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★ 8.0

Season 7 - Best Episodes Of Saturday Night Live

Overall Rating: ★ 8.0

Season 7 - Best Episodes Of Saturday Night Live

(Overall Rating: ★ 8.0)

Episode Ratings & Analysis

Explore season 7 episodes of Saturday Night Live. Explore detailed ratings, episode summaries, and visualize how the show's quality evolved over time.

A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.

A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.

50 Seasons
988 Episodes
Returning Series
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Overall Rating

★ 8.0
S7 E17
#1
★ 7.2

Johnny Cash/Elton John

Apr 17, 1982

Elton John performs the John Lennon tribute ""Empty Garden."" Sketches include ""Velvet Jones"" and ""Shadows.""

S7 E20
#2
★ 7.0

Olivia Newton-John

May 22, 1982

Sketches include ""Ebony & Ivory,"" ""I Married a Monkey,"" Grease, ""Hitler In Heaven,"" and ""Ballpark Organ Favorites."" ONJ performs the hit ""Physical"" in lieu of the opening monologue.

S7 E13
#3
★ 6.9

Elizabeth Ashley/Hall and Oates

Feb 27, 1982

S7 E3
#4
★ 6.7

George Kennedy/Miles Davis

Oct 17, 1981

Sketches include ""To Tell the Truth Gone Awry,"" ""Mister Robinson's Neighborhood #2,"" ""Velvet Jones #1,"" and ""Harry Anderson's Grappler Tricks.""

S7 E7
#5
★ 6.6

Tim Curry/Meat Loaf

Dec 5, 1981

S7 E19
#6
★ 6.5

Danny DeVito/Sparks

May 15, 1982

Sketches include ""Louis DePalma's Revenge,"" ""The Executive Test,"" ""The Whiners on an Airplane,"" ""Solomon and Pudge,"" ""Enzo,"" and ""Looks at Books."" Sparks performs ""Mickey Mouse."" Also, Brian Doyle-Murray interviews recently humbled actor-wrestler Andy Kaufman.

S7 E4
#7
★ 6.4

Donald Pleasence/Fear

Oct 31, 1981

Sketches include ""Vomiting for Luck,"" ""Jogger Motel,"" ""Profiles in British Courage,"" ""Last Night I Killed My Husband"" (musical number), ""Sugar Breakfast"" and ""Andy Warhol's TV."" Fear performed ""I Don't Care About You"" and medley of ""Beef Bologna,"" ""New York's Alright If You Like Saxophones,"" and ""Let's Have A War.""

S7 E6
#8
★ 6.4

Bernadette Peters/The Go-Go's, Billy Joel

Nov 14, 1981

S7 E1
#9
★ 6.3

(no host)/Rod Stewart

Oct 3, 1981

Sketches include ""Our Age is Showing,"" ""The Little Richard Simmons Show,"" ""The Clams"" (film), ""Nuns on the Beach,"" ""A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney,"" ""Prose and Cons"" (film), ""The Khaddaffi Look,"" ""Ruth Deals With Rod,"" ""Andy Warhol,"" Juggling with Michael Davis, and ""Season of Glass"" (film).

S7 E8
#10
★ 6.3

Bill Murray/The Spinners, Yale Whiffenpoofs

Dec 12, 1981

Sketches include ""The Phone Company,"" ""Tales of the Unlikely,"" ""Washed-Up Tom Snyder,"" ""MX-5 Tampons,"" and ""The Economics of Christmas."" The Spinners perform ""I'll Be Around.""

S7 E12
#1
★ 5.6

Bruce Dern/Luther Vandross

Feb 20, 1982

S7 E18
#2
★ 5.6

Robert Culp/The Charlie Daniels Band

Apr 24, 1982

S7 E11
#3
★ 5.7

James Coburn/Lindsey Buckingham

Feb 6, 1982

S7 E2
#4
★ 5.8

Susan Saint James/The Kinks

Oct 10, 1981

Sketches include ""McDonald & Wife,"" ""The Bizarro World,"" ""Buckwheat Sings,"" ""Skanky Fiancee,"" ""Cheap Laffs,"" and ""The Alan Alda Guide to Sensitivity."" The Kinks performed ""Destroyer"" and Christine Ebersole performed ""Single Bars and Single Women."" Also featured is an Anwar Sadat tribute film.

S7 E14
#5
★ 5.8

Robert Urich/Mink DeVille

Mar 20, 1982

Sketches include ""He's No Burt Reynolds,"" ""Paul Harvey Radio News,"" ""Golden Age Obedience School,"" and ""Koala Bear Embryo."" Mink De Ville performed ""Maybe Tomorrow.""

S7 E15
#6
★ 5.8

Blythe Danner/Rickie Lee Jones

Mar 27, 1982

Sketches include ""Lorne Greene,"" ""The New Celibacy,"" ""20/20,"" ""The Uncle Tom Show,"" ""Senior Spring Fling '82,"" ""Meet the People,"" and ""Help Out Blythe Danner."" Rickie Lee Jones performed ""Pirates"" and ""Lush Life.""

S7 E5
#7
★ 6.0

Lauren Hutton/Rick James

Nov 7, 1981

Sketches Include: "Here's 'Cos", "Dressing Room", "Hail To The Chief", "Transeastern", "Whisper", "Cheap Laffs", "Harlequin Romances", "Reach Out", "Velvet Jones School of Technology", "Big Baser", "William Burroughs", "Bitter People"

S7 E16
#8
★ 6.0

Daniel J. Travanti/John Cougar

Apr 10, 1982

Sketches include ""Save Larry the Lobster,"" ""Whiners' Anniversary,"" ""Hill Street Blues,"" ""Too Many Ethel Mermans,"" and ""Career Corner."" John Cougar Mellencamp performed ""Hurts So Good.""

S7 E10
#9
★ 6.1

John Madden/Jennifer Holliday

Jan 30, 1982

S7 E9
#10
★ 6.2

Robert Conrad/The Allman Brothers Band

Jan 23, 1982

S7 E1
★ 6.3

(no host)/Rod Stewart

Oct 3, 1981

Sketches include ""Our Age is Showing,"" ""The Little Richard Simmons Show,"" ""The Clams"" (film), ""Nuns on the Beach,"" ""A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney,"" ""Prose and Cons"" (film), ""The Khaddaffi Look,"" ""Ruth Deals With Rod,"" ""Andy Warhol,"" Juggling with Michael Davis, and ""Season of Glass"" (film).

S7 E2
★ 5.8

Susan Saint James/The Kinks

Oct 10, 1981

Sketches include ""McDonald & Wife,"" ""The Bizarro World,"" ""Buckwheat Sings,"" ""Skanky Fiancee,"" ""Cheap Laffs,"" and ""The Alan Alda Guide to Sensitivity."" The Kinks performed ""Destroyer"" and Christine Ebersole performed ""Single Bars and Single Women."" Also featured is an Anwar Sadat tribute film.

S7 E3
★ 6.7

George Kennedy/Miles Davis

Oct 17, 1981

Sketches include ""To Tell the Truth Gone Awry,"" ""Mister Robinson's Neighborhood #2,"" ""Velvet Jones #1,"" and ""Harry Anderson's Grappler Tricks.""

S7 E4
★ 6.4

Donald Pleasence/Fear

Oct 31, 1981

Sketches include ""Vomiting for Luck,"" ""Jogger Motel,"" ""Profiles in British Courage,"" ""Last Night I Killed My Husband"" (musical number), ""Sugar Breakfast"" and ""Andy Warhol's TV."" Fear performed ""I Don't Care About You"" and medley of ""Beef Bologna,"" ""New York's Alright If You Like Saxophones,"" and ""Let's Have A War.""

S7 E5
★ 6.0

Lauren Hutton/Rick James

Nov 7, 1981

Sketches Include: "Here's 'Cos", "Dressing Room", "Hail To The Chief", "Transeastern", "Whisper", "Cheap Laffs", "Harlequin Romances", "Reach Out", "Velvet Jones School of Technology", "Big Baser", "William Burroughs", "Bitter People"

S7 E6
★ 6.4

Bernadette Peters/The Go-Go's, Billy Joel

Nov 14, 1981

S7 E7
★ 6.6

Tim Curry/Meat Loaf

Dec 5, 1981

S7 E8
★ 6.3

Bill Murray/The Spinners, Yale Whiffenpoofs

Dec 12, 1981

Sketches include ""The Phone Company,"" ""Tales of the Unlikely,"" ""Washed-Up Tom Snyder,"" ""MX-5 Tampons,"" and ""The Economics of Christmas."" The Spinners perform ""I'll Be Around.""

S7 E9
★ 6.2

Robert Conrad/The Allman Brothers Band

Jan 23, 1982

S7 E10
★ 6.1

John Madden/Jennifer Holliday

Jan 30, 1982

S7 E11
★ 5.7

James Coburn/Lindsey Buckingham

Feb 6, 1982

S7 E12
★ 5.6

Bruce Dern/Luther Vandross

Feb 20, 1982

S7 E13
★ 6.9

Elizabeth Ashley/Hall and Oates

Feb 27, 1982

S7 E14
★ 5.8

Robert Urich/Mink DeVille

Mar 20, 1982

Sketches include ""He's No Burt Reynolds,"" ""Paul Harvey Radio News,"" ""Golden Age Obedience School,"" and ""Koala Bear Embryo."" Mink De Ville performed ""Maybe Tomorrow.""

S7 E15
★ 5.8

Blythe Danner/Rickie Lee Jones

Mar 27, 1982

Sketches include ""Lorne Greene,"" ""The New Celibacy,"" ""20/20,"" ""The Uncle Tom Show,"" ""Senior Spring Fling '82,"" ""Meet the People,"" and ""Help Out Blythe Danner."" Rickie Lee Jones performed ""Pirates"" and ""Lush Life.""

S7 E16
★ 6.0

Daniel J. Travanti/John Cougar

Apr 10, 1982

Sketches include ""Save Larry the Lobster,"" ""Whiners' Anniversary,"" ""Hill Street Blues,"" ""Too Many Ethel Mermans,"" and ""Career Corner."" John Cougar Mellencamp performed ""Hurts So Good.""

S7 E17
★ 7.2

Johnny Cash/Elton John

Apr 17, 1982

Elton John performs the John Lennon tribute ""Empty Garden."" Sketches include ""Velvet Jones"" and ""Shadows.""

S7 E18
★ 5.6

Robert Culp/The Charlie Daniels Band

Apr 24, 1982

S7 E19
★ 6.5

Danny DeVito/Sparks

May 15, 1982

Sketches include ""Louis DePalma's Revenge,"" ""The Executive Test,"" ""The Whiners on an Airplane,"" ""Solomon and Pudge,"" ""Enzo,"" and ""Looks at Books."" Sparks performs ""Mickey Mouse."" Also, Brian Doyle-Murray interviews recently humbled actor-wrestler Andy Kaufman.

S7 E20
★ 7.0

Olivia Newton-John

May 22, 1982

Sketches include ""Ebony & Ivory,"" ""I Married a Monkey,"" Grease, ""Hitler In Heaven,"" and ""Ballpark Organ Favorites."" ONJ performs the hit ""Physical"" in lieu of the opening monologue.

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
Cast

Michael Che

Self - Various Characters

Mikey Day

Self - Various Characters

Andrew Dismukes

Self - Various Characters

Chloe Fineman

Self - Various Characters

Heidi Gardner

Self - Various Characters

James Austin Johnson

Self - Various Characters