SNL Season 3, Episode 3: Hugh Hefner

Having Hugh Hefner host was a strange and somewhat awkward choice. He wasn’t a performer, and his stiff, detached presence often brought sketches to a halt. The show tried to lean into his persona, with sketches set at the Playboy Mansion, but the comedy mostly fell flat. The cast, especially John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, worked overtime to inject energy into the proceedings. The best bit was a “Point/Counterpoint” segment where Jane Curtin brilliantly tore into Hefner’s philosophy. The show felt like a misfire, an interesting idea on paper that simply didn’t work in practice. Libby Titus was a fine musical guest, but this episode is remembered for its central casting mistake.