"Hello? Teenagers, Pokemon, cha-ching!"
Cold Open: Reform Party Headquarters
4 Stars
Ross Perot picks new candidates for the Reform Party
Well. A somewhat prophetic sketch to start off the new season. Remember when Donald Trump running for President was a stupid idea? Something that would only exist in the mind of a comedy writer? Ross Perot (Cheri Oteri borrowing a few of Dana Carvey's catchphrases) is interviewing Pat Buchanan (Chris) and Donald Trump (Darrell) to be the presidential nominee for the Reform Party. They go over some crazy ideas, making it illegal for martians to have ray guns, Trump has plans to turn the White House into a casino and Pat has been toying with some Nazi stuff. Eventually Will bursts through the wall as Jesse Ventura to body slam Pat and give him a couple of airplane spins. This was all fun. Pat Buchanan putting on a Hitler mustache next to Trump and Donald declaring his love of immigrants (because they work for pennies) were all bizarre jokes in hindsight.
Jerry Seinfeld Monologue
Well. A somewhat prophetic sketch to start off the new season. Remember when Donald Trump running for President was a stupid idea? Something that would only exist in the mind of a comedy writer? Ross Perot (Cheri Oteri borrowing a few of Dana Carvey's catchphrases) is interviewing Pat Buchanan (Chris) and Donald Trump (Darrell) to be the presidential nominee for the Reform Party. They go over some crazy ideas, making it illegal for martians to have ray guns, Trump has plans to turn the White House into a casino and Pat has been toying with some Nazi stuff. Eventually Will bursts through the wall as Jesse Ventura to body slam Pat and give him a couple of airplane spins. This was all fun. Pat Buchanan putting on a Hitler mustache next to Trump and Donald declaring his love of immigrants (because they work for pennies) were all bizarre jokes in hindsight.
Jerry Seinfeld Monologue
3 Stars
Jerry goes through a typical day
Jerry is happy to be back in New York City and gives us a rundown of a typical day for him. He's up at 8 to watch Wings on the USA network, that leads to The Single Guy, Ned & Stacey, Boston Common and The Naked Truth. Then he flips over to FX for more Wings and then he moves on to Days Of Our Lives. I was working a night shift job around this time and lived pretty much the same life. USA would show a whole bunch of cancelled sitcoms in the morning and that is how I would start my day too. Jerry's material here isn't the greatest but his delivery is still sharp.
Dillon/Edwards Investments
Jerry is happy to be back in New York City and gives us a rundown of a typical day for him. He's up at 8 to watch Wings on the USA network, that leads to The Single Guy, Ned & Stacey, Boston Common and The Naked Truth. Then he flips over to FX for more Wings and then he moves on to Days Of Our Lives. I was working a night shift job around this time and lived pretty much the same life. USA would show a whole bunch of cancelled sitcoms in the morning and that is how I would start my day too. Jerry's material here isn't the greatest but his delivery is still sharp.
Dillon/Edwards Investments
5 Stars
A trusted investment firm took its time to get online
For nearly a century, Dillon/Edwards Investments have been a trusted name for your financial future. Many investment companies rushed to get on the internet and by the time Dillon/Edwards made a website there was only one internet address left, www.clownpenis.fart. An extremely juvenile commercial parody but a classic. Also appreciate how it hits the joke and gets out quick.
Morning Latte
For nearly a century, Dillon/Edwards Investments have been a trusted name for your financial future. Many investment companies rushed to get on the internet and by the time Dillon/Edwards made a website there was only one internet address left, www.clownpenis.fart. An extremely juvenile commercial parody but a classic. Also appreciate how it hits the joke and gets out quick.
Morning Latte
2 Stars
Two dumb news anchors interview an author
I covered three of these sketches in my season 23 recaps. I missed 3 by skipping season 24. Looking forward through SNL Archives, I'm gonna see this 3 times this season. I didn't care for it the first time. It's not terrible and at least they have dropped the ending of having someone call Cheri a dumb bitch. Here, they interview Jerry who is the author of a weight loss book where you only eat fruit and meat. Cheri keeps asking if she can eat pizza. Also, Cheri's husband is filling in as producer for the day because their regular one quit after Will took up two parking spaces. There's a lot going on here so it's still fun and Will and Cheri have good chemistry. I've just seen this too much already.
St. Monica
I covered three of these sketches in my season 23 recaps. I missed 3 by skipping season 24. Looking forward through SNL Archives, I'm gonna see this 3 times this season. I didn't care for it the first time. It's not terrible and at least they have dropped the ending of having someone call Cheri a dumb bitch. Here, they interview Jerry who is the author of a weight loss book where you only eat fruit and meat. Cheri keeps asking if she can eat pizza. Also, Cheri's husband is filling in as producer for the day because their regular one quit after Will took up two parking spaces. There's a lot going on here so it's still fun and Will and Cheri have good chemistry. I've just seen this too much already.
St. Monica
1 Star
Mary Katharine Gallagher has a crush on a Jewish basketball player
Speaking of things I've seen too much of, 17th appearance for Mary Katharine Gallagher. They haven't changed this up at all. She puts her hands in her armpits, she does a monologue from a movie, she falls into a pile of randomly placed boxes to show her underwear. You've seen one you've seen them all and thankfully this is the final outing with Molly as a cast member.
Javis Home Security Systems
Speaking of things I've seen too much of, 17th appearance for Mary Katharine Gallagher. They haven't changed this up at all. She puts her hands in her armpits, she does a monologue from a movie, she falls into a pile of randomly placed boxes to show her underwear. You've seen one you've seen them all and thankfully this is the final outing with Molly as a cast member.
Javis Home Security Systems
5 Stars
A commercial for diapers is quickly interrupted
This I loved and is something I would like to see the show do more of, just a quick 90 second bit of stupidity that gives you the joke and gets out quick. Will is talking to the camera about his fears of changing diapers as a new father. As he goes to pick up the baby, Ana walks in, asks him what he's doing in her son's room and Will jumps out the window. Turns out this is actually a commercial for a security system, because there are a lot of dirty freaks out there.
Action 8 News Watch
This I loved and is something I would like to see the show do more of, just a quick 90 second bit of stupidity that gives you the joke and gets out quick. Will is talking to the camera about his fears of changing diapers as a new father. As he goes to pick up the baby, Ana walks in, asks him what he's doing in her son's room and Will jumps out the window. Turns out this is actually a commercial for a security system, because there are a lot of dirty freaks out there.
Action 8 News Watch
3 Stars
News anchors keep teasing exciting stories
Jerry and Ana are anchors setting up stories for later in the broadcast. The stories get increasingly absurd and more sensationalized. The President has been assassinated, but President of what? A household item is found to contain a lethal poison, we'll tell you what it is at the end of the hour. A swarm of diseased insects are carrying the plague but you can protect yourself using bug repellent. A certain brand of bug repellent can lead to crippling neurological diseases, we'll tell you which one later. Not a bad sketch at all if a little slow moving and once you get the joke it keeps repeating. Sure was good to have an original sketch though.
Weekend Update
Jerry and Ana are anchors setting up stories for later in the broadcast. The stories get increasingly absurd and more sensationalized. The President has been assassinated, but President of what? A household item is found to contain a lethal poison, we'll tell you what it is at the end of the hour. A swarm of diseased insects are carrying the plague but you can protect yourself using bug repellent. A certain brand of bug repellent can lead to crippling neurological diseases, we'll tell you which one later. Not a bad sketch at all if a little slow moving and once you get the joke it keeps repeating. Sure was good to have an original sketch though.
Weekend Update
"Funny, that's the exact disguise I use whenever I go out to by a Garth Brooks album"
Oh, this is gonna be painful. After doing season 23 I had to take a break from this era, specifically because of Colin Quinn. I don't hate the man but he was in a no-win situation and never really got any better. He seems to be just reading jokes off of cue cards, stumbling over both setups and punchlines that make it hard for me to follow. I didn't care much for anything in this segment this week outside of The Millennium which tells us about the middle ages and how it affected sharks. Turns out sharks weren't affected at all and it was probably a mistake to talk about the two simultaneously.
Jerry Seinfeld comes out to do a point/counterpoint with Jerry Seinfeld. They talk about The Gap like a two-headed Seinfeld stand-up routine. This is my first chance this season to say that I really disliked Jimmy Fallon on SNL. All the reasons are on display here, the hack impressions, the giggling, the smirking. At times, Jerry seems to be trying to do an impression of Jimmy doing an impression of him because Jimmy's impression doesn't sound too much like the real person. Ugh, 19 more episodes of Jimmy Fallon and Colin Quinn. Why did I pick this season again? Oh right, Norm's hosting in 2 episodes.
David Bowie
"Thursday's Child"
Not a terrible song but kinda slow. I really could have used an energy boost after Colin Quinn lulled me to sleep.
Oz
4 Stars
Jerry goes to a maximum security prison
Due to the negative critical reaction to the Seinfeld series finale, Jerry has been transferred to Oz. I've never seen the HBO show this is parodying, mainly because I know it has a lot of sodomy which is not my ideal way to spend a pleasant Saturday evening, but you don't need to know any of the references for this to work. We see Jerry flossing his teeth in the shower while two men embrace behind him and then the minutiae that normally filled an episode of Seinfeld is transplanted into prison life. Jerry and a fellow inmate talk about make up sodomy, they start a contest to see who can go the longest without committing male rape, Jerry talks about how much he likes the hole. All good stuff.
Complaint Line
Due to the negative critical reaction to the Seinfeld series finale, Jerry has been transferred to Oz. I've never seen the HBO show this is parodying, mainly because I know it has a lot of sodomy which is not my ideal way to spend a pleasant Saturday evening, but you don't need to know any of the references for this to work. We see Jerry flossing his teeth in the shower while two men embrace behind him and then the minutiae that normally filled an episode of Seinfeld is transplanted into prison life. Jerry and a fellow inmate talk about make up sodomy, they start a contest to see who can go the longest without committing male rape, Jerry talks about how much he likes the hole. All good stuff.
Complaint Line
4 Stars
A man calls the number he sees on the back of a truck
Will and Ana are driving and get cut off by a truck. Upset, Will calls the number on the back, 1-800-EAT-SHIT. The final expletive keeps getting censored either by cutting to another camera or someone cutting the other person off abruptly before they get to it. Jerry picks up the phone and tells Will that if he has a problem with the truck driver he should open his mouth real wide and eat a big and steaming helping of... Will was the standout here, constantly treating this absurd concept as a real thing, asking to speak to a supervisor and expecting a different answer other than to eat some shit. The sketch becomes more about disguising the expletive rather than exploring the concept but it's still very funny.
...And A Pizza Place
Will and Ana are driving and get cut off by a truck. Upset, Will calls the number on the back, 1-800-EAT-SHIT. The final expletive keeps getting censored either by cutting to another camera or someone cutting the other person off abruptly before they get to it. Jerry picks up the phone and tells Will that if he has a problem with the truck driver he should open his mouth real wide and eat a big and steaming helping of... Will was the standout here, constantly treating this absurd concept as a real thing, asking to speak to a supervisor and expecting a different answer other than to eat some shit. The sketch becomes more about disguising the expletive rather than exploring the concept but it's still very funny.
...And A Pizza Place
3 Stars
NBC executives buy the rights to a location from another show
This one probably needs some setup. For 4 seasons there was a show called Two Guys And A Girl, it starred a young Ryan Reynolds. For the first 2 seasons it was called Two Guys, A Girl And A Pizza Place but they changed formats and dropped the "And A Pizza Place" from their title. This sketch shows a group of NBC executives excited that they now own the rights to the pizza place and are going to do a show about it. Their show is just footage of a pizza parlor making pizza. Ratings quickly plummet and they have to make changes to the show, their idea, adding a new topping. A slice of ricotta cheese pizza ends up getting nominated for an Emmy, losing to David Hyde Pierce, winning a People's Choice Award and then accidentally getting eaten by ER's Eriq La Salle. This was a stupid sketch. But it was funny.
David Bowie returns with "Rebel Rebel" which is a classic song. This performance though, I don't know. It doesn't seem like any effort was put into this. At first I was blaming Bowie's age, maybe he just didn't have the swagger anymore for a song like this but on second viewing, I think he just didn't give much of a shit.
Interrogation
This one probably needs some setup. For 4 seasons there was a show called Two Guys And A Girl, it starred a young Ryan Reynolds. For the first 2 seasons it was called Two Guys, A Girl And A Pizza Place but they changed formats and dropped the "And A Pizza Place" from their title. This sketch shows a group of NBC executives excited that they now own the rights to the pizza place and are going to do a show about it. Their show is just footage of a pizza parlor making pizza. Ratings quickly plummet and they have to make changes to the show, their idea, adding a new topping. A slice of ricotta cheese pizza ends up getting nominated for an Emmy, losing to David Hyde Pierce, winning a People's Choice Award and then accidentally getting eaten by ER's Eriq La Salle. This was a stupid sketch. But it was funny.
David Bowie returns with "Rebel Rebel" which is a classic song. This performance though, I don't know. It doesn't seem like any effort was put into this. At first I was blaming Bowie's age, maybe he just didn't have the swagger anymore for a song like this but on second viewing, I think he just didn't give much of a shit.
Interrogation
4 Stars
Thugs brutally beat a man and then resuscitate him
Will, Jimmy and Horatio are beating up Jerry for some info when he unexpectedly dies from the injuries. Will puts him in a hospital bed and later that night wakes him up to ask him if he's feeling better. When Jerry says he's doing all right, Will smacks him across the face. Jerry takes a turn for the worse, Will switches back to doctor mode to heal him. The joke keeps repeating and this one does suffer from a case of the giggles at the end but I would probably laugh too when Will put on a clown nose and started treating Jerry's injuries in a Patch Adams style.
FINAL ANALYSIS
Will, Jimmy and Horatio are beating up Jerry for some info when he unexpectedly dies from the injuries. Will puts him in a hospital bed and later that night wakes him up to ask him if he's feeling better. When Jerry says he's doing all right, Will smacks him across the face. Jerry takes a turn for the worse, Will switches back to doctor mode to heal him. The joke keeps repeating and this one does suffer from a case of the giggles at the end but I would probably laugh too when Will put on a clown nose and started treating Jerry's injuries in a Patch Adams style.
FINAL ANALYSIS
"Jerry, you ignorant slut"
Average
3.4 Stars
MVP
Will Ferrell
Reform Party Headquarters, Morning Latte, St. Monica, Javis Home Security Systems, Action 8 News Watch, Complaint Line, ...And A Pizza Place, Interrogation
Reform Party Headquarters, Morning Latte, St. Monica, Javis Home Security Systems, Action 8 News Watch, Complaint Line, ...And A Pizza Place, Interrogation
Best Sketch
Oz
Worst Sketch
St. Monica
How I Would Have Lorne Michaels-ed It
I would have started with Action 8 News Watch. This was peak recurring character era for SNL so I'm not surprised that the season premiere started with 2 recognizable sketches but it left me with a feeling of dread. After a good cold open, monologue and commercial we start with 2 sketches I've seen before and I was ready to bail because I knew Weekend Update was coming up next and then, for all I know, an appearance from the Spartan Cheerleaders and the Roxbury guys. Luckily, the episode got silly after that.
Host Analysis
I recently recapped season 17 which, coincidentally, is the last time Jerry hosted. This is leaps and bounds better than that episode. Jerry ended up being one of my least favorite hosts that season, doing sketches that seemed to be written by him that didn't mesh well with the show. This episode he seemed to be more loose and fit right in. He played second fiddle to a couple of recurring characters and then made a good leading man in sketches like Oz and Complaint Line. This is the last time he's hosted but I would be curious to see what he would bring to the show now.
Final Thoughts
A really solid premiere that has me excited for the season. I casually watched this season when it was on. Norm MacDonald getting fired kept me away from the show for a few years and I would only catch episodes here and there. I'm excited to see what this season has in store. Will's in his 5th season (as is most of the cast) and if they keep giving him the freedom to come up with bizarre sketches, I'm in. Looking ahead at the hosts has me excited too. Not only do we have the Norm episode but The Rock hosts for the first time, Danny DeVito, Jamie Foxx, Walken, Goodman, Garth Brooks. This is gonna be a good one, hopefully, as long as they keep the Jimmy Fallon to a minimum.
Up Next
Boogie Nights star Heather Graham hosts, at least I'm assuming she's promoting Boogie Nights as I remember her playing Rollergirl in a Ladies Man sketch.
Probably hosting after the buzz of Austin Powers 2.
ReplyDeleteIf it means anything, there’s only 52 more sketches with him this season
ReplyDeletehttps://micollectionblog.blogspot.com/2019/07/jimmy-fallon-1998-2004.html?m=1
I have noticed the season here looks very crisp yet later on it looks blurry and cheap looking.
ReplyDeleteBowie's performance of Scary Monsters two years prior is superb by comparison.
ReplyDelete