Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman was one of the most frequent guests on Saturday Night Live in its early years. By 1982, however, Kaufman’s divisive stage act had made him a highly divisive figure. In response, in January 1983, the show held a phone-in poll in which viewers could vote on whether Andy should be “kept” or “dumped.” Despite the fact that many cast members campaigned for the “keep” option, “dump Andy” won with 195,544 votes to “keep’s” 169,186.
Andy Kaufman
Robert Blake
In 1982, actor Robert Blake was barred from ever appearing on SNL again after tearing up an unsatisfactory script and throwing it at writer Gary Kroeger’s feet while preparing to host an episode. Blake’s banning appears to have been for the best, given that he was later charged with murdering his wife in 2001.
Robert Blake
