Weekend Update: “Chico Escuela” (1978-80)
REVIEWED BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher
Each time we saw former Mets All-Star second baseman Chico Escuela on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), he never failed to remind us – in his own words – that “Baseball been berry, berry good to me.”
Fans of the early years of SNL will remember Chico, as played by Garrett Morris, on the “Weekend Update” segment. Chico was a Dominican who expressed himself in broken English as he related sports news. Outside of baseball, his knowledge of other sports was nill – as evidenced by one of his “enlightening” sports reports:
“… In fooootball … I don’t know fooootball. … In National Hockey League … I don’t know either. … In baseball … Baseball been berry, berry good to me.”
Chico appeared on card #120 of the 1992 Star Pics 150-card “Saturday Night Live” set
As reported by Weekend Update co-anchor Bill Murray, after three appearances on the sports desk, Chico went for broke and attempted a comeback with the Mets at age 41. Murray followed Chico to spring training in Florida and filed three reports.
While Chico’s attempted comeback was well-received by many of his fellow Mets, others were hostile and shunned him. Murray interviewed three detractors including Nelson Briles, Steve Henderson and Ed Kranepool. The resentments were the result of his post-career book “Bad Things ’Bout the Mets,” where Chico exposed the “sleazy” side of the game and slammed some of his former teammates. Three examples cited were:
• On Pitcher Tom Seaver: “Always take up two parking spaces.”
• On Manager Yogi Berra: “Berry berry bad card player.”
• On First Baseman Ed Kranepool: “Borrow Chico’s soap and never give it back.”
The popular former All-Star performed well in spring training – including a Mets-Yankees exhibition game in Florida where even opposing third-baseman Graig Nettles praised him – but he flopped when the season began. So it was back to the sports anchor desk on Weekend Update.
Chico’s segments were usually short (two- to-three minutes at most). Including the comeback reports, he appeared nine times on Weekend Update. His final show was on the season-ending broadcast of the fifth year. It was also the last for the remaining members of the original SNL Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players. In it, Chico took credit for settling a brewing labor dispute in major league baseball. He claimed then Commissioner Bowie Kuhn called him in the middle of the night asking for his help … as Chico related:
“I sat down with them and I say to the players … boys, baseball has been berry, berry good to you … and then I say to owners … fellas, baseball has been berry, berry good to you too … so if baseball has been good to both sides … CUT OUT THE CRAP AND PLAY BALL !! … and they shook hands and no strike … And Chico fix baseball.”
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AND FINALLY, AS CHICO OFTEN ADVISED:
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Chico Escuela on
Weekend Update:
★ Season 4: Dec. 9, 1978 – Eric Idle, host – Chico as Weekend Update Sports Anchor
★ Season 4: Jan. 27, 1979 – Michael Palin, host – Chico as Weekend Update Sports Anchor
★ Season 4: Feb. 17, 1979 – Ricky Nelson, host – Chico as Weekend Update Sports Anchor
★ Season 4: Apr. 7, 1979 – Richard Benjamin, host – Chico’s comeback: Filmed segment on Weekend Update
★ Season 4: Apr. 14, 1979 – Milton Berle, host – Chico’s comeback: Filmed segment on Weekend Update
★ Season 4: May 12, 1979 – Michael Palin, host – Chico’s comeback: Filmed segment on Weekend Update
★ Season 5: Dec. 8, 1979 – Howard Hesseman, host – Chico as Weekend Update Sports Anchor
★ Season 5: Apr. 19, 1980 – Strother Martin, host – Chico as Weekend Update Sports Anchor
★ Season 5: May 24, 1980 – Buck Henry, host – Chico as Weekend Update Sports Anchor
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NOTE: To find out if this show is available in your area, use a search engine and type in: “Where to watch classic episodes of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” … In general, know that some TV programs are currently only available on DVD, so check your local library … Others may not be available at all at this time.
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