Saturday Night Live Season 8 Episode 13 Howard Hesseman/Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Not Rated
- February 19, 1983
In season 8, episode 13 of Saturday Night Live, Howard Hesseman and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers take the stage to deliver a night of laughs and rock-and-roll.
For those unfamiliar with the show, Saturday Night Live is a sketch comedy series that has been airing live from New York City since 1975. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who delivers a monologue and appears in various sketches alongside the show's cast members. The show also features musical guests, who perform several songs throughout the night.
In this episode, Howard Hesseman, best known for his role as Dr. Johnny Fever on the television show WKRP in Cincinnati, takes on hosting duties. Hesseman has a background in improvisational comedy, making him a perfect fit for the SNL stage. In his opening monologue, he jokes about his past drug use and his tendency to get typecast as stoners.
The sketches in this episode cover a wide range of topics, from a parody of the television show Hill Street Blues to a commercial for a new product called "Doggie-Dent." In one sketch, Hesseman plays a man who feels neglected by his family, who are more interested in watching TV than spending time with him. In another sketch, cast member Eddie Murphy parodies his own recent controversies by playing a character called "Cooningham," a black man who is overly eager to please white people.
As always, the musical guest is a highlight of the night. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are one of the most legendary rock bands of all time, and they deliver a rousing performance of their hits "Change of Heart" and "The Waiting." Lead singer Tom Petty also shows off his acting chops in a sketch about a recording studio that specializes in making jingles for TV commercials.
Overall, season 8, episode 13 of Saturday Night Live is a solid installment of the long-running series. With a talented host and an iconic musical guest, it delivers plenty of laughs and entertainment. Fans of sketch comedy and rock and roll won't want to miss this episode.
