![]() ![]() But it became a tipping point for a season already ravaged by critics and struggling to connect with longtime fans. So it's not like Rocket was coasting through this already-rocky stretch by February 1981, when the F-word episode aired. (Rocket's dialogue even included the N-word, leading to an especially awkward audience silence.) (According to A Backstage History, Rocket felt the writers were trying to intentionally sabotage the show the authors also write that Rocket "made no effort to disguise his condescension" toward Murphy.) Many of the sketches are now ranked among the worst in the show's history - the aforementioned book saves particular venom for one widely panned bit, "The Leather Weather Report," where Denny Dillon plays a dominatrix weather reporter who relishes inflicting pain upon Rocket's character, who's chained to the map.īut the season's most notorious sketch remains "Commie Hunting Season," a failed attempt at social commentary where angry men with Southern accents gear up to shoot Communists. He also took over as anchor of "Weekend Update," another showcase for his warped newsman persona.ĭespite the promise of some cast members, the creative crew struggled to find chemistry throughout Season Six. And the show put his charisma to good use: Building on his news background, he hosted a recurring bit called "The Rocket Report," playing an overeager on-the-street journalist. The producer was already a Rocket fan, familiar with a video he submitted to Michaels the previous year. ![]() But according to Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad's Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, she envisioned Rocket, a former TV anchorman and reporter, as a "combination of Chevy Chase and Bill Murray." She found some quality names, including Joe Piscopo and the unknown Eddie Murphy. Instead, NBC promoted associated producer Jean Doumanian to be his replacement, a controversial move that prompted the entire cast to leave.ĭoumanian was left with a nearly impossible task: finding a new batch of talent with enough star power to replace the original group. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.The show's original executive producer, Lorne Michaels, left the sketch series with the intent of taking a year off - assuming they'd all pick back up upon his return. "He had so many friends and influenced so many people." "I just think he was one of the nicest and funniest people I ever met," said Chip Young, who co-wrote a column on Rocket in a Providence paper. He was also an anchor for a station in Rhode Island and played an influential role in the Providence, R.I., arts scene decades ago, friends said. His movie credits included "Earth Girls are Easy," "Dumb and Dumber" and "Dances With Wolves," according to the Internet Movie Database.īefore his time on "Saturday Night Live," Rocket was briefly an anchorman at KOAA-TV in Pueblo, Colo., in 1977, where he went by the name Charles Claverie, KOAA News Operations Manager Greg Boyce said. He went on to appear in numerous TV shows, including "Moonlighting" and "Max Headroom," and provided voices for cartoon series. Rocket was later dismissed along with other cast members and writers on the show amid weak ratings at the time. The incident sparked complaints from viewers and prompted NBC to issue an apology. ![]()
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