Tag: Jennifer Warnes

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February 5, 1983 – Sid Caesar / Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes (S8 E12)

Segments are rated on a scale of 1-5 stars

COLD OPENING
cast wonders how to prove show’s live, host explains “now-was-gonnabe”

   

— Gary being berated for his idea is a funny continuation of the running gag with him being the SNL punching bag.
— Why does the “Saveco” logo hanging on a banner on the background wall seem so familiar to me? (you can see it above Sid Caesar in the second screencap above) Was it used in a previous sketch?
— A good laugh from Eddie’s idea of proving the show is live by just bluntly saying into the camera “It’s crap and it’s live”.
— A VERY strong audience reaction to Sid Caesar’s entrance, which eventually leads to a standing ovation.
— The cast (especially Julia) seems to be really honored to be working with Sid.
— Sid’s whole complicated “when now is over” philosophy is freakin’ hilarious.
— Love the “Let’s pull Kroeger’s teeth out” mantra.
STARS: ***½


MONOLOGUE
(no synopsis available)

— Very short, but it was nice to see sincerity from Sid and he managed to get his usual laughs.
STARS: ***


FUNERAL IN A CAB
(EDM) pitches the inexpensive burial alternative

      

— Eddie’s doing a good job as another fast-talking pitchman, after the Popeil prophylactic commercial from earlier this season.
— The concept of this is funny, and the whole sequence demonstrating the dead body’s journey is hilarious, especially how it ends with the body getting thrown in a garbage truck.
STARS: ****


HOTEL
hotel room time-warp demonstrates 30 year change in male-female relations

     

— Whoa, sudden black-and-white shift.
— Oh, I see what they’re doing, showing how much times have changed between 1953 and 1983 by showing the huge difference in how Sid interacts with his respective love interest in both time periods. I love the clever concept of this.
— Nice touch with 1953 Eddie being a stereotypical Rochester-from-The-Jack-Benny-Show type of servant after we just saw 1983 Eddie as a respectable businessman who seems to be on the same level of importance as Sid’s character.
— I love how they’re constantly going back-and-forth between the 1953 and 1983 scenes.
— This is fantastic so far.
— LOL, is Mary biting Sid’s bare skin while she’s tearing his shirt off?
— Loved Sid’s final line into the camera.
— Overall, that was terrific, and really appealed to me as someone who’s always been fascinated in seeing how much social norms have changed from how they were several decades earlier. I can’t help but kinda wonder what an updated version of this sketch would look like, showing how much times have changed from 1983 to 2019.
STARS: *****


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guests perform “Up Where We Belong”


WHINERS
a hospital patient (host) is stuck next to ex-hostage Whiners

   

— Damn, they fooled me at first into thinking this was going to be a funny original sketch centered around Sid as a recovering hospital patient, until I recognized Joe’s off-camera whines and realized this is the dreaded continuation of the previous week’s Whiners sketch that ended with a cliffhanger. Putting up with the Whiners in one episode is bad enough; having to watch them in TWO CONSECUTIVE EPISODES is unspeakable torture.
— Sid’s facial expressions alone are almost saving this sketch.
— Satisfying ending with Sid wrapping his medical tubes around the Whiners’ necks in an attempt to strangle them.
STARS: *½


SATURDAY NIGHT NEWS
Patti Lynn Hunnsacker (JLD) tells her parents “I’m sexually active”
spittin’ mad MAG tells us which federal agencies should be done away with
Dr. Jack Badofsky lists types of suicide

      

— Julia’s overall commentary did absolutely NOTHING for me. And worse, I think this teen character of hers eventually becomes recurring. Can’t say I’m looking forward to that.
— This is the first time during a “Spittin’ Mad Mary Gross” commentary where she actually describes herself with the words “spittin’ mad”.  Until now, I had kinda been wondering why I’ve always seen SNL fans use the specific title “spittin’ mad” for these commentaries of hers.
— I got a good laugh from Mary’s suggestion to replace the surgeon general with a “chiropractor colonel”.
— Unfortunately, the rest of Mary’s commentary was a step down from her usual angry rants.
— Ugh, ENOUGH with this Dr. Jack Badofsky character already.
— Man, Badofsky’s puns are particularly bad tonight. I cannot believe so many of these groaners are getting big laughs from the studio audience. I guess this shows how different times were back in the early 80s, because I’m trying to picture modern-day SNL in 2019 having a Weekend Update character like Badofsky (I’m not sure who in the current cast would play him), and I don’t see it going over well at all; I can’t picture those corny old-fashioned puns getting laughs from today’s audience.
— Overall, a really bad Saturday Night News tonight, with NOTHING knocking it out of the park.
STARS: *½


HARRY ANDERSON
Harry Anderson [real] does a trick involving red rubber balls & handcuffs

   

— Whoa, how’d he do that marked cards trick at the beginning?
— Funny part with a handcuffed Harry somehow getting tangled around the audience volunteer’s arm.
— Great reveal at the end that he did the handcuff trick with a fake hand.
STARS: ***


CRIME AND SELF-PUNISHMENT
troubled inventor’s (host) silent film biography

         

— I’m slightly wary about approaching this, as I recall hearing that this is a VERY long sketch. I have no doubt that Sid will make it work, though.
— This is doing great at mimicking a silent movie.
— LOL at Sid’s blatantly fake speed-reading through the books.
— Very funny part with Sid repeatedly pulling back up a heart-attack-having Tim to keep him from slumping to the ground.
— I like the random detail of Sid pouring the poison he’s about to drink into a fancy wine glass.
— Overall, this was INDEED a very long sketch (easily one of the longest in SNL history; I would guesstimate that this was around 15 minutes long), and I can see why some people may have a lot of problems with it.  While it dragged in certain spots, I personally can’t complain too much because I still felt that the overall film was interesting to watch progress and, as I expected, Sid made it fun and was tailor-made for it.
STARS: ***


A FEW MINUTES WITH ANDY ROONEY
only his books are worth reading

 

— They’re still doing these? Well, at least they’ve recently been cutting back on the frequency of Joe’s Rooney appearances.
— Heh, is that vagina quote from the Helen Gurley Brown book real?
— All the double-entendres with Rooney’s questions about Gurley Brown’s “book” are very funny.
— This badly petered out at the end, with Joe’s Rooney just saying the titles of his own endless number of books.
STARS: ***½


SATURDAY NIGHT NEWS
Professor Helmut (host) touts soap operas as the trade imbalance solution

   

— Wait, what the hell??? A second Saturday Night News tonight? This is insane. What, we didn’t get ENOUGH bad Brad Hall jokes the first time around tonight?
— I really don’t understand Ebersol’s tendency to do odd, unconventional things with SNL’s news segment. (I’m aware he would later start doing particularly unconventional things with the news in seasons 9 and 10)
— Hmm, maybe this might be worth it after all. We’re getting a guest commentary from Sid.
— Sid demonstrating the same soap opera scene in various different languages is hilarious, especially the random brief English interjections he keeps throwing in.
— Overall, while Sid’s commentary was very solid, I don’t understand why they couldn’t have just put it in the first Saturday Night News from earlier tonight instead of creating a separate one for it. Oh, Ebersol, you perplex me.
STARS: ***½


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Joe Cocker performs “Seven Days”


GOODNIGHTS
cast makes host an honorary member of SNL

  

— This is wonderful, with Mary presenting Sid with a plaque declaring him an honorary member of SNL. All the genuine joy and emotions being displayed here are infectious.
— Are Eddie’s tears real, or is he just jokingly acting emotional?

IMMEDIATE POST-SHOW THOUGHTS:
— A very enjoyable episode that got all the mileage out of Sid Caesar that they could. He was utilized perfectly tonight, being given lots of showcases for his trademark comedic style, and he delivered in every single performance. Tonight’s episode was far from perfect, but the show as a whole had a strong feel that I really liked. This is probably the most I’ve enjoyed an episode since the  Howard Hesseman one from all the way back in October.


HOW THIS EPISODE STACKS UP AGAINST THE PRECEDING ONE (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas):
— a step up


My full set of screencaps for this episode is here


TOMORROW:
The recent string of impressive comedic hosts continues, as Howard Hesseman makes his return, a mere four months after his last hosting stint

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May 21, 1977 – Buck Henry / Jennifer Warnes, Kenny Vance (S2 E22)

Sketches are rated on a scale of 1-5 stars

COLD OPENING
Jimmy Carter (DAA) generates electricity to broadcast energy message
 
— Funny premise with Dan’s Carter powering his television address via his exercise bike.
— I love Gilda as the elderly Lillian Carter.
— Overall, a simple but funny cold opening.
STARS: ***½

MONOLOGUE
host aims to perform a live on-stage sex act with an audience member
   
— Hmm, what’s all that stuff set up on the stage upon’s Buck’s entrance?
— Heh, a pornography challenge? Very intriguing. I remember hearing about this monologue before, where Buck supposedly showcases a live sex act.
— I like the random inclusion of a big barrel of cottage cheese being part of the sex act.
— LOL at the random nun in the audience when the camera was panning through the crowd.
— Funny fake-out with which audience member Buck would end up picking.
— Good ending.
STARS: ****

SAMURAI B.M.O.C.
Futaba’s bad grades jeopardize his graduation
   
— Gilda: “Dean Bynum will be with you in a moment; it’s just he’s performing a live sex act on stage.” Haha! That’s brilliant how the ending of the monologue carried over into this sketch.
— Buck, upon entering: “Sorry to keep you waiting. Just finishing my cottage cheese.”
— Man, Garrett’s even more stumbly with his lines than usual. He can’t get through a sentence in this sketch without tripping all over it.
— I have a weird feeling from Buck’s set-up that the mysterious “big man on campus” he keeps talking about is going to turn out to be Futaba.
— I was right!!!
— This is the first Samurai sketch that Buck is appearing in since the “stockbroker” installment where Buck infamously got cut in the forehead by John’s sword. The fact that even after that incident, Buck had no problem continuing the tradition of doing a Samurai sketch every time he hosts shows what a great sport he was.
— Clever how Futaba “carved” his fraternity’s symbol into the drapes.
— Overall, the usual great Buck Henry-involved Samurai sketch.
STARS: ****

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE (JENNIFER WARNES)

SHOWER MIKE
showering Richard Herkiman (BIM) interviews wife (GIR) & her lover (host)
  
— Right out of the gate, Bill’s doing fantastic in this so far. This sketch’s concept is perfect for him, and his performance is so much fun to watch.
— Bringing Buck on as a man who Gilda’s been cheating on Bill with, and him still having his suit on during the shower is making this sketch even funnier. Everybody’s cheerful attitudes about the affair is very funny, too.
— Overall, wow, this was great. I’d say this is one of Bill’s all-time best sketches from his entire SNL tenure. With how shaky his first few months have been on the show, I’m glad he was able to end this season with an assuring performance that hopefully gave a lot of iffy viewers more confidence in him.
STARS: ****½

RETURN OF THE CONEHEADS
Coneheads fly Chrysler Building to Remulak to meet with Kuldroth (JOB)
 
   
— Coneheads! I’m looking forward to seeing Buck interact with them.
— Laraine’s conehead prosthetic is pretty sloppily applied. You can very clearly see where her real skin ends and the prosthetic begins.

— Buck to the Coneheads: “I think I know exactly what you people are: you’re Ku Klux Klan!”
— I was just about to ask why Buck looks so sweaty in his close-up, before I just now realized he must still be damp from the shower sketch.

— Whoa, a cutaway to a filmed sequence with the Coneheads taking a drive. I’m really liking this.
— This whole filmed sequence is great. SNL’s pulling out all the stops for tonight’s Coneheads installment.
— Funny to watch the crowd of bystanders in the background when the Coneheads exit from their car.
— Wow, now we’re seeing the Coneheads on their home planet. I love seeing John as the leader.
— Nice continuity having Garrett reprise his role from the preceding Coneheads sketch.
— John’s voice is great.
— LOL at the fight sequence between Dan and John.
— Overall, an absolutely great Coneheads sketch, and I love how extensive the whole thing was.
STARS: ****½

WEEKEND UPDATE
on-horse microphone records Preakness ride of Seattle Slew & jockey (CHC)
Emily Litella says Bella Abzug [real] will throw her “cat” in the ring
in hopes of getting laid, host presents JAC with a phony journalism award
     
— This is Jane’s final Update as a solo anchorperson. A certain cast member becomes her new co-anchor the following season.
— Pretty funny with the horse in the horse race footage having a Mr. Ed voice, though this is the second time they used that joke. Last time they did that joke (in the Catherine the Great sketch from the Karen Black episode), Chevy was the one who did the Mr. Ed voice. Does this mean he’s there tonight (in yet ANOTHER cameo) doing the voice again?
— (sigh) Another Emily Litella appearance, though they’re using her as a reporter this time.
— Part of me appreciates that they’ve been trying a lot of different things with Litella these last few months, but this particular commentary still didn’t work for me. The jokes were tired and weak, Bella Abzug’s delivery was stiff, and hearing Abzug attempt to do Litella’s “Never mind” catchphrase was almost cringeworthy.
— Buck giving Jane an award for journalism? Wonder what the catch is going to be.
— Haha, Buck’s creepy stalker-ish pining for Jane is very funny.
— And now, it’s gotten even funnier with Buck’s comment about his personal “rather large trophy” that he want to give to Jane in private.
— Jane’s sign-off at the end was a little strange. I think she sold her post-Buck commentary weirded-out-ness a little TOO well here.
— No mid-WU break tonight. Hopefully in the semi-new era of Update that begins the following season, the mid-WU breaks will officially be gone.
STARS: ***½

RHONDA’S BRIDAL SHOWER
at her bridal shower, Rhonda Weiss loves the gifts she receives
 
— Jane’s voice sounds so different in this. I’ve never heard her talk like that any other time.
— What the heck is a “melonballer”?
— Never mind; I guess the joke there was melonballers don’t actually exist, judging by how the next gift Gilda received was an “egg-tweezer”.
— Not really sure I like this sketch so far. I’m finding myself bored and haven’t laughed a single time yet.
— Overall, yeah, not crazy at all about what I just watched. I think this was something that was aimed more towards female viewers who can relate to this type of humor.
STARS: *½

HOW YOUR CHILDREN GROW
(host) & punctuator patient (GIR) condition (JAC)
   
— LOL, what the heck is going on, with Gilda monotone-ly punctuating Buck’s sentences, Laraine ringing a bell, and Gilda handing Jane a cookie?
— I’m starting to really like the weirdness of this.
— Great twist revelation regarding Jane’s salivation.
— Overall, this was perfect execution of a unique sketch.
STARS: ****

DOG IN BED
by William Wegman- an alarm clock awakens weimaraner Man Ray
 
— The second episode in a row without a Gary Weis film. I can only hope this means they’re phasing him out.
— What in the world??? That’s the whole film??? A dog gets woken up by an alarm clock, sleepily looks around, and… The End?
STARS: ???

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE (KENNY VANCE)

LUCKY LINDY
Charles Lindbergh (host) flies across the Atlantic & meets Land Shark
   
— I’m liking the format of this and Dan is fun as the narrator, though nothing really funny has happened yet.
— LOL at Buck placing the thermos below himself to relieve himself into.
— Buck pretending his hand is a stewardess puppet? Ha, he seems to slowly be going crazy.
— Him using the puppet hand to pleasure himself while looking at a “spicy” magazine is a riot.
— The masturbation sequence is made even funnier by the line from Dan as the narrator: “Turbulence suddenly jerked the plane off……. course.”
— Haha, Landshark! So I guess that answers my earlier question about if Chevy’s there tonight.
STARS: ***½

THE SATURDAY NIGHT BAND: “DEPARTURE LOUNGE”
Howard Shore [real] & SNL Band perform “Departure Lounge”

— We get a random musical performance from the SNL Band.

IMPRESSIONIST MICHAEL O’DONOGHUE
MOD, castmembers, others impersonate eye-gouged Mormon Tabernacle Choir
   
— Hmm, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is the subject of tonight’s O’Donoghue impression. Is he going to have a choir accompany him like how he had two ladies accompany his Tony Orlando and Dawn impression last time?
— Even though I always know what’s coming with these O’Donoghue impression segments, it never fails to crack me up whenever he suddenly starts saying “A funny thought occurred to me…” after heaping tons of praise on who he’s about to impersonate.
— Ah, the choir is being played by the entire cast and (what appears to be) entire writing staff!
— Overall, hilarious as always. And this being the final sketch of the season, having the entire cast and writing staff appearing in it is a nice way to end the year.
— So far, all of O’Donoghue’s impression sketches have only appeared in Buck Henry-hosted episodes.   I didn’t realize until now that these sketches were exclusive to Buck’s episodes.  I had always thought that O’Donoghue just did them whenever.
STARS: ****

GOODNIGHTS
  

IMMEDIATE POST-SHOW THOUGHTS:
— A very good season finale, and yet another solid Buck Henry episode. I had a great time watching this. A majority of the sketches were both strong and fun, and a few of those sketches had a special extensive feeling that made it seem like SNL was intentionally going all out for their season finale, which is what I always like to see when an SNL season ends.
— This episode would begin a tradition of Buck hosting the season finales for the remainder of this era. It doesn’t need to be explained why, if you’re familiar with what a great host he always makes.
— We’re officially two seasons down in my ‘One SNL a Day’ project!

HOW THIS EPISODE STACKS UP AGAINST THE PRECEDING ONE (Shelley Duvall):
— a step up

My full set of screencaps for this episode is here

TOMORROW:
Season 3 begins, with host Steve Martin. I’m very eager to go into this season because, IIRC, that and season 4 are both widely considered the zenith of 70s SNL.