April 15, 1989 – Dolly Parton (S14 E17)

Segments are rated on a scale of 1-5 stars

COLD OPENING
Joseph Hazelwood (KEN) & other Exxon workers remove oil from Alaska rocks

— Loved Jon’s high-pitched gloating sound when Ben turns out to be wrong. That sound of Jon’s reminds me of a political panel show sketch that he and Dana later do in the following season’s Robert Wagner episode.
— Great bit with Phil specifying which type of otter goes into which pile.
— Some good, funny little things throughout this sketch.
— I love the casual reveal of Kevin as Capt. Joseph Hazelwood being part of the clean-up crew. There’s a particularly funny bit with Phil sternly telling him “You’re on pretty thin ice already!”, as well as the ending bit with Hazelwood drinking from the flask of alcohol.
STARS: ***½

OPENING MONTAGE
— After being audibly sick for the last two episodes, Don Pardo finally sounds like his old self again.

MONOLOGUE
a cameraman hangs from a rope to get a good shot of host’s cleavage

— She’s immediately coming off very charming and engaging.
— Hilarious part with the camera slowly zooming into her cleavage as she’s going on about how great the people at the show are.
— A particularly classic part right now with an overhead cameraman zooming down into Dolly’s cleavage from above.
— She’s a very good sport to do a monologue like this.
STARS: ****

LOTHAR OF THE HILL PEOPLE
Lothar (MIM) and primitive guys on “walking with women”

— The debut of a staple from Mike Myers’ first two seasons.
— By the way, it’s very interesting that they’re letting a new featured player star in the lead-off sketch of the night.
— A funny little touch with Lothar’s order to “Fetch us each a flagon of mead!”
— Some pretty good laughs from the guys’ talk about “walking with women”.
— This sketch’s Middle Ages setting and characterizations are pretty enjoyable to me.
STARS: ***

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
host performs “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That”

MOUNTAIN STORIES
host tells cast about TV-based stories her mother used to tell the family

 

— I love the set-up of this with the entire cast (minus the featured players) gathered around the host on the home base stage, as if they’re at a campfire. This is also a great way to showcase the entire cast as themselves.
— There’s something I found amusing about Victoria’s delivery of her line about how Dolly’s family didn’t have “any of the modern conveniences that we all take for granted”.
— I liked Dennis’ comically impressed facial reaction to Dolly telling him that her family made their own fun.
— Speaking of facial reactions, Phil has a classic one in response to being told by Dolly “You don’t have to patronize me, Phil.” (second screencap above)
— I love the cast’s silent realizations that Dolly’s “original” stories are just from TV shows.
— Hilarious bit about how the Dragnet stories that Dolly were told are “based on truth, but the names were changed to protect the innocent.”
— Good part during the Bewitched story when Jon blurts out “Oh, Mrs. Kravitz!” and then covers his mouth in shame.
STARS: ****½

WEEKEND UPDATE
accurate item about host proves National Enquirer is reliable news source
Jeane Dixon (NOD) makes some qualified predictions regarding oil spills

— I liked Dennis’ opening line: “I’m gonna make this quick tonight; there’s a really good Baretta on cable.”
— The brief Dolly Parton segment was a little odd and random (not to mention a rare instance of a host getting their own Update commentary as themselves), but it worked enough.
— Dennis’ joke about how the French “never miss a piece of tail” was great.
— Ehh, Nora’s Jeane Dixon commentary is pretty dire so far, and is leaning too heavily on her mixing up Dennis’ name.
— The payoff to the Jeane Dixon commentary with her “predicting” an Exxon oil spill didn’t work for me at all. Weak commentary overall.
STARS: ***

PLANET OF THE ENORMOUS HOOTERS
small-breasted (host) is exiled from the Planet of the Enormous Hooters

— Here’s a sketch that was famously intended for the Raquel Welch episode way back in season 1, but was turned down by Welch. Amazing that the writers kept it in their back pocket for THIRTEEN YEARS.
— An overall pretty straightforward sketch, almost too much so. While the concept and resulting sketch was certainly amusing enough, they didn’t do anything special with it. I wanted this to go further.
STARS: ***

SPROCKETS
Dieter (MIM) interviews Butch Patrick (BES), aka Eddie Munster

— Ladies and gentlemen, we have a major recurring character debut! Amazing that this is the second future recurring sketch that newbie Mike Myers is debuting tonight. Mike has only been on the show for four months so far, and is ALREADY taking charge and establishing himself faster than most newbies who join a veteran cast.
— I like that Mike’s fellow newbie Ben is the only other performer in this. Attack of the featured players!
— Funny visual of Ben dressed as a grown-up Eddie Munster.
— Funny line from Ben’s Butch Patrick about Marilyn Munster being “under” the show’s sound crew.
— Love Dieter’s request to touch Butch’s “most bizarre” widow’s peak.
— Some of the soon-to-become catchphrases like “Your story has become tiresome!” and “Touch my monkey. TOUCH HIM! LOVE HIM! (*says German phrase*)!” have been surprisingly delivered very low-key and deadpan tonight compared to how Dieter usually yells them in later installments.
— Dieter, to Butch Patrick: “I would’ve liked to see you play Eddie covered completely in sores.”
— Like the very first Wayne’s World sketch, it’s fascinating to witness the debut of this sketch and see how low-key and primitive it feels compared to later installments. Mike’s characterization of Dieter would become more animated than he is tonight. He’s still bringing the bizarreness and foreign creepiness tonight, though, which is something I always want to see from these Sprockets sketches.
STARS: ***½

THE RUSTY BONE
patrons of The Rusty Bone bar have traits similar to those of dogs & cats

 

— Nice touch with the movement of the tails corresponding with the tail-owner’s mood, especially during Phil’s conversation.
— Uh, interesting ending. I’m very surprised by how short this overall sketch was, though.
STARS: ***

CELEBRITY RESTAURANT
Buddy Precisely tells more unimportant people where to bide their time

— Second restaurant sketch in a row tonight. In fact, I’m pretty sure both of them are using the exact same set, only decorated differently.
— I like Buddy Precisely delightedly pointing out “Corbin Bernsen’s eating a biscuit!”
— Phil’s Jack Nicholson voice is even funnier than usual tonight.
— Jan’s Tracey Ullman impression is hilarious.
— Jan-as-Ullman: “I can get awards, but I can’t get ratings!” Buddy Precisely: “And you can’t get a table here! Take it outsiiiide, take it outsiiiide…”
— Loved Precisely telling Rob Lowe (played by an extra) the usual “Take it outsiiiide” IMMEDIATELY after happily greeting him. As Lowe leaves, Precisely tells him “Don’t you ever sing in public again!” This is the second SNL episode in a row making a dig at a Snow White(?) production number that Lowe had recently performed at that year’s Oscars. I’ve never seen a video of it, but it must’ve been TERRIBLE, judging by how relentless SNL is in bashing it.
— I like Precisely doing his usual “What are you known for?” showbiz questioning to the firemen who are here to put out a fire in the restaurant.
STARS: ***½

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
host performs “White Limozeen”

BROADWAY STORY, PART 2
by TOS- Daisy (VIJ) gets her big break

— A continuation of a Schiller’s Reel from two episodes ago.
— Once again, I’m very impressed by how this looks and sounds so much like an authentic 1930s film.
— I love Jon’s surprised reaction shot, where cigarettes fly into his mouth, ears, and nostrils.
— Phil’s “She is d-o-doggone ‘licious!” line absolutely slayed me.
— Funny little part with Phil’s exaggerated double-take in reaction to the police raid.
— Aw, this gets cut off with another “To be continued” ending just when it started getting really exciting. This is especially disappointing considering I’ve heard that Part 3 of this series never ended up airing in a live episode. Part 3 was supposedly added in reruns of this season’s earlier Demi Moore episode (which I guess answers my question from that review, where I said I’m not sure what the Travel Agency sketch is replaced with in reruns).
STARS: ****

SMILER’S
cashier’s (host) ice-breaking turns NYC residents from sour to friendly

— Good premise with Dolly’s down-home charm winning over the impatient customers.
— Wow, considering how new they are, Ben Stiller and Mike Myers have been getting tons of airtime tonight. I’m noticing that Ben usually always gets stuck in straight roles, though. I’m slowly starting to understand his alleged frustration that I believe is what leads to his upcoming early exit from the cast. More about that in tomorrow’s review.
— Funny touch with Jon’s smile after he gets called good-looking by Dolly.
— The ridiculous gator game that Dolly’s making the customers do is very funny.
— Good epilogue ending detailing how Dolly’s spirit drastically changed Manhattan, with the biggest laugh coming from the Trump Tower’s transformation (last screencap above).
STARS: ***½

10 BEATLES CLASSICS YOU KIND OF KNOW THE WORDS TO
hum along with album

— Decent premise and visual of the performers energetically singing the few lyrics they know after quietly mumbling the other lyrics.
STARS: ***

GOODNIGHTS

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IMMEDIATE POST-SHOW THOUGHTS
— The impressive long streak of solid season 14 episodes continues. While I honestly didn’t find tonight’s episode QUITE as strong as the last few before it, it was definitely still a good episode and also had a particularly fun vibe, no doubt helped by Dolly Parton’s charm and energy.

HOW THIS EPISODE STACKS UP AGAINST THE PRECEDING ONE (Mel Gibson)
a slight step down

My full set of screencaps for this episode is here

TOMORROW
Geena Davis