A CLASSIC SNL SKETCH FROM 1975
Some classic Saturday Night Live sketches need almost no complicated setup.
“Samurai Hotel” is a perfect example.
The sketch originally aired on December 13, 1975, during the first season of Saturday Night Live.
Richard Pryor hosted the episode, while John Belushi played Samurai Futaba and Chevy Chase played a traveler looking for a hotel room.
Richard Pryor appeared as the hotel bellboy, creating one of the most memorable early combinations of comedy talent on the show.
CHEVY CHASE JUST WANTS A ROOM
The basic situation could not be simpler.
A traveler arrives at the Samurai Hotel and wants to check in for the night.
He asks about a room, the bed, and the view.
Instead of receiving normal hotel service, he finds himself surrounded by an increasingly intense samurai atmosphere.
John Belushi's Futaba treats his hotel job with complete seriousness.
That serious attitude makes the absurd situation even funnier.
The traveler simply wants a comfortable place to stay.
The hotel staff, meanwhile, appear ready to settle ordinary workplace disagreements with swords.
JOHN BELUSHI'S SAMURAI FUTABA
Samurai Futaba became one of John Belushi's early recurring...
