This season features the first episodes for Michael McKean, Norm Macdonald, and Sarah Silverman.

Season 18 featured the infamous moment when musical guest Sinéad O’Connor tore a photo of Pope John Paul II while performing on stage, exclaiming “child abuse” and “fight the real enemy.”

This season saw Chris Farley, Chris Rock, and Julia Sweeney all promoted to repertory players.

Cast member John Lovitz requested time off to make a movie, which producer Lorne Michaels refused. Lovitz quit instead.

Prior to the first episode, NBC aired a live special commemorating SNL’s fifteen seasons.

This season featured the first appearances of Wayne’s World and Toonces.

Season 13 began with the only episode not to have a dress rehearsal, as a fire broke open near Studio 8H before the premiere.

Trying to distance itself from the previous season’s failures, Season 12 opened with Madonna reading a statement declaring that Season 11 was “all a dream, a horrible, horrible dream.”

Though it marked the return of Lorne Michaels as executive producer, this season was harshly criticized, garnered low ratings, and nearly resulted in the cancellation of the show by NBC president Brandon Tartikoff.

Still helmed by Dick Ebersol, Season 10 ran for an abbreviated 17 episodes due to a writers’ strike and issues with budget.