Janis Ian: First Musical Guest When “SNL” Premiered in 1975

Tomorrow night, September 28, is the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” It is, in fact, the start of the iconic show’s 50th season.

The show premiered on October 11, 1975. The first guest host was comedian George Carlin, and the show featured two musical guests, Billy Preston and Janis Ian.

She was 24 at the time, but had already established herself as a talented singer-songwriter.

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At a time when her high school classmates were studying for exams, Janis Ian was giving concerts, and appearing on major TV shows.

I met her in 2008, when she wrote a memoir, a book named after her first big hit – Society’s Child.

So here now, from 2008, Janis Ian.

Janis Ian is 72 now. Her latest studio album was released in 2022.

Judith Belushi

Tomorrow, March 5th, is the 40th anniversary of the untimely deaf of comedian. John Belushi.

Belushi was one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live when it premiered in 1975, and he was the star movies like Animal House and The Blues Brothers.

But John Belushi also had a substance abuse problem, and on March 5th, 1982, he died in a Los Angeles hotel room. A woman named Cathy Smith was accused of administering a fatal speedball to Belushi.

And suddenly, at the age of 31, his high school sweetheart Judy was left a widow.

A few years later, Judith Belushi wrote a memoir of her experience. And that’s when I met her.

So here now, from 1990, Judith Belushi.

Judith Belushi Pisano is 71 now. She and Victor Pisano divorced a couple of years ago.


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Molly Shannon

While Molly Shannon may be best known for her six seasons on Saturday Night and her many many television and movie appearances, it turns out she is also a children’s book author.

In 2011, Shannon published a book called Tilly the trickster. It’s about a young girl who loves to play practical jokes on people, ranging from her brother, to her parents, to her school mates.

So, is there a little bit of Molly Shannon in Tilly the trickster, I wondered?

And be sure and listen to the end of the interview, for the true story of how Molly Shannon first met Will Ferrell.

So here now, from 2011, Molly Shannon.

Molly Shannon is 56 now, and is still seen frequently on television and in movies.

Janis Ian

At a time when her high school classmates were studying for exams or preparing book reports, Janis Ian was giving concerts, and appearing on television, and getting awards for her music.

From an early age, Janis Ian made a name for herself as a singer-songwriter. Among her biggest hits, Society’s Child, and At 17.

And in 1975 — 45 years ago this week, in fact, — Janis Ian was one of the two musical guests on the very first episode of Saturday Night Live.

I met her in 2008, when she wrote a memoir. So here now, from 2008, Janis Ian.

Janis Ian is 69 now. Her latest album was released in 2017.