Sundance, 11:00 p.m. ET
It’s now the 45th anniversary of Mel Brooks’ utterly brilliant, astoundingly irreverent 1974 Western spoof, which boasts Richard Pryor as one of its writers. The studio wouldn’t agree to have Pryor play the role of imposing new sheriff “Black” Bart, though, so Cleavon Little, star of Broadway’s Purlie, takes on that part instead – and Gene Wilder, a last-minute co-star as the Waco Kid, is just as hilarious. Then there’s Harvey Korman as Hedley Lamarr, Madeline Kahn as Lili Von Shtupp, and Slim Pickens and Brooks himself. The finale breaks the fourth wall, literally and uproariously – and long before that, there are musical numbers, in the saloon hall and around the campfire, that you won’t forget, soon or ever. Brooks told me, and TVWW, that he was writing new songs for a possible Blazing Saddles stage musical. Here’s hoping he finishes it soon, because the Tony-hoarding creator of Broadway’s The Producers would have another mega-hit on his hands.
NBC, 11:29 p.m. ET
Another member of the Five-Timers Club joins that exclusive Saturday Night fraternity tonight, when former SNL regular Will Ferrell returns to Studio 8-H as guest host for the fifth time. The question is, how many former Five-Timers will show up to present him with his special jacket? Regardless, Ferrell’s achievement is well worth trumpeting. And cowbelling.