Zappa.com

They booked lots of acts back then that they wouldn't today. There seemed to be more of an effort to be trendy and cool then as opposed to now, which is more ratings driven.

Those assholes on SNL thought they were so cool and hip BUT they treated Zappa the same way the mainstream media did - as a total freak. Look at the opening bit with Belushi playing the head of NBC. SNL booked guests based on notoriety as opposed to real talent. They had no clue why Zappa was an important guest to have on their show. Look at how his musical spots were filmed. They didn't have a clue. Lorne Michaels is an incredible pompous asshole with no taste in music or comedy. Look at who they book now!

If they were really as cool as they thought they were - they would have found more interesting things for Frank to do on the show! Belushi on the Purple Lagoon was a start - but what a waste of a musical genius as both a host and musical guest.

I don't think that's a fair assessment at all. You don't think they were playing it tongue-in-cheek with the Belushi bit? Besides, even if they "had no clue why Zappa was an important guest to have on their show" (which is a bit presumptuous), and least they were willing to take the chance and have him on.

As for the "worst host ever" talk, anyone will tell you that working on SNL is really hard work, so I can completely understand the show not being amused by a host intentionally fucking things up. As a Zappa fan, it's fun watching him goof off, but I totally get why the cast and writers would be pissed off at him.

I browsed through the old SNL episodes when Netflix first started streaming them, and I couldn't believe some of the musicians they had on there back in the 70s. I can't remember the last time they had anyone interesting on there.

They recently had Them Crooked Vultures. They did a very good job. In a sketch on the show they had Dave Grohl play the drummer in a wedding band there the grey-haired father (Jason Sudekis) of the bride joins and play a song from his youth, and apologizes if the old music will embarrass the young couple. It turns out to be a hard-core punk tune, where they completely trash up the place. Its hilarious.

While going through the rest of the 1st Season, I found that they played Peaches in the transitions, I believe, 3 more times. I wrote down the times, but then lost the sheet I wrote it on. I'm thinkin that it was the shows with Desi Arnaz, Ron Nessen and Buck Henry. Anyway, SNL sure loved FZ before he pissed them off!

I too am working my way through the old SNLs (in order). I have not yet gotten to Frank's 2nd appearence/hosting, but I can easily say that the "worst host ever" has to be the old lady that won the "anyone can host SNL" contest. A nice enough lady, but clearly, not anyone can host........

I haven't heard of it. Unless they've erased it (doubtful), they've still got it, since they tape the dress rehearsals in case something wrong happens while it's live.

Frank Zappa was unpopular with the cast and crew through both rehearsals and taping of the episode, possibly in part due to the fact that their lax views on drug and alcohol consumption did not mesh with his rigid anti-drug stance

Throughout the episode, he regularly mugged for the camera and frequently noted to the audience that he was reading from cue cards.[1] During the "Goodnights" segment, most of the cast stood with their backs turned away from the musician.[1] Following the episode, he was banned from Saturday Night Live and would not appear on the program again before his death in 1993.[

how are you watching season 6 with the musical guests intact? i think netflix has (or had) all the seasons though heavily edited (some episodes are 20-30 min.) with musical guests completely missing.