SNL Season 3, Episode 7: Mary Kay Place

D

EPISODE GRADE

B+

MUSIC GRADE

The 7th Episode of Season 3 of Saturday Night Live aired on December 10, 1977. The host was Mary Kay Place, and the musical guest was Willie Nelson.
Mary Kay Place brought a wonderful, low-key charm to the show. Known for her role on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, she had a gift for understated, character-driven comedy. A sketch where she and Gilda Radner play two nerdy high-school girls was both funny and incredibly sweet. The episode had a gentler, more character-focused feel than some of the more chaotic shows. Bill Murray’s “lounge singer” character, Nick, made another wonderfully cheesy appearance. Willie Nelson was the perfect musical guest, his relaxed, outlaw-country vibe meshing perfectly with the host’s energy. It was a thoroughly pleasant and consistently funny episode that highlighted the show’s versatility and the host’s subtle comedic talents.

Mary Kay Place SNL Season 3 Cold Open

The cast appears with host Mary Kap Place for a pep talk as she wears a sexy cheerleader outfit backstage.

December 10, 1977

Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!

Delivered by Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner

Episode Details

SNL Episode #53
Air Date: December 10, 1977
Producer: Lorne Michaels
Head Writer: None
Host: Mary Kay Place
Host Count: 1
Episode Rank for Season: 20
IMDB Rating: 7.3