Nick The Lounge Singer
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Nick The Lounge Singer was Bill Murray's most popular recurring character during his tenure on Saturday Night Live. The character was a typical 1970s lounge singer who sang current songs in a drawn-out, schmaltzy manner, and was typically accompanied by Paul Shaffer on piano. Nick always had a different 'seasonal' last name (i.e. Nick Summers, Nick Springs, etc.) or sometimes a surname more specific to the sketch (for instance, if he were performing at a prison, he would be "Nick Slammer") and, although he would perform at such unfortunate gigs as airport bars and dives, he would always sing his heart out. He would often take the popular songs of the time and change some of the lyrics to suit the occasion or the setting. In between songs, Nick would schmooze and joke with the audience, chiding them in a harmless showbiz fashion. In one episode, he spotted Linda Ronstadt (that episode's musical guest) in the audience and proceeded to sing a very uncomfortable and unamused Ronstadt a medley of her hits until her bodyguard (played by John Belushi) finally punches him.
In probably his most famous appearance, he sang the theme from Star Wars, adding his own lyrics ("Star Wars/Nothing but Star Wars/Give me those Star Wars/Don't let them end!") to the famous John Williams piece.
Nearly two decades after Nick debuted on SNL, a recurring skit called The Culp Family Musical Performances featuring Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer would gain popularity using the same basic format.
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[edit] List of SNL Episodes Featuring Nick The Lounge Singer
[edit] As a regular cast member
- Nick at Breezy Point Lodge April 16, 1977 host: Elliott Gould
- Nick at the Powder Room January 28, 1978 host: Robert Klein
- Nick at the Honeymoon Room May 13, 1978 host: Richard Dreyfuss
- Nick on the Strip North November 11, 1978 host: Buck Henry
- Nick on the Auto Train February 10, 1979 host: Cicely Tyson
- Nick at TransEastern May 19, 1979 host: Maureen Stapleton
- Nick in the Arctic November 3, 1979 host: Bill Russell
- Nick at Greg's Bar Mitzvah February 23, 1980 host: Kirk Douglas
- Nick at Trader Nick's May 24, 1980 host: Buck Henry
[edit] As Host
- Nick on the Mississippi March 7, 1981
- Nick in Prison March 21, 1987
- Nick at the Casino September 26, 1999 (25th Anniversary Special)
