EPISODE REVIEWS

Matthew Perry / Oasis
October 4, 1997

[OPENING] Spartan Cheerleader wanna-bees Craig & Arianna

I like Craig and Arianna, but they're getting a little tired. If they're supposed to be on a caffeine high, shouldn't they be INSANE with Spartan spirit? They seemed pretty normal to me. And didn't they condemn Lochmiel for using diet pills to be more peppy? Oh, well. Whatever.

Grade: C

[MONOLOGUE] Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry's monologue started out deathly slow, but once he got into the film, it picked up quickly. I'd dance in a fountain with him!

Grade: B

[COMMERCIAL] Cookie Dough Sport Drink

When they say "choke on refreshment," they mean it! Gross! I love cookie dough, but this was pushing it. And it wasn't even very funny. However, since they bothered to make a fake commercial at all (my favorite, and often-neglected part of the show), I'm going to be lenient.

Grade: B

[SKETCH] Celebrity Jeopardy

Oh, yes! "Celebrity Jeopardy" rules! I'm so glad they're making it a recurring sketch. Norm is absolutely amazing as Burt Reynolds! The writing could have been better, but it was still the best sketch of the night.

Grade: A

[SKETCH] Sarcasm 101

Good idea, bad execution. I think I laughed maybe twice. The writing was just sub par. Too bad, because this had potential.

Grade: D+

[SKETCH] The Ladies' Man

"May I suggest you consider the butt?" The Ladies' Man answers all of your sex and relationship questions. Very seventies and slightly funny, but not worthy of the fantastic Tim Meadows. Did you notice the sexual positions poster on the back wall?

Grade: C+

[SKETCH] Space the Infinite Frontier with Harry Caray

The last time this sketch was on, I laughed until I cried. This time, I barely chuckled. Why wasn't Harry Caray as nuts as he was last time? Things he said actually made sense. No! That's wrong! The writers should be smacked for this one. What a waste of a good sketch.

Grade: C-

[WEEKEND UPDATE] with Norm MacDonald

Still as good as ever, although Norm seemed a little out of it. (Why are the "notes to self" still on? Everybody hates them!)

Grade: A-

[SKETCH] MTV News: Goat Boy press conference

Somebody give Kincaid some valium before she hurts herself. Oh, how I hate Goat Boy! But Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias were wonderful. Matthew Perry was absolutely delightful as Julio. "At this point in the press conference, I'd just like to say that I'm very very sexy."

Grade: B+

[COMMERCIAL] The Kevin Franklin Show promo

Yeah, he's gonna partay down. Well, he would if he could legally. Kind of funny if you've ever seen those ads for vile new late night talk shows.

Grade: C

[SKETCH] "Friends"

This one started all right, but got progressively worse. I don't even know what on earth was going on.

Grade: D

[MISCELLANEOUS] The Go Lords

Part Quentin Tarantino, part Saturday morning cartoon, Go Lords is 100% weird. Did you notice Clinton's hand on the Go Lord girl's breast? Bizarro, but not unfunny.

Grade: B

[SKETCH] Good Morning with Liza

What is this??? Chain smoking, blue bird sidekicks, foppish musical directors, oxygen tanks, and complete insanity. "It's funny. The coffee here tastes like scotch..."

Grade: D-

OVERALL

Could have been better, but you can't expect everything. Matthew Perry was an excellent guest and he fit into the sketches well, but the writing was miserable. Here's hoping it was just a fluke.

Grade: C+

Episode Review written by Amanda Mosier

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