Season 6.

Production event

Nov 15, 1980

Jean Doumanian succeeds Lorne Michaels

Doumanian becomes executive producer after Michaels and the original ensemble leave the program.

Cast addition

Nov 15, 1980

Six new repertory players debut

Denny Dillon, Gilbert Gottfried, Gail Matthius, Joe Piscopo, Ann Risley and Charles Rocket make up the new premiere cast.

Cast addition

Dec 13, 1980

Four featured players enter during the season

Eddie Murphy, Matthew Laurance and Patrick Weathers receive cast credit beginning December 13; Yvonne Hudson joins the credited featured roster December 20.

Cast promotion

Feb 7, 1981

Eddie Murphy rises to repertory status

Murphy moves from an uncredited first appearance to featured-player credit and then repertory status during the same 13-episode season.

Milestone

Feb 14, 1981

SNL presents its first hip-hop performance

Funky Four Plus One performs during the Deborah Harry episode, an appearance widely cited as a first for SNL and national television.

Production event

Feb 21, 1981

Charles Rocket’s on-air profanity accelerates upheaval

Rocket’s uncensored remark during the February 21 goodnights precedes NBC’s replacement of Doumanian.

Production event

Mar 7, 1981

Jean Doumanian’s tenure ends

Doumanian leaves after the March 7 broadcast; Dick Ebersol takes charge during the ensuing hiatus.

Cast departure

Mar 7, 1981

Six performers leave after episode 12

Gilbert Gottfried, Yvonne Hudson, Matthew Laurance, Ann Risley, Charles Rocket and Patrick Weathers make their final credited appearances of the season.

Production event

Apr 11, 1981

Dick Ebersol relaunches the show

Ebersol’s first produced episode is the hostless April 11 finale, featuring new cast members Robin Duke, Tim Kazurinsky and Tony Rosato.

Cast structure

Apr 11, 1981

Two featured players receive one-episode tenures

Laurie Metcalf and Emily Prager are credited only for the finale; Metcalf appears in a filmed Weekend Update piece, while Prager does not appear.

Production event

Apr 11, 1981

Writers’ strike ends the season after 13 episodes

The 1981 Writers Guild of America strike cancels the remaining planned broadcasts after Ebersol’s first show.

Cast departure

Apr 11, 1981

Denny Dillon and Gail Matthius depart

Dillon and Matthius make their final appearances as cast members in the hostless season finale.