The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced between October 13, 1979, and May 24, 1980, the fifth season of SNL.
Z-Jones
editA Laraine Newman Weekend Update character. A tomboyish music critic. Debuted April 14, 1979.
Tom Clay
editA Harry Shearer sketch. Debuted October 20, 1979.
The Bel-Airabs
editThe Bel-Airabs was a sketch from the 1979–1980 season. It was a spoof of The Beverly Hillbillies, instead featuring paranoid Arabs. Only two sketches appeared, on December 8, 1979 (host: Howard Hesseman) and February 9, 1980 (host: Chevy Chase). As all of the cast members left the show at the end of that season, it was not continued.
It appears to have been an offshoot of Gilda Radner's "Granny" character, which had appeared in a sketch called "The Shah's Final Days" during the previous season.
Cast
edit- Abdul Asad - Don Novello
- Fatima Asad - Laraine Newman
- Mudhad Asad - Bill Murray
- Granny - Gilda Radner
- Miss Hathaway - Jane Curtin
Big Vic Ricker
editRicker, portrayed by Harry Shearer, succeeded Chico Escuela as Weekend Update's sports commentator. He was prone to speaking very fast and in a gruff voice. Debuted January 26, 1980.
Iris De Flaminio
editA Jane Curtin sketch. Debuted April 5, 1980.
Shonda The Cat Lady
editA Laraine Newman one time character. A flirty cat lady with a fervent passion for masochistic sex and use of sadistic toys and disgusting tools. Debuted May 10, 1980.