EPISODE REVIEWS
Jon Lovitz / Jane's Addiction
November 8, 1997
I wasn't really looking forward to this particular episode; To me it reeked of sameness. They were following up Chris Farley with another ex-"SNLer" and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones with another musical act most lay persons would write off as an alternative trifle. At the same time, they did have a week off and I hoped for better results than the Brendan Fraser show.
[OPENING] Bill Gates takes over the airwaves
The fifth cold sketch of the year and none have, as of yet, made me feel like sticking around. No wonder no one's sticking around.
Grade: C
[MONOLOGUE] Jon Lovitz
Call me crazy but Lovitz can actually carry a tune. Still, the song didn't really comment on anything in any incredibly funny way. This was a very mixed affair.
Grade: C+
[SKETCH] Fred the Baker's final Dunkin' Donuts commercial
I actually know some actors like this =). This started out okay but the payoff was non-existent.
Grade: C+
[SKETCH] Larry King's Wedding Reception
The first half of this sketch was awful. It was just the players doing their caricatures (Ted Turner, Dennis Franz, etc.) but not really adding anything to the enterprise. And then, lo and behold, Dana Carvey shows up in the second half as Ross Perot take that Cheri Oteri!, and saves the whole thing.
Grades: D (first half); A+ (second half)
[SKETCH] Win a Year with Jewel in the Alaskan Wilderness
First thing's first. If I closed my eyes and listened I could have sworn that Miss Kilcher was doing the singing herself. That was good. But the rest of this bites. They only keep the tunes coming because they couldn't think of a way to make Jewel funny so they fell on the old stand-by: Make her look stupid. And its just not enough to make someone look like a moron if their idiocy doesn't come from some bit of truth which this sorely lacks. You know you're in trouble when the only thing that makes you smile is the sight of the cue card walking into the scene.
Grade: D+
[TV FUNHOUSE] Fun with Real Audio
About freakin' time. (For Robert Smigel AND something funny.)
Grade: B+
[SKETCH] The Ladies' Man
Easy laughs but by this time I was beg--- hey, wait a minute. I've said this before!!!
Grade: B+
[WEEKEND UPDATE] with Norm MacDonald
Short, punchy, and to the point. Maybe the best of the season too.
Grade: A+
[MUSICAL GUEST] Jane's Addiction
My only frame of reference for them is Perry Farrell's other freak show, Porno For Pyros. I found this enjoyable on that basis.
Grade: A
[SKETCH] Late Show with David Letterman
People keep telling me how sharp a satire this is but none of it ever makes me go, "Oh that is so true of Dave." I will say this however: In comparison to other celebrity sketches this is downright worshipful.
Grade: D
[THE LOST DEEP THOUGHTS] by Jack Handey
Not one of Handey's best but he makes me smile nonetheless.
Grade: B
[MISCELLANEOUS] Colin Quinn Explains The New York Times
Out of place on its own but I'm glad they did it this way; it would have dragged down "Weekend Update." And I still think Colin Quinn is vastly overrated.
Grade: C
[SKETCH] The Robin Byrd Show
Nice, but only Lovitz as Ron Jeremy made me laugh.
Grade: C
[SKETCH] Celebrities record Set Our Nanny Free
Usually when they do these bits, which are showcases for the entire repertory, they come at the beginning of the show and are frequently quite funny. With this one they made an exception. Thank-you.
Grade: D
OVERALL:
It's interesting to note that Jon Lovitz had nothing to do with the sketches I liked best which underlines one of problems with the show so far this year; They are getting some very talented people to host but they don't seem to always know how to use them. I would pin this on the fact that some of the cast are interchangeable with no one being incredibly unique. This is the most average cast "SNL" has ever had. (And I remember when Charles Rocket did the news!)
Grade: C-
Episode Review written by Michael Keith Goodman
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