Ep 4. Jamie Lee Curtis/James Brown

On October 18, 1980, Saturday Night Live aired its fourth episode of season six, hosted by actress Jamie Lee Curtis and featuring legendary musician James Brown as the musical guest.

The episode opened with a sketch titled "Countdown to the Eclipse," featuring Curtis and cast member Charles Rocket as hosts of a TV show chronicling the approaching eclipse. The sketch includes absurd commentary from the hosts, interviews with eccentric characters, and an unexpected twist at the end.

The episode also featured a mock commercial for "Fred Silverman School of Wonderful Television," a parody of television executive Fred Silverman's revolving door of failed television shows. Another notable sketch was "Brothel Inspection," in which Curtis plays a brothel owner who tries to charm and bribe a government official (played by Tim Kazurinsky) during an inspection.

In addition to the humorous sketches, the episode included a musical performance by James Brown and his band, who performed their hits "Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses?)" and "The Boss." Brown's high-energy performance, complete with his signature dance moves and backup singers, was a highlight of the episode.

Other sketches in the episode included a spoof of the TV show "That's Incredible!" featuring absurd and useless talents, a segment of "Weekend Update" with anchor Charles Rocket commenting on current events and news stories, and a "Kung Fu Theatre" sketch featuring host Curtis as a kung fu master battling a villainous gang.

Overall, the Jamie Lee Curtis/James Brown episode of Saturday Night Live season six provided a mixture of political satire, wacky sketches, and energetic musical performances. With Curtis' acting skills and Brown's musical prowess, the episode showcased the comedic talent and versatility of the show's cast and guests.