EPISODE REVIEWS

Sylvester Stallone / Jamiroquai
September 27, 1997

The first episode of the season, for whatever the reason, is seldom among the year's beast. Episodes with Charles Barkley and Mariel Hemingway were quickly forgotten. This one looks to be the exception.

[OPENING] Oprah's Book Club

An Oprah and Marv Albert sketch. Not as funny as it could have been and probably the lamest sketch to kick off a season in a loooooooong time. Luckily, it was an exception among the show's material.

[THEME SONG]

Flashier, but hard to judge on one viewing. I don't think it'll wear out it's welcome.

[MONOLOGUE] Sylvester Stallone

Stallone was fairly good. I was kind of surprised to see them poke fun at the character Mickey played by the recently deceased Burgess Meredith, but it was executed with tact and was even cute. Very nice.

[COMMERCIAL] Assjet Xerox

Absurd and good just for that fact.

[SKETCH] Rita Delvechio

Stallone pumped quite a bit of life into this bizarrely popular recurrent sketch about the annoying neighbour woman. Usually I flip when I see her ...

[SKETCH] Car accident victim bad-mouths Stallone movies

The best bits for guest hosts are always the ones that make fun of their careers. Still, there should have been more dramatic tension in the piece. Nice save at the end, though.

[SKETCH] Roxbury Guys

A one-joke premise that works by changing elements of it. The crowd cheered Sly on and it's easy to see why. He plays humble SO well.

[SKETCH] Janet Reno decides whether or not to investigate Clinton

Funny because they got her out of the dance party. Lets hope she stays away.

[TV FUNHOUSE] Fun With Real Audio: Casablanca Outtakes

Fart jokes. The completely, absolutely low point.

[WEEKEND UPDATE] with Norm MacDonald

Strong. Lots of good hits at Norm's fave targets (crack, Jacko) and some jokes about Diana that were actually funny. The Jewell stuff could've been more timely but it still worked.

[MISCELLANEOUS] Joe Pesci confronts Stallone

The jokes were dead on.

[MUSICAL GUEST] Jamiroquai

Excellent performance. Caveat emptor- I've never heard them before so I have nothing to compare to.

[SKETCH] Computer Store

I just LOVED this bit but the audience really only chuckled mildly. Stallone was hysterical!!! The one I most wanted to see again after it was over.

[DEEP THOUGHTS] by Jack Handey

The long awaited return. And worth it. (Handey run out of Fuzzy Memories or something???)

[SKETCH] Planet Hollywood

Usual fawning over the star stuff. This barely worked at all. It was even blocked rather badly. I understand the intent but this kind of stuff should go for the jugular.

[SKETCH] Lou's Lovely Daughters

Oh where to begin? A desperate father tries to unload his daughters unto suitable husbands via cable show. Very good for as far as it went but there was potential to go closer to perfection.

[COMMERCIAL] Elton John's Tributes to Other Dead Celebrities

Er ... commercials appeared not long after this Elton John bit began. I never saw the whole thing. A promising idea but it didn't seem to be going close to where it should have.

OVERALL

Stallone was a good host and I hope he enjoyed the experience enough to want to come back.

Grade: B

Episode Review written by Michael Keith Goodman

BACK to Sylvester Stallone "SNL" Episode Reviews