#SNL50 Sketch of the Day - Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025

Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase in "Word Association" (1975)

In his excellent memoir Black Is the New White, the late great Paul Mooney claims to have written “Word Association,” the groundbreaking 1975 (NBC’s) Saturday Night (Live) sketch starring his frequent collaborator Richard Pryor. Chevy Chase, who played the personnel manager interviewing Pryor’s character for a custodial job, also takes credit. Mr. Mooney, whom I believe, was indeed credited with the regular writers in the closing crawl of that week’s (superb) episode, but his name does not turn up on the Saturday Night Live record album that recycled this sketch.

Michael O’Donoghue produced the LP, and I’m still grateful that son of a bitch is roasting in Hell. (Mr. Mike would have liked that joke.)

Fun Fact: Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy read this sketch as part of Mr. Murphy’s audition for Season 6, according to Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad’s excellent book Saturday Night.