The New Show


The New Show is an NBC sketch comedy show produced by Lorne Michaels that ran for one season from January 6 to March 23, 1984. Apart from being 60 minutes in length and entirely pre-recorded, the show is similar in format to Michaels' own Saturday Night Live. It was the lowest-rated of 94 programs that aired during the 1983–84 television season, averaging a 7.81 household rating. It was scheduled opposite Matt Houston and Falcon Crest.
The show was Michaels' second network television show created after Saturday Night Live. Several former original cast members and hosts from SNLs 1970s era made appearances throughout the series' short run, including Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, Steve Martin, and Buck Henry. After NBC cancelled The New Show, Michaels would return to SNL as executive producer in 1985.

Cast

Michaels brought a lot of the Saturday Night Live crew with him for The New Show, including many of the writers from the 79-80 season. In addition to himself, Michaels hired former SNL writers Tom Davis, Al Franken, Tom Gammill, Sarah Paley, Max Pross, and Alan Zweibel, along with Jim Downey, who Michaels made head writer. Michaels took Gammill, Pross, Downey, and George Meyer away from the staff of Late Night with David Letterman, where Downey also served as head writer. Valri Bromfield, Buck Henry, and Dave Thomas all served as writers in addition to their duties as cast members. Bill Murray's younger brother, John Murray, was hired to the writing staff. A lot of the New Show followed Michaels when he returned to take the reins of Saturday Night Live for the 1985 season, including Jack Handey, Meyer, Franken and Davis, and Downey.
Head Writer:
Staff Writers:
SeasonEpisodesStart dateEnd dateNielsen rankNielsen rating
1983–849January 6, 1984March 23, 1984997.9

Episodes

1984 - s01e10 - Best Of