Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
'Now I Have To Beg To Be Liked': Watch Jimmy Breslin's 1986 Saturday Night Live Monologue
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 19, 2017
Modified Apr 2, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 19, 2017
Modified Apr 2, 2018
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
During what Splitsider called the "weirdest season" of Saturday Night Live, famed columnist Jimmy Breslin hosted an episode on May 17th, 1986. Chomping on a piece of gum, Breslin greeted the audience and marveled, "This is about the nicest place I've ever worked. Look at me now, my age, I'm going to spend the next 90 minutes groveling in the dust to make some rat 19-year-olds like me."
Breslin used his monologue to talk about his Catholic school experiences in Queens and work in newspapers—"Some call it slander, I call it getting paid." He also slammed Mayor Koch, who "can't do anything but purse his lips" but admits that Koch's "gonna be great for my future."
Breslin actually co-hosted with boxer Marvin Hagler, and they traded off sketches. Here are two with Breslin:
"Host Pat Stevens (Nora Dunn) provides viewers with exercise tips while driving, then sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Jimmy Breslin to discuss his book, Table Money, writing and more." (NBC)
"On "Midday with Jennifer Hicks," Hicks (Joan Cusack) welcomes Bond villains, including Auric Goldfinger (Jimmy Breslin), Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Jon Lovitz) and Emilio Largo (Randy Quaid), to promote their guide to global extortion." (NBC)
Tagged
jimmy breslin
saturday night live
snl
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 12:43 p.m. ET
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .