Saturday Night Live poster
★ 8.0
Saturday Night Live poster

Overall Rating

★ 8.0
S5 E19
#1
★ 7.7

Steve Martin/Paul and Linda McCartney

May 17, 1980

Sketches include: ""Father Guido Sarducci, Live from London,"" ""Real Incredible People,"" ""Stretch Marks Record Offer,"" ""Reagan's Dinner,"" and ""The Hominids."" 3-D performed ""All-Night Television.""

S5 E1
#2
★ 7.5

Steve Martin/Blondie

Oct 13, 1979

Sketches include ""The Pope's Doorman,"" ""Craig's Travellers' Checks,"" ""Free Spanish Lesson,"" ""Juvenile Delinquent Vandal,"" ""Rise,"" ""Carole King,"" ""The David Susskind Show,"" ""Bolshoi Ballet,"" ""The All-New Mr. Bill Show,"" ""What the Hell is That?"". Blondie performs "Dreaming" and "The Hardest Part".

S5 E2
#3
★ 7.5

Eric Idle/Bob Dylan

Oct 20, 1979

Sketches include ""Eric's Sick,"" ""Hotel-Motel Art Fair,"" ""Mr. Howard's Shoe Store,"" ""Prince Charles Tells You How To Pick Up Girls!,"" ""Hardcore II,"" ""Heavy Sarcasm,"" and ""Ask Elvis."" Bob Dylan performs ""Gotta Serve Somebody,"" ""I Believe In You,"" and ""When You Gonna Wake Up.""

S5 E20
#4
★ 7.4

Buck Henry/Andrew Gold

May 24, 1980

Live from New York, it's Harry Shearer! Sketches include "Election '80: Almost Halfway Over," "The SNL Stars of the Future" monologue, "Lord and Lady Douchebag," "Uncle Roy," and "Nick at Trader Nick's."

S5 E7
#5
★ 7.0

Martin Sheen/David Bowie

Dec 15, 1979

Sketches include ""Quick Sex Change Operation,"" ""Le Shoe,"" ""Afraid of the Dark,"" ""Striking Teachers,"" ""Apocolypse Now,"" ""First Love, Part 2,"" ""Foreveready,"" ""Criminals,"" ""Minota AM-3 Camera,"" ""Revisions of Freudian History,"" ""Martin Sheen Hairspray""

S5 E13
#6
★ 7.0

Rodney Dangerfield/J. Geils Band

Mar 8, 1980

Sketches include-- Dressing Room opening, Dr. Shockley's House of Sperm, Niggerands, Manhasset, The Subsitute Judge, Celebrity Corner: Bill Murray talks with Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow.

S5 E17
#7
★ 6.8

Strother Martin/The Specials

Apr 19, 1980

The host for the episode is Strother Martin, and the musical guest is The Specials. The skits for this episode are as follows: Rosalyn Carter talks about sections of the 1980 census intended for illegal aliens, including questions about how they got into the US, where they would hide if the INS came to their homes, and how much they would be willing to do housework for. During his opening monologue, Strother Martin reveals that he was asked to host the show because Lorne Michaels mistook him for Tennessee Williams, and so far he's been keeping up the act. At Camp Beau Soleil, the campers are forced to learn French by the brutal camp counselor, Le Capitain, but a camper named Luke is determined to escape. Additional skits include a variety show will, the Conductor's Club, Any Town, and Food. The Specials perform "Gangsters" and "Too Much, Too Young".

S5 E4
#8
★ 6.7

Buck Henry/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Nov 10, 1979

Sketches include ""Rush Home to the Bathroom,"" ""Find the Popes in the Pizza Contest drawing,"" ""Nerds #12,"" ""Harley's Bristol Cream"" and ""Banshee"" commercial parodies, and one of Aviva Slesin's ""First Love"" films.

S5 E18
#9
★ 6.7

Bob Newhart/The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Bruce Cockburn

May 10, 1980

Sketches include ""Mysteries of the Universe,"" ""The Dating Zone,"" ""Writing Home,"" and ""Mr. Bill."" The Amazing Rhythm Aces (featuring Bill Murray) perform ""Third-Rate Romance.""

S5 E9
#10
★ 6.4

Teri Garr/The B-52's

Jan 26, 1980

Sketches include ""Paul McCartney in Japan: Day 11,"" ""Craig's,"" ""Somewhere Near Mason City, Iowa,"" ""Debs Behind Bars,"" ""Anchovy Council of America,"" ""Bad Playhouse,"" ""Baby Casting Director,"" and ""The Mr. Bill Show."" The B-52's perform ""Rock Lobster"" and ""Dance This Mess Around.""

S5 E16
#1
★ 5.7

Burt Reynolds/Anne Murray

Apr 12, 1980

Sketches include ""Burt's Not Angry,"" ""Vomitorium,"" ""The Burt Book,"" ""Be a Pepper,"" and ""Baba Wawa at Large."" Anne Murray performs ""Lucky Me.""

S5 E8
#2
★ 5.8

Ted Knight/Desmond Child and Rouge

Dec 22, 1979

Sketches include A Christmas Gift from The Shah, Nerds Nativity, and Java Junkie.

S5 E3
#3
★ 6.1

Bill Russell/Chicago

Nov 3, 1979

Sketches include ""Kennedy in '80,"" ""Banshee,"" ""The Black Shadow,"" ""The Landers Files,"" ""Mr. Bill at Home,"" ""Nick in the Arctic,"" ""Eleanor Roosevelt,"" ""Sports Hot Line,"" and ""Big n' Tall That's All."" Chicago performs their 1970 hit ""I'm a Man"" and their then-current single ""Street Player.""

S5 E15
#4
★ 6.1

Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss/The Grateful Dead

Apr 5, 1980

Sketches include ""Women Empowerment"" and ""Hotel Room/Smell You.""

S5 E5
#5
★ 6.2

Bea Arthur/The Roches

Nov 17, 1979

Sketches include ""Sex Change,"" ""The Backers' Audition,"" and ""First, He Cries.""

S5 E6
#6
★ 6.2

Howard Hesseman/Randy Newman

Dec 8, 1979

Sketches include the ""Steve Marvin Radio Show"" and the debut of ""The Al Franken Decade.""

S5 E11
#7
★ 6.3

Elliott Gould/Gary Numan

Feb 16, 1980

Sketches include ""Kramer vs. Godzilla,"" ""The Incredible Man,"" Andy Aaron's film ""Get Rid of That Building,"" and ""All-Time Radio.""

S5 E14
#8
★ 6.3

Paul Simon/James Taylor

Mar 15, 1980

Sketches include ""Anniversary Seance,"" ""Todd's Campaign,"" ""The Biggest Leprechaun,"" ""The Flogging Musicians,"" ""Talk or Die,"" and ""The David Susskind Show."" Paul Simon and James Taylor perform ""Cathy's Clown / Take Me to the Mardi Gras"" and David Sanborn performs ""Anything You Want.""

S5 E9
#9
★ 6.4

Teri Garr/The B-52's

Jan 26, 1980

Sketches include ""Paul McCartney in Japan: Day 11,"" ""Craig's,"" ""Somewhere Near Mason City, Iowa,"" ""Debs Behind Bars,"" ""Anchovy Council of America,"" ""Bad Playhouse,"" ""Baby Casting Director,"" and ""The Mr. Bill Show."" The B-52's perform ""Rock Lobster"" and ""Dance This Mess Around.""

S5 E10
#10
★ 6.4

Chevy Chase/Marianne Faithfull

Feb 9, 1980

Live from New York, it's…Chevy Chase! Sketches include ""Henry Kissinger and Gerald Ford,"" ""Pre-Chewed Charlies,"" The Bel Airabs, ""You Can't Win,"" Speaking of Fashion, ""Linden Palmer, Hollywood's Forgotten Director,"" and ""Honduras.""

S5 E1
★ 7.5

Steve Martin/Blondie

Oct 13, 1979

Sketches include ""The Pope's Doorman,"" ""Craig's Travellers' Checks,"" ""Free Spanish Lesson,"" ""Juvenile Delinquent Vandal,"" ""Rise,"" ""Carole King,"" ""The David Susskind Show,"" ""Bolshoi Ballet,"" ""The All-New Mr. Bill Show,"" ""What the Hell is That?"". Blondie performs "Dreaming" and "The Hardest Part".

S5 E2
★ 7.5

Eric Idle/Bob Dylan

Oct 20, 1979

Sketches include ""Eric's Sick,"" ""Hotel-Motel Art Fair,"" ""Mr. Howard's Shoe Store,"" ""Prince Charles Tells You How To Pick Up Girls!,"" ""Hardcore II,"" ""Heavy Sarcasm,"" and ""Ask Elvis."" Bob Dylan performs ""Gotta Serve Somebody,"" ""I Believe In You,"" and ""When You Gonna Wake Up.""

S5 E3
★ 6.1

Bill Russell/Chicago

Nov 3, 1979

Sketches include ""Kennedy in '80,"" ""Banshee,"" ""The Black Shadow,"" ""The Landers Files,"" ""Mr. Bill at Home,"" ""Nick in the Arctic,"" ""Eleanor Roosevelt,"" ""Sports Hot Line,"" and ""Big n' Tall That's All."" Chicago performs their 1970 hit ""I'm a Man"" and their then-current single ""Street Player.""

S5 E4
★ 6.7

Buck Henry/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Nov 10, 1979

Sketches include ""Rush Home to the Bathroom,"" ""Find the Popes in the Pizza Contest drawing,"" ""Nerds #12,"" ""Harley's Bristol Cream"" and ""Banshee"" commercial parodies, and one of Aviva Slesin's ""First Love"" films.

S5 E5
★ 6.2

Bea Arthur/The Roches

Nov 17, 1979

Sketches include ""Sex Change,"" ""The Backers' Audition,"" and ""First, He Cries.""

S5 E6
★ 6.2

Howard Hesseman/Randy Newman

Dec 8, 1979

Sketches include the ""Steve Marvin Radio Show"" and the debut of ""The Al Franken Decade.""

S5 E7
★ 7.0

Martin Sheen/David Bowie

Dec 15, 1979

Sketches include ""Quick Sex Change Operation,"" ""Le Shoe,"" ""Afraid of the Dark,"" ""Striking Teachers,"" ""Apocolypse Now,"" ""First Love, Part 2,"" ""Foreveready,"" ""Criminals,"" ""Minota AM-3 Camera,"" ""Revisions of Freudian History,"" ""Martin Sheen Hairspray""

S5 E8
★ 5.8

Ted Knight/Desmond Child and Rouge

Dec 22, 1979

Sketches include A Christmas Gift from The Shah, Nerds Nativity, and Java Junkie.

S5 E9
★ 6.4

Teri Garr/The B-52's

Jan 26, 1980

Sketches include ""Paul McCartney in Japan: Day 11,"" ""Craig's,"" ""Somewhere Near Mason City, Iowa,"" ""Debs Behind Bars,"" ""Anchovy Council of America,"" ""Bad Playhouse,"" ""Baby Casting Director,"" and ""The Mr. Bill Show."" The B-52's perform ""Rock Lobster"" and ""Dance This Mess Around.""

S5 E10
★ 6.4

Chevy Chase/Marianne Faithfull

Feb 9, 1980

Live from New York, it's…Chevy Chase! Sketches include ""Henry Kissinger and Gerald Ford,"" ""Pre-Chewed Charlies,"" The Bel Airabs, ""You Can't Win,"" Speaking of Fashion, ""Linden Palmer, Hollywood's Forgotten Director,"" and ""Honduras.""

S5 E11
★ 6.3

Elliott Gould/Gary Numan

Feb 16, 1980

Sketches include ""Kramer vs. Godzilla,"" ""The Incredible Man,"" Andy Aaron's film ""Get Rid of That Building,"" and ""All-Time Radio.""

S5 E12
★ 6.4

Kirk Douglas/Sam and Dave

Feb 23, 1980

Sketches include ""Kirk's Greatest Kirks,"" ""What If?,"" ""Arlene Meets Kirk Douglas,"" ""Greg's Bar Mitzvah,"" ""Prime Time Saturday,"" and ""Mask of Fear""

S5 E13
★ 7.0

Rodney Dangerfield/J. Geils Band

Mar 8, 1980

Sketches include-- Dressing Room opening, Dr. Shockley's House of Sperm, Niggerands, Manhasset, The Subsitute Judge, Celebrity Corner: Bill Murray talks with Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow.

S5 E14
★ 6.3

Paul Simon/James Taylor

Mar 15, 1980

Sketches include ""Anniversary Seance,"" ""Todd's Campaign,"" ""The Biggest Leprechaun,"" ""The Flogging Musicians,"" ""Talk or Die,"" and ""The David Susskind Show."" Paul Simon and James Taylor perform ""Cathy's Clown / Take Me to the Mardi Gras"" and David Sanborn performs ""Anything You Want.""

S5 E15
★ 6.1

Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss/The Grateful Dead

Apr 5, 1980

Sketches include ""Women Empowerment"" and ""Hotel Room/Smell You.""

S5 E16
★ 5.7

Burt Reynolds/Anne Murray

Apr 12, 1980

Sketches include ""Burt's Not Angry,"" ""Vomitorium,"" ""The Burt Book,"" ""Be a Pepper,"" and ""Baba Wawa at Large."" Anne Murray performs ""Lucky Me.""

S5 E17
★ 6.8

Strother Martin/The Specials

Apr 19, 1980

The host for the episode is Strother Martin, and the musical guest is The Specials. The skits for this episode are as follows: Rosalyn Carter talks about sections of the 1980 census intended for illegal aliens, including questions about how they got into the US, where they would hide if the INS came to their homes, and how much they would be willing to do housework for. During his opening monologue, Strother Martin reveals that he was asked to host the show because Lorne Michaels mistook him for Tennessee Williams, and so far he's been keeping up the act. At Camp Beau Soleil, the campers are forced to learn French by the brutal camp counselor, Le Capitain, but a camper named Luke is determined to escape. Additional skits include a variety show will, the Conductor's Club, Any Town, and Food. The Specials perform "Gangsters" and "Too Much, Too Young".

S5 E18
★ 6.7

Bob Newhart/The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Bruce Cockburn

May 10, 1980

Sketches include ""Mysteries of the Universe,"" ""The Dating Zone,"" ""Writing Home,"" and ""Mr. Bill."" The Amazing Rhythm Aces (featuring Bill Murray) perform ""Third-Rate Romance.""

S5 E19
★ 7.7

Steve Martin/Paul and Linda McCartney

May 17, 1980

Sketches include: ""Father Guido Sarducci, Live from London,"" ""Real Incredible People,"" ""Stretch Marks Record Offer,"" ""Reagan's Dinner,"" and ""The Hominids."" 3-D performed ""All-Night Television.""

S5 E20
★ 7.4

Buck Henry/Andrew Gold

May 24, 1980

Live from New York, it's Harry Shearer! Sketches include "Election '80: Almost Halfway Over," "The SNL Stars of the Future" monologue, "Lord and Lady Douchebag," "Uncle Roy," and "Nick at Trader Nick's."

Season Average Rating Episodes Best Episode Worst Episode Rating Range
3 ★ 7.2 20
★ 8.8 Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers
★ 6.2 Hugh Hefner/Libby Titus
4 ★ 7.1 20
★ 7.9 Steve Martin/Van Morrison
★ 6.0 Milton Berle/Ornette Coleman
17 ★ 7.1 20
★ 7.7 Linda Hamilton/Mariah Carey
★ 5.1 Hammer
39 ★ 7.1 21
★ 8.7 Jimmy Fallon with Justin Timberlake
★ 6.0 Jim Parsons with Beck
33 ★ 7.1 12
★ 7.6 Tina Fey/Carrie Underwood
★ 6.6 LeBron James/Kanye West
37 ★ 7.0 22
★ 8.3 Jimmy Fallon with Michael Bublé
★ 5.8 Charles Barkley with Kelly Clarkson
2 ★ 7.0 22
★ 7.7 Eric Idle/Joe Cocker and Stuff
★ 6.3 Karen Black/John Prine
1 ★ 7.0 24
★ 8.3 Richard Pryor with Gil Scott-Heron
★ 5.2 Louise Lasser with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
42 ★ 6.9 21
★ 8.3 Dave Chappelle with A Tribe Called Quest
★ 5.4 Felicity Jones with Sturgill Simpson
32 ★ 6.9 20
★ 8.6 Justin Timberlake
★ 5.5 Jaime Pressly/Corinne Bailey Rae
8 ★ 6.9 20
★ 7.8 Chevy Chase/Queen
★ 6.0 Beau Bridges, Jeff Bridges/Randy Newman
38 ★ 6.9 21
★ 8.4 Justin Timberlake
★ 4.5 Justin Bieber
34 ★ 6.9 22
★ 8.2 Justin Timberlake/Ciara
★ 5.7 Michael Phelps/Lil Wayne
50 ★ 6.9 12
★ 7.8 December 21 - Martin Short
★ 6.0 November 9 - Bill Burr
45 ★ 6.9 18
★ 8.8 Eddie Murphy and Lizzo
★ 5.9 Kristen Stewart and Coldplay
36 ★ 6.9 22
★ 8.4 Justin Timberlake with Lady Gaga
★ 6.1 Robert De Niro with Diddy-Dirty Money
43 ★ 6.9 21
★ 8.1 Bill Hader and Arcade Fire
★ 5.5 Amy Schumer and Kacey Musgraves
40 ★ 6.8 21
★ 8.0 Bill Hader with Hozier
★ 5.7 Blake Shelton
20 ★ 6.8 20
★ 7.7 John Travolta/Seal
★ 5.7 George Foreman/Hole
18 ★ 6.7 20
★ 7.7 Christina Applegate/Midnight Oil
★ 5.6 Sinbad/Sade
44 ★ 6.7 21
★ 8.3 Adam Sandler and Shawn Mendes
★ 5.3 Awkwafina and Travis Scott
41 ★ 6.7 21
★ 8.1 Larry David with The 1975
★ 3.1 Donald Trump with Sia
35 ★ 6.7 22
★ 8.9 Betty White/Jay-Z
★ 4.8 January Jones / Black Eyed Peas
47 ★ 6.7 21
★ 7.5 Jason Sudeikis with Brandi Carlile
★ 5.4 Kim Kardashian West with Halsey
5 ★ 6.6 20
★ 7.7 Steve Martin/Paul and Linda McCartney
★ 5.7 Burt Reynolds/Anne Murray
49 ★ 6.6 20
★ 8.6 April 13 - Ryan Gosling
★ 5.3 October 21 - Bad Bunny
48 ★ 6.5 18
★ 8.4 February 4 - Pedro Pascal
★ 4.9 October 15 - Megan Thee Stallion
21 ★ 6.5 20
★ 8.4 Jim Carrey/Soundgarden
★ 5.5 Steve Forbes/Rage Against the Machine
46 ★ 6.5 20
★ 7.8 Anya Taylor-Joy with Lil Nas X
★ 4.7 Elon Musk with Miley Cyrus
25 ★ 6.4 20
★ 8.1 Christopher Walken/Christina Aguilera
★ 5.8 Jackie Chan/Kid Rock
12 ★ 6.4 20
★ 7.9 William Shatner/Lone Justice
★ 5.4 Bronson Pinchot/Paul Young
16 ★ 6.4 20
★ 7.9 Patrick Swayze/Mariah Carey
★ 5.4 Steven Seagal/Michael Bolton
10 ★ 6.3 17
★ 7.2 George Carlin/Frankie Goes to Hollywood
★ 5.5 Ed Begley, Jr./Billy Squier
19 ★ 6.3 20
★ 7.4 Charles Barkley/Nirvana
★ 4.9 Rosie O'Donnell/James Taylor
31 ★ 6.3 19
★ 7.5 Natalie Portman/Fall Out Boy
★ 4.9 Lance Armstrong/Sheryl Crow
7 ★ 6.2 20
★ 7.2 Johnny Cash/Elton John
★ 5.6 Bruce Dern/Luther Vandross
13 ★ 6.2 13
★ 7.1 Steve Martin/Sting
★ 5.6 Angie Dickinson/Buster Poindexter & David Gilmour
9 ★ 6.2 19
★ 7.7 Don Rickles/Billy Idol
★ 5.5 The Smothers Brothers/Big Country
15 ★ 6.2 20
★ 7.0 Tom Hanks/Aerosmith
★ 5.3 Candice Bergen/Notting Hillbillies
14 ★ 6.1 20
★ 7.1 Steve Martin/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
★ 5.6 Geena Davis/John Mellencamp
24 ★ 6.1 19
★ 7.3 Lucy Lawless/Elliott Smith
★ 4.5 Cuba Gooding Jr./Ricky Martin
23 ★ 6.1 20
★ 7.2 Sylvester Stallone/Jamiroquai
★ 5.0 Scott Wolf/Natalie Imbruglia
6 ★ 6.0 13
★ 7.2 Bill Murray/Delbert McClinton
★ 5.2 Malcolm McDowell/Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band
27 ★ 6.0 20
★ 7.0 Ian McKellen/Kylie Minogue
★ 4.7 Jonny Moseley/Outkast
26 ★ 5.9 20
★ 7.4 Conan O'Brien/Don Henley
★ 4.8 Calista Flockhart/Ricky Martin
22 ★ 5.9 20
★ 6.9 Kevin Spacey/Beck
★ 4.7 Pamela Lee/Rollins Band
11 ★ 5.9 18
★ 6.7 George Wendt/Philip Glass
★ 4.8 Tony Danza/Laurie Anderson
30 ★ 5.8 20
★ 7.1 Jason Bateman/Kelly Clarkson
★ 4.2 Paris Hilton/Keane
29 ★ 5.7 20
★ 7.6 Lindsay Lohan/Usher
★ 3.7 Al Sharpton/Pink
28 ★ 5.5 20
★ 6.5 Christopher Walken/Foo Fighters
★ 4.4 Ashton Kutcher/50 Cent