In the sketch before the opening, Laraine Newman says to John Belushi that she bets he won't be as together when he is 80 as is the contestant host grandmother Miskel Spillman. Belushi replies, "Don't worry, I'll be dead by 30." He was only off by three years.
Elvis Costello's drummer, Pete Thomas, wears a shirt saying "Thanks Malc", during their performance. This is a reference to the Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, who got them to fill in for the absent Sex Pistols.
Sex Pistols were scheduled to appear as the musical guest but had to cancel due to visa problems. They were replaced at the last minute by Elvis Costello.
Elvis Costello was told he couldn't perform his song "Radio, Radio" on the show because his record company wanted him to perform a different song off his new album. However, as he performed the beginning of his song "Less Than Zero", he stopped after a few bars and immediately launched into the supposedly banned song.
Miskel Spillman was an elderly housewife who entered the "Anyone Can Host" contest in which a viewer would be allowed to host the show. She was one of five finalists chosen by the producers. The viewers were invited to vote for the winner. Mrs. Spillman won by a wide margin.