"I've never seen the Saturday Night show, but I hear it's a wonderful, wonderful show"
Cold Open: Backstage
5 Stars
Charles missed dress rehearsal
Gilda and John are backstage, worried about Charles. He's never seen the show and doesn't smoke dope so they think he may not be the right fit for a host. Charles then comes in with gifts for the cast. He's been out all day shopping and sight seeing that he's missed dress rehearsal. He also has no idea that the show is live and is in front of an audience. First off, I loved how Grodin called Gilda and John, Glenda and Blungee, that tickled me. Secondly, I have always heard that this episode resulted in Charles Grodin being banned from SNL. He missed dress rehearsal and clumsily ad-libbed all his lines was the story. From the opening moments of this episode it is so clearly a bit. I read an interview with Grodin a few years ago where he claimed that he enjoyed the story of him being banned that he just kept it going but this was all planned. Watching this cold open and the rest of the episode, I find it hard to believe that anyone took this seriously. So, you're telling me that Charles Grodin skipped dress rehearsal so they wrote a cold open about him missing dress rehearsal? If that was truly the case they would have assuredly passed the hosting duties to Paul Simon for the week.
Charles Grodin Monologue
Gilda and John are backstage, worried about Charles. He's never seen the show and doesn't smoke dope so they think he may not be the right fit for a host. Charles then comes in with gifts for the cast. He's been out all day shopping and sight seeing that he's missed dress rehearsal. He also has no idea that the show is live and is in front of an audience. First off, I loved how Grodin called Gilda and John, Glenda and Blungee, that tickled me. Secondly, I have always heard that this episode resulted in Charles Grodin being banned from SNL. He missed dress rehearsal and clumsily ad-libbed all his lines was the story. From the opening moments of this episode it is so clearly a bit. I read an interview with Grodin a few years ago where he claimed that he enjoyed the story of him being banned that he just kept it going but this was all planned. Watching this cold open and the rest of the episode, I find it hard to believe that anyone took this seriously. So, you're telling me that Charles Grodin skipped dress rehearsal so they wrote a cold open about him missing dress rehearsal? If that was truly the case they would have assuredly passed the hosting duties to Paul Simon for the week.
Charles Grodin Monologue
4 Stars
Charles was not prepared to deliver a monologue
Charles takes the stage with a dumb look on his face. He talks about the fun day he had shopping and visiting the World Trade Center and thinks that tonight's show is going to have plenty of funny skits, none of which he has seen since he skipped dress rehearsal. A continuation of the cold open and a bit that will act as a through line for the episode. Maybe Invisible Theatre was a new concept in 1977, but I am instantly convinced that this is a gag.
Update Promo
2 Stars
Charles takes the stage with a dumb look on his face. He talks about the fun day he had shopping and visiting the World Trade Center and thinks that tonight's show is going to have plenty of funny skits, none of which he has seen since he skipped dress rehearsal. A continuation of the cold open and a bit that will act as a through line for the episode. Maybe Invisible Theatre was a new concept in 1977, but I am instantly convinced that this is a gag.
Update Promo
2 Stars
Dan Aykroyd works hard to bring you the news
Dan is on a plane furiously typing while others sleep. He's working on tonight's Weekend Update while other reporters call it a night. As the commercial ends he realizes that he's been typing without paper. Fairly silly and interesting to see a commercial for an upcoming segment in the show, but why did they have to remind me that Weekend Update is coming up? Way to show me the half empty glass at the top of the show.
Return Of The Coneheads
Dan is on a plane furiously typing while others sleep. He's working on tonight's Weekend Update while other reporters call it a night. As the commercial ends he realizes that he's been typing without paper. Fairly silly and interesting to see a commercial for an upcoming segment in the show, but why did they have to remind me that Weekend Update is coming up? Way to show me the half empty glass at the top of the show.
Return Of The Coneheads
3 Stars
Parents are upset at the Coneheads trick or treat offerings
6th appearance of The Coneheads, haven't reviewed the previous 2 seasons but I can probably safely say that they have run their course. However, they do get a huge recognition applause from the crowd and in an era before VCRs and cable reruns, recurring sketches had a longer shelf life. It's Halloween and Beldar and Prymaat are handing out six packs of beer and fried chicken embryos to the kids when Bill and Gilda come in to complain and wonder where the family is from. It's fun but if you've seen one of these and the feature film, you've seen them all.
Chuck's Film
6th appearance of The Coneheads, haven't reviewed the previous 2 seasons but I can probably safely say that they have run their course. However, they do get a huge recognition applause from the crowd and in an era before VCRs and cable reruns, recurring sketches had a longer shelf life. It's Halloween and Beldar and Prymaat are handing out six packs of beer and fried chicken embryos to the kids when Bill and Gilda come in to complain and wonder where the family is from. It's fun but if you've seen one of these and the feature film, you've seen them all.
Chuck's Film
3 Stars
Charles introduces a clip of his new movie
Charles wants to show a clip from his new movie, Too Late, Too Late, My Love, My Love by an acclaimed Italian filmmaker. He spends so long setting up the exciting clip that the show runs out of time and can only show 10 seconds of Charles getting into a car. Another continuation of the joke that Charles missed rehearsals. He sadly throws to Paul Simon afterwards.
Paul Simon
Charles wants to show a clip from his new movie, Too Late, Too Late, My Love, My Love by an acclaimed Italian filmmaker. He spends so long setting up the exciting clip that the show runs out of time and can only show 10 seconds of Charles getting into a car. Another continuation of the joke that Charles missed rehearsals. He sadly throws to Paul Simon afterwards.
Paul Simon
"Slip Sliding Away"
This was slow and smooth and had me tapping my toes.
Consumer Probe
5 Stars
Irwin Mainway defends his company's Halloween costumes
Jane plays Joan Face, great name, as she interviews Irwin Mainway. She shows off some of his new and dangerous Halloween costumes like Johnny Space Commander, a plastic bag to go over your head with a rubber band, Invisible Pedestrian, an all black suit and mask, Johnny Combat, a helmet and working rifle, and Johnny Human Torch, a bag of oily rags and a lighter. Dan is great here as he sleazily defends the products and shows off the warnings ("Not for blind kids") and asserts that all clothing can be dangerous.
"I could swallow my whole shirt!"
Anyone Can Host
Jane plays Joan Face, great name, as she interviews Irwin Mainway. She shows off some of his new and dangerous Halloween costumes like Johnny Space Commander, a plastic bag to go over your head with a rubber band, Invisible Pedestrian, an all black suit and mask, Johnny Combat, a helmet and working rifle, and Johnny Human Torch, a bag of oily rags and a lighter. Dan is great here as he sleazily defends the products and shows off the warnings ("Not for blind kids") and asserts that all clothing can be dangerous.
"I could swallow my whole shirt!"
Anyone Can Host
4 Stars
Bill and Mr. Mike explain the contest
Hey, they finally turned this segment into an entertaining bit. Bill stresses that this is indeed a real contest and you still have time to enter by sending a postcard to the show. Meanwhile, Mr. Mike is disqualifying entries for poor penmanship and unattractive stamps.
Samurai Dry Cleaners
Hey, they finally turned this segment into an entertaining bit. Bill stresses that this is indeed a real contest and you still have time to enter by sending a postcard to the show. Meanwhile, Mr. Mike is disqualifying entries for poor penmanship and unattractive stamps.
Samurai Dry Cleaners
5 Stars
Charles ruins a Samurai Futaba sketch
Gilda and Charles walk into the Samurai Dry Cleaners to pick up a jacket. The Samurai threatens seppuku when there's a stain left on it. Quickly into the sketch, Charles starts going off script and questioning the reality. He marvels at a prop that John pulls out, asks Gilda how she can understand the Japanese gibberish and starts reading John's lines off the cue cards. If I saw only this sketch I may have thought this was accidental as Gilda and John's reactions look genuine. Also, I have to admit, I kind of like Charles taking the piss out of this recurring one-joke sketch. This is the kind of stuff I was missing in the Jason Patric episode from season 19.
Weekend Update
Gilda and Charles walk into the Samurai Dry Cleaners to pick up a jacket. The Samurai threatens seppuku when there's a stain left on it. Quickly into the sketch, Charles starts going off script and questioning the reality. He marvels at a prop that John pulls out, asks Gilda how she can understand the Japanese gibberish and starts reading John's lines off the cue cards. If I saw only this sketch I may have thought this was accidental as Gilda and John's reactions look genuine. Also, I have to admit, I kind of like Charles taking the piss out of this recurring one-joke sketch. This is the kind of stuff I was missing in the Jason Patric episode from season 19.
Weekend Update
"And now a new feature, News for the silent movie buff"
A joke about South African activist Steve Biko getting beaten to death is too poor taste even for me. We also get another visit from the NBC Dancing N who doesn't deliver a bulletin but rather just felt like dancing.
Bill Murray comes out with another review, this time of one man shows. He finds them the product of egocentric actors and cheap producers who don't want to pay the actor's salaries of an entire cast. I liked the masturbation joke when Bill said that drama is the interaction between people, "What kind of interaction can one man have with himself?"
Lt. Willard Jackson shows up with a bag of bones that was suspected to be the remains of Jimmy Hoffa. He pulls out a cow skull which is not Hoffa's but strangely enough has Hoffa's teeth. He also found Amelia Earhart's hip bone and the jockey shorts of a missing bishop.
Simon & Garfunkel
Lt. Willard Jackson shows up with a bag of bones that was suspected to be the remains of Jimmy Hoffa. He pulls out a cow skull which is not Hoffa's but strangely enough has Hoffa's teeth. He also found Amelia Earhart's hip bone and the jockey shorts of a missing bishop.
Simon & Garfunkel
4 Stars
Charles sings a song with Paul
Recreating a moment from the 2nd episode of season 1, Paul Simon sings "The Sound Of Silence" with Charles in an Art Garfunkel wig. Paul stops the song to question why this is happening to which Charles explains that his film clip was cut short and he doesn't have much to do on the show so he requested this. As they sing, Charles doesn't know the words so Paul stops again.
"Well, I'm learning them as we're going."
"Chuck, this is live television. This is not the time to be learning."
"I'm much more familiar with what's coming up. Could we just play a little more?"
Paul finally gives up, leaving Charles alone to sing "Bridge Over Troubled Water". That's when the real Art Garfunkel shows up to stop him and take his wig. I am absolutely loving the absurdity of this episode.
The Killer Bees
Recreating a moment from the 2nd episode of season 1, Paul Simon sings "The Sound Of Silence" with Charles in an Art Garfunkel wig. Paul stops the song to question why this is happening to which Charles explains that his film clip was cut short and he doesn't have much to do on the show so he requested this. As they sing, Charles doesn't know the words so Paul stops again.
"Well, I'm learning them as we're going."
"Chuck, this is live television. This is not the time to be learning."
"I'm much more familiar with what's coming up. Could we just play a little more?"
Paul finally gives up, leaving Charles alone to sing "Bridge Over Troubled Water". That's when the real Art Garfunkel shows up to stop him and take his wig. I am absolutely loving the absurdity of this episode.
The Killer Bees
4 Stars
Charles ruins another sketch
Charles and Gilda are awaiting some trick or treaters when they open the door to reveal a group of men in bee costumes. They are bandidos who have come for their pollen. Charles is confused and stops the sketch to question what is going on. He's not sure if they are supposed to be real bees or men in bee costumes. He is also distracted by the bouncing antennas on their heads and wants them to take them off. The cast suggests that Charles should have been at dress rehearsal and again Charles claims that it interfered with his shopping spree. John takes center stage to call out Charles's unprofessionalism and the sketch ends with everyone walking of set, leaving Charles alone to throw to commercial. Again, I loved Charles taking the piss out of such a stupid sketch premise. Also again, this is obviously scripted, how did anyone think this wasn't planned. Planned or not, this is one of the most interesting episodes of SNL I've ever seen.
Brownie
Charles and Gilda are awaiting some trick or treaters when they open the door to reveal a group of men in bee costumes. They are bandidos who have come for their pollen. Charles is confused and stops the sketch to question what is going on. He's not sure if they are supposed to be real bees or men in bee costumes. He is also distracted by the bouncing antennas on their heads and wants them to take them off. The cast suggests that Charles should have been at dress rehearsal and again Charles claims that it interfered with his shopping spree. John takes center stage to call out Charles's unprofessionalism and the sketch ends with everyone walking of set, leaving Charles alone to throw to commercial. Again, I loved Charles taking the piss out of such a stupid sketch premise. Also again, this is obviously scripted, how did anyone think this wasn't planned. Planned or not, this is one of the most interesting episodes of SNL I've ever seen.
Brownie
5 Stars
Judy Miller puts on a show in her bedroom
Judy is sent to her room during her parent's bridge game and performs her own talk show for her stuffed animals. I was surprised that this was the first appearance of this character and even more surprised to find that she only appeared on the show twice. This is such a staple of Gilda Radner best ofs that I thought for sure they ran this into the ground. This is just a case of wind up Gilda and let her go. It was funny, entertaining and relatable as every kid has at one point or another been forced to entertain themselves in such a way.
Professional School Of Football
Judy is sent to her room during her parent's bridge game and performs her own talk show for her stuffed animals. I was surprised that this was the first appearance of this character and even more surprised to find that she only appeared on the show twice. This is such a staple of Gilda Radner best ofs that I thought for sure they ran this into the ground. This is just a case of wind up Gilda and let her go. It was funny, entertaining and relatable as every kid has at one point or another been forced to entertain themselves in such a way.
Professional School Of Football
3 Stars
You too can become a professional football player
Garrett is the spokesman for the Professional School of Football where you can learn how to become a professional football player and start making big money, dating beautiful women and eating big steaks. There's a test you can fill out to see if you have what it takes.
"It's 3rd and 15. Do you: A) Pass B) Complain or C) Sustain a groin injury. If you chose A you have what we call football savvy."
Not much to say about this, it was a cute little bit.
Audience
Not a rateable segment but we pan to Charles in the audience with the graphic "This Weeks Host!" underneath him. I never really thought these audience graphics were very funny but they were cute. They are usually just a random audience member with something like "enjoys chicken" underneath. This is one of the few that made me laugh.
Paul Simon returns with "You're Kind". I can't quite recall the song now but according to my notes while watching the episode, it was "groovy".
Hire The Incompetent
Hire The Incompetent
5 Stars
A PSA encouraging us to hire dumb people
Charles is here to speak on behalf of the incompetent. Every year, thousands of perfectly nice, incompetent people are fired simply because they are terrible at their jobs. Why should these jobs go to effective workers when they are already good? We then cut to testimonials from Bill as a grocery bagger who keeps putting the fragile items on the bottom under the heavy stuff, Laraine as an air traffic controller who spends most of her time flirting with men and a yet unnamed Roseanne Rosannadanna in her first appearance who was fired for getting hair in hamburgers. We cut back to Charles who explains that he was hired to host the show because of his incompetence. He breaks the fourth wall to say he didn't know that last part would be on the cue cards. He asks Lorne if this is a good time to sing the song he wrote for the show, something he's been hinting at all episode, and Lorne obliges.
"Help a person/Be a friend/Hang on till the very end/A car, TV, some cake, a wife/These are my feelings about life"
A graphic of "Hire The Incompetent" appears over his face. A fitting end to a weird episode.
FINAL ANALYSIS
Charles is here to speak on behalf of the incompetent. Every year, thousands of perfectly nice, incompetent people are fired simply because they are terrible at their jobs. Why should these jobs go to effective workers when they are already good? We then cut to testimonials from Bill as a grocery bagger who keeps putting the fragile items on the bottom under the heavy stuff, Laraine as an air traffic controller who spends most of her time flirting with men and a yet unnamed Roseanne Rosannadanna in her first appearance who was fired for getting hair in hamburgers. We cut back to Charles who explains that he was hired to host the show because of his incompetence. He breaks the fourth wall to say he didn't know that last part would be on the cue cards. He asks Lorne if this is a good time to sing the song he wrote for the show, something he's been hinting at all episode, and Lorne obliges.
"Help a person/Be a friend/Hang on till the very end/A car, TV, some cake, a wife/These are my feelings about life"
A graphic of "Hire The Incompetent" appears over his face. A fitting end to a weird episode.
FINAL ANALYSIS
"That's just the way my mind works, eggs bottom, cans top"
Average
3.7 Stars
MVP
Charles Grodin
From the cast...Dan Aykroyd
Update Promo, Return Of The Coneheads, Consumer Probe, Weekend Update, The Killer Bees
From the cast...Dan Aykroyd
Update Promo, Return Of The Coneheads, Consumer Probe, Weekend Update, The Killer Bees
Best Sketch
Consumer Probe
Worst SketchReturn Of The Coneheads
How I Would Have Lorne Michaels-ed It
I loved how this episode flowed. I wouldn't change a thing. They used the Grodin running gag just enough that it didn't get in the way of anything and also didn't ruin anything. They still had time for Coneheads, Irwin Mainway and Judy Miller and only let Chuck interrupt Samurai Futaba and The Killer Bees. This was a great episode from cold open to the goodnights.
Host Analysis
Host Analysis
I love Charles Grodin. I never knew how hip and cool he was until recently. When I was a kid he was just the dad in the Beethoven movies and the guy who hosted that boring talk show where he talked about O.J. Simpson a lot. It wasn't until later when I saw movies like The Heartbreak Kid, Midnight Run, and one of my guilty pleasures, Clifford, plus all the times he appeared on David Letterman's show. I thought he was awesome. He committed to the bit the whole show, his tongue planted firmly in his cheek but never hinting too much that it was a bit. Apparently he was able to convince a few as he was "banned" from SNL after this appearance. It's cool that he only hosted the one time but I wouldn't mind seeing him back now.
Final Thoughts
I was a little let down due to expectations. I was expecting the trainwreck I've heard legend about but instead I got something even better. This was a huge inside joke on an Andy Kaufman level and they kept it up even at the goodnights as Charles stands alone waving to the audience as the cast disperses. They kept it up for years after as you'll see Charles on the list of banned hosts like Milton Berle, Adrien Brody and Steven Seagal. This is an all-time classic episode. It just missed my highest 4 star sketch average, mostly due to an abundance of rateable segments, but I'll give it an honorary 4 stars. This is one I will come back to when I just want to watch a great SNL episode. I was really wary dipping my toes into this season up to this point. The season premiere was good but the last two episodes almost made me abandon this. After Mr. Grodin, I am all in on season 3 and want more crazy and inventive stuff. I say it's time to lift the ban on Chuck. Bring him back, and while you're at it, enough time has passed to give Milton Berle another shot. Robert Blake too. Bring them all back with Sinead O'Connor and Cypress Hill as musical guest.
Up Next
Up Next
The legendary Ray Charles acts as host and musical guest. I am extremely interested to see how that works out.
Charles must be wearing a wig in the Beethoven movies cause his hair is thinning here.
ReplyDelete“The season premiere was good but the last two episodes almost made me abandon this. After Mr. Grodin, I am all in on season 3”
ReplyDeleteThat’s exactly how I felt watching this year and boy did it pay off!
Chuck Grodin instead participating in a SNL cast desire to stick it to unnamed unprofessional hosts. Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton?
ReplyDeleteAlso he passed away yesterday at 86. I only now saw him compare Sean Hannity to Joseph Goebbels to his face on camera.