‘SNL’ Had One Non-Celebrity Host Nearly 50 Years Ago

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  • Miskel Spillman’s Show on ‘Saturday Night Live’
  • A New Anyone Can Host Contest on ‘SNL’?

As a devoted film aficionado, I’m thrilled to share that we’re heading back to New York City for a special celebration! It’s been a whopping 50 years since Saturday Night Live graced our screens, and this February, it’s time to honor this TV legend.

Over the past five decades, SNL has become a staple in our lives, with its distinctive blend of comedy and entertainment. Today, each episode follows a familiar pattern: host, musical guest, sketches, performances, and the occasional surprise celebrity appearance. But let me tell you, those early years were something else entirely!

They were experimental, unpredictable, and brimming with creativity. It’s hard to imagine now, but back then, SNL was a wild ride, pushing boundaries and setting trends in the world of comedy. Here’s to 50 years of laughter, tears, and everything in between!

Example rephrasing:

The third season had a special event called “Anyone Can Host,” where any ordinary viewer could participate in a competition to host an episode of the show. This took place in 1977, and the winner was Miskel Spillman, a 80-year-old grandmother from New Orleans. It’s hard to imagine Saturday Night Live (SNL) putting a total novice in charge of hosting today, as they prefer well-known hosts and frequent celebrity appearances. However, it’s intriguing to wonder if they might ever attempt something like that again. Certainly, a revival of the “Anyone Can Host” contest would garner attention for the show. Nevertheless, given how unlikely it is for SNL to give the hosting role to an unproven “average person,” let’s revisit that 1977 episode and understand why we probably won’t witness a similar event in the future.

Miskel Spillman’s Show on ‘Saturday Night Live’

Back in Season 3, I found myself in the golden age of SNL. Each original cast member, except for the contentious Chevy Chase, was still on board, and we were navigating our way through finding our footing. Sketches during this period were significantly shorter than they are now and relied more on absurd humor rather than cultural references. It was during this early experimental phase that the “Anyone Can Host” contest seemed like a brilliant idea.

Introduced in November 1977, the contest invited viewers to submit, in 25 words or fewer, their reasons for being a suitable host. After sifting through numerous entries, the show ultimately chose the 80-year-old Spillman, who, interestingly, based her entry solely on her age and her desire for one more exciting experience in life. Spillman held the title of the oldest SNL host until Betty White, aged 88, took over in 2010. To clarify, this means that Spillman was born in 1897, making her a resident of the 1800s. It’s fascinating to note that a show that often mimics TikTok today had a host who was born in the 1800s. Truly, SNL has been around for quite some time!

On December 17, 1977, Spillman presented the esteemed Christmas episode of the show. This special event included guest appearances by future regulars Al Franken and Tom Davis, as well as a brief visit from former frequent host Buck Henry. Interestingly, Spillman was part of only about four out of the episode’s 14 skits, which was not unusual at the time for hosts to participate in just a few scenes. However, Spillman’s show is most fondly remembered for something other than the “Anyone Can Host” contest.

During Spillman’s musical appearance, it was Elvis Costello who graced the stage as his special guest. For his second performance, he had planned to play “Less Than Zero,” but at the last possible moment, he decided to perform “Radio Radio” instead – a song that hadn’t been released yet. This impromptu choice, which criticized media commercialization, enraged SNL boss Lorne Michaels. As a result, Costello was banned from the show for more than a decade. However, their disagreement was later resolved, with Costello returning as musical guest in 1989, 1991, and even for the 25th anniversary show in 1999. Today, Costello’s spontaneous actions are often mentioned among the most noteworthy SNL moments.

A New Anyone Can Host Contest on ‘SNL’?

It’s unfortunate that Costello took the spotlight from Spillman on a groundbreaking show like Saturday Night Live. Back then, it was remarkable to have anyone chosen as a host, and it seems hard to believe they would do that today. Let’s take a look at the current season for comparison. Each host has some level of notoriety, whether an established A-lister (Michael Keaton), an up-and-coming lesser-known star (Paul Mescal), or a double-duty host and musical guest (Charli XCX).

As a devoted SNL fan, I can’t help but notice the recurring appearances of big names like Maya Rudolph, Dana Carvey, and Andy Samberg throughout each episode. Opinions online about these frequent cameos seem to be split. Some viewers enjoy the star power, while others argue that it takes away from the already impressive cast size. However, it’s clear that SNL invites these celebrities because they boost ratings and audience engagement. The show clearly enjoys flaunting its Hollywood connections with these cameos, and I can’t see them abandoning this strategy anytime soon.

Ponder for a moment if Saturday Night Live (SNL) were to select a random television viewer from home to host their show. This individual establishes the program’s tone for that week, and the success of the episode is often dependent on how well they perform under pressure, as live TV can be challenging even for experienced celebrities. Remember the season premiere? Jean Smart, who had just won an Emmy award, was the host, but her performance was considered merely ‘adequate’ by critics. Given that Jean Smart couldn’t deliver a standout performance, why would they ever take such a risk with someone chosen from the home audience?

Could a fresh “Everyone Can Host” competition create excitement online? Definitely! Millions might watch solely out of curiosity about how an ordinary person performs. However, show business is ruthless, and putting a contestant with no background into Saturday Night Live (SNL) as their debut role could lead to catastrophe. An avoidable calamity that the cautious SNL of today would undoubtedly steer clear of during their 50th season. Stream episodes of Saturday Night Live on Peacock.

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2025-01-11 19:31