A Look Back at 'FRIDAYS' 1980-82

FRIDAYS was ABC's answer to SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. for a short period of time, it was better and funnier than SNL, but in the long run, SNL still lives and almost no one remembers FRIDAYS.

FRIDAYS premiered on April 11, 1980. It was the same basic set up as SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. Comedy sketches, musical guests,and a news update desk. The only thing different was FRIDAYS did not feature a guest host and some of its sketches were played for drama, not comedy.

Most of the sketches were strongly based in the drug culture of the time. It had recurring characters like The 3 Stooges that were drug crazed and high, not just simpletons that hit each other. They also had a Jamaican cooking show that always had the "chef" smoking a big joint by the end of the meal. You try and air a show like that today and everyone would be trying to pull it off the air.



The cast did have some names that would continue to be know stars. The more famous of those names were Michael Richards and Larry David, both from SEINFELD.

Rich Hall, who later would be an SNL cast member, was first exposed to the national audience on FRIDAYS.

Mark Blankfield, who was the first breakout from the cast, was the star of a few movied duriong the early 80's. Movies like JEKYLL & HYDE... TOGETHER AGAIN and THE JERK, TOO. He's the one that had that eye that was always looking in a different direction than the other eye.

Melenie Chartoff who has mainly done voice work (RUGRATS) over the years, but has had a few other series like WEIRD SCIENCE.

The most well know aspect about FRIDAYS was the "ANDY KAUFMAN INCIDENT." On the February 20, 1981 episode, Andy Kaufman was the host. During a sketch about couples at dinner sneaking away to the bathroom to smoke marijuana, Kaufman, who was known for causing trouble on live TV, broke character and refused to read his lines (saying "I can't play stoned"). Michael Richards got up from the table, grabbed the cue cards and threw them down on the table in front of Kaufman, who responded by throwing a glass of water on Richards. Some of the show's cast and crew members became angry and a small brawl broke out on stage. Since the show was broadcast live, home viewers were able to see most of these events transpire until the network cut the cameras off. Kaufman returned the following week in a taped apology to home viewers. This incident was planned by Kaufman and meant as a prank. Kaufman concocted the event and only staff members aware of the plan were Richards, Melanie Chartoff, producer John Moffitt and producer/announcer Jack Burns.


The first 12 months of FRIDAYS were successful.it was drawing fans away from SNL, but when ABC wanted to expand NIGHTLINE to a fifth night, the comedy was moved back to a 12:00am start. This move killed the show and within a year, it was done, leaving only repeats for the last six moths of its life.

The best way to get the feel of FRIDAYS is to watch FRIDAYS, and you will see why "JUST SAY NO" was the montra and leading cause for the 80's First Lady, Nancy Reagan.