In the long, erratic history of Saturday Night Live, there is a specific type of season that fascinates fans more than the celebrated classics: the transitional season. It is not the flawless glory of the original “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” nor the pop-cultural apex of the Eddie Murphy or early Phil Hartman years. Instead, it is the season where the show, teetering on the edge of cancellation, must prove it still has a pulse. Saturday Night Live’s Complete Season 16 (1990–1991) is the definitive text of this survival genre. It is a season of jagged edges, clashing egos, and late-night chaos that, against all odds, built the bridge from the bombast of the late ‘80s to the “Golden Era” of the early ‘90s.
Several iconic sketches and characters were either introduced or reached their peak popularity during Season 16. Saturday Night Live - SNL - Complete Seasons 16...
Hartman, the "Glue" of the cast, was at his absolute peak during this season. With the departure of Lovitz, Hartman took on the bulk of the heavy lifting, playing everyone from Frank Sinatra The Bridge Over Troubled Water: SNL Season 16