Nick looks back at the only time that Ron Howard hosted “Saturday Night Live,” it was on October 9, 1982, and it featured some purposely edgy material, including Ron’s monologue in which he downs a beer on stage, and a controversial sketch called “Opie’s Back!” In the sketch, Howard returns to his classic role of Opie Taylor, only this time Opie is a tough cop who comes back to find that his dad is dead, and that Maberry has turned into a dark, corrupt cesspool of sex, drugs and violence. You will hear the sketch, learn about the background and who wrote it, and how it was received. You will also hear about Howard’s career up until that night, and what followed, plus stories about Season 8 (in which the sketch appeared), Eddie Murphy, and some behind-the-scenes tales. Coincidentally, Mayberry would turn violent and dark 16 years later on the SNL rival comedy show “Mad TV,” the results were not nearly as funny….and you will hear that as well. Opie is a badass, and here’s the proof. [Ep60]
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