Tag: Robin Williams

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January 23, 1988 – Robin Williams / James Taylor (S13 E9)

Segments are rated on a scale of 1-5 stars

COLD OPENING
Pumping Up With Hans & Franz- the duo criticize Jimmy The Greek’s remarks

— This again so soon? While it’s good that these characters are continuing to gain popularity, do we really need them two episodes in a row? Granted, SNL had a month-long Christmas break between these last two episodes, but I’m watching/reviewing these SNL episodes in chronological order on a day-to-day basis, and thus it feels like Hans and Franz literally just appeared.
— Interesting change of pace at least, with Hans and Franz here to talk about controversial statements Jimmy The Greek recently made about black people having superior thighs to white people.
— I got a big laugh from them mentioning Webster (Emmanuel Lewis) as proof that black people aren’t stronger than white people.
— An overall decent cold opening with some funny comments toward Jimmy The Greek.
STARS: ***


MONOLOGUE
host does stand-up about safe sex & the importance of using condoms

— I absolutely LOVE Robin’s entrance in this, busting through the doors and immediately going into a very extended, energetic, fun dance sequence all around the stage as the SNL Band continues playing the theme music (first screencap above). This has always been my personal all-time favorite entrance that a host has ever made for their monologue. Hell, this entrance of Robin’s was so epic that SNL even used a clip of it for an In Memoriam to Robin that was added to a season 39 summer rerun when Robin died in 2014.
— Robin’s whole talk about prophylactics has tons of funny lines.
— Now he’s making me laugh even more with his bit about Shakespearean actors in porn.
— Incredible monologue overall. I loved this just as much as Robin’s season 12 monologue. You can tell the audience found this phenomenal as well, judging from their particularly huge applause at the end.
STARS: ****½


COMPULSION
— Rerun


BIRTH TAPE
to recommend birth filming, (host) shows video of wife (VIJ) having baby

— I’m really liking this premise.
— Very funny reveal that Victoria’s the one holding the camera while she’s in labor.
— Memorable and hilarious part with Robin stretching out his mouth to imitate what Victoria looks like “down there” in her labor-induced state.
— I like the use of an obvious doll that Victoria has birthed.
— A fun overall sketch and was absolutely perfect for Robin.
STARS: ****


LEARNING TO FEEL
Denise Venetti (NOD) tells patients “look at yourself”

— Nora’s intense hand-on-face expressions when giving her guests advice are pretty funny.
— I liked Nora’s rapid, confusing, back-and-forth “Look at Glenn, look at Ann” to Phil and Jan.
— This overall sketch was okay and Nora gave a good performance, but you got the joke of the sketch really quickly and it didn’t expand from there. I’m not looking forward to this sketch eventually becoming recurring.
STARS: ***


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest sings “Never Die Young”


WEEKEND UPDATE
one-man mobile uplink unit ALF reports on the caucuses from Iowa

— Loved Dennis’ opening line, where he vaguely addresses the aforementioned controversial Jimmy The Greek statement by saying “So what if their thighs are bigger than ours? It’s that other thing that eats at me.”
— Lots of rapid-fire random one-line jokes from Dennis so far tonight.
— The debut of Al Franken’s one-man mobile uplink unit, a bit that I’ve always liked.
— A good laugh from Al professionally detailing the pain he’s in from carrying around all the gadgets.
— Good overall commentary from Al.
— Great ad-lib from Dennis after a blown joke resulted in deadly silence from the audience.
— Dennis’ random “What IS normal heterosexual sex?” bit didn’t work at all.
STARS: ***½


THE 8TH ANNUAL ACE AWARDS
reruns, tickers, infomercials get their due

— Dana is very funny in his impression of stand-up comedian Gallagher.
— I have no idea who Robin is playing, nor why the camera keeps cutting to such an extreme close-up of him whenever he speaks.
— Strange sketch so far.
— Jon’s acceptance speech has a few laughs, which is more than I can say for almost anything else in this sketch so far.
— The clips they’re showing are making less and less sense. If that’s the joke, it’s not working.
— I’m enjoying Nora’s impression of Shelley Duvall.
— For some reason, I liked Phil’s grumpy facial reaction when he’s announced as the winner.
— Overall, despite a few bright spots, I was not a fan of this sketch. The randomness in it just didn’t work. SNL usually has a poor track record with award show sketches, and this one is no exception.
STARS: **


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest sings “Sweet Potato Pie”


I WUV YOU
(host)’s inability to sincerely say “I love you” irks girlfriend (JAH)

— A promising use of Robin’s knack for doing different voices.
— If you know me, you’ll know I loved the quick part with Robin doing Three Stooges voices.
— The ending was… okay, I guess.
— Overall, ehh, I wasn’t too crazy about this sketch as a whole. Not sure what about it didn’t work for me.
STARS: **


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest sings “Lonesome Road”


DISCOVER
Peter Graves (PHH) interviews spirits channelled through (host)

— Some particularly funny bad analogies from Phil’s Graves early on in this.
— Some big laughs from Robin’s channeling of Lambda’s spirit.
— Robin channeling a random Jewish guy from Pittsburgh is pretty funny.
— This is strange for a Discover sketch. For once, the humor is more focused on the guest than on Phil’s Graves.
— Overall, this was okay for what it was, but I definitely prefer the previous Discover sketches. It didn’t feel right seeing Graves as basically a straight man for once, when the appeal of these Discover sketches has always been Graves’ idiotic statements and actions.
STARS: ***


60TH BIRTHDAY
on his 60th birthday, host is visited by chip-off-the-old-block son (DAC)

— Love this concept of Robin playing himself as an old man in the future.
— When it’s announced that Ronald Reagan is still alive at age 106, I loved a surprised Robin commenting how he assumed in the past that all that would be left of Reagan in the future is a wig and a colon.
— Another great line from Robin, this time remarking how future Michael Jackson looks like a photo negative of Katharine Hepburn.
— Very fun and dead-on Robin Williams impression from Dana.
— After a very long run of wacky ad-libs from his son, I love Robin’s only response to that being “I should’ve worn a prophylactic.”
— Some funny lines about where Robin’s career has gone in the future.
— Lots of great back-and-forths between Robin and Dana throughout this sketch.
— Absolutely loved the line about Dennis Miller being a U.S. Senator. Even funnier in hindsight, considering that prediction ended up coming true for another SNL performer from this era.
— After the aforementioned Dennis Miller mention, Dana works in his impression of him. Robin’s response has me wondering if that was an ad-lib on Dana’s part.
— Robin, after his son has left: “I don’t have the heart to tell him he’s a foster child.” That hilarious line was not only a killer way to end this sketch, but was also a perfect end to tonight’s episode in general. However, I’m aware that this sketch originally aired earlier in the show during the original airing, and was moved to the end of the show in the rerun version I’m reviewing.
STARS: ****½


GOODNIGHTS

IMMEDIATE POST-SHOW THOUGHTS
— A pretty fun episode, as is usually the case whenever Robin Williams hosts. However, I’m not as big a fan of this episode as I was of Robin’s season 12 hosting stint. That episode was pretty much flawless in my eyes, whereas tonight’s episode had a disappointing post-Update half, aside from the 60th Birthday sketch. That being said, what worked in this episode worked well, and there were some memorable moments.


HOW THIS EPISODE STACKS UP AGAINST THE PRECEDING ONE (Paul Simon)
— a step down


My full set of screencaps for this episode is here


TOMORROW
Carl Weathers

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November 22, 1986 – Robin Williams / Paul Simon with Ladysmith Black Mambazo (S12 E5)

Segments are rated on a scale of 1-5 stars

COLD OPENING
crosstalk in Ronald Reagan’s (host) earpiece disrupts press conference

— For tonight only, Robin Williams takes over the Ronald Reagan impression, which was unoccupied at the time, as our last Reagan impersonator, Randy Quaid, had recently left, and Phil Hartman hadn’t taken over the role yet (the latter’s Reagan impression actually debuts in the very next episode, in a legendary sketch).
— I also wonder if this is the only time a sitting president was played by a non-cast member before Alec Baldwin made that a regular thing in recent years.
— Good Reagan voice from Robin, and it’s nice to see that unlike with Randy Quaid, SNL has actually made an effort to make Robin look like Reagan.
— Love how Robin’s Reagan is heard off-camera quietly singing the “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” song when he’s about to make his press conference entrance.
— LOL at him actually walking out of the conference just to briefly tell the two earpiece technicians that he was only pausing for dramatic effect.
— Very funny turn with Reagan’s earpiece receiving interference, leading to him repeating police reports out loud. It was especially hilarious when he repeats one particular report of a perpetrator being a “burly male negro” as the press members he’s in front of stare on in shock.
— Haha, and now he tries to play off his aforementioned “burly male negro” utterance as him describing our new ambassador to South Africa.
— Good ending with the interference going particularly wild, leading to Reagan repeating a rapid-fire string of different things from different radio stations. Strong use of Robin’s penchant for doing various voices.
STARS: ****


MONOLOGUE
host does stand-up about the Reagan administration & televangelists

— For some reason, the regular home base stage is blocked by a huge brick wall with windows (which, by the way, forces the SNL Band into the “alley” to the left of the home base stage). SNL usually only has that wall set up for some of the musical guests’ performances this season; it’s a little unusual how they’re using it for a host’s monologue. I do know it happens again later this season in at least one other monologue, when Dennis Hopper hosts the season finale. I think it might also be in Willie Nelson’s monologue, but I’m not 100% sure.
— I like the fact that Robin’s immediately launching into jokes about the Reagan press conference that SNL just spoofed in the cold opening.
— The part about how Reagan talks like a badly-dubbed kung fu movie had me howling.
— Some really good material from Robin going through the “cast of supporting characters” that is Reagan’s White House administration.
— Boy, this monologue is a riot so far.
— I particularly love the part just now about Jesus coming back as a large black man named Jesse.
— Overall, a hilarious monologue and a big improvement over Robin’s disappointingly average monologue from his season 9 hosting stint. The laughs in tonight’s monologue were very consistent, and that combined with the fast pacing of Robin’s jokes had me laughing pretty much non-stop for the entire duration.
STARS: ****½


TICKET LINE
musical guest has incredible memory but can’t recall Art Garfunkel [real]

— Some good laughs from the increasing absurdity of the small details that Paul remembers about fans he met years ago.
— I like the little touch with Paul and Jon’s absurdly-long handshake as they’re speaking to each other.
— Solid punchline with Paul not recognizing his former partner Art Garfunkel.
STARS: ***½


THE NEW YORK WORD EXCHANGE
(PHH) tells how investors can make money at the New York Word Exchange

— A funny concept of investing in words, and this is so perfect for Phil Hartman’s style. Unsurprisingly, he’s executing this perfectly.
— A particularly funny bit with how “da”, a variant of the word “the”, is gaining more and more popularity in recent years.
— A very solid overall sketch that had such a quintessential Phil Hartman feel.
STARS: ****


HAMLET
Shakespeare (JOL) can’t stand improvisational comedian’s (host) Hamlet

— Robin playing himself as a Shakespearean-era anachronistic improv comedian is a perfect use of his ad-libbing tendencies.
— Love how Robin suddenly enters the play wearing a comically-oversized codpiece.
— Overall, very fun and strong sketch.
STARS: ****


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest performs “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”


WEEKEND UPDATE
Ronald Reagan demonstrates qualifications for the job of Isuzu spokesman
AWB on whether censorship or pay-TV smut is a bigger threat to SNL

— Boy, is Dennis speeding through these jokes.
— Ha, and now he actually acknowledged the same thing I pointed out above, by jokingly acting out of breath and saying “I had to slow down; I was about to pass out.”
— Good bit with President Reagan’s “audition” for Isuzu commercial spokesman, represented by clips of Reagan lying at a press conference while disclaimers on the bottom of the screen call him out. This is probably only funny if you’re aware of the real Joe Isuzu commercials this is spoofing, which I’m familiar with from seeing coverage of in some 80s documentaries.
— An interesting mention of veteran SNL bandmember Cheryl Hardwick recently getting married to former SNL writer Michael O’Donoghue.
— I like the meta-ness of how A. Whitney’s commentary tonight is about censorship that SNL faces.
— A big laugh from A. Whitney summing up SNL’s viewers as being “a jaded, thick-skinned group of thrill-seekers”, which receives enthusiastic cheers from the audience.
— Coincidentally, A. Whitney’s censorship commentary has suddenly started repeatedly cutting to a static-y screen in the copy I’m watching of this episode. I know it’s just some kind of TV or tape error, but it’s unintentionally funny because it makes it seem like NBC is panickedly censoring A. Whitney’s stance against censorship.
STARS: ***


BAYCREST JEWISH RETIREMENT HOME
Sweeneys sing a Fiddler On The Roof medley at a Jewish retirement home

— Good elderly Jewish voice on Robin.
— The Sweeney Sisters now officially become recurring.
— Strangely, musical guest Paul Simon seems to be appearing in more sketches tonight than he did in the episode he actually (co-)hosted the previous season.
— A strong medley from the Sisters tonight, even if I didn’t recognize most of the Jewish-themed songs in this.
— Not sure I needed the additional musical number from Robin and Paul, but it still had a charming vibe that made it enjoyable enough.
STARS: ***½


AND SO ADIEU
Master Thespian’s inability to remember a line frustrates director (host)

— An interesting change of pace for Master Thespian. Assuming all his prior appearances were set in modern times, he must be a time-traveler, because he looks the same age in this sketch, which takes place in 1937.
— I liked Robin’s little ad-lib when Phil corrects a line flub of his.
— Master Thespian’s various ways of screwing up his one line in the scene is increasingly cracking me up.
— Funny how the tables have turned on Robin and Jon. In the Hamlet sketch earlier tonight, Robin was the comedic character and Jon was the stern straight man who was aggravated by Robin throwing off the scene. Now in this Master Thespian sketch, Jon is the comedic character and Robin is the stern straight man who is aggravated by Jon throwing off the scene. Also in both sketches, Phil is the man in the middle of all this craziness.
— I’m really enjoying Robin’s growing frustration, especially him telling Master Thespian “You say it or you die!”
— LOL at the part just now with Phil and Master Thespian getting mixed up and saying each other’s line.
— This sketch is getting funnier and funnier. Much like the monologue, I can’t stop laughing now.
— Overall, it’s amazing how much laughs they managed to get out of such a simple, thin premise.
STARS: ****


MUSICAL GUEST INTRO
host translates while Whoopi Goldberg [real] introduces musical guest

— Fun bit.


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest performs “The Boy in the Bubble”


AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA
Automobile Club spokesman KEN rambles while discussing proper map use

— Kevin’s already getting good laughs early on with his various attempts to open the map by licking his fingers.
— You can tell this is most likely a bit from Kevin’s stand-up, but this is really funny so far. Throughout his SNL tenure, Kevin often shows a strong knack for adapting his stand-up material into great SNL bits.
— I especially love the map-tearing bit right now when talking about his Hawaii trip.
— The bit about a heavyset tour guide using her leg as a map was a hilarious ending.
STARS: ****


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest performs “The Late Great Johnny Ace”


GOODNIGHTS

IMMEDIATE POST-SHOW THOUGHTS:
— A fantastic episode. I’ve always had so much love for this episode, and I’m glad to see from my viewing tonight that it still holds up. In fact, I walked away from this viewing feeling that this episode just may be one of my personal favorites of this entire era. There weren’t ANY segments in this episode that I disliked; every single segment worked for me, and most of them were particularly great. This episode was pretty much flawless. Robin Williams was an even better host than he was in his previous hosting stint in the Ebersol era, and he added such a fun energy to tonight’s episode. His monologue in particular may be one of my favorite stand-up monologues I’ve ever seen on SNL. I’m looking forward to his third hosting stint next season.


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


My full set of screencaps for this episode is here


TOMORROW:
The impressive recent streak of funny comedians hosting the show continues, as our next episode is helmed by the trio of Chevy Chase, Martin Short, and Steve Martin. The latter makes his return as host for the first time since the original era.

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February 11, 1984 – Robin Williams / Adam Ant (S9 E12)

Segments are rated on a scale of 1-5 stars

COLD OPENING
at the Winter Olympics, JOP interviews bobsledders (host), (EDM), (JIB)

  

— After appearing on tape for the last three episodes, Eddie’s back, making his first live appearance of 1984.
— For whatever reason, Eddie’s hand has been held on his crotch the whole time so far, which apparently wasn’t in the script. I see I don’t have the censored version of this sketch, where they hide Eddie’s hand-on-crotch by superimposing something like a grass bush on the bottom of the screen.
— The bobsledding stock footage with the guys’ voices dubbed in screaming is fairly funny.
— That’s the whole cold opening? Not much to this at all.
STARS: **½


MONOLOGUE
host does stand-up about what it’s like to be a new father

   

— Some pretty funny stuff about the winter Olympics.
— I’m enjoying his material about parenthood. No particular jokes have been standing out at all in this monologue, though. I recall liking his later two monologues (from seasons 12 and 13) better.
STARS: ***


BUDDWEISER LIGHT
hockey players (host) & (JOP) bring out their best

     

— It feels rare in this era to see a host appearing in this type of pre-taped fake ad.
— Piscopo’s sudden whack to Williams’ face with the hockey stick really cracked me up.
— I’m getting some good laughs from the hockey players’ wild fight being played over a commercial jingle.
— Good ending shot with a beat-up-looking Piscopo and Williams jovially enjoying a beer together.
STARS: ****


ROCK & ROLL AND THEN SOME
Clarence Walker (EDM) proves he was 5th Beatle

  

— I have great memories of first seeing this sketch in Eddie’s “Best Of” compilation special, which was my very first exposure to this era of SNL. This was one of the first sketches I caught in the special, and immediately, I could see how strong of a cast member he was. It will be great to revisit this sketch.
— I’m loving Eddie’s hostility and fast-talking demeanor here.
— The medley of “original” Beatles songs being played on a tape is great, especially the one song with Eddie just speak-singing for a long time over the music.
— Here’s the part of the sketch that I’ve always remembered the most, where they play a Beatles song in reverse and you can hear John Lennon hilariously saying “Let’s get rid of Clarence and steal all his good ideas”.
— This overall sketch held up very well and was just as strong as I remembered it.
STARS: ****½


WILD KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
an evangelical veterinarian (host) heals pets

   

— Robin Williams’ voice in this is already making me laugh.
— The concept of this doesn’t seem all that great, though I have no doubt that Williams will get some laughs out of it, and this does seem like a good vehicle for his penchant for ad-libbing.
— I’m pretty sure that’s the same fluffy white cat that I once pointed out had appeared in a few sketches from seasons 5 and 6 (one of them being the sketch with Bill Murray and Ann Risley as a couple desperately trying to remember the name of their friend’s cat).
— I like the album title “Hymns That Only Dogs Can Hear”.
— Pretty funny reveal of Duke’s pet being a now-cooked fried chicken.
— A good unintentional laugh from Williams’ repeated difficulty in saying “Colonel Harlan Sanders”.
STARS: ***


GANDHI AND THE BANDIT
a movie about the truckin’ man of peace (TIK)

 

— They might as well have just said Tim is playing his Havnagootiim Vishnueerheer character, as his “Gandhi” portrayal here is the exact same, using the same voice, delivery, make-up, and outfit.
— Overall, while I kinda liked the initial concept, the sketch didn’t end up going anyplace interesting.
STARS: **


NEW BAD BABIES
babies (host), (EDM), (ROD), (TIK) plan an escape from their playpen

  

— An interesting-seeming sketch, even if the concept does kinda remind me a bit of the somewhat-corny Oscar Statuettes sketch from last season.
— Good baby voices from the performers, especially Williams.
— Mary’s “You’re being circumcised tomorrow” gave me a big laugh.
STARS: ***


FIRING LINE
William F. Buckley (host) asks (EDM) about flammable blacks

 

— Good to see Eddie so prominent tonight. It’s kinda funny how him appearing in a lot of sketches has become such a rarity lately, considering how much he typically dominated the show last season.
— The concept of flammable black men is already making me laugh consistently.
— Not familiar with William F. Buckley, but I’m getting amusement from Robin Williams’ impression.
— The Michael Jackson part was good.
— What’s with all the brief, quick cuts to a close-up of Williams silently listening to Eddie speaking?
— Good ending gag with smoke coming from Eddie. I also liked his yell of “Help! Tito!”
STARS: ***½


BABIES IN MAKEUP
— Are they kidding me? THIS short film again? Wasn’t it bad enough suffering through this TWICE back in season 7? Why bring this back two seasons later? And what’s with the baby theme in tonight’s episode anyway?


MIME ROOMMATE
(BRH) is fed up with having a mime (host) for a roommate

   

— A perfect role for Robin Williams.
— Ehh, despite the promise this initially seemed to have, this is kinda falling flat.
— Okay, I do like the part with Williams acting as a mirror while imitating all of Hall’s moves.
— The ending with Williams getting shot was nothing special, though it felt like it should’ve been.
STARS: **


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest performs “Strip”


SATURDAY NIGHT NEWS
BRH interviews (JIB), the person who is mugged every eleven seconds
TIK criticizes NY Post’s lack of creativity regarding Andropov’s death

         

— I cannot imagine what Robin Williams will be like as an anchorperson.
— Ha, a callback to the Beatles sketch from earlier tonight.
— Hmm, Brad Hall’s picture has just shown up on the news screen. We’re getting a joke about our recently-fired SNL news anchor?
— Oh, it turns out to be a set-up to a pre-taped remote bit with “correspondent Brad Hall”, which was said as if Brad’s technically still part of the Saturday Night News team. I guess this is Ebersol’s way of trying to keep Brad happy despite his firing, but it’s still sad that an anchorperson has gotten demoted in this manner. Though thinking about it, I guess they already kinda did that with Mary Gross in season 7’s SNL Newsbreaks.
— I love the concept of how the saying “a person gets mugged every 11 seconds” turns out to be literally one person. Despite being a bit one-joke, this commentary is coming off very funny, and Jim is perfect for this role.
— I like the Jack Nicholson impression Williams’ did during his Nicholson joke.
— This is a really good edition of Tim’s “Salute to Journalism” so far, with him displaying his suggestions for typical New York Post-esque bad headlines that the Post should’ve given for Andropov’s death, instead of the uncharacteristically normal one they ended up using.
— If this ends up being Tim’s final “Salute to Journalism” (after all, he IS leaving soon), this was a very fitting way for it to go out.
— While Robin Williams ended up coming off a little less out-of-place in the anchorman role than Don Rickles did in the last episode, I still found him to be an ill fit here. However, Rickles and Williams may end up being two of the better guest anchors of this era by default, compared to how poorly I’m sure some of the upcoming hosts like Michael Douglas and Bob Uecker will do anchoring the news.
STARS: **½


MTV NEWS
an interview with musicians The Ugly Sisters Step (MAG) & (ROD)

 

— We’re starting off with an Adam Ant music video?
— Oh, the music video turns out to be part of an MTV sketch, with the return of Julia’s Nina Blackwood impression.
— I’m liking how very 1984 Gross and Duke’s musical group is coming off. I also like Duke’s fake teeth.
— Ehh, this sketch doesn’t seem to be offering much other than obvious ugly jokes.
— The camera-breaking gag at the end came off really weak.
STARS: **


SIAMESE TWINS
odd couple Siamese twins (JIB) & (host) try to pick up women in a bar

   

— For some reason, this bar set reminds me of the one used in the final Festrunk Brothers sketch that Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd did.
— Great reveal that Williams and Belushi are Siamese twins.
— This feels like the first appearance Gary has made all night, and of course, it’s just a small straightman role.
— Good touch with Belushi himself getting hurt as he’s beating up Williams.
— Belushi’s “I made the swim team… I didn’t make the swim team” line flub gets some good ad-libbing out of Williams, which makes Belushi smirk afterwards.
— Pretty funny ending.
STARS: ***½


MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest performs “Goody Two Shoes”


PAULA POUNDSTONE
Paula Poundstone [real] does stand-up about her driving woes

— I think this is the first (and maybe only?) time a special guest stand-up performer on SNL has been a female.
— The part about no longer being afraid to hurt people while driving is pretty funny.
— Good part at the end regarding Sirhan Sirhan and Robert Kennedy.
STARS: ***


PATTY’S PLACE
(JLD) & (TIK) live 30 seconds ahead, behind present

   

— Judging from the beginning with Julia answering a question Mary didn’t even ask yet, I’m going to guess that Julia’s character is a psychic.
— Oh, turns out Julia’s character has a condition where she’s always 30 seconds ahead.
— There’s the name Dale Butterworth once again, making it obvious that this is another sketch written by my new favorite writer Andy Breckman.
— Now it’s revealed that Tim’s character is 30 seconds behind. This whole concept is great.
— Good part with Mary patiently waiting a long time for 30-seconds-behind Tim to say the “funny” thing that Julia laughed early at, only for it to turn out to be a bad corny joke.
— Haha, I like how Julia is now being grossed out by something we haven’t seen Tim do yet.
— Funny visual with the rope of snot hanging from Tim’s nose.
— Solid ending with an even more grossed-out second reaction from Julia causing Mary to panickedly end the show in a hurry so she doesn’t have to see what disgusting thing Tim is going to do.
— Overall, Andy Breckman knocks one out of the park once again. He seems to particularly excel at doing conceptual talk show sketches like this, Larry’s Corner, and No That’s Okay (though I’m only speculating that he wrote the latter; it hasn’t been confirmed whether he did or not).
STARS: ****


GOODNIGHTS

 

— We’re told there’s time to kill, which is perfect for Robin Williams’ knack for freely ad-libbing.

IMMEDIATE POST-SHOW THOUGHTS:
— A pretty good episode. Even if there wasn’t much that was outstanding, the overall show still had a good feel, helped by Robin Williams’ always-fun presence and him fitting perfectly in the sketch comedy format.


HOW THIS EPISODE STACKS UP AGAINST THE PRECEDING ONE (Don Rickles):
— a step down


My full set of screencaps for this episode is here


TOMORROW:
Jamie Lee Curtis