THE SNL STAGE WAS ABOUT TO BECOME HIS PLAYGROUND.
When Don Rickles stepped onto the Saturday Night Live stage on January 28, 1984, viewers knew they were about to see something completely different.
Rickles was not simply appearing as a guest comedian.
He was the host.
And that meant the entire SNL stage became an opportunity for him to unleash his trademark fast-paced insult comedy and fearless interaction with the audience.
The official Saturday Night Live video identifies this performance as Don Rickles' monologue, aired on January 28, 1984.
A CLASSIC 1984 SNL MOMENT.
The episode was Season 9, Episode 11, with Don Rickles as host and Billy Idol as the musical guest.
The episode also featured John Madden, Brandon Tartikoff, and Dr. Joyce Brothers as special guests.
The episode lineup included Rickles' monologue alongside sketches such as “Ronco's TV President,” “Kannon AE-1,” “I Married a Monkey,” “The Hamlisch Maneuver,” and “Witness Relocation.”
But for many fans, Rickles' opening monologue remains one of the most memorable parts of the entire episode.
DON RICKLES ENTERS HIS ELEMENT.
There is something immediately different...
