In the early years of the 1970s comedy TV show Saturday Night Live, John Belushi portrayed an archetypal samurai — he had a dedicated concept of honor, spoke only (mock) Japanese, and wielded a katana. Sketches featuring the character showed him in different occupations that would not be expected for a samurai. He always performed his tasks perfectly, despite scaring his clients quite a few times. The character was modeled after Toshiro Mifune's character in Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo.[1]
Samurai Futaba would probably not have become a recurring character if not for Buck Henry's insistence that there be a second sketch featuring him when he first hosted on January 17, 1976. It is perhaps due to these origins that it became standard practice on SNL to feature a Samurai sketch every time Henry hosted, until Belushi left the cast. Except for "Samurai BMOC", each time Henry would play the same character, Mr. Dantley.
In issue #74 of Marvel Team-Up (cover dated October, 1978), Belushi (in character as Samurai Futaba) teamed up with Spider-Man to duel the Marvel ComicssupervillainSilver Samurai.[2] In the story, the Silver Samurai sought to recover a ring containing a teleportation device that had inadvertently come into Belushi's possession. An alternate version of the "Samurai Deli" sketch also appears briefly in issue #54 of The Sandman, part of a timeline where Prez Rickard became President of the United States and hosted the "highest-rated" episode of Saturday Night Live in history.
List of Saturday Night Live episodes featuring Samurai Futabaedit
"Samurai Hotel" December 13, 1975 – Belushi and his bellhop (host Richard Pryor, also portraying a samurai, the only time any other samurai was depicted) duel over who has to carry a guest's bags. Pryor smashes the front desk with his sword; The Samurai says, "Well, I can dig where you're coming from," the only words ever spoken by the character in English.
"Samurai Delicatessen" January 17, 1976 – Mr. Dantley (host Buck Henry) waits as the Samurai makes a sandwich by severing ropes on hanging salami, slicing tomatoes in midair, and splitting bread with his skull. The two of them carry on a pleasant conversation although each speaks a different language.
"Samurai Divorce Court" February 14, 1976 – Futaba vs. Futaba. In the Samurai world, custody cases are resolved by splitting children in half. Show regular Jane Curtin plays Futaba's wife. Host: Peter Boyle
"Samurai Tailor" May 22, 1976 – Mr. Dantley (Buck Henry) needs a tuxedo for a wedding. The Samurai makes one for him with his katana.
"Samurai Stockbroker" October 30, 1976 – Belushi accidentally strikes Buck Henry, playing the client Mr. Dantley, in the forehead with a katana. On tape, Henry clearly staggers back from the blow. Afterward, Henry appeared on camera with a band-aid covering the cut on his forehead. In solidarity, for the remainder of the broadcast the rest of the cast members (including a teddy bear in one later sketch) also appeared with band-aids on their foreheads.
"The Purple Lagoon" (during musical performance) December 11, 1976 musical guest: Frank Zappa
"Samurai Hit Man" March 19, 1977 – Don Marsala (Dan Aykroyd) hires the Samurai to kill, as soon as possible, both Don Cornelius and Don Kirshner.
"Samurai B.M.O.C." May 21, 1977 – The Samurai must convince Dean Bynum (Buck Henry) that he is qualified to graduate from college.
"Samurai Dry Cleaners" October 29, 1977 host: Charles Grodin
"Samurai Psychiatrist" November 19, 1977 – Buck Henry relates a disturbing dream.
"Samurai Night Fever" February 25, 1978 – a parody of the film Saturday Night Fever, with the Samurai as a disco dancer. Host O.J. Simpson plays the Samurai's brother.
"Samurai TV Repairman" May 20, 1978 – The Samurai tosses a TV set around, hits it with his sword, plunges two knives into the top grille, and the picture turns out perfect. Host: Buck Henry
"Rollo" (during musical performance) October 21, 1978 – host: Frank Zappa
"Samurai Optometrist" November 11, 1978 – The Samurai nearly commits seppuku when Buck Henry calls him an "optician".
"Samurai Bakery" May 26, 1979 – host: Buck Henry Mr. Dantley (Buck Henry) buys a last-minute wedding cake, only it is not boxed. The Samurai tosses the cake in the air, and slices it to pieces as it drops behind the counter, only to pick up neatly packaged, string-tied pink boxes, which he hands to Mr. Dantley.
^Barra, Allen (17 August 2010). "That Nameless Stranger, Half a Century Later". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
^Cowsill, Alan; Manning, Matthew K. (2012). Spider-Man Chronicle: Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. DK Publishing. p. 104. ISBN978-0756692360.
April 11, 2024
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In the early years of the 1970s comedy TV show Saturday Night Live John Belushi portrayed an archetypal samurai he had a dedicated concept of honor spoke only mock Japanese and wielded a katana Sketches featuring the character showed him in different occupations that would not be expected for a samurai He always performed his tasks perfectly despite scaring his clients quite a few times The character was modeled after Toshiro Mifune s character in Akira Kurosawa s Yojimbo 1 Samurai Futaba would probably not have become a recurring character if not for Buck Henry s insistence that there be a second sketch featuring him when he first hosted on January 17 1976 It is perhaps due to these origins that it became standard practice on SNL to feature a Samurai sketch every time Henry hosted until Belushi left the cast Except for Samurai BMOC each time Henry would play the same character Mr Dantley In issue 74 of Marvel Team Up cover dated October 1978 Belushi in character as Samurai Futaba teamed up with Spider Man to duel the Marvel Comics supervillain Silver Samurai 2 In the story the Silver Samurai sought to recover a ring containing a teleportation device that had inadvertently come into Belushi s possession An alternate version of the Samurai Deli sketch also appears briefly in issue 54 of The Sandman part of a timeline where Prez Rickard became President of the United States and hosted the highest rated episode of Saturday Night Live in history List of Saturday Night Live episodes featuring Samurai Futaba edit Samurai Hotel December 13 1975 Belushi and his bellhop host Richard Pryor also portraying a samurai the only time any other samurai was depicted duel over who has to carry a guest s bags Pryor smashes the front desk with his sword The Samurai says Well I can dig where you re coming from the only words ever spoken by the character in English Samurai Delicatessen January 17 1976 Mr Dantley host Buck Henry waits as the Samurai makes a sandwich by severing ropes on hanging salami slicing tomatoes in midair and splitting bread with his skull The two of them carry on a pleasant conversation although each speaks a different language Samurai Divorce Court February 14 1976 Futaba vs Futaba In the Samurai world custody cases are resolved by splitting children in half Show regular Jane Curtin plays Futaba s wife Host Peter Boyle Samurai Tailor May 22 1976 Mr Dantley Buck Henry needs a tuxedo for a wedding The Samurai makes one for him with his katana Samurai General Practitioner July 31 1976 host Kris Kristofferson Samurai Stockbroker October 30 1976 Belushi accidentally strikes Buck Henry playing the client Mr Dantley in the forehead with a katana On tape Henry clearly staggers back from the blow Afterward Henry appeared on camera with a band aid covering the cut on his forehead In solidarity for the remainder of the broadcast the rest of the cast members including a teddy bear in one later sketch also appeared with band aids on their foreheads The Purple Lagoon during musical performance December 11 1976 musical guest Frank Zappa Samurai Hit Man March 19 1977 Don Marsala Dan Aykroyd hires the Samurai to kill as soon as possible both Don Cornelius and Don Kirshner Samurai B M O C May 21 1977 The Samurai must convince Dean Bynum Buck Henry that he is qualified to graduate from college Samurai Dry Cleaners October 29 1977 host Charles Grodin Samurai Psychiatrist November 19 1977 Buck Henry relates a disturbing dream Samurai Night Fever February 25 1978 a parody of the film Saturday Night Fever with the Samurai as a disco dancer Host O J Simpson plays the Samurai s brother Samurai TV Repairman May 20 1978 The Samurai tosses a TV set around hits it with his sword plunges two knives into the top grille and the picture turns out perfect Host Buck Henry Rollo during musical performance October 21 1978 host Frank Zappa Samurai Optometrist November 11 1978 The Samurai nearly commits seppuku when Buck Henry calls him an optician Samurai Bakery May 26 1979 host Buck Henry Mr Dantley Buck Henry buys a last minute wedding cake only it is not boxed The Samurai tosses the cake in the air and slices it to pieces as it drops behind the counter only to pick up neatly packaged string tied pink boxes which he hands to Mr Dantley See also editRecurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketchesReferences edit Barra Allen 17 August 2010 That Nameless Stranger Half a Century Later Wall Street Journal Retrieved 10 January 2012 Cowsill Alan Manning Matthew K 2012 Spider Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web Slinging DK Publishing p 104 ISBN 978 0756692360 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saturday Night Live Samurai amp oldid 1197712297, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
