The 14th Episode of Season 4 of Saturday Night Live aired on March 10, 1979. The host was Gary Busey, and the musical guest was Eubie Blake & Gregory Hines, Gary Busey with Rick Danko & Paul Butterfield.
Gary Busey hosted at the peak of his wild-man fame, and he brought an unpredictable, high-octane energy that was both exciting and a little scary. You genuinely didn’t know what he was going to do next. His manic energy was on full display in a sketch where he plays an out-of-control rock star. The show felt chaotic and slightly dangerous, which made for compelling television. The musical guests were legendary. 96-year-old ragtime pianist Eubie Blake was a living piece of history, and his performance with the incredible Gregory Hines on tap shoes was a moment of pure, transcendent joy. The bizarre mix of Busey’s mania and Blake’s history made for a truly unique and memorable episode.
Cast member John Belushi complains about host Gary Busey receiving an Oscar nomination for “The Buddy Holly Story.”
Gary Busey, Eubie Blake & Gregory Hines, Gary Busey with Rick Danko & Paul Butterfield, March 10, 1979, SNL Season 4, SNL Season 4 Episode 14
