EPISODE REVIEWS

Sylvester Stallone / Jamiroquai
September 27, 1997

[OPENING] Oprah's Book Club

Well, at least Tim Meadow's impersonation of Oprah seems to be getting better ... or maybe I'm just getting too used to it. Norm MacDonald was funny as Marv Albert, although this sketch was made up of a bunch of cheap shots (hey "SNL" is great at doing that). I didn't really laugh out loud at too many parts though.

Grade: B-

[THEME SONG]

It seems really long compared to the last one, or is that just me? Oh well the pictures of the cast look much better than the ones they had before ... of them all smoking and dancing in night clubs and whatever.

[MONOLOGUE] Sylvester Stallone

Okay, I never saw Rocky (don't hate me), so I guess I just plain didn't get this one. Mr. T was funny though, of course. I thought "Wow, Tracy Morgan in more than one sketch!"

Grade: C-

[COMMERCIAL] Assjet Xerox

This was funny, a good idea executed well by none other than Will Ferrell. Hope they don't rerun the commercial a gazillion times.

Grade: A-

[SKETCH] Rita Delvechio

Okay, usually I find this sketch funny ... Cheri Oteri is probably my favorite of all the cast members, but this one was pretty stupid. I think the only part where I laughed was the car alarm. I didn't like Sly's character at all. Rita needs to go back to yelling at the kids.

Grade: D+

[SKETCH] Car accident victim bad-mouths Stallone movies

Okay, so Sly can admit he made bad movies. Big deal. He was obviously reading the cards, and Norm MacDonald's character was no help to this sketch. Did anyone else notice he can't even get his own movie names right. He called one of them "Stop or my mom shoot" dunno ... that's what I heard.

Grade: D

[SKETCH] Roxbury Guys

I was WONDERING when Stallone was going to do Rocky. The Opening was a good surprise. I was also surprised they talked ... maybe they CAN make a movie out of these guys after all ;) Seeing all the kids was a little bit scary, but i guess that's some take-off on "Rocky"? Very different from the usual Roxbury Guys sketch.

Grade: B

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

Ahhhh, I love Will Ferrell's impersonation of Janet Reno even if it isn't that accurate. It was nice to see her out of the dance party, though I guess I was sad I didn't get to hear "My Sharona." The Richard Jewell thing was actually really funny, I thought. The ending was kind of dumb, but it's okay. The videotaped sequence made up for it.

Grade: A-

[TV FUNHOUSE] Fun With Real Audio: Casablanca Outtakes

Okay, I thought fart jokes went out in elementary school or on Adam Sandlers last CD? Oh well, it was still kind of funny I guess.

Grade: B

[WEEKEND UPDATE] with Norm MacDonald

Hey, Lilith Fair didn't have a comedian when I went! Oh, it was a joke. Are they trying to fill in the holes left by the songs of Adam Sandler? Well, Ana Gasteyer has a really good voice, but the song could have been better. Richard Jewell was NOT funny, but Norm MacDonald really saved the bit. His usual jokes, cheap shots at Michael Jackson, crack, and now even Princess Di were, as usual, funny.

Grade: B

[MUSICAL GUEST] Jamiroquai

The Joe Pesci thing was kind of funny. As for the band, they have a very distinctive sound, but the song they played is WAY too repetitive. I was surprised though, that they didn't play their "hit," Virtual Insanity.

Grade: C+

[SKETCH] Computer Store

Okay, I think this was one of the few Sly performances I liked of the evening, even if he was still reading the cards. The store reminds me of somewhere I went shopping ... scary huh? This had a lot of strange yet funny moments.

Grade: B

[THE LOST DEEP THOUGHTS] by Jack Handey

It's nice to see the return of Deep Thoughts! This one wasn't funny though :(

Grade: C

[SKETCH] Planet Hollywood

Stupid, pointless. Jim Breuer is officially insane. Now stop.

Grade: F

[SKETCH] Lou's Lovely Daughters

One of the BEST sketches of the evening! Why so late in the show? Look at the expression on Cheri Oteri's face during the bit ... it is damn funny. The sketch was a good idea, I have a feeling we'll see it again.

Grade: A-

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

Very short ... I guess they were pressed for time. A really bad cheap shot, but I guess someone had to do it.

Grade: C-

OVERALL

Really not one of the greatest episodes I've seen in a while, but, for once the funnier stuff was toward the end of the show. I was surprised that Mary Katherine Gallagher or the Cheerleaders didn't appear in the season premiere, but I guess this is good that the show is trying not to rely on recurring characters, but they are going to need to think of funnier stuff than this. Sylvester Stallone was a terrible host ... it was very obvious he was reading off the cards in most of the sketches. Not a great way to start the season, but hopefully things can only get better from here.

Grade: C

Episode Review written by Rob Vanatta

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