The SNL Host Who Left Cast and Crew Fuming
Robert Blake’s stint as a Saturday Night Live host in 1982 is remembered for all the wrong reasons, with cast and writers recalling his abrasive attitude and infamous behaviour behind the scenes.
Landing a first-time host for Saturday Night Live is always a bit of a gamble. Sometimes you strike gold and end up with a crowd favourite, but other times, you’re left with a guest who’s more trouble than they’re worth. The team usually only realises what they’re in for once rehearsals kick off, and by then, it’s too late to back out. The contracts are signed, the sketches are ready, and everyone just has to hope for the best. If a host turns out to be a dud, they simply don’t get another invite. That’s why the so-called ‘Five-Timers Club’ is such a rare achievement, even though it’s got a decent number of members. The risk of finding the next big hit is often worth the occasional flop.
Robert Blake’s Notorious Appearance
Before Robert Blake even stepped onto the SNL stage in November 1982, the mood behind the scenes was already grim. Blake, who’d made his name in the late ‘60s with a standout role in ‘In Cold Blood’ and later as the lead in ‘Baretta’, wasn’t exactly a household name by the time he hosted. Years later, his reputation would take a further hit after his arrest in connection with his wife’s death, though he was acquitted in court. But even before all that, his time on SNL was infamous for all the wrong reasons.
Tim Kazurinsky, a writer and cast member, had a unique way of sussing out whether a host would be any good. He’d pitch a sketch called ‘The William Holden Drinking Helmet’, a dark joke referencing the actor’s untimely death.
“If they laughed at that at least, I knew it would be a good week,”
he explained.
“Or if they were going to be a dickhead like Robert Blake.”
Kazurinsky wasn’t alone in his opinion. David Sheffield, another writer, didn’t mince words either:
“My vote for the worst host is Robert Blake.”
Clashes with the Writers
Blake’s attitude towards the writing team quickly became legendary for all the wrong reasons. When Gary Kroeger, who also performed on the show, handed him a sketch, Blake’s reaction was nothing short of hostile. He read through the script, glasses perched on his nose, and then made his feelings clear in the most dismissive way possible.
“Blake sat there and read that, with his glasses down his nose, then wadded it up, turned to Kroeger, and said, ‘I hope you got a tough arsehole, pal, because you’re going to have to wipe your arse with that one,’”
Sheffield recalled.
“And he threw it, and bounced it off Gary’s face.”
It was the sort of behaviour that made sure Blake was never asked back. The cast and crew had seen their fair share of difficult guests, but this was on another level. The only bright spot that week was the musical guest, Kenny Loggins, who was a much better sport and helped keep spirits up.
Aftermath and Legacy
Blake’s episode quickly became a cautionary tale among the SNL team. His name is still brought up whenever the topic of the show’s worst hosts comes around. The experience left such a mark that he was effectively blacklisted from ever returning. For the SNL crew, it was a week best forgotten, but one that’s still talked about for all the wrong reasons.