| Saturday Night Live | |
|---|---|
| Season 23 | |
 | |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Original release | September 27, 1997 – May 9, 1998 |
| Season chronology | |
The twenty-third season of Saturday Night Live, an American sketch comedy series, originally aired in the United States on NBC between September 27, 1997, and May 9, 1998.
This season saw the deaths of two former cast members. Six weeks after he came back to host, Chris Farley became the fifth SNL cast member to die. Influenced by his idol, John Belushi, Farley died of a speedball overdose at the age of 33. Two weeks after the season finale, long-time performer Phil Hartman was murdered by his wife who then committed suicide. Following their deaths, NBC aired two SNL specials as tributes to Farley and Hartman in dedication to their legacies during this season.[1][2]
- ^ "NBC to Air Chris Farley Tribute". Chicago Tribune. May 11, 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ "'SNL' Salute to Hartman Pure Genius". New York Daily News. June 16, 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2024.