A year later , in 1977 , NBC 's Saturday Night appropriated the name of its former ( indirect ) competition .
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell was canceled on January 17 , 1976 , after only 18 episodes .
A year later , in 1977 , NBC 's Saturday Night Live   appropriated the name of Saturday Night Live 's former ( indirect ) competition .
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell was canceled on January 17 , 1976 , after only 18 episodes .