Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1987–88

The following is a list of recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced between October 17, 1987, and February 27, 1988, the thirteenth season of SNL.

Pumping Up with Hans and Franz

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Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon play two Austrian jocks, inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Debuted October 17, 1987.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
13 October 17, 1987 Steve Martin
13 November 21, 1987 Candice Bergen
13 December 19, 1987 Paul Simon
13 January 23, 1988 Robin Williams
13 February 27, 1988 Judge Reinhold
14 October 8, 1988 Tom Hanks
14 November 12, 1988 Demi Moore
14 December 3, 1988 Danny DeVito
14 February 25, 1989 Glenn Close
14 May 20, 1989 Steve Martin
15 October 7, 1989 Rick Moranis
15 November 18, 1989 Woody Harrelson
15 February 10, 1990 Quincy Jones
16 October 27, 1990 Patrick Swayze
16 March 23, 1991 Jeremy Irons
16 April 20, 1991 Steven Seagal
17 October 26, 1991 Christian Slater
18 October 31, 1992 Catherine O'Hara
20 October 22, 1994 Dana Carvey Weekend Update
25 October 16, 1999 Heather Graham Where Are They Now?

Dennis Miller

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Dana Carvey impersonates the Weekend Update anchor beside him.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
13 December 19, 1987 Paul Simon
14 October 22, 1988 John Larroquette
14 December 17, 1988 Melanie Griffith
15 October 28, 1989 James Woods
16 December 8, 1990 Tom Hanks with "Dennis Miller" (Tom Hanks)
17 May 16, 1992 Woody Harrelson during Johnny Carson final show spoof cold open (solo, not with Dennis Miller)

Tonto, Tarzan and Frankenstein's Monster

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This trio showcased three popular film characters who were probably least likely to get together and sing because they are all known for their inability to speak proper English. Tonto (played by Jon Lovitz) and Tarzan (played by Kevin Nealon) mostly spoke the lyrics in broken English, leaving out certain verbs and pronouns, while Frankenstein's Monster (played by Phil Hartman) usually just growled and moaned, rarely forming any semblance of the actual words, though he could opine that "bread good" and "fire bad". They came together to sing "We Are the World", and during the holidays they would usually sing Christmas carols. On one occasion, they recited Edgar Allan Poe's classic poem "The Raven". For Easter, the trio were joined by Frankenstein's Monster's evil twin (Mel Gibson), who spoke whole sentences; they sang "Here Comes Peter Cottontail". All four, plus Tarzan's own Jane, starred in their own sporadic soap opera, "As World Turn" (taken from the long-running As the World Turns). Debuted December 19, 1987 and appeared in the early 1990s.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
13 December 19, 1987 Paul Simon
14 December 17, 1988 Melanie Griffith
14 January 28, 1989 Tony Danza
14 April 1, 1989 Mel Gibson
14 May 20, 1989 Steve Martin
15 October 28, 1989 James Woods
15 November 18, 1989 Woody Harrelson
15 December 16, 1989 Andie MacDowell
15 February 10, 1990 Quincy Jones
17 December 14, 1991 Steve Martin with Chris Farley replacing Tonto
Appearances

Tarzan:

  • November 19, 1988

Frankenstein's Monster:

  • January 19, 1991
  • April 17, 1993
  • March 23, 1996

Learning To Feel

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A Nora Dunn sketch. Debuted January 23, 1988.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
13 January 23, 1988 Robin Williams
13 February 13, 1988 Justine Bateman
14 October 15, 1988 Matthew Broderick

Girl Watchers

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A Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz sketch. Two men comment to each other as they leer at passing women. Their cocksure tone of voice never changes, even as they acknowledge that no woman would ever find them attractive. Debuted February 20, 1988.

Appearances
Season Episode Host Notes
13 February 20, 1988 Tom Hanks
14 October 8, 1988 Tom Hanks
15 February 17, 1990 Tom Hanks

References

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Preceded by
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1986-87
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches (listed chronologically) Succeeded by
Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1988-89