on march 7, 1988, the writers guild of america went on strike, cancelling many planned episodes (and ultimately cutting the season short), including one originally planned to be hosted by original cast member gilda radner. (after radner discovered that her ovarian cancer had returned by the end of 1988, she would never get the chance to host the show as she died the following may [the day of the following season's finale] from the disease.) the host for the march 12, 1988 broadcast (the first episode to be cancelled due to the strike of 1988) was never confirmed.