Saturday Night Live (1975–…): Season 2, Episode 14 - Live from Mardi Gras - full transcript

There's no host for this broadcast. Randy Newman is the musical guest for this episode, which is performed live in New Orleans for the Mardi Gras celebration. The skits for this episode are as follows: President Carter attempts to inspire Americans with a speech delivered from the rear end of a statue of Andrew Jackson on his horse, while Rosalyn frets over the fact that Jimmy has been up there for two days. For his opening monologue, Randy Newman sings about the floods that damaged New Orleans, then announces that SNL teams are in place to cover the passing of the Bacchus Parade. Jane Curtain and Buck Henry report on the crowds in the street, then watch the traditional 'Let's hit Al Hirt in the Mouth with a Brick!' contest, in which Al Hirt gets pelted with debris as he attempts to play the trumpet. A repeat ad pitches Quarry, the breakfast cereal made entirely of minerals. Three women complain about the lack of men at the parade, then get picked up by a gang of biker bees. Garrett Morris performs a selection of songs by Fats Domino, but can only play the same bar of music for each. A Gary Weis film features an interview with a man who paints above-ground tombs in a cemetery. Tom Snyder stands in front of the Pink Lady strip club, where he interviews a bouncer named Honker and a dancer named Velocity. As Buck and Jane continue to wait for the Bacchus Parade to arrive, Baba Wawa interviews Henry Winkler on how he separates his own persona from his character, The Fonz. Ricky Mussolini performs a re-enactment of his grandfather's historic visit to New Orleans. Eric Idle attempts to interview Mardi Gras revelers, but the French Quarter café he's in is completely deserted. Another Gary Weis film shows a montage of signs all using the word Dixie. Penny Marshall reports from the Krewe of Apollo Ball, where all the attendees, both débutantes and escorts, are men. Stanley Kowalski stands in the street shouting for Stella, only to find he's in front of the wrong building. Paul Schaffer sings the Antler Dance song, while Mr. Mike dances and gets pelted with objects from the crowds. For the Weekend Update, Garrett Morris receives the combination to the city from Mayor Landrieau, Evel Kenivel jumps the Mardi Gras parade in his hospital bed, Larraine Newman interviews a man carrying on the Mardi Gras tradition of taping mice to his eyes, and Emily Litella interviews a liver-boat captain. Captain Jean Lafitte insists that, despite his historical reputation, he is not a pirate. Back at the Krewe of Apollo Ball Penny Williams and Cindy Marshall report on the crowning of the Queen of the Ball. Back on the parade route, Buck and Jane give up on the Bacchus Parade showing up, and wish everyone a good night. Randy Newman performs "Louisiana 1927", "Marie", "Kingfish" and "Sail Away", and The New Leviathan Oriental Fox Trot Orchestra performs "Rebecca Came Back From Mecca".