Ep 5. Ray Charles and the Raylettes

In season 3, episode 5 of Saturday Night Live, Ray Charles and the Raylettes took center stage. The show opened with a sketch featuring writer/performer Bill Murray as the famous lounge singer, Nick Winters. Murray crooned through a medley of classic songs, including "Misty" and "I Got You Babe," before transitioning to a bizarre rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" that made fun of American patriotism in the early 1970s.

Next, Dan Aykroyd played a newscaster who reported on a series of wacky events, such as a man who played basketball with his dog and an egg that could predict the weather. However, the news segment turned serious when Aykroyd offered a poignant tribute to the late director John Frankenheimer, who had just passed away.

The Ray Charles and the Raylettes musical performances made up a large part of the episode. Ray Charles, a legendary musician, and his background singers performed a mix of old hits and new songs throughout the show. Charles even joined the cast for a hilarious sketch about a wild and crazy party that left the guest of honor feeling alienated. The sketch featured some of the best physical comedy of the season, with Charles and the cast members getting up to all sorts of hijinks.

Another standout sketch saw Aykroyd play a hapless cop who was assigned to guard a bomb disarmament expert (played by guest star Candice Bergen) who had been targeted for assassination. However, Aykroyd's character was too clumsy and inept to keep Bergen safe, and the two ended up getting into all sorts of trouble. The sketch ended with an explosive and unexpected conclusion that left the audience in stitches.

Other sketches in the episode focused on everything from politics to pop culture. A standout political sketch saw SNL regular Chevy Chase play former president Gerald Ford as a bumbling and clumsy buffoon, poking fun at his numerous physical gaffes and missteps. Meanwhile, a sketch about a sci-fi convention showcased a cast of nerdy and eccentric characters who were obsessed with everything from Star Trek to Dungeons and Dragons.

Overall, season 3 episode 5 of Saturday Night Live provided plenty of laughs and entertainment for viewers. The combination of Ray Charles' amazing musical talent and the cast's comedic abilities made for a memorable and enjoyable show. Whether you're a fan of classic SNL or a newcomer to the series, this episode is definitely worth watching.