This was a
challenging season for the franchise to say the least. It marked the return of
executive producer Lorne Michaels after a five-year absence. The season ran
from November 1985 to May 1986.
The show had
just come off a successful season with cast members Billy Crystal, Martin
Short, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest, with Dick Ebersol as producer. That
season wanted to attract people with previous comedy experience. For example,
Martin Short appeared on SCTV before doing SNL.
Cast members
for season 11 included: Robert Downey Jr. (his uncle Jim Downey was a writer
for the show), Joan Cusack, Anthony Michael Hall, Randy Quaid, Nora Dunn, Jon Lovitz, Dennis
Miller, Terry Sweeney, Danitra Vance, Damon Wayans, Dan Vitale and A. Whitney
Brown. This season had an emphasis on youth and the cast did not seem to gel.
Most did not
make it to the next season except for Jon Lovitz, Dennis Miller, Nora Dunn and
A. Whitney Brown. The season ended with a fake fire in the studio, questioning
who would survive for season 12 and who would not. In the closing credits
everyone had a question mark after their name. NBC President Brandon Tartikoff threatened
to cancel the show after this disappointing season. Michaels talked him out of
doing that.
Lovitz had
success with his “liar” character and “Master Thespian.” Nora Dunn had her
fashion-obsessed Pat Stephens character. Dennis Miller was a strong Weekend
Update anchor, with his sarcastic, smarmy attitude.
Damon Wayans
sabotaged his career and got fired. He played a flamboyantly gay character in a
sketch where he was not supposed to do that. Many do not realize that the leeway
for improvisation on SNL is virtually non-existent. Cast members must do the skits
exactly as written.
Dan Vitale
was fired during the season due to substance abuse issues.
Chris
Elliott from Late Night with David Letterman auditioned for the show. He was offered
the job but decided not to take it. In 1994 he would join the cast of SNL. His
daughter Abby was in the cast from 2008-2012.
Terry Sweeney
was the first openly gay cast member. He portrayed Nancy Reagan.
Danitra
Vance was the first black female member of the primary SNL cast. In 1994, she
died of cancer at age 40.
Writers for
season 11 included: Jim Downey (Head Writer), Al Franken, Tom Davis, George
Meyer, Herb Sargent, Carol Leifer, Jack Handey, Robert Smigel, Don Novello, Jon
Vitti, John Swartzwelder and more. Meyer, Swartzwelder and Vitti would later
write for The Simpsons.
Hosts during
this season included: Madonna, Chevy Chase, Pee-Wee Herman, John Lithgow, Tom
Hanks, Teri Garr, Oprah Winfrey, Tony Danza and more.
Musical
guests included: Simple Minds, Sheila E, Mr. Mister, Sade, The Dream Academy, Laurie
Anderson, Al Green, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Level 42, George Clinton and more.
Sam Kinison
and Penn and Teller appeared as special guests a few times during the season.
SNL has had
a show with so many ups and downs regarding writers and cast, but they have
managed to hang on for 50 years.
*Some
information from Wikipedia and snl.fandom.com/wiki/Season_11.
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