The 16th Episode of Season 4 of Saturday Night Live aired on April 7, 1979. The host was Richard Benjamin, and the musical guest was Rickie Lee Jones.
Richard Benjamin was a witty and urbane host who brought a neurotic, intellectual energy to the show. The episode was smart and dialogue-driven, featuring a great cold open that parodied the recent nuclear accident at Three Mile Island. A sketch with Benjamin and Gilda Radner as a bickering couple was a highlight of character comedy. The show felt sophisticated and topical. The episode is also legendary for the musical debut of Rickie Lee Jones. Her cool, jazzy performance of “Chuck E.’s in Love” was captivating and announced the arrival of a major new talent. The combination of clever comedy and a star-making musical performance made this a truly fantastic episode.
An NBC employee subs for John Belushi in the cast, leading Dan Aykroyd to test the imposter.
Season 4, Richard Benjamin, Rickie Lee Jones, A-
