that Belushi was disgracing the history of the samurai.

[edit] List of Saturday Night Live Episodes Featuring Samurai Futaba

  • "Samurai Hotel" December 13, 1975 - Belushi and another bellhop (host Richard Pryor) duel over who gets to carry a guest's bags. Pryor smashes the front desk with his sword; The Samurai says, "I can dig where you're coming from," the only words he has ever spoken in English.
  • "Samurai Delicatessen" January 17, 1976 - Mr. Dantley (host Buck Henry) waits as The Samurai makes a sandwich by severing ropes on hanging salami, slicing tomatoes in midair, and splitting bread with his skull while apparently carrying on a pleasant conversation despite it being in two separate languages.
  • "Samurai Divorce Court" February 14, 1976 - Futaba vs. Futaba. In the Samurai universe, custody cases are resolved by splitting children in twain. Host: Peter Boyle
  • "Samurai Tailor" May 22, 1976 - Mr. Dantley (Buck Henry) needs a tuxedo for a wedding. The Samurai makes one for him with a katana.
  • "Samurai General Practitioner" July 31, 1976 host: Kris Kristofferson
  • "Samurai Stockbroker" October 30, 1976 - Belushi accidentally strikes Buck Henry, playing the client Mr. Dantley, in the forehead. On tape, Henry clearly staggers back from the blow.
  • "Samurai Be-Bop Musician" (during musical performance) December 11, 1976 musical guest: Frank Zappa
  • "Samurai Hit Man" March 19, 1977 - Don Marsala (Dan Aykroyd) hires The Samurai to kill, as soon as possible, both Don Cornelius and Don Kirshner.
  • "Samurai B.M.O.C." May 21, 1977 host: Buck Henry
  • "Samurai Dry Cleaners" October 29, 1977 host: Charles Grodin
  • "Samurai Psychiatrist" November 19, 1977 - Buck Henry relates a disturbing dream.
  • "Samurai Night Fever" February 25, 1978 - a parody of the film Saturday Night Fever, with the Samurai as a disco dancer. O.J. Simpson has a cameo as the Samurai's brother.
  • "Samurai TV Repairman" May 20, 1978 - The Samurai tosses a TV set around, hits it with his sword, plunges two knives into the top grill, and the picture turns out perfect.
  • "Rollo" (during musical performance) October 21, 1978 - host: Frank Zappa
  • "Samurai Optometrist" November 11, 1978 - The Samurai nearly commits hara-kiri when Buck Henry calls him an "optician".
  • "Samurai Bakery" May 26, 1979 - host: Buck Henry

[edit] See also

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