"Saturday Night Live" History (1975-1982) Quiz

Answer: The Killer Bees

In the book "Live From New York", Lorne Michaels reveals that "The only note we got from the network on the first show was 'Cut the bees.' And so I made sure I put them in the next show." They appeared 11 times that first season, and then only three more times after that. For the Christmas show that first season, Candace Bergen was a Killer Bee in "Bee Capades" sketch. She wore a Sonia Henie costume and amusedly recalls how before the show "we all went down in the elevator--the elevator was filled with bees on skates. The elevator operator never looked at us."

Mr. Bill's first appearance was on the show was on February 28, 1976, episode. He became the subject of a running series of Super 8 claymation films after the producers requested home movies be sent in. John Belushi's samurai warrior debuted about two months after The Killer Bees. Gilda Radner's impersonation of Barbara Walter started in April 1976.

Answer: Richard Pryor

Belushi and Pryor spoke their mock-Japanese as they wielded their katanas in what would become the first recurring sketch on the show. What people don't realize is that John Belushi's samurai character was a part of his comic repertoire long before joining "SNL".

In fact, he auditioned for the show playing that character. Writer Alan Zweibel co-wrote several of the samurai sketches, such as "Samurai Deli", "Samurai Stockbroker", and "Samurai Night Fever."

Answer: Jake and Elwood

I added the qualifier "in front of the cameras" because Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi (Jake and Elwood Blues) started out by appearing in front of the show's audience as a warm-up act. Howard Shore, "SNL's" original music director back then, let them up onstage after Aykroyd wanted to play harmonica and Belushi wanted to sing. Shore introduced them as "those brothers in blues". Their airtime appearance was a huge international success and netted the two stars two theatrical feature films and 14 record albums.

Answer: $3,000

The camera focused on Lorne Michaels standing up as he announced, "Please allow me to address myself to just four very special people: John Paul, George, and Ringo." His offer to the Beatles in exchange for their reunion appearance on "SNL" amounted to $3,000.

He looked into the camera saying, "NBC has authorized me to offer you ... a certified check for $3,000. You can divide it anyway you want. If you want to give Ringo less, that's up to you." But consider this: Paul McCartney and John Lennon had actually witnessed this moment while watching the show from Lennon's Manhattan Dakota apartment, and Paul later told Michaels that he and John actually considered coming to the studio.

Answer: Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase made no attempt whatsoever to sound like Gerald Ford, and maybe that was part of the joke. Mostly his impression of the former President consisted of sheer dumbness by misusing props, or clumsiness by falling down a lot. But on that fateful night, Chase recalls that he was performing in a sketch in which he stood at a lectern taking part in a debate with Dan Aykroyd who was portraying Jimmy Carter. Chase remembered, "Willie Day was our prop guy.

He was about 88" and at the end of the sketch Chase fell forward like he was supposed to do, but..." Willie was supposed to have lined it with a cushion. I was in the hospital for a week. I peed blood."

Answer: Elvis Costello and the Attractions

Elvis and his band were supposed to play, "Less Than Zero." And they did, for about seven seconds before Costello turns around to the band and waves his arms frantically and tells them to play "Radio Radio" instead, a politically tinged song attacking the media.

It's interesting to watch because it almost looks like part of a sketch, like it wasn't the crazy, completely unexpected radical move that it's come to be known as. But apparently it was indeed not part of the plan, as it got him banned for 12 years. Musical director Howard Shore insists it was fine: "I was standing with Lorne right at the camera line, and we both looked at each other and shrugged."

Answer: Dan Aykroyd

The sketch was actually supposed to air on an earlier episode but Lorne Michaels wanted more blood so he pulled the sketch and pushed it to a later date: December 9, 1978 in Season 4. In the sketch Aykroyd pretends to have cut himself very badly, and blood starts spurting almost uncontrollably from his arm. "SNL" writer Anne Beatts remembered that "I heard somewhere that Julia Child thought it was hilarious. I really give her credit for that. Seeing a sketch on TV where you're being portrayed by a man bleeding to death--it takes a sense of humor."

Answer: Jean Doumanian

At the end of the fifth season, they held on a shot of the "on air" sign as it flickered off, symbolizing the end of Lorne Michael's reign. But not only did Michaels leave at the end of the fifth season, the whole original cast left. The show was essentially completely rebooting, and taking over for Lorne Michaels would be Jean Doumanian who had been an associate producer on the show. Michaels was hoping that NBC executives would let the show go on a hiatus so he could rest.

He said, "I had just done five years at a very intense pace, so the idea of pulling it all together with a brand new group, I was just too exhausted and I didn't think I could do it." But the network chose to plow ahead instead.

Answer: Charles Rocket

Charles Rocket had been in a sketch parodying the "Who Shot J.R. Ewing?" episode from the show "Dallas." Charlene Tilton was the guest host and at the end of the show during the onstage collection of cast members, Rocket was still in character and sitting in a wheelchair.

He blurted out, "Oh man it's the first time I've been shot in my life. I'd like to know who the &%#@ did it!" Executive producer Jean Doumanian was fired and replaced by Dick Ebersol. Ebersol in turn fired almost the entire cast after a day watching rehearsals.

He recalled, "I met with Brandon [Tartikoff] and I said, 'You know, there's not a whole lot there. But I'm crazy about that one guy who's not a cast member." He was talking about Eddie Murphy who had been a featured member. So the F-Bomb led indirectly to the rise of one of the show's all-time greatest cast members.

Answer: Los Angeles

Belushi's fateful overdose from a combination of heroin and cocaine occurred at the hotel Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, California. On the show, Belushi's longtime friend, Brian Doyle Murray addressed the audience and the cameras. He was a writer on the show, and his brother Bill Murray was a cast member and writer. His voice breaking, Brian Doyle Murray related to everyone how he once saw John Belushi get hit by a bus and then walk away unharmed. "I always thought he was indestructible" he told the audience.