Miskel Spillman
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Miskel Spillman (b. Germany, September 8, 1897 - d. New Orleans, March 30, 1992) [1] was the winner of the first and only "Anyone Can Host" contest on the Saturday Night Live television program, and hosted the December 17, 1977 broadcast of the show.
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[edit] Role in SNL history
An 80-year-old German immigrant and grandmother from New Orleans, Spillman was the second oldest host in SNL's history (two weeks younger than Ruth Gordon when she hosted) and the only non-celebrity to host the program.
[edit] The "Anyone Can Host" contest
She had appeared with the four other contest finalists, selected out of around 150,000 essay contest applicants, on the November 19, 1977, broadcast, hosted by Buck Henry, and was the winner of the subsequent write-in vote. In her essay she wrote, "I need one more cheap thrill, since my doctor told me I only have another 25 years left." Her appearance on the show was marked by a joke involving cast member John Belushi and her sharing a joint.
[edit] Elvis Costello's performance
The broadcast she hosted was notable for a performance by musical guest Elvis Costello in which Costello aborted his performance of "Less Than Zero" after thirty seconds and performed "Radio Radio", an as yet unreleased song critical of the broadcast establishment, instead.
[edit] Life following SNL experience
In a 1989 interview with People Magazine at the age of 92, she said she still watched the show and was a fan of the current cast, "especially that fella in the dress" — a reference to Dana Carvey's Church Lady character. She expressed an interest in hosting again, noting that she still had 13 years left to live.
[edit] References
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Social Security Death Index; SSN 439-24-8298
