Saturday Night Live aired its 11th season during the 1985-1986 television season on NBC. The season started on November 9, 1985 and ended on May 24, 1986, 18 episodes were produced. Dick Ebersol left the show after the 1984-85 season, when the network refused his request to shut the program down entirely for six months and shift much of the material onto tape, not live broadcast. Once again, NBC briefly considered cancelling the show, but programming head Brandon Tartikoff decided to continue the show and re-hire erstwhile producer Lorne Michaels. In some ways the job Michaels returned to was more challenging than the one he took on in 1975. For starters, Michaels' "golden boy" reputation was somewhat tarnished. His most recent effort, the previous season's The New Show confused critics and was ignored by audiences. Also, the 1984-1985 season had been a critical and ratings hit, generating memorable characters and stand-out performers. However, Michaels would not be the only member of the old guard to return: original writers Al Franken and Tom Davis would return as producers, and Jim Downey would be head writer. Fans and critics welcomed Michaels and many of the original producers and writers back, calling it a return to the show's roots.

Season 11 Episode 16 - Catherine Oxenberg & Paul Simon/Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Live from New York, it's... Paul Simon! Sketches include "Geraldo Rivera Opens The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier," "Wall Shackles Prison," "The Late Show with Joan Rivers," "The Limits Of The Imagination," "Dirk Landers, CIA Operative," a guest performance by Penn & Teller, "Producer Tommy Flanagan," "Brim Decaffeinated," "A Mother's Day Message," and "Trojans." Paul Simon performed "You Can Call Me Al," "Homeless" with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and "Graceland." Air Date : 10th-May-1986

Season 11 Episode 1 - Madonna/Simple Minds

Sketches include: ""SNL Drug Tests,"" ""A Message From The Almighty,"" ""National Inquirer Theatre,"" ""Pinklisting,"" ""Cabrini Green,"" and ""Nancy Reagan Meets Charles and Di."" Simple Minds performed ""Alive and Kicking."" Air Date : 9th-Nov-1985  Read More

Season 11 Episode 2 - Chevy Chase/Sheila E.

Sketches include ""Smoky Hallway,"" ""Wacky Glue,"" ""Those Unlucky Andersons"", ""Ford and Reagan,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Pathological Liars Anonymous,"" ""Craig Sundburg-Idiot Savant,"" ""Trojans,"" ""The Blue, The Gray and The Yellow,"" ""Vlad the Impaler,"" ""Drums Drums Drums,"" and ""Jose Cuervo's Party School Bowl."" Sheila E. performed ""Hollyrock"" and ""A Love Bizarre."" Air Date : 16th-Nov-1985  Read More

Season 11 Episode 3 - Pee Wee Herman/Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band

Sketches include ""Twin Towers Tightrope,"" ""Pee Wee Herman's Thanksgiving Special"", ""Marital Problems,"" ""Pee Wee's School Romance,"" ""Find the Mouse in the Coke,"" and ""Hal Fisher's Money Magnet Method."" Air Date : 23rd-Nov-1985  Read More

Season 11 Episode 4 - John Lithgow/Mr. Mister

Sketches include--- Halley's Comet, Cliche Father, Master Thespian, Nancy Reagan sings ""That Old Black Magic"", The Ad Council, Rajneesh's Rolls-Royces, The Limits Of The Imagination. Air Date : 7th-Dec-1985  Read More

Season 11 Episode 5 - Tom Hanks/Sade

Sketches include "Entertainment Tonight", "Trojans", "Tommy and His Mother", "Comedians" and "Steve's Fantasy". Air Date : 14th-Dec-1985  Read More

Season 11 Episode 6 - Teri Garr/Dream Academy, The Cult

Sketches include ""The Wrapper Rapper,"" ""Critic,"" ""The Price of Eggs,"" ""Hildy,"" ""A Roy Orbison Christmas,"" ""The Big Tree,"" and ""Time Traveling Trivial Pursuit."" The Dream Academy performed their one and only hit, ""Life In A Northern Town."" Air Date : 21st-Dec-1985  Read More

Season 11 Episode 7 - Harry Dean Stanton/The Replacements

Live from New York, it's... Dennis Miller! Sketches include "Herb's Press Conference," "Gulf Coast Furniture Warehouse," "Cleveland Vice," "Death Of A Gunfighter," "What You Said During Labor," "That Black Girl," "Big Ball Of Sports" (film), "The Friendly Drunk," "Jack's Discount Emporium," and "Say No To The Army." The Replacements performed "Bastards of the Young" and "Kiss Me on the Bus." Air Date : 18th-Jan-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 8 - Dudley Moore/Al Green

Sketches include ""Monks and Football,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Master Thespian"", ""The Limits of the Imagination"", ""Name That Tune,"" and ""Die Foriegner Die!"" Al Green performs ""Going Away."" Air Date : 25th-Jan-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 9 - Ron Reagan/The Nelsons

Live From New York, it's...Ronald Reagon, Jr. Sketches include: White House Risky Business, You're Going To Hell: A Message From The Almighty (repeat from the Madonna/Simple Minds episode), The Pat Stevens Show, Dalkon Shield Trout Lure, Back To The Future, Penn And Teller Guest Performance, Limits of the Imagination, Shakespeare In The Slums With Flotilda Williams, and The Woody Allen Fan The Nelsons performs: Walk Away and Do You Know What I Mean Air Date : 8th-Feb-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 10 - Jerry Hall/Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

Live from New York, it's... Mick Jagger! Sketches include "Tommy Flanagan," "The Limits Of The Imagination," and "Models Against The Wilderness," "Master Thespian," "The Line of Death," "Sam Kinison Stand-Up," "The Pat Stevens Show," and "Dad's Sore Big Toe." Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughn perform "Say What" and "Change It." Air Date : 15th-Feb-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 11 - Jay Leno/The Neville Brothers

Sketches include ""Backstage,"" ""Star Search,"" ""Dinner with Mike,"" ""Biff & Selena,"" and ""Jay's Evil Twin."" Air Date : 22nd-Feb-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 12 - Griffin Dunne/Rosanne Cash

""Tommy Flanagan's Pathological Liars Anonymous"", ""Griffin Dunne's One-Handed Drum Solo from Wipeout"", ""Ferdinand Marcos Malacanang Palace Liquidation Sale"", ""You bet your finger"", ""Weekend Update with Dennis Miller"", ""Two Jones' Cable Installers"", ""Penn & Teller"". Air Date : 15th-Mar-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 13 - George Wendt/Philip Glass

Sketches include ""The Honeymooners: Lost Episodes,"" ""Camera Control,"" ""Two Directors,"" ""That Black Girl,"" and ""Vietnam Sketch."" Philip Glass performs ""Rubric."" Air Date : 22nd-Mar-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 14 - Oprah Winfrey/Joe Jackson

Sketches include ""Beat Her!,"" ""John Mellencamp,"" ""The Pat Stevens Show,"" ""Craig Sundberg, Idiot Savant,"" and ""One-Shoe Emma."" Joe Jackson performed ""Right or Wrong."" Air Date : 12th-Apr-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 15 - Tony Danza/Laurie Anderson

Live from New York, it's... Randy Quaid, Robert Downey Jr., and Anthony Michael Hall! Sketches include "Vietnam Horror Story," "Nancy Reagan's Workout," "Lyndon LaRouche Theatre," "The 30-Second Count," a guest performance by Penn & Teller, "Big Time Professional Golf," "My Unconditional Love," "Master Thespian," and "The Further Adventures Of Biff And Salena." Laurie Anderson performed "Baby Doll" and "Day The Devil." Air Date : 19th-Apr-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 16 - Catherine Oxenberg & Paul Simon/Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Live from New York, it's... Paul Simon! Sketches include "Geraldo Rivera Opens The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier," "Wall Shackles Prison," "The Late Show with Joan Rivers," "The Limits Of The Imagination," "Dirk Landers, CIA Operative," a guest performance by Penn & Teller, "Producer Tommy Flanagan," "Brim Decaffeinated," "A Mother's Day Message," and "Trojans." Paul Simon performed "You Can Call Me Al," "Homeless" with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and "Graceland." Air Date : 10th-May-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 17 - Jimmy Breslin & Marvin Hagler/Level 42, E.G. Daily

Sketches are ""Mike 'The Menace' Hall,"" ""Kill Kaddafi?"" ""Tornadoville,"" ""Marvin's Knockout Tips,"" ""Lone Wolf McCord,"" ""The Pat Stevens,"" ""Cabrini Green's Assembly,"" ""Jody Hagler,"" ""Midday with Jennifer Hicks: Bond's Supervillains"", ""Weekend Update with Dennis Miller"", ""Sam Kinison's standup act"". Level 42 performs ""Something About You"" and EG Daily performs ""Say It, Say It"" with Jon Lovitz. Air Date : 17th-May-1986  Read More

Season 11 Episode 18 - Anjelica Huston & Billy Martin/George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic

Live from New York, it's...Randy Quaid Sketches include: Hands Across America, Moments of Doubt, Glamorous Drinking, National Council of Liquor and Spirits, Actors on Film, Hallmark Cards, Lesbian Pick-Ups, Bocce Ball My Way, Tempting Billy, The People's Second Choice Award, Book Minute, LaBelles At The Movies, My Friend, and Backstage SNL: Lorne Kills The Cast (except for Jon Lovitz, Nora Dunn, and Dennis Miller) George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic perform: ""Let's Take It To The Stage"" and ""Do Fries Go With That Shake"" Air Date : 24th-May-1986  Read More