'SNL' to air vintage Carlin episode

NEW YORK, June 24 (UPI) -- NBC said it will re-air the 33-year-old premiere episode of "Saturday Night Live," featuring the iconic U.S. comedian George Carlin as host.

Carlin, who died Sunday of heart failure at the age of 71, performed three individual monologues on the inaugural program that also introduced audiences to the original "Not Ready For Prime-Time Players" -- Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Larraine Newman and Gilda Radner.

The 1975 episode, which is to air Saturday in the show's traditional time slot, also features musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston, as well as a memorable appearance by late comedian Andy Kaufman.

"You never forget the people who were there at the beginning. George Carlin helped give 'Saturday Night Live' its start as our first host. He was gracious, fearless, and most important of all, funny," "Saturday Night Live" creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels said in a statement.