Season 5.

Cast departure

Oct 13, 1979

Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi do not return

The two original repertory players leave after Season 4, with Aykroyd withdrawing shortly before the premiere to concentrate on The Blues Brothers.

Cast addition

Oct 20, 1979

Harry Shearer joins the cast

Shearer first appears in episode 2 and is promoted from unconventional featured billing to the repertory cast in February.

Cast structure

Nov 17, 1979

The featured-player category begins

Starting with episode 5, the opening credits formally separate featured performers from the repertory cast.

Cast addition

Nov 17, 1979

The on-air company expands through the writing staff

Peter Aykroyd, Tom Davis, Jim Downey, Brian Doyle-Murray, Al Franken, Don Novello, Tom Schiller and Alan Zweibel receive featured-player credit during the season.

Cast structure

Jan 26, 1980

Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray become SNL's first cast-member siblings

Brian Doyle-Murray's addition places two members of the same family in the cast for the first time.

Milestone

Mar 15, 1980

SNL reaches its 100th episode

The March 15 hostless broadcast marks the program's 100th regular episode and features numerous returning guests.

Cast departure

May 24, 1980

The Season 5 company departs

Every repertory and featured performer finishes their current cast tenure by the end of the season, setting up a complete on-air rebuild.

Cast departure

May 24, 1980

Five remaining original-era repertory players exit

Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner make their final cast appearances in the finale.

Production event

May 24, 1980

Lorne Michaels leaves after the original five-year run

Michaels departs as executive producer after the finale and remains away through Seasons 6–10.

Milestone

May 24, 1980

The original SNL era closes

Buck Henry's finale ends the first five-season production run with a nearly complete departure of the cast, writers and leadership.