Ep 6. Lily Tomlin

On November 22, 1975, "Saturday Night Live" aired its sixth episode, featuring the talented and versatile Lily Tomlin as the host. With her roots deeply planted in the world of comedy, having already made a name for herself with her character-driven routines and landmark one-woman shows, Lily Tomlin brought to SNL her remarkable wit and elastic comedic prowess that translated flawlessly to the sketch-driven format of the late-night variety show.

As one of the pioneering series in sketch comedy, "SNL" was quickly establishing itself as a cultural beacon for satire and humor, bringing a fresh perspective into American living rooms every Saturday night. Harnessing the zeitgeist of the mid-1970s, with its skits poking fun at society, politics, media, and the arts, the series gave audiences an irreverent and politically engaged form of entertainment. Entering into this realm was Lily Tomlin, already respected and beloved as a comic force and ready to stamp her distinctive presence on the SNL stage.

In this particular episode, viewers are invited into an array of sketches that exhibit the electric energy and the innovative comedy style that was beginning to define the early years of the show. Each sketch aims to challenge the audience's funny bone, with SNL's not-yet-iconic stable of performers, including Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner, serving up their fresh and often edgy comedic stylings. The synergy between these original cast members, famously known as "The Not Ready For Prime Time Players," and guest host Tomlin, promised an episode filled with laughter, personality, and unforgettable moments.

The brilliance of Lily Tomlin, best encapsulated in her ability to morph into an array of memorable characters, provided a seamless integration with the skilled SNL ensemble. With each skit, she demonstrated her comedic agility and perfect timing, fulfilling the expectations of viewers who had come to know her from her TV specials and her iconic role in the sketch comedy show “Laugh-In.” While every "Saturday Night Live" broadcast promised an evening of variety—ranging from surreal parodies to biting political commentary—this synergy among the comedy elites of the day set the stage for a memorable hour of television.

Musical performances, a staple of the SNL format, interspersed the comedy skits, serving as a palette cleanser for the audience and injecting the episode with the musical pulse of the era. The selected musical guests, capturing the essence of the '70s sound, would perform live, showcasing the breadth of popular culture that "SNL" strived to reflect every week.

The inclusion of recurring features such as "Weekend Update," the show's mock news segment, allowed for the blending of satire and news delivery, with Chevy Chase or another cast member assuming the role of anchor, dispensing a mixture of headlines, commentary, and character bits. This segment became a vehicle for "Saturday Night Live" to take jabs at real-world events and public figures with a wit and boldness that quickly cemented its place as a hallmark feature of the show.

But it wasn't just the biting satire or elaborate costumes and sets that captivated audiences; the show's live format also meant that anything could happen. There was always the palpable excitement of the performers walking a high wire without a net, the thrill of watching cast members and hosts work with that week's sketches, knowing they had one attempt to get it right—and sometimes, the humor came as much from the unexpected flubs as from the scripted comedy.

As with every episode of SNL, this installment was made complete by the inclusion of a variety of classic commercial parodies, pre-recorded digital shorts, and other traditional variety elements that rounded out the show's roster. These elements worked in harmony to create a full spectrum of comedy that ranged from subtle to slapstick, from pointed to absurd.

The culmination of the episode promised a blend of the topical and the timeless—inherent traits of "Saturday Night Live" that have allowed the show to remain relevant decade after decade. In Lily Tomlin's episode, viewers could expect a communion of her distinctive brand of humor with that of the burgeoning comedic voices of the original cast—a blend of talents that fans and first-time viewers alike could enjoy in an episode that illuminated the potential of live television comedy.

Though careful not to spoil the content of the sketches, any thorough description of an SNL episode such as "Lily Tomlin" (Season 1, Episode 6) would abound in assurance that viewers would be treated to a snapshot of 1970s comedy at its incipient best. With a host like Tomlin leading the charge, this installment was sure to deliver on the promise of high-quality entertainment, ushering in the weekend with a dose of laughter, irreverence, and a touch of the unexpected, which became the hallmark of the long-running show.