Samurai Hitman - Saturday Night Live

[@honeyfitz3791]

If you watch some of the famous Samurai movies from Japan you will realize how brilliant Belushi's acting was. He not only captured the physical behaviors (like they way he handled the sword) but his "fake" Japanese perfectly captured the way the samurai spoke in these movies: a harsh low-pitched sound made by forcing air up from the diaphragm. He SOUNDED like a Samurai. And yes, the constant scratching is a Toshiro Mifune trademark. Samurai were upper class and were always very clean, except when they became "Ronin," masterless Samurai who, after being defeated in a war, lived in poverty and filth. That was the type of Samurai that Mifune loved to play. Belushi was a genius who lived too short a life. Drugs took him.

[@DinorwicSongwriter]

You need to stop abusing yourself in your mother’s basement and go socialize with real people.

[@NebLleb]

John Belushi truly was the light that burnt out twice as fast shining twice as bright.

[@kiddetroit8403]

Samurai Deli

[@Matthias-sl6jr]

Movie Red Beard is basically Samurai Doctor surprised they never that skit

[@odysseusrex5908]

Drugs didn't take him, he took the drugs.

[@peabarter_3074]

I never missed an episode of SNL then. It was classic. My friends and I would drink beers and watch when we were in high school. 😂

[@StarWarsMoments]

I love that this very scene was playing in the bar in Lost in Translation. Bill Murray watching his young self in a sketch about a samurai....in Japan.

[@GuidoBatt]

Really? I missed it. I'll pay attention next time I see LiT.

[@StarkIller-df7gw]

Yeah that was a cool touch! 😎 👍🏻

[@urbanapache2]

Whaaaat!! gonna look out for it

[@davidnicholson6680]

Belushi scratching his neck is a subtle reference to Toshiro Mifune in Yojimbo. I love it.

[@cbiancardi9233]

He actually styled his character after Toshiba mifune’s samurai

[@richardm6985]

"subtle" ehhhh :P Glad he did it though

[@natwolf687]

​@@richardm6985You seriously being braggy and condescending 'cause you watched an old samurai flick?

[@richardm6985]

@@natwolf687 this is your brain on triggered

[@chethammer]

It would be nice to think that, but more than likely, it was an effect of all the cocaine he was doing in those days.

[@davidgraham2673]

Don Kirschner, had his Rock Concert show, and Don Cornelius had Soul Train. It was brilliant that they made them off to be Mafioso Family leaders. Thats why you hear the crowd clapping. They caught the reference to these guys. I remember both shows.

[@batya7]

THIS! How could I ever explain this to my kids so they understand the joke?

[@davidgraham2673]

​@@batya7, Have them watch a season of Soul Train and Rock Concert, along with two seasons of SNL (because one is never enough for the Original). Then they'll understand. If not then give them Cheeseburger-Cheeseburger two Pepsi's, no coke. 😁😎😁

[@davidgraham2673]

​​​@@batya7, PS, you getting the reference made my day. I worked a Mafia wedding about 30 years ago, and it was awesome. They spared nothing, and went all out. Thus was a resort hotel on the Pacific ocean in San Diego. Several Don's got there early with their wives, and asked me to take care of their wives with great drinks so they would be undisturbed. I told them "No problem; I make the best Long Island Iced Teas, and Magaritas in the world". (I was very cocky back then) The Dons each started me off with $20 bills, with the promise of more to come The wives loved my drinks according to the Dons. The Dons gave me loads more money, and said "Bring your girlfriend to our restaurant, and we'll style you out. Your girlfriend will love it. Don't bring a dime, not even for a tip". What a memorable time.

[@batya7]

@davidgraham2673 They're a whole nother generation! I don't think they'll listen to Mom. I don't even think they'll laugh at Killer Bees! 🙄 PS- cool story with the Dons. Except for the criminal element,

[@opensourcecurrency]

The skit is amazing- Belushi steals the show as usual with a mix of understatement and inanity... But the writing was superb. I remember watching it when it aired- the "Don Cornelius and Don Kirschner" line was so well set up you knew it was going to be an instant classic.

[@victorsamuelson3589]

I love Belushi But the writing leaves something 2b really funny it’s clever but the writing at best C minus

[@kathleenmckeithen118]

This was back when Saturday Night was so funny I was glad to stay up for it!! My favorite John Belushi will always be him as a "Killer Bee" 😍

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

Land Shark !

[@23Robusto]

We don't need no stinkin' badges!

[@kathleenmckeithen118]

@@23Robusto Hilarious!!

[@karaDee2363]

This is back in the days when I enjoyed the entire show from start to finish

[@benkeel2966]

I miss the 70's. Great time to be a kid.

[@stephenmiller3939]

Viet Nam spoiled it for some of us unfortunately.............

[@natwolf687]

​@@stephenmiller3939Is that what you guys had instead of happy childhoods? Viet Nam?

[@stephenmiller3939]

I was born in 1950, @@natwolf687 my childhood was great. Best time ever to grow up.

[@diddymuck]

don cornelius - host of Soul Train; don krishner - music producer and host of late night music tv show.

[@jim2lane]

Indeed sir - notice all the laughs when those two names are used in the sketch. Today's SNL audience - crickets

[@kemart537]

So.....old school ?

[@rickacton7540]

thought he said Kushner

[@mantia39]

No shit?!

[@jsngallery]

don corleone - head of the five families and offer refuser, NY

[@scottburton9701]

Loved Belushi-He was one of a kind!

[@jeffholliday8304]

Since Belushi was using a real sword you can see Dan Aykroyd trying to stay out of the way that’s a very dangerous sketch

[@bonwatcher]

Just ask Buck Henry who got hit with it while hosting (Samurai Stockbroker) and sported a bandage on his face, so the cast followed suit and everyone wore bandages.

[@Ophelia_Pain]

OMG that's right he did use a real 🗡️. I forgot about this.

[@stycord9995]

@@bonwatcher Yeah! I remember that when it aired.

[@ultravioletsongjatshariff8687]

+++ OMG. I'm shure this Samurai could kill JOHN WICK while drinkin a Pepsi ! 🤣🤣🤣 +

[@ultravioletsongjatshariff8687]

@@Ophelia_Pain +++ OMG. I'm shure this Samurai could kill JOHN WICK while drinkin a Pepsi ! 🤣🤣🤣 +

[@stranraerwal]

Belushi absolutely nails it ! Thanks, great master !

[@CindyBarg]

Always...the King of Saves!

[@ultravioletsongjatshariff8687]

+++ OMG. I'm shure this Samurai could kill JOHN WICK while drinkin a Pepsi ! 🤣🤣🤣 +

[@Confused_Philosopher]

Loved the Samurai sketches along with the Land Shark and Mr. Bill they were the best.

[@mscir]

The Samurai Deli was great too. He we was so funny. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3PCq5KKmJqWqZo

[@jamesreid8638]

Let us never forget the Killer Bees.

[@georgesealy4706]

It was so good back then. I would never miss it. Now, I don't even think about it.

[@superchitownhustler]

silly man.

[@rpblank6768]

Great impression of a Teppanyaki chef by Belushi. And the scene used a real griddle like in the Olympia Restaurant scenes. That's commitment!

[@MrEab2010]

Dan Aykroyd played the smarmy CEO in every 70's tv crime series to perfection.

[@Stoney1959]

I loved watching these guys during my college days. A must every Saturday night.

[@rodluvan1976]

was this the best SNL cast ever?

[@dynjarren8355]

Yeah, once Chevy Chase left after the first season. He hogged all the spotlight. But when he left the rest of the cast flourished.

[@mikeconnors1599]

Definitely

[@Instrument_of_Peace]

Absolutely!!

[@jsngallery]

ask dana carver and he will say, "86 to 92 was the best." 🎶

[@JimmyDaGent796]

These guys were edgy..especially that guy on the left lol...pun intended. RIP Mr. Belushi.

[@jaydubya3698]

When Belushi breaks the chopsticks with emphasis...classic.

[@ultravioletsongjatshariff8687]

+++ OMG. I'm shure this Samurai could kill JOHN WICK while drinkin a Pepsi ! 🤣🤣🤣 +

[@gabanjoman]

I've missed you John there is no replacement for this man's humanity Thank you thank you thank you.!

[@billwhelpley6825]

Love the dark and light cabbage. They wouldn't throw that in today.

[@mizzury54]

yes they would. The pathetically unoriginal " they wouldn't do this today" BS.

[@billwhelpley6825]

@@mizzury54 the only thing more pathetic than your comment was your parent's unoriginal idea to procreate

[@MLBlue30]

@@billwhelpley6825 shut up complaining snowflake

[@metroplex3k]

@@mizzury54 no they wouldn’t. No apology necessary…

[@korybeckwith834]

May sound silly but it was the high light of my week when I was a kid a was allowed to stay up late and watch Saturday Night Live in my dads camper in the driveway. The original cast are American treasures.

[@J_Braz_]

That was a real fucking katana. Awesome

[@skaarphy5797]

I'm from Japan, and his Japanese is perfect.

[@thebaldeagle17]

I knew it!

[@janstanglx]

SKAARPHY, THAT'S FUNNY, I REALLY GOT A LAUGH FROM BELUSH AND FROM YOUR COMMENT.

[@kdub1242]

I beg to differ. He has an obvious Nagoya accent, while his character is clearly supposed to be from Tokyo.

[@AvengerII]

@@kdub1242 I thought Belushi was spoofing Toshiro Mifune? Mifune was born in Qingdao, Shandong, China while it was under Japanese rule and grew up in Manchuria.

[@BrianCarnevaleB26]

Fantastic shite!

[@robindew9072]

John Belushi was so hilarious. Hr was so dang talented. To bad we lost him too soon. Miss those days

[@erikawhelan4673]

🎶 It started back in high school / so cool, king of the scene / you found that making people laugh / was more than just a dream / the public took right to you / like flies to a pile of shit / so funny and smart, so talented / but success just couldn't fit 🎶

[@bgaona]

That sword made an awfully clean cut through the vegetables for a prop... between that, the knives and the live grill, this skit looks pretty damn dangerous!

[@rocknrollcannibals]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@jim2lane]

Oh yeah - no way in the world they would use this amount of realism in a skit today. It was amazingly dangerous - notice how far Ackroyd, Murray and Morris move away once he starts demonstrating

[@lionelfuller6824]

Brian Gaona, It's Attack of the John Belushi the Comedy Samurai Warrior.😉

[@KurtI2525]

In Samurai Delicatessen, Buck Henry got cut in the forehead, and in the next skit he was in, he was wearing a bandage.

[@bgaona]

@@KurtI2525 Geez... Yikes!

[@michaelandrews1480]

One of the best skits I've ever seen from SNL!!!!

[@deohboeh]

We need a Samurai Hitman movie!! I cannot stress this point enough! It is imperative for the movie industry to show this form of innovation to bring in the originality that the audience deserves.

[@Gorionward]

ghostdog

[@johnnyfettslem7439]

too late, no one can replace John Belushi and he's dead

[@gabrielbleuse988]

Start by le samouraï by Jean-Pierre Melville.

[@ComicBookGuy420]

We had Samurai Cop It did not go well

[@nlkasman3347]

Beverly Hills Ninja.

[@davidaltman3867]

it`s been on here all this time.... first time i saw this one since it`s original broadcast

[@RobWright1981]

Belushi looked straight out of Seven Samurai.

[@jassonsw]

That was exactly what happened the last time I went to Benihana.

[@kpf2087]

this is great. the great late john and dan together

[@aaronTNGDS9]

Excellent---And I love the buildup and entrance. Comedy Gold.

[@rodroller6634]

It always kills me thinking what Belushi could have done without Heroin and Cocaine consuming his life.

[@strawberrytea6823]

I’ve seen a few interviews with Jim Belushi and he mentioned John had some sports injuries and chronic pain issues. He believes if he was a user of cannabis, that he would not have died.

[@Michaelfatman-xo7gv]

Or more?

[@Legoisjustsogood]

I seriusly belive that John could've been a super huge star if he didn't use drugs 😢

[@cvn6555]

Back when there was a reason to stay up to watch. Hard to believe Bill Murray was ever that young. Not certain it was a good idea to hand a real sword to Belushi knowing how intoxicated they usually were. Good stuff.

[@bobbyfeet2240]

He actually cut Buck Henry at one point.

[@luzbonilla7230]

Not ready for prime time players were the best comics. All of them were stars in there own way. John Belushi was a riot as a samurai . My favorite ..

[@donaldsedig7045]

Never gets old.

[@mr-mz4ed]

dan bill and john in a skit together, certainly a valuable collectors item

[@pauladouglas9891]

Whe my boyfriend and I ate at Benihana's, the other couple around the table didn't pay attention to the chef's antics, so he gave us half of their steaks.

[@eargasm1072]

You know Belushi must have watched plenty of Kurosawa/ Toshiro Mifune samurai epics lol

[@J_Braz_]

I watched Seven Samurai just yesterday.

[@neil03152]

Yes he did actually and was much influenced by them.

[@BrucknerMotet]

はい、そうです Hai,-sōdesu

[@Orelion]

Classic! God I love the original cast!

[@marioguidotomasone1265]

Well, techically Bill Murray was not parte of the original cast, but I get what you mean and I totally agree

[@PaulHarris-sl1ct]

SNL did a skit called "Samurai marriage counselor" or something. Peter Boyle was the counselor. In it Boyle is holding up an accordion and Belushi cuts it in half. The sword stops about 2 inches from Boyle's face You can watch him make eye contact with Belushi realizing what had just happened. Both professionals continue on. Truly amazing and terrifying.

[@geraldstephens6612]

Great skit.Still outrageous after all these years.

[@christophercollins3632]

Turns out it was a short-lived series, since every episode needed to be set in Benihana.

[@Jeng4280]

My father introduced me to this..the original SNL..the way it was back in the 70s. What I loved about it was that they poked fun at things without it being so politically correct. Belushi did this Samurai character brilliantly and made me laugh so hard the first time I saw it. LOL! I am a huge fan.

[@onyx2626]

I was 12 when the show began: we felt like we were being naughty watching it.

[@TTony-tu6dm]

Don Cornelius and Don Kirshner - that’s awesome. Soul Train and Rock Concert often followed SNL in the New York market area

[@OsbornsConcise]

That sword was effing sharp

[@JimzAuto]

1:10 ‘Don Cornelius and Don Kirshner’- whoa that’s a throwback reference.

[@ChrisBavaro-z6o]

Gotta be the best late night TV with that original cast. For those that wonder a little about that Samurai sword, Buck Henry caught the tip of it in one of Belushi’s backswings during one of these classic episodes. Buck spent the rest of the show with a bandage on his forehead as did the rest of the gang in a hilarious tribute to him getting nailed on live TV.

[@philipsimpson5887]

OMG. He was so good!😊

[@vinniemoran7362]

Somewhere between '70s SNL and the Muppet Show, like was pretty fricking perfect.

[@edwardwong654]

The sad thing is that it will never be this funny again. It was like the perfect big bang. Although the recent George Washington skit with Nate Bargatze was off the chart funny.

[@harrietharlow9929]

I remembered the samurai skits and loved them. Nice to see one up here.

[@pelicanoslocos]

Bill Murray, Dan Aykrod and John Belushi.

[@osaji922]

Ariel Escudero Harsh. Not even going to mention Garrett Morris like he wasn't apart of the cast in this clip.

[@hoary212]

Did you just happen to forget the black guy??

[@filosofenvacker1226]

@@hoary212 no one cares.

[@joshuavanderzee1786]

@@hoary212 Because he is not that famous.

[@ohmy1670]

@@joshuavanderzee1786 He was hugely famous, and had some great feature characters.

[@MapleSyrupPoet]

Classic SNL ...best times for show

[@alfredshort3]

Got a good laugh out of this, one day we will have sketch comedy again like this and people will JUST laugh.

[@robindew9072]

John Belushi and Dan Akroid were absolutely hilarious and talented

[@RaymondBogert]

MISS THIS SHOW THE GREATEST SNL OF ALL TIME AND THE CAST TODAY'S SNL CANT EVEN GET CLOSE PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!

[@GreenRiver72]

Epic original cast. I didnt even know it was Bill Murray till the close up my man was such a youngin.

[@dkanev38]

Real knife, real sword, real comedy 😁🤣👍

[@williamjohnson5030]

The cast back then didn’t read every skit from cue cards like today.

[@Dayvit78]

I dont' think Belushi can read kanji, so he had to memorize all his lines by ear.

[@J_Braz_]

@@Dayvit78 legendary

[@GoodNewsJim]

The cast today must read from cue cards, because they're lock stepping political propaganda pushed by the puppeteers and they don't like when you adlib or go off script. It is also why SNL sux now, when Chevy Chase and Adam Sandler eras ruled!

[@mikebockey4125]

@@GoodNewsJim, chevy chase was at best a card. adam sandler??? sandler’s about as funny as having your spleen removed.

[@superchitownhustler]

@@GoodNewsJim lol. trump lost. get over it.

[@masercot]

Belushi must've watched a lot of Toshiro Mifune movies...

[@Kathryn-qs1tb]

I like how he has the Benihana moves down. They still do the same exact thing today!

[@brianmaguire9679]

Back when SNL ruled! I saw Belushi and immediately laughed from remembering this skit live.🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@PreacherAtArrakeen]

The origin of the 'Man-Bun.'

[@eddiegraythegeek1975]

John was insanly funny

[@Chris_5150]

I wish I was around when snl was good like this.

[@onyx2626]

It was all we had after the late news. Our choices were limited in the 1970s, that's why we Boomers throw it so much love. SCTV was no slouch, but it came later, and it wasn't live. SNL was a little bit like HBO: edgy. It was Not the Carol Burnett Show, which my family and I loved too.

[@russwatson8713]

@@onyx2626 Remember when channels "came to the end of their broadcasting day" and the 'Indian head's test pattern took over for the night?

[@georgesealy4706]

@@russwatson8713 Sometimes they would play the anthem and show the flag just before the test pattern.

[@jage5256]

Yeh back then it was awesome. The things they got away with like weekend update.

[@bobbyfrancis8957]

Do you wish you were around BEFORE SNL premiered, like I was? Every Saturday night, they used to have Carson Comedy Classics - at least several times they weren't very funny .

[@janhoyle1462]

I knew about Samurai Deli & Samurai Night live, but never seen this one. Of course I was a teenager & out most of the time in those days. Now I’m old & SNL sucks, it has since 1979. But I had to watch this & was so worth it! My son loves the Samurai skits too.

[@sammcfadden3961]

Norm was good. Farley was good. If you said since 1999 I would agree for the most part

[@IndyAvocadoKid]

My mom loved these samurai skits and when a sex type subject came up and Belushi would slide his sword in and out we’d just crack up, no actual words needed 😂

[@GoodNewsJim]

I love how he's negotiating the kiss of death, and Belushi was so offended he was going to off himself, but then the rate was a little higher, and yeah, okay, that's fine then.

[@DeadShred9]

Notice Aykroyd is doing a Fantastic Charles Bronson Imitation !!!!!!!!!!

[@mizzury54]

Crazy I have never seen this one . I thought I had seen them all. Great one.

[@thefantasyreview8709]

He's doing Toshiro Mifune from 7 Samurai.

[@ThrasherArmy1986]

Actually is Yojimbo. How he scratches his cheeks and en got his arms inside the hakama.

[@THX-kw2jh]

First SNL Generation (1975-1980) Was My Favorite Generation, a Lot of Talent There. NBC Almost Pull The Plug on SNL in 1980, By That Time SNL Was on Syndication All Over the US. All Cast Members With At Least One Movie.

[@teslagirl1]

No, not Don Kirchner! My folks used to watch his late night concert show... in the days before MTV, his show was awesome.

[@robindew9072]

Bsck in the day SNL was absolutely hilarious. The cast back then were amazingly talented and funny

[@nevioberki9894]

This made my day :)

[@adamlytle2615]

This is the prequel to the Forrest Whittaker movie Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

[@leonardodalongisland]

"Don Cornelius and Don Kirshner;" if you don't know your American-music history those names mean nothing. But if you do, you get it and know how brilliant it is!!

[@KurtI2525]

Back then, it wasn’t always gut-busting funny, but it was interesting. More conceptual. And the actors never broke character, unlike today, where they seem to do it in every other skit, which usually gets the biggest laughs, especially in the weaker skits.

[@keenmate9719]

You are absolutely right, man. Today's SNL is more about giggling and repeating the same skit over and over again. They must give them lines like few minutes before playing skits because they cannot look anywhere else and the lines are not that difficult to remember. I stopped watching it. After a while you have seen them all as it goes for Marvel movies as well.

[@El-Duderino-His-Dudeness]

Probably easier for them to not break character when the material isn't funny.

[@jakeself1911]

What do you call all of those 4th wall breaks in the early days of SNL? They may have been planned, but I feel like they were used whenever they realized the sketches were weak. This sketch sure could’ve used a 4th wall break.

[@glennevitt5250]

Classic TV 📺 ❤️💯

[@kiddetroit8403]

Rip John Belushi but he was the best sushi chef ever😂😂😂😂

[@odysseusrex5908]

Boy, they couldn't make a skit like that today.

[@billtomson5791]

Apparently, the Wayne County Sheriff in 1958 was John Dennis. Any real samurai hitman worth his salt would have known that.

[@RobotJeeg]

I think the world is ready to see the second episode! Come on.....

[@katesometimeslate158]

5:50 he looks surprised with himself

[@musicforbands]

thats what i was thinking

[@sirbig8292]

Maybe they didn't tell him how sharp the blade is.

[@Bondek1996]

Lost in Translation's old Bill Murray clip

[@G9Classified9]

The way he sliced into the cabbage hmm call me crazy but I think that’s a real sword 😂😂😂

[@kiddetroit8403]

This is the button man we have hired for the job😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤

[@SiriusMined]

Don Kirschner and Don Cornelius 😂

[@nealfry2230]

" I'll Always Love Detroit, Michigan "

[@kiddetroit8403]

Give me a minute for a brief demonstration😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤

[@kiddetroit8403]

The samurai Hitman doesn't need his sword all he needs is those chopsticks😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Vlad65WFPReviews]

and fabulous Don Pardo!

[@Joni_Tarvainen]

Detroit! x'D

[@Taphfy]

John Belushi is a Carol Burnette fan!😂🤣🤣

[@musicalcontessa4275]

Better than ever-------how many years later?!!!!!! 🤣

[@doncallangher6177]

This reminds me - years ago in Cambridge Mass. Costume party. I dressed as a samurai in kimono, long hair in topknot, eye makeup, speaking gibberish like Belushi. My friend from Tokyo dressed as Martin Riggs (Mel Gibsons character), had a brown mullet wig over his jet black straight hair. People - they talked to Martin instead of me (cuz they thought I couldn't speak English), asking where I was from, how long was I visiting, etc. Nobody had a clue he was the Japanese and I the Caucasian.

[@toastrave7820]

i would love to have witnessed that

[@jameskovic7146]

Man, it's too bad Belushi died. Actually I was at a party in Frisco one night when I saw him with about 12 other people taking tokes off of a nitrous oxide tank. Man, those were the days. Belushi looked down and that was February of 1979. What a talented guy.

[@jage5256]

Call it The City. We know you are foreign when u call it Frisco. Makes us go insane. 😂

[@ultravioletsongjatshariff8687]

+++ OMG. I'm shure this Samurai could kill JOHN WICK while drinkin a Pepsi ! 🤣🤣🤣 +

[@GuitarD30]

SNL used to be a comedy program

[@rileygalvin2]

It still is. They’ve had some great sketches in the recent years. It’s always been hit or miss. Yes, they had more talent back then, but people forget that they had the unfunny sketches too.

[@GoodNewsJim]

Instead of lib propaganda pushing. Hell you could say movies, television and music used to be entertaining too. I don't like anything past 2000 when the agendas got pushed over entertainment, except Cobra Kai which says, "Screw you politician culture!"

[@u686st7]

It hasn't been funny since they fired Norm MacDonald.

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

Carrying his sword like a BAR