The Best Episodes Written By Al Franken

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   9.0/10(1 votes)

   #1 - Burt Reynolds/Anne Murray

   S5:E164/12/1980

   Sketches include ""Burt's Not Angry,"" ""Vomitorium,"" ""The Burt Book,"" ""Be a Pepper,"" and ""Baba Wawa at Large."" Anne Murray performs ""Lucky Me.""

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken

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   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken
2. 

   9.0/10(1 votes)

   #2 - Madonna/Simple Minds

   S11:E111/9/1985

   Sketches include: ""SNL Drug Tests,"" ""A Message From The Almighty,"" ""National Inquirer Theatre,"" ""Pinklisting,"" ""Cabrini Green,"" and ""Nancy Reagan Meets Charles and Di."" Simple Minds performed ""Alive and Kicking.""

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken

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   Writer:Al Franken
3. 

   8.0/10(3 votes)

   #3 - O.J. Simpson/Ashford and Simpson

   S3:E122/25/1978

   Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include--"Gilda Answers Audience Questions", "Samurai Night Fever", "Great Moments In Sports", "The Mohawk Master", "The Raid On Nicosia", "Voodoo", "The Franken & Davis Show", "Mandingo II", "E. Buzz Miller's Animal Kingdom", "Hertz Ad", "Celebrity Battle of the Sexes"

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken

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   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken
4. 

   8.0/10(3 votes)

   #4 - Eric Idle/Kate Bush

   S4:E812/9/1978

   Sketches include "Telepsychic Ray," "Julia Child," "Madrigal," "The Woman He Loved," "What Do You?", "Candy Slice," "Consumer Probe," "Singing Dog Agent," and "Cochise at Oxford".

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken

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   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken
5. 

   8.0/10(1 votes)

   #5 - Bob Newhart/The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Bruce Cockburn

   S5:E185/10/1980

   Sketches include ""Mysteries of the Universe,"" ""The Dating Zone,"" ""Writing Home,"" and ""Mr. Bill."" The Amazing Rhythm Aces (featuring Bill Murray) perform ""Third-Rate Romance.""

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken

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   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken
6. 

   8.0/10(1 votes)

   #6 - Buck Henry/Andrew Gold

   S5:E205/24/1980

   Live from New York, it's Harry Shearer! Sketches include "Election '80: Almost Halfway Over," "The SNL Stars of the Future" monologue, "Lord and Lady Douchebag," "Uncle Roy," and "Nick at Trader Nick's."

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken

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   Writer:Al Franken
7. 

   8.0/10(1 votes)

   #7 - Chevy Chase/Sheila E.

   S11:E211/16/1985

   Sketches include ""Smoky Hallway,"" ""Wacky Glue,"" ""Those Unlucky Andersons"", ""Ford and Reagan,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Pathological Liars Anonymous,"" ""Craig Sundburg-Idiot Savant,"" ""Trojans,"" ""The Blue, The Gray and The Yellow,"" ""Vlad the Impaler,"" ""Drums Drums Drums,"" and ""Jose Cuervo's Party School Bowl."" Sheila E. performed ""Hollyrock"" and ""A Love Bizarre.""

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken

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   Writer:Al Franken
8. 

   8.0/10(1 votes)

   #8 - Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band

   S11:E311/23/1985

   Sketches include ""Twin Towers Tightrope,"" ""Pee Wee Herman's Thanksgiving Special"", ""Marital Problems,"" ""Pee Wee's School Romance,"" ""Find the Mouse in the Coke,"" and ""Hal Fisher's Money Magnet Method.""

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken

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   Writer:Al Franken
9. 

   8.0/10(1 votes)

   #9 - Steve Martin/Sting

   S13:E110/17/1987

   Sketches include ""Ronald Reagan and George Bush,"" ""Gary Hart Ad,"" ""Common Knowledge,"" ""NFL Today,"" ""Slide Whistle Sound Effects,"" ""Bullets Aren't Cheap,"" ""Permission to Speak Freely,"" ""Adventures in the Lost Realm,"" and ""Pumping Up With Hans and Franz"".

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Al Franken

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   Writer:Al Franken
10. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J., Michael Penn & the Pull

    S13:E210/24/1987

    Live from New York, it's... Sean Penn! Sketches include "Fatal Attraction 2," "Wall Street Week," "Church Chat," "Pitman & Bullock," "The Teeny Cafe," "Keister Family Talk," "Discover," "The Spimozo Brothers," and "Cat Dentist" (film). LL Cool J performs "Go Cut Creator Go." Michael Penn and The Pull performs "This & That."

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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    Writer:Al Franken
11. 

    7.9/10(8 votes)

    #11 - October 11 - George Carlin

    S1:E110/11/1975

    Live from New York, It's... George Carlin! Sketches Include: Wolverines, New Dad Insurance, The Courtroom, Victims of Shark Bite, Jamitol, Triopenin, Jim Henson's Muppets, Bee Hospital, Academy of Better Careers, Show Us Your Guns, Trojan Horse Home Security, Triple-Trac

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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    Writer:Al Franken
12. 

    7.8/10(5 votes)

    #12 - November 8 - Candice Bergen

    S1:E411/8/1975

    Live from New York, It's... Candice Bergen Sketches include: Ambassador Training Institute, CIA Department of Records, Jaws II, Long Distance, Chanel, Feminine Talk, Midnight Probe, Crank Call, Jim Henson's Muppets, Irk The Turk, Black Perspective, Pong

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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    Writer:Al Franken
13. 

    7.8/10(5 votes)

    #13 - Richard Pryor with Gil Scott-Heron

    S1:E712/13/1975

    Live From New York, it's... Richard Pryor! Sketches Include: Samurai Hotel, Looks At Books, Line-Up #1, Word Association, Pong, They're Taking Over, Line-Up #2, L-Pill, Jim Henson's Muppets, Line-Up #3, Exorcist II, Assassination

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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    Writer:Al Franken
14. 

    7.8/10(4 votes)

    #14 - Carrie Fisher/The Blues Brothers

    S4:E611/18/1978

    Live from New York, it's....Garrett Morris! The Blues Brothers open the show by performing Soul Man. Carrie comes out dressed as Princess Leia for her monologue, telling a joke that only the voice of Obi Won (Dan Aykroyd) likes. This leads into Beach Blanket Bimbo from Outer Space, "The Loud Family," Mercy Killers, the Blues Brothers' performance of Almost and B-Movie Boxcar Blues, "Mr. Bill's Fishing Trip," Tomorrow, "Bad Red Chinese Ballet," and the Schiller film Arrividerci Roman.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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15. 

    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #15 - Ron Nessen with the Patti Smith Group

    S1:E174/17/1976

    Live from New York, It's...Gerald Ford Sketches include-- "The Dead String Quartet", Super Bass-O-Matic 76, An Oval Office, David Eisenhower is Anti-Nixon, Thomas Jefferson denies slavery, The New Stoner Volunteer Army, Catherine the Great, Disgusting Jam, Autumm Fizz--The Carbonated Douche, "Tomorrow With Tom Snyder".

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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    Writer:Al Franken
16. 

    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #16 - Steve Martin/Jackson Browne

    S3:E19/24/1977

    Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"Bert Lance National Express Card", "Kromega III", "Wild & Crazy Guys", "Mike McMack, Defense Lawyer", "Trinity 3000 Computer", "Great Moments In Rock & Roll", "Mr. U.S.A. Pageant", "Royal Deluxe II"

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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17. 

    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #17 - Steve Martin/The Nitty Gritty Dirty Band

    S3:E91/21/1978

    Live From New York, It's...Dan Aykroyd Sketches include--"State of the Union Address", "Swill", "Searching For Bigfoot", "Wild & Crazy Guys", "Body Floss", "The Coneheads On 'Family Feud'", "'Close Personal Friends' Film", "What If?"

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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    Writer:Al Franken
18. 

    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #18 - Steve Martin/The Blues Brothers

    S3:E184/22/1978

    *Nominated for an Emmy Award* Live From New York, It's...Paul Shaffer Sketches include--"Don Kirshner's Rock Concert", "Hey You!", "Wild & Crazy Guys", "Theodoric of York", "Dancing In The Dark", "Extramarital Foreplay", "Swan Lake", "Troff 'n' Brew", "Nerds Science Fair", "Next Week In Review".

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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19. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #19 - Steve Martin/Kinky Friedman

    S2:E510/23/1976

    Sketches include "Yankees Lose," "Jeopardy 1999," "Speak Out For Milk", "The Beatnik Club," "Ted Baxter Kills Mary Richards," "Looks at Books," and "Mysteries in Medicine." Kinky Friedman performed "Dear Abby."

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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    Writer:Al Franken
20. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #20 - Paul Simon/Paul Simon, George Harrison

    S2:E811/20/1976

    Live from New York, It's...George Harrison Sketches include-- Paul Simon meets pauper Chevy Chase on sidewalk while Lorne talks with George Harrison, Quarry, "Baba Wawa at Large", The Twilight Zone, Billy Paul, "Tomorrow with Tom Synder".

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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21. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #21 - Ralph Nader/George Benson

    S2:E111/15/1977

    Live from New York, It's...Ralph Nader Sketches include-- Ralph Nader wants to cut loose, Badmouthing Grandfather, Dress Rehearsal for Execution, The Confederate Takeover, "Baba Wawa At Large"" The Coneheads, "Youth Ask Questions", Andy Kaufman as Elvis, Testing Party Dolls.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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22. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #22 - Buck Henry/Kenny Vance, Jennifer Warnes

    S2:E225/21/1977

    Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include-- Carter's Energy Saving Message, Buck Performs A Live Sex Act, Samurai B.M.O.C, The Shower Mike, The Coneheads Return to Remulak, Rhonda Weiss's Bridal Shower, Charles Lindbergh Meets the Land Shark.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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23. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #23 - Art Garfunkel/Stephen Bishop

    S3:E133/11/1978

    Live From New York, It's...Gilda Radner Sketches include--"Modern Crimes", "Kromega III", "Tomorrow", "Miracle In Chicago", "Stage Door Guard", "Looks At Books", "Don't Look Back In Anger", "Looking For Mr. Goodbar Playset""

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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24. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #24 - Michael Palin/The Doobie Brothers

    S4:E101/27/1979

    Sketches include "State of the Union Address: Preparation I," "Palin's Socks Monologue," "Mr. Brighton Returns to the Nerds," "Miles Cowperthwaite, Part One," "What If Superman Grew Up in Germany?" and "Name the Bats." Weekend Update features "Chico Escuela's Super Bowl Recap" and "Father Guido Sarducci's Bill for The Last Brunch."

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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25. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #25 - Rick Nelson/Judy Collins

    S4:E122/17/1979

    Live from New York, it's...John Belushi! Sketches include "WGN Morning Show," "The Twilight Zone," "Helium," "¿Quien Es Mas Macho?," and "Rock Against Yeast '79." Judy Collins performed "Hard Times for Lovers."

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Al Franken

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    Writer:Al Franken