As 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� marks its 50th anniversary, The Canadian Press is looking back at some of the sketch comedy show鈥檚 most notable Canadian musical performances.
Musical Guest: Cowboy Junkies
Songs: 鈥淪weet Jane鈥� and 鈥淢isguided Angel鈥�
Host: Leslie Nielsen
Date: Feb. 18, 1989
THE SHOW: Nielsen opened his monologue by saying he was mainly a serious actor before the films "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun" thrust him into a slapstick comedy career. "Everybody thinks I'm a comedian, but that's not quite true," the Regina native said. "I'm someone who says unfunny things in an unfunny way, and somehow it seems to end up funny." The actor appeared in at least six sketches that night, which also premiered Mike Myers' slacker "Wayne's World" character.
BACKSTAGE: Cowboy Junkies guitarist Michael Timmins said memories of his experience at NBC's famed Studio 8H are a blur. Cast member Jon Lovitz was friendly with the band, he recalled, and celebs roamed the hallways of Rockefeller Center, including models Kim Alexis, Beverly Johnson and Cheryl Tiegs because they appeared in a sketch. Television personality Phil Donahue shot his talk show on a nearby sound stage and was out and about. 鈥淧eople are just hanging out in the hall,鈥� Timmins said. 鈥淚t was their workspace so it鈥檚 just a regular sort of day.鈥�
THE REHEARSAL: The 鈥淪NL鈥� cast runs through the entire show in a taped dress rehearsal, which allowed Timmins to see the 鈥淲ayne鈥檚 World鈥� sketch before the television audience. 鈥淲e had TVs in our dressing rooms,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e definitely remember the 'Wayne鈥檚 World' one, oddly enough. Maybe because it was good.鈥�
LIVE ON AIR: Cowboy Junkies offered a rare foray into alt-country music on "SNL." The band's lead singer Margo Timmins performed a gentle delivery of "Sweet Jane," while her bandmates encircled her with their guitars. Inside though, they were feeling the pressure, said Timmins. 鈥淵ou're not really taking in what's happening; you're focused on doing what you're supposed to do and doing it right," he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 live, so it鈥檚 not like 鈥楾he Tonight Show鈥� where you can technically start and stop again.鈥�
THE LEGACY: Even though nearly 35 years have passed since Cowboy Junkies' appearance on 鈥淪NL,鈥� Timmins said the band is often reminded of its impact. 鈥淭hat was such a whirlwind of a time; things were moving so fast,鈥� he said of that period in the band's career. 鈥淏ut we still get people coming up to us saying, 鈥楾he first time I saw you was on 鈥楽aturday Night Live.鈥欌��
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2025.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
