Novello has appeared as Sarducci on a wide variety of television shows since originating the character on the Smothers Brothers' 1975 TV show, including Married with Children, Blossom, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Square Pegs, and frequent appearances on NBC's Saturday Night Live, for which he was also a writer.
Novello made newspapers around the world when he visited Vatican City wearing the full "Father Guido Sarducci" costume and was arrested by the Swiss Guards for "impersonating a priest". The charges were later dropped.