Madonna was having a huge year in 1985. Her second album, Like A Virgin, was incredibly popular and had songs playing everywhere. She also took on movie roles, like starring in Desperately Seeking Susan. The song “Crazy for You,” which she sang for the movie Vision Quest, climbed all the way to become her second number one hit song. Madonna wasn’t just popular in music and movies; magazines were interested in her too. TIME Magazine put her on its cover in May, showing how big a star she had become.
Things got even bigger in August that year. On her 27th birthday, she married famous actor Sean Penn. Their relationship became a major topic in the news. Even a story from her past added to the public’s interest. When Playboy magazine published old nude photos of her in its September issue, it created a lot of buzz and discussion. With all this happening – hit songs, movies, magazine covers, a famous marriage, and even a bit of controversy – Madonna was constantly in the news.
Because she was such a big deal in 1985, it made perfect sense for Saturday Night Live to ask her to host their show. They chose her to kick off their new season. The specific date for her hosting gig was November 9, 1985. This was the first episode of SNL’s eleventh season. As the host, her job was to appear throughout the show in various skits, deliver the opening monologue, and introduce the musical guest.
Read more
Many people watching probably expected Madonna to perform some of her chart-topping songs. But on this night, she did not sing. The honor of being the musical guest went to the Scottish band Simple Minds. They were also very popular at the time with their hit song “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” Madonna would later get a chance to sing on SNL, but that wouldn’t happen until January 1993. Her role on November 9, 1985, was strictly as the host and comedic actor.
Hosting SNL means joining the cast in their live comedy sketches. The cast members for this season included actors like Randy Quaid, Joan Cusack, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Lovitz, and Dennis Miller. Madonna worked alongside them in the night’s skits.
One specific sketch featured Madonna playing a member of the British royal family. She portrayed Princess Diana. The sketch showed Princess Diana visiting the White House in Washington D.C. She was shown along with her then-husband, Prince Charles, meeting with the President and First Lady of the United States, Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Madonna dressed up as Princess Diana for this comedic take on a royal visit.
In another skit, Madonna appeared in a segment called “The Pat Stevens Show.” This was a recurring sketch on SNL where Nora Dunn played a talk show host named Pat Stevens. Pat Stevens was known for interviewing guests in a slightly awkward or passive-aggressive way. Madonna appeared as herself in this segment, being interviewed by the character Pat Stevens. This allowed her to play on her real-life persona within the comedy setting of the show.
She also took part in the opening monologue. This is where the host typically comes out after the show’s cold open and “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” is announced. The host talks to the audience, sometimes tells jokes, and sets the tone for the episode. Madonna’s monologue likely addressed her recent fame and the whirlwind year she had been experiencing, using humor to connect with the live audience and viewers at home.
