The 12th Episode of Season 3 of Saturday Night Live aired on February 25, 1978. The host was O. J. Simpson, and the musical guest was Ashford and Simpson.
O. J. Simpson was a hugely popular celebrity at the time, and he was an enthusiastic and surprisingly decent host. He was willing to poke fun at himself, particularly in the famous sketch where he runs through the studio for a Hertz commercial. The cast built a number of good sketches around him, including a funny bit with Garrett Morris at a “black history” lecture. The show was solid and entertaining, though viewed through a modern lens, it is impossible to watch without a sense of deep unease. Ashford & Simpson delivered a pair of incredibly joyful and soulful musical performances. A competently executed show that is now an unsettling television artifact.
In a sure sign that the writers were in a lurch for a cold open, Gilda Radner appears on stage to answer questions from the audience.
Air Date: February 25, 1978
Season 3, O. J. Simpson, Ashford and Simpson, C
