Saturday Night Live season 15

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Saturday Night Live aired its fifteenth season during the 1989 - 1990 television season on NBC. This season saw the first hosting gigs of three celebrities who would go on to be frequent (and favorite) SNL hosts: John Goodman (who actually auditioned to be a castmember on SNL during the disastrous 1980-1981 season), Christopher Walken (whose singing and dancing monologues and recurring sketch "The Continental" have been a staple in six of the seven episodes hosted by Walken), and Alec Baldwin (who went on to break John Goodman's record of most frequent SNL host in 2006). Near the end of the season, Nora Dunn was fired due to her refusal to appear in an episode hosted by controversial comedian Andrew Dice Clay, which led to controversy with critics and fans.

The fifteenth season started off with a 15th anniversary special on September 24, 1989 and ended on May 19, 1990.

Contents

[edit] Cast

[edit] Repertory cast members

[edit] Featured cast members

[edit] Episodes

Episode # Air Date Host(s) Musical Guest(s) Remarks
Special September 24, 1989 15th Anniversary Special
267 (15.1) September 30, 1989 Bruce Willis Neil Young
268 (15.2) October 7, 1989 Rick Moranis Rickie Lee Jones
269 (15.3) October 21, 1989 Kathleen Turner Billy Joel
270 (15.4) October 28, 1989 James Woods Don Henley
271 (15.5) November 11, 1989 Chris Evert Eurythmics
272 (15.6) November 18, 1989 Woody Harrelson David Byrne
273 (15.7) December 2, 1989 John Goodman K.D. Lang & The Reclines
274 (15.8) December 9, 1989 Robert Wagner Linda Ronstadt

Aaron Neville

275 (15.9) December 16, 1989 Andie MacDowell Tracy Chapman
276 (15.10) January 13, 1990 Ed O'Neill Harry Connick Jr.
  • Maury Povich cameos during the monologue
  • Ed O'Neill is the first castmember from a FOX TV show (Married...With Children) to host SNL.
  • According to IMDb, Kirsten Dunst appeared in this episode as the girl in the Bizilady commercial.
277 (15.11) January 20, 1990 Christopher Walken Bonnie Raitt
278 (15.12) February 10, 1990 Quincy Jones Tevin Campbell

Andrae Crouch

Sandra Crouch

Kool Moe Dee

Big Daddy Kane

Melle Mel

Quincy D III

Siedah Garrett

Al Jarreau

Take 6

  • This is the episode with the largest number of musical guests, although they are uncredited.
279 (15.13) February 17, 1990 Tom Hanks Aerosmith
  • Aerosmith were special guest on the popular sketch Wayne's World where they perform the theme song. Tom Hanks plays their roadie.
280 (15.14) February 24, 1990 Fred Savage Technotronic
  • Fred Savage is the first host to have been born after SNL premiered on television.
281 (15.15) March 17. 1990 Rob Lowe The Pogues
282 (15.16) March 24, 1990 Debra Winger Eric Clapton
283 (15.17) April 14, 1990 Corbin Bernsen The Smithereens
284 (15.18) April 21, 1990 Alec Baldwin The B-52's
285 (15.19) May 12, 1990 Andrew Dice Clay The Spanic Boys

Julee Cruise

  • Sinéad O'Connor was originally scheduled as the musical guest, but pulled out in protest against the controversial guest host, Andrew Dice Clay. O'Connor subsequently appeared at the beginning of Season 16.
  • SNL castmember Nora Dunn would also protest and did not appear in the episode due to Clay's profane jokes about women.
  • The musical segment featuring the Spanic Boys is not shown in syndication.
286 (15.20) May 19, 1990 Candice Bergen The Notting Hillbillies
  • This is Nora Dunn and Jon Lovitz's final episode as cast members.
Preceded by
Season 14
Saturday Night Live
Season 15
Succeeded by
Season 16