[7.5/10] This one started out fantastic, and then slowly lost steam as it went on, but still great. John Goodman is, as though it needs to be said, a natural when it comes to SNL’s routine, and he blends into the cast expertly.
The reason this one made it onto my docket is because of the opening Star Trek-based sketch. It shows the beauty of SNL’s writing at this point, to the point that even though, a quarter-century later, I know very little about Jerry Brown or Paul Tsongas, I could still absolutely understand what the show was trying to say about them through the lens of a Trek convention.
Goodman’s monologue imagining a much more fantastical version of “The Babe” was great, especially the Godzilla turn it took. And my god, I just loved the “My 75 Kids” sketch. It’s such a loony place to take that horrible story, and somehow SNL finds the absurd comedy potential of it. Unfrozen Caveman lawyer is a classic, but I’ve seen the bit enough that it doesn’t have much juice left for me anymore.
Weekend Update went almost completely over my head given its topical references that were before my time, but there was still some amusing stuff, particularly Kevin Nealon’s “playing it straight” newsman parody moments. Chris Farley’s “Gay people marching in the St. Patrick’s Day” correspondent bit was a headscratcher at best, and while it’s a dumb idea, I still laughed at Adam Sandler’s “Cajun Man” bit.
Not much to report from the second half of the episode. The dermatologist who solves kids problems via Sherlock Holmes-like diagnoses of the causes of their acne was mildly amusing. Same goes for the “real names” of country music stars being fairly quotidian with Phil Hartman’s music exec coming with more ornate pseudonyms. And the final sketch about Goodman as an oblivious interloper to Caesar’s assassination is high concept and enjoyable enough, but didn’t have many laughs. And the acting showcase with Mike Myers is famous for Dana Carvey’s Mickey Rooney impression, but it goes on too long and goes a little too big.
That said, we got three outings from Jack Handy, and each of them was great, especially his re-description of “running like a scared rabbit.” And I forgot about the early sketch making fun of Natalie Cole coasting on duets with deceased singers. The celeb impressions were great and often surprising, and there were fun turns like the Young Elvis/Old Elvis dichotomy, and Tammy Wynette’s indignation at being prematurely declared dead.
Overall, this is still a very funny episode, and I died laughing at a few bits (especially “My 75 Kids”) but it’s also a very front-loaded one.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-11-20T04:24:48Z
[7.5/10] This one started out fantastic, and then slowly lost steam as it went on, but still great. John Goodman is, as though it needs to be said, a natural when it comes to SNL’s routine, and he blends into the cast expertly.
The reason this one made it onto my docket is because of the opening Star Trek-based sketch. It shows the beauty of SNL’s writing at this point, to the point that even though, a quarter-century later, I know very little about Jerry Brown or Paul Tsongas, I could still absolutely understand what the show was trying to say about them through the lens of a Trek convention.
Goodman’s monologue imagining a much more fantastical version of “The Babe” was great, especially the Godzilla turn it took. And my god, I just loved the “My 75 Kids” sketch. It’s such a loony place to take that horrible story, and somehow SNL finds the absurd comedy potential of it. Unfrozen Caveman lawyer is a classic, but I’ve seen the bit enough that it doesn’t have much juice left for me anymore.
Weekend Update went almost completely over my head given its topical references that were before my time, but there was still some amusing stuff, particularly Kevin Nealon’s “playing it straight” newsman parody moments. Chris Farley’s “Gay people marching in the St. Patrick’s Day” correspondent bit was a headscratcher at best, and while it’s a dumb idea, I still laughed at Adam Sandler’s “Cajun Man” bit.
Not much to report from the second half of the episode. The dermatologist who solves kids problems via Sherlock Holmes-like diagnoses of the causes of their acne was mildly amusing. Same goes for the “real names” of country music stars being fairly quotidian with Phil Hartman’s music exec coming with more ornate pseudonyms. And the final sketch about Goodman as an oblivious interloper to Caesar’s assassination is high concept and enjoyable enough, but didn’t have many laughs. And the acting showcase with Mike Myers is famous for Dana Carvey’s Mickey Rooney impression, but it goes on too long and goes a little too big.
That said, we got three outings from Jack Handy, and each of them was great, especially his re-description of “running like a scared rabbit.” And I forgot about the early sketch making fun of Natalie Cole coasting on duets with deceased singers. The celeb impressions were great and often surprising, and there were fun turns like the Young Elvis/Old Elvis dichotomy, and Tammy Wynette’s indignation at being prematurely declared dead.
Overall, this is still a very funny episode, and I died laughing at a few bits (especially “My 75 Kids”) but it’s also a very front-loaded one.