Michael Arlen

This is probably as good a time as any to say a few words about an appealing new comedy program called Saturday Night, which is broadcast at 1130 each Saturday night by NBC and is definitely not to be confused with Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, which comes on earlier in the evening on ABC.

This is probably as good a time as any to say a few words about an appealing new comedy program called Saturday Night, which is broadcast at 1130 each Saturday night by NBC and is definitely not to be confused with Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, which comes on earlier in the evening on ABC.

This is probably as good a time as any to say a few words about an appealing new comedy program called Saturday Night, which is broadcast at 1130 each Saturday night by NBC and is definitely not to be confused with Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell, which comes on earlier in the evening on ABC.

The Cosell Show and NBC's Saturday Night are both mainly live, but there is a crucial difference between the two programs. Cosell's show depends on that strange fantasy language of celebrity public relations which has been concocted by mass entertainment producers and stars.

The Cosell Show and NBC's Saturday Night are both mainly live, but there is a crucial difference between the two programs. Cosell's show depends on that strange fantasy language of celebrity public relations which has been concocted by mass entertainment producers and stars.

The Cosell Show and NBC's Saturday Night are both mainly live, but there is a crucial difference between the two programs. Cosell's show depends on that strange fantasy language of celebrity public relations which has been concocted by mass entertainment producers and stars.

It is the language of kisses blown, of God bless yous, of this wonderful human being, of a sensational performer and my very dear personal friend, and of you're just a beautiful audience. In short, the language of celebrity hype. Perhaps a contemporary equivalent of dandyism and powdered wigs. Much of the appeal of Saturday Night lies in its contrast with this ubiquitous show business language.

It is the language of kisses blown, of God bless yous, of this wonderful human being, of a sensational performer and my very dear personal friend, and of you're just a beautiful audience. In short, the language of celebrity hype. Perhaps a contemporary equivalent of dandyism and powdered wigs. Much of the appeal of Saturday Night lies in its contrast with this ubiquitous show business language.

It is the language of kisses blown, of God bless yous, of this wonderful human being, of a sensational performer and my very dear personal friend, and of you're just a beautiful audience. In short, the language of celebrity hype. Perhaps a contemporary equivalent of dandyism and powdered wigs. Much of the appeal of Saturday Night lies in its contrast with this ubiquitous show business language.

Its format, like that of most comedy programs, consists of a familiar assembly of skits, songs, and monologues. But the spirit of the material is in opposition to conventional show business.

Its format, like that of most comedy programs, consists of a familiar assembly of skits, songs, and monologues. But the spirit of the material is in opposition to conventional show business.

Its format, like that of most comedy programs, consists of a familiar assembly of skits, songs, and monologues. But the spirit of the material is in opposition to conventional show business.

The hosts don't do very much in the way of hosting, in the conventional TV manner of promoting themselves or the guests, but are content mainly to sit around, providing a periodic focus for the loosely tied-together skits, and sometimes telling a story or two. Skit humor usually defies cold description, so I won't try much of it here.

The hosts don't do very much in the way of hosting, in the conventional TV manner of promoting themselves or the guests, but are content mainly to sit around, providing a periodic focus for the loosely tied-together skits, and sometimes telling a story or two. Skit humor usually defies cold description, so I won't try much of it here.

The hosts don't do very much in the way of hosting, in the conventional TV manner of promoting themselves or the guests, but are content mainly to sit around, providing a periodic focus for the loosely tied-together skits, and sometimes telling a story or two. Skit humor usually defies cold description, so I won't try much of it here.

On the recent Saturday with Candace Bergen as host, the show began with a not very brilliant takeoff of a presidential news conference, which showed the actor impersonating President Ford bumping his head on the lectern, fumbling with his drinking water and repeatedly falling down.

On the recent Saturday with Candace Bergen as host, the show began with a not very brilliant takeoff of a presidential news conference, which showed the actor impersonating President Ford bumping his head on the lectern, fumbling with his drinking water and repeatedly falling down.

On the recent Saturday with Candace Bergen as host, the show began with a not very brilliant takeoff of a presidential news conference, which showed the actor impersonating President Ford bumping his head on the lectern, fumbling with his drinking water and repeatedly falling down.

But then there was a crisply done parody of a TV news program concluding with a lunatic, news for the hard of hearing, which consisted of a newsman yelling items of news very loud.

But then there was a crisply done parody of a TV news program concluding with a lunatic, news for the hard of hearing, which consisted of a newsman yelling items of news very loud.