Saturday Night Live (season 2)

The episode marks the final appearance of the characters from "The Land of Gorch." In this appearance, King Ploobis, Queen Peuta, Scred, and Wisss wake up in a filing cabinet assuming that they are in the afterlife. When they think that their sketch has been revived, they find The Mighty Favog under a dust cover that King Ploobis removes. The Mighty Favog states that this may be their last chance on the show and that they must do whatever they tell them to do. "The Land of Gorch" Muppets are then visited by Lily Tomlin. When Lily states that she heard about The Muppet Show that came out last week, Wisss states that they won't let them be on their show since it's a family show. Lily and "The Land of Gorch" Muppets try to sing "I Whistle a Happy Tune". Unfortunately, "The Land of Gorch" Muppets can't whistle. Lily leaves planning to find something else for her and "The Land of Gorch" Muppets to do.

Actor Taylor Mead makes a filmed cameo appearance in Gary Weis's piece.

James Taylor performs Shower the People and a cover of (I'm a) Road Runner with a backing band featuring saxophonist David Sanborn, and plays an acoustic performance of Sweet Baby James.

Jane Curtin fills in for Chevy Chase as Weekend Update anchor.

Chase's voice and photo are used in a cold open in which Gilda Radner uses a telephone receiver to act out Chase's customary show-opening pratfall as the injured Chase speaks over the line warning her not to attempt such a fall.

In his monologue Norman Lear mock interviews a series of stars from his various produced shows of the time including Bea Arthur from Maude, Richard Crenna and Bernadette Peters from All's Fair, Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton from All in the Family, Nancy Walker from The Nancy Walker Show, and Isabel Sanford and Sherman Helmsley from The Jeffersons.

Richard Belzer, the show's warm-up comedian during season 1, makes a cameo appearance during the cold open impersonating the still-injured Chase, who contributes via phone.

There is a recurring joke throughout this episode where Eric Idle tries to sing George Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun" in a gruff, angry voice before getting stopped by various cast members. Harrison himself performed the song with Paul Simon on the show almost 2 months later.

Belushi "duets" with Cocker on "Feelin' Alright".

This is Chevy Chase's final episode as a cast member.

The Band performs "Life Is a Carnival", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", "Stage Fright" and "Georgia on My Mind".

Chevy Chase appears in the cold open.

Paul Simon and George Harrison play Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun" and Simon's "Homeward Bound". Harrison's appearances were pre-taped.

Promo videos for Harrison's songs "Crackerbox Palace" and "This Song" air during the show.

During the cold open, Harrison and Lorne Michaels can be seen discussing Michaels's Beatles offer from the previous season.

The fourth wall is broken as Jodie Foster addresses the audience in the Bee sketch.

First appearance of Irwin Mainway.

During the "Right to Extreme Stupidity" sketch, Bergen slips up and addresses Gilda Radner's character as Fern, which is actually the name of Bergen's character. While Bergen is reduced to spontaneous laughter, Radner responds by inverting the sketch's premise ("We can't all be brainy like Fern here!").

Bergen and the cast perform "Let's Kill Gary Gilmore for Christmas".

Frank Zappa performs "I'm the Slime" (with Don Pardo), "The Purple Lagoon" and "Peaches En Regalia" as well as appearing in "The Killer Trees" sketch.

Bill Murray's first episode as a cast member. Murray replaces an injured John Belushi, who only appears via telephone.

First appearance of the Coneheads.

Chuck Berry performs "Johnny B. Goode" and a medley of "Memphis, Tennessee" and "Carol".

Linda Ronstadt makes a special appearance in the opening sketch as a back-up singer of the "Rondettes".

This episode includes Bill Murray's direct appeal that "I don't think I'm making it on the show."

Tom Waits performs " Eggs & Sausages."

Lorne Michaels appears in the opening sketch, with Shelley Duvall and John Belushi in Bee costumes.

The opening montage is only shown on a backstage TV, as the camera follows Shelley, Jane, Laraine, and Gilda onto the stage to sing as the "Video Vixens."

Chevy Chase appears in the audience during one of the commercial bumpers, with the caption "USED TO BE ON THE SHOW."

Bella Abzug is interviewed by Emily Litella during Weekend Update.

Home video by William Wegman