Who hosted SNL's second episode on October 18, 1975?

Paul Simon hosted SNL’s second episode on October 18, 1975. He also served as the episode’s musical guest, making the broadcast an unusually music-centered installment of the fledgling series.

The program was still officially called NBC’s Saturday Night at the time because ABC was airing a different show titled Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell. The NBC series premiered one week earlier, on October 11, with George Carlin as host. Simon’s episode followed that debut and helped establish the show’s practice of inviting prominent performers to combine hosting and musical duties.

The episode differed sharply from the format audiences now associate with SNL. It was almost entirely a musical variety show, and the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players did not appear as a group. Chevy Chase appeared in the opening and in Weekend Update, while Simon performed with musical acts and interacted with the show’s comedy elements. The title Saturday Night Live became official only after the competing ABC program ended in 1976.