Watch The Lorne Michaels-Produced ‘The Paul Simon Special’ From 1977

Singer-songwriter Paul Simon was the most frequent musical guest of Saturday Night Live’s first era of 1975 – 1980. So when Simon was asked to star in an NBC variety show in 1977, he turned to SNL creator Lorne Michaels to produce. As a result, the hour-long program has Michaels’ sensibility throughout thanks in part to a writing team and cast that featured Chevy Chase, Al Franken, Tom Davis, Charles Grodin, Lily Tomlin and Alan Zweibel. In honor of the famed performer’s upcoming return to SNL, The Paul Simon Special is this week’s Sunday Cinema selection and can be viewed below.

Paul Simon stars as himself with Grodin acting as an overzealous director with ridiculous ideas. Over the course of the special, viewers watch Paul interact with Chase and Tomlin and perform a number of songs. The most noteworthy of the performances is a reunion with Art Garfunkel. Simon and Garfunkel came together for the first time since a 1975 appearance on Saturday Night Live to sing “Old Friends/Bookends” for The Paul Simon Special. Paul also recruited gospel act The Jessy Dixon Singers for a tender “Loves Me Like A Rock.” Other songs performed include “Still Crazy After All These Years” and full versions of “Something So Right,” “I Do It For Your Love” and “The Boxer.” Watch The Paul Simon Special:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8aHh2myhyo

[Originally Published: January 7, 2018]