The 17th Episode of Season 2 of Saturday Night Live aired on March 26, 1977. The host was Jack Burns, and the musical guest was Santana.
Jack Burns, a former writing partner of George Carlin and a TV veteran, was a solid, old-school host. He brought a professional but somewhat low-key energy to the show. The episode is most notable for Chevy Chase’s return as a guest, where he engaged in a staged, behind-the-scenes “fight” with Bill Murray on “Weekend Update” that felt genuinely tense and shocking. This moment overshadowed the rest of the show, which was otherwise a fairly standard, competent episode. The Coneheads made another great appearance. Santana’s fiery, guitar-driven performance brought a welcome blast of high energy to the proceedings. An episode defined by one unforgettable, controversial moment.
Belushi Demands Cold Open: For the first time, John Belushi has been asked to open the show, but he has a few demands for the network before saying those famous words, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
Jack Burns, Santana, March 26, 1977, SNL Season 2, SNL Season 2 Episode 17
