Ep 9. Steve Martin/The Nitty Gritty Dirty Band
- TVPG
- January 21, 1978
- 66 min
-
7.6 (126)
Steve Martin, one of the most loved and revered comedians of all time, graced the Saturday Night Live stage for the ninth episode of the third season. He was joined by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a band that has been around since the 1960s and has produced some of the most iconic country and bluegrass tracks of all times.
The episode began with Steve Martin's monologue, where he showed off his impeccable sense of humor and wit. In one of the highlights of the monologue, Martin joked about his experience at Disneyland and how he tried to smuggle in a sandwich in his shoe. He also discussed his love for comedy and how he was grateful to be on SNL.
The first sketch of the night was a parody of "The Elephant Man," where Martin played a man with a ridiculously large nose. The sketch was absurd, but Martin's physical comedy and facial expressions carried the day. The next sketch was a commercial parody for a new type of soda called "Mother Shabubu's Grits Soda." The commercial was a hilarious spoof of the soda industry and featured a catchy jingle that had viewers laughing out loud.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was featured in the first musical segment of the night, where they performed their classic song "Mr. Bojangles." The performance was energetic, with the band members all dressed in matching suits. Martin came out to introduce the band and managed to get in a few jokes, as well.
Another highlight of the night was a sketch featuring Martin and Dan Aykroyd as two wild and crazy guys from Czechoslovakia. The sketch was a fan favorite and featured Martin and Aykroyd speaking in broken English and hitting on various women throughout the night.
The second musical segment of the night featured The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band once again, this time performing their hit single "An American Dream." The band was joined by a group of backup singers and seemed to be having a great time on stage.
Other sketches throughout the night included a parody of "Casablanca," where Martin played an airport security guard trying to stop Ingrid Bergman from leaving the country. There was also a sketch where Martin played a Crazed Exterminator, who was called in to solve a rat problem in a high-rise building. The sketch was full of physical comedy and ended with Martin accidentally blowing up the entire building.
The final sketch of the night was a commercial for a new type of alarm clock called "The Procrastinator." The alarm clock was designed to help people who have trouble waking up in the morning and featured a snooze button that could be pressed up to 100 times.
Overall, Steve Martin's appearance on SNL was a hit. He showed off his impeccable comedic timing and charm and was a joy to watch throughout the night. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band also had a great showing, and their musical performances were top-notch. This episode is a must-watch for anyone who is a fan of comedy, country music, or just good old-fashioned satire.