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Saturday Live

TV·1986–1988·3 seasons, 30 episodes·Channel 4·Comedy·Created by Paul Jackson

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Saturday Live was a British television comedy and music show broadcast by Channel 4 from 1985 to 1987, and in 1988 as Friday Night Live. Influenced by the American show Saturday Night Live, it was produced by Paul Jackson. The series made stars of Ben Elton, Harry Enfield, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, and featured appearances by Patrick Marber, Morwenna Banks, Chris Barrie, Emo Philips, Craig Ferguson, Craig Charles and many others. The show featured comic duo Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall in their act The Dangerous Brothers. All episodes were transmitted live, although some material was pre-recorded. Recordings of shows were edited into compilation repeats, retitled Saturday Almost Live. The show was succeeded by Friday Night Live, a shorter and slightly more tightly-formatted show with Elton as the permanent host, which ran for a single series in 1988. The show's titles consisted of reforming clay animations, highly comparable to early MTV idents.

Cast

Ben EltonBen EltonHarry EnfieldHarry EnfieldStephen FryStephen FryHugh LaurieHugh LaurieRik MayallRik MayallAdrian EdmondsonAdrian Edmondson

Episodes by season

Season0110Episodes1986Aired—Season avg
  1. S01E01Tracey UllmanJanuary 25, 1986—Tracey Ullman Introduction John Sparkes Shadwell (character) music INXS This Time The Oblivion Boys Staring contest Tracey Ullman, Jon G
  2. S01E02Lenny HenryFebruary 1, 1986—The compere was Lenny Henry. Guests included Fry & Laurie, Oblivion Boys, Dangerous Brothers (Rik Mayall & Adrian Edmondson), Ben Elton, Lev
  3. S01E03Pamela StephensonFebruary 8, 1986—The compere was Pamela Stephenson, and guests included Fry & Laurie, The Oblivion Boys, Dangerous Brothers (Rik Mayall & Adrian Edmondson),
  4. S01E04Chris BarrieFebruary 15, 1986—
  5. S01E05Michael BarrymoreFebruary 22, 1986—Michael Barrymore Introduction music Colonel Abrams I'm Not Gonna Let You Get The Best of Me The Oblivion Boys Kidnapped Susie Blake Rupe
  6. S01E06Hale & PaceMarch 1, 1986—Hale & Pace The Management arrive and introduction music Madness I'll Compete Hale & Pace Proclamation Harry Enfield Stavros (character):
  7. S01E07Ben EltonMarch 8, 1986—Ben Elton Introduction and stand-up: Club 18-30 (Almost:1) (DVD:SL1) music Buddy Curtess and the Grasshoppers Real Girl (Almost:1) Ben Elt
  8. S01E08Fascinating AïdaMarch 15, 1986—Fascinating Aïda Introduction The Wow Show/The Oblivion Boys Wow Fashion (DVD:SL1) Harry Enfield, John Sessions Stavros (character): Fredd
  9. S01E09Peter CookMarch 22, 1986—Peter Cook (Impression) Ferdinand Marcos (DVD:SL1) music The Communards Disenchanted The Oblivion Boys Pot Snooker (DVD:SL1) Kate Robbins
  10. S01E10Steven WrightMarch 29, 1986—

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season0210Episodes1987Aired—Season avg
  1. S02E01Episode 1February 7, 1987—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Jools Holland F word + politics (DVD:SL2) music The Communards You Are My World Fry & Laurie Take your cloth
  2. S02E02Episode 2February 14, 1987—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Mark Thatcher’s wedding music Klymaxx Sexy Spitting Image Margaret and Denis Thatcher (DVD:SL2) Fry & Lauri
  3. S02E03Episode 3February 21, 1987—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Leyland and BA (DVD:FLEE) music The Christians Forgotten Town Harry Enfield Stavros (character): Dusty Bin (
  4. S02E04Episode 4February 28, 1987—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Ronald Reagan (DVD:SL2, FLEE) Rowan Atkinson, Angus Deayton, Howard Goodall I believe (song and piano) (DVD:S
  5. S02E05Lenny HenryMarch 7, 1987—Lenny Henry Joshua Yahlog (character) Introduction outside studio music Terence Trent D'Arby If You Let Me Stay (Almost:4) Ben Elton Stand
  6. S02E06Episode 6March 14, 1987—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Test tube babies (DVD:SL2) music Erasure It Doesn't Have To Be Chris Barrie (impression) Michael Foot (DVD:S
  7. S02E07Episode 7March 21, 1987—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up music The Smithereens Behind The Wall of Sleep (Almost:5) Harry Enfield Stavros (character): Evenin' all peep
  8. S02E08Episode 8March 28, 1987—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Neil Kinnock and Edwina Currie music The Pogues & The Dubliners Irish Rover (Almost:6) Harry Enfield Stavros
  9. S02E09Episode 9April 4, 1987—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Drinking, sex-changes, Japanese, Russians music Curiosity Killed the Cat Ordinary Day Harry Enfield Stavros
  10. S02E10Episode 10April 11, 1987—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: American Embassy in Russia music The Inspirational Choir Jesus is Alive Harry Enfield Stavros (character): A

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

Season0310Episodes1988Aired—Season avg
  1. S03E01Episode 1February 19, 1988—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: General election and politics (DVD:FNL) music Voice of the Beehive I Walk The Earth (Almost:1) Harry Enfield
  2. S03E02Episode 2March 4, 1988—
  3. S03E03Episode 3March 11, 1988—
  4. S03E04Episode 4March 18, 1988—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Budget and end of Ronald Reagan (Almost:4) (DVD:FLEE) music The Primitives Crash (Almost:4) Harry Enfield St
  5. S03E05Episode 5March 25, 1988—
  6. S03E06Episode 6April 1, 1988—
  7. S03E07Episode 7April 8, 1988—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Nuclear deterrent (DVD:FNL) music Roachford Family Man Harry Enfield Stavros (character): Wins the pools (Al
  8. S03E08Episode 8April 15, 1988—
  9. S03E09Episode 9April 22, 1988—
  10. S03E10Episode 10April 29, 1988—Ben Elton Intro and stand-up: Thatcher and the NHS (Almost:8) music Was (Not Was) Walk The Dinosaur (Almost:8) Harry Enfield Stavros (char

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

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