EPISODE REVIEWS

John Goodman / Paula Cole
February 7, 1998

[OPENING] Linda Tripp confronts Monica Lewinsky over dinner

This I thought this was really funny. Just looking at John Goodman as Linda Tripp was funny enough, and then that flower microphone thing kept giving feedback,(I thought they were having technical difficulties at first). Molly Shannon did a pretty good job as Monica Lewinsky even thought we don't really know how she is to begin with (besides all the reports). I think that Molly Shannon does the best "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!!!" She really screams it. They should let her do it more often.

A

[MONOLOGUE] John Goodman and Dan Aykroyd

I'm sorry, I totally don't get this whole "Blues Brothers" thing. What's so funny? I wasn't around when it was Aykroyd and Belushi and I've been told that Belushi was more the heart of the Blues Brothers than Aykroyd; I guess I had to be around back then to appreciate it.

C

[SKETCH] Morning Latte

I was a little surprised to see them use this particular bit after the passing of Chris Farley (he was the first person to do it, wasn't he?). Even thought he wasn't playing the same character, it just seemed a little weird. I guess I can't expect them to retire every sketch that Chris did. Oh well.... On a lighter note, I loved the phrase "I didn't say it was big, YOU STUPID BITCH!!"

B

[SKETCH] Bill Clinton disagrees with several of the Ten Commandments

I thought this was a really funny and creative way of making fun of this whole "I did not have sexual relations" Clinton thing. I love Darryl Hammond's Bill Clinton (it cracks me up every time he does that fist point with a sincere look thing.) "Ya' perverts!"

B+

[SKETCH] CBS World Of Sports: Eye On The Olympics

This was ok. I thought it was funny when they kept saying that Michelle KWAN was Japanese. It kind of bugs me that they had to use Molly Shannon to play her, now if this show were to have an Asian person, then it would look a little more believable, but then again, how many Asian comics are there, 3, maybe 4? That's why when I become a cast member I will be a great asset to them all (oh wishful thinking you!) Note: Just for the record, I'm not trying to insult Asians, if you've noticed, I'm Asian. I know you can't see me, but take my word for it, arigato.

B

[TV FUNHOUSE] The X-Presidents

I loved the giant man-eating Ted Kennedy, and George and Barbra: disturbing, yet funny. I liked the ending where Hillary came in and was like "What are you all laughing at?" "Nothin'. "

B

[SKETCH] Emeril Live on the Food Network

Jim did a good impersonation of Emril. And John Goodman as William Ginsberg was pretty funny when he was acting all desperate for Ken Starr to call him, but other than that it wasn't really that funny.

C

[WEEKEND UPDATE] with Colin Quinn

Although it kind of got off to a slow start, this was probably the funniest thing of the night. I loved when he was talking about his hatred of Matt Damon. And then he showed that collage of him with Hitler and all those other evil things, I was rolling. I also like the sea lion joke. "When reached for comment OJ said 'I really resent whatever joke you're about to make' " And the Ken doll joke "Hello?" was so hilarious.

A+

[MUSICAL GUEST] Paula Cole

I love Paula's music; she's such a good singer. Am I the only one who noticed that she doesn't shave her arm pits?

A

[SKETCH] Judge Judy

I swear, Cheri's impression of Judge Judy is DEAD-ON! I watch her show periodically and that is how she acts everytime, the comments, the mannerisms, she even looks like her. It was really funny the first time I saw it, but when I watched it again on tape it wasn't as funny.

B+

[SKETCH] Martha Stewart Living promo

This was ok. Again, the impression by Ana is so good. I liked when she said that she was hiding her lunch in her "nether region".

C

[SKETCH] Sabado Chistoso

I didn't even really understand this. I did though, enjoy the running gag having William Ginsberg come back. Other than that, nothing.

C-

[SKETCH] When cobras attack

OH MY GOD! Ok, I have been watching SNL for about 6 or 7 years (I know that sounds lame, but I'm only 16!) and I remember back in those 90'-95' years, SNL was getting bashed by the critics for really sucking. Believe it or not, I actually liked those years! (that's when I started watching). So keep in mind that this is coming from someone who enjoyed those supposedly "lame and unfunny" sketches: this was one of or THE worst sketch I have ever had the misfortune of witnessing in my entire history of watching SNL! First of all, there was no punch-line whatsoever! That STUPID monologe that the snake did at the end was completely pointless and unfunny "you will put steak sauce on meeeeeeee...", and at one point I even saw someone's hand operating one of the snakes! (normally slip-ups like that are funny, but it wasn't noticeable enough to get a laugh.) In my opinion, I think it would've been funnier if they had just made it like Ana's character was crazy and only make her see the snakes, that would probably somewhat salvage this piece of crap disguised as a sketch!

F- (I mean, it's not even one of those sketches that you can watch later on and giggle to think how bad it is, it's just one of those sketches that you watch later on and think "who ever wrote this needs to be killed.")

[SKETCH] Storytellers (with Neil Diamond)

Wow! Talk about 180! I'd have to say that this was the second best sketch of the night. The best part when he went " I wrote this song because of my massive hatred of immigrants...... They're coming to America!" and then "You hate your keyboard player because he's black...." I really enjoyed his hidden disturbed personality. "My heart and ass hurt!"

A+

OVERALL:

Overall, this was a fairly good show, it went from really high (WU) to really, really low (those damn cobras), to really high again (Neil Diamond). So it wasn't the best show, but it wasn't the worst (despite those damn pesky cobras), so:

B

Episode Review written by Sea Keio

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