Classic SNL Review: December 20, 1986: William Shatner / Lone Justice (S12E08)

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RATINGS SYSTEM:
***** - Classic
**** - Great
*** - Good/Average
** - Meh
* - Awful

OPENING: BALLAD OF THE MUTE MARINE

  • An updated version of “The Ballad of the Green Berets” tells the tale of Oliver North (William Shatner).

  • More fun with Iran-Contra, and the audience really enjoyed this one. Thanks to the lyrics, the average viewer watching 35 years later who may not have detailed knowledge of what happened has enough information to fill it in, end it works well enough even if you don’t know the original song it parodies.

  • There are also some nice little bits like the fist pump after “What a great plan!” and the segment with North’s fakeouts while testifying.

  • Written by A. Whitney Brown.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

****

MONTAGE

  • Nice touch with the band interpolating “Joy To The World” and “Jingle Bells” into the regular SNL theme.

  • Kevin Meaney is credited as a special guest for tonight’s episode, but only appears in minor roles in sketches as opposed to getting a solo segment.

MONOLOGUE

  • William Shatner reflects on a successful year and Star Trek’s influence.

  • Aside from a few tepid jokes, this mostly serves as a lead-in to the following sketch, so I won’t assign this a rating.

  • Rerun alterations: Small edit to Shatner’s entrance. Mild audience sweetening.

SKETCH: TREKKIES

  • Star Trek fans’ arcane and invasive questions at a convention prompt William Shatner to tell them to get a life.

  • A recognized classic, and rightly so. This absolutely nails the obsessiveness of fan culture, (and I’m one to speak, given the information I put into these posts) and has the legendary moment where Shatner berates the convention-goers.

  • The Star Trek nerd in me does notice they get a few episode names and numbers wrong, though.

  • Written by Robert Smigel, Jon Vitti, and George Meyer.

  • Rerun alterations: Small cuts before Kevin Nealon turns to Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz at beginning and as Victoria Jackson steps off tge stage. Medium audience sweetening.

*****

SKETCH: CHRISTMAS PARTY

  • The Sweeney Sisters celebrate Liz’s (Nora Dunn) engagement with a medley about bells.

  • This sketch dispenses with the framing devices of the first two Sweeney Sisters sketches, and is much tighter this time around; this is the installment where the characters really start to gel. The medley in this one is also particularly good.

  • Written by Jan Hooks, Nora Dunn, and Marc Shaiman.

  • Rerun alterations: Mild audience sweetening.

****

SHOW: T.J. HOOKER

  • In “Little Blue Riding Hood”, Vinnie (Dana Carvey) and Stacey (Victoria Jackson) keep contact with T.J. (William Shatner) as he hangs onto the perps’ moving car.

  • A spoof of Shatner’s recently-ended series; I have to admit I’m not that familiar with it outside of the parody, but just looking at the show’s TV Tropes page explains that a) it often had Shatner clinging to the hood of a car (played to absurdity here), and b) it always ended with everyone laughing. Even without that background information the sketch still works, though it’s nowhere as timeless as the Star Trek parodies.

  • I like the detail of Victoria Jackson biting the Styrofoam cup and later spitting the pieces out in one of the scenes.

  • Written by George Meyer.

  • Rerun alterations: Dress rehearsal used from beginning to “Damn, why didn’t I go with him?” and during plate reading scene up to “Hang in there, T.J.” Carvey’s wig is noticeably different, and the bulletin board in the live show is missing in dress. Hawaiian Pride Sugar outro bumper added to end.

***

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “SHELTER”

  • The band performs the title track of their second (and final) album, co-written by Steven Van Zandt and lead singer Maria McKee. Aside from a little bit of synthesizer from Bruce Brody, this is a straight-ahead mid-tempo roots rocker with some nice harmonies from McKee and bassist Greg Sutton, and a guitar solo from Shane Fontayne.

  • According to an interview with Fontayne in Rolling Stone, this performance led to Bruce Springsteen hiring him for his “Other Band”, which appeared on SNL in 1992.

  • I should also mention Maria McKee has started the See Me Safe Fund, which raises money on behalf of trans and gender-nonconforming people who need assistance paying for facial feminization and hair removal procedures.

  • Rerun alterations: Noticeable remixing (more prominent keyboards and reverb on drums). Footage of guy adjusting mic stand during Fontayne’s solo replaced.

WEEKEND UPDATE

  • Best jokes: Reagan sedative, North and the Lord, William Casey, Ozzy Osbourne

  • Opening music: “Touch Me” by The Doors

  • A compact outing this week, dominated by Iran-Contra and Reagan’s prostate troubles. Miller also gets a few photo jokes this week (his reaction to the Oliver North Kit-Kat bar medal is funny).

  • Al Franken appears as the show’s medical correspondent to discuss the medical procedure Reagan will undergo for his enlarged prostate, with most of the laughs coming from him growing visibly uncomfortable as he goes into detail.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*** 1/2

SKETCH: STAR TREK V: THE RESTAURANT ENTERPRISE

  • Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and his crew are now in the service industry when the Enterprise becomes a seafood restaurant.

  • This was a lot of fun, especially Shatner going into full Captain Kirk ham mode over things like dissatisfied customers and a lack of Russian dressing. Dana Carvey steals this away from him as Khan, though.

  • I noticed Spock (Kevin Nealon) calls McCoy (Phil Hartman) “Captain” before Shatner enters the scene. I’m not sure if it was a flub on Nealon’s part or a script/cue card error.

  • Set designer Akira Yoshimura reprises his role of Sulu from the first Star Trek parody the show did in 1976; his non-resemblance to George Takei and both Kirk and Khan commenting on his gaining weight make this even funnier.

  • I also liked the detail of the sign for “All-You-Can-Eat Grayfish” being visible on the model of the ship before the punchline about “grayfish” actually being humpback whale.

  • Written by Jim Downey, George Meyer, Robert Smigel, Al Franken and Tom Davis.

  • Rerun alterations: Dead air trimmed before Shatner’s entrance, before Victoria Jackson’s first line, as new food materializes, after Sulu’s line to Khan, and during shots of Enterprise model before epilogue and at end. Minimal audience sweetening.

**** 1/2

SKETCH: LOOK AT THAT!

  • Alan (William Shatner) admires his physique in the mirror as his wife (Nora Dunn) gets ready for a party.

  • I like this one; it’s such a low-key slice-of-life bit that’s easy to overlook considering the other sketches in tonight’s show, but Shatner’s perfect here.

  • Written by E. Jean Carroll.

  • Rerun alterations: Mild audience sweetening. Applause begins earlier at close.

*** 1/2

MISCELLANEOUS: CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

  • Kevin Nealon fondly looks back at his seemingly idyllic New England Christmases past.

  • Another funny solo bit by Nealon, with him happily reminiscing about break-and-enters, burning the roof of his mouth with hot chocolate, and drinking to the point of vomiting as a result of not being able to sleep on Christmas Eve because it’s 3 pm.

  • Written by Kevin Nealon.

  • Rerun alterations: Pardo’s voiceover at start mixed louder. Mild audience sweetening.

****

SKETCH: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

  • The lost ending to the classic movie has George Bailey (Dana Carvey) getting vengeance on Old Man Potter (Jon Lovitz).

  • Another deservedly well-remembered sketch, thanks to its inclusion in the “Christmas Past” compilations over the years. Carvey reprises his great Jimmy Stewart only two weeks after debuting it, and the whole turn with the town out for blood was great, especially Potter turning out to be faking his disability (“Now wait a second, I can explain that.”).

  • Written by Jim Downey with assistance from Robert Smigel and George Meyer.

  • Rerun alterations: Mild audience sweetening. Longer “Gower Drugs” clip intro. Sound effect added to George punching Potter. Last wide shot at end cut; goes straight from wide shot to “The End” clip.

*****

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “I FOUND LOVE”

  • Maria McKee really throws herself into this uptempo number from Shelter, throwing away her mic stand, dancing wildly and occasionally speaking the lyrics rapid-fire.

  • Rerun alterations: Drums have more reverb. Audience applause begins earlier.

FILM: THE TRUE LIFE STORY OF FRANKIE TOUSSAINT - JOHN ESKOW

  • Frankie (Griffin Dunne) is repeatedly on the losing end of various professionals’ job dissatisfaction.

  • A darkly funny film acquisition. Nice to see Tom Davis as the half-assed doctor that Frankie murders with a telephone, and I love the judge’s admonishment “You killed a master of business administation” followed by Frankie’s outburst of “THAT IS NOT TRUE! He was not an M.B.A, not full-fledged, he hadn’t written his thesis” as he’s dragged away.

  • Rerun alterations: Medium audience sweetening. Film audio is clearer in rerun.

*** 1/2

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “ZAT YOU, SANTA CLAUS?”

  • I’m coming around on Buster Poindexter; he’s especially an appropriate choice to cover this Louis Armstrong song.

  • In dress rehearsal, Poindexter wore a nightgown and cap instead of his usual tuxedo.

  • Rerun alterations: Slide whistle mixed clearer. Audience applause begins earlier.

GOODNIGHTS

  • William Shatner mentions having a terrific week and having fun and wishes the audience a “fond goodnight” before adding “and Dana says ‘Goodnight, Paula’”.

  • Nice touch with the fake snow on the set again this year.

  • Margaret Oberman is credited with additional sketches, but her contribution (a collaboration with Rosie Shuster) didn’t make it to air.

  • Rerun alterations: Audience noise mixed out of closing theme.

Final thoughts: The best show so far this season, largely thanks to the well-remembered Trekkies and It’s A Wonderful Life sketches, but there’s strong material throughout the night. It helps that William Shatner was a pretty game host, sending his career up in T.J. Hooker and Star Trek parodies, and giving a lot of charm to the Look At That! sketch. The cast also has a very strong night, particularly Dana Carvey with his scene-stealing Khan and George Bailey.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Trekkies

  • It’s A Wonderful Life

  • Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise

  • Christmas Party

  • Christmas Memories

  • Ballad of the Mute Marine

  • The True Life Story of Frankie Toussaint

  • Look At That!

  • Weekend Update

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

  • none

MVP:

  • Dana Carvey

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

  • Dana Carvey: 5 appearances [Ballad of the Mute Marine, Trekkies, T.J. Hooker, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, It’s A Wonderful Life]; 2 voiceovers [both in Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise]

  • Nora Dunn: 3 appearances [Christmas Party, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, Look At That!]

  • Phil Hartman: 5 appearances [Ballad of the Mute Marine, Trekkies, Christmas Party, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, It’s A Wonderful Life]

  • Jan Hooks: 3 appearances [Christmas Party, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, It’s A Wonderful Life]

  • Victoria Jackson: 4 appearances [Trekkies, Christmas Party, T.J. Hooker, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise]

  • Jon Lovitz: 5 appearances [Ballad of the Mute Marine, Trekkies, Christmas Party, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, It’s A Wonderful Life]

  • Dennis Miller: 3 appearances [Ballad of the Mute Marine, Weekend Update, It’s A Wonderful Life]

featured players

  • A. Whitney Brown: 3 appearances [Ballad of the Mute Marine, Trekkies, Christmas Party]

  • Kevin Nealon: 5 appearances [Ballad of the Mute Marine, Trekkies, Christmas Party, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, Christmas Memories]

unbilled crew, extras, and bit players

  • Tom Davis: 1 appearance [The True Life Story of Frankie Toussaint]

  • Jim Downey: 1 voiceover [Trekkies]

  • Al Franken: 1 appearance [Weekend Update]

  • Don Pardo: 1 voiceover [Christmas Memories]

  • Marc Shaiman: 1 appearance [Christmas Party]

  • Akira Yoshimura: 1 appearance [Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise]

G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band with Buster Poindexter

  • Buster Poindexter: 1 appearance [“Zat You, Santa Claus?”]

  • The SNL Band: 1 appearance [“Zat You, Santa Claus?”]

guests

  • William Shatner: 8 appearances [Ballad of the Mute Marine, Monologue, Trekkies, Christmas Party, T.J. Hooker, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, Look At That!, It’s A Wonderful Life]

  • Lone Justice: 2 appearances [“Shelter”, “I Found Love”]

  • Kevin Meaney: 2 appearances [Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, It’s A Wonderful Life]

  • Griffin Dunne: 1 appearance [The True Life Story of Frankie Toussaint]

  • Bruce Jarchow: 1 appearance [The True Life Story of Frankie Toussaint]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

  • April 25, 1987

  • September 26, 1987

  • December 28, 1991

Known alterations:

  • Audience sweetening:

    • Minimal to mild: Monologue, Christmas Party, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, Look At That!, Christmas Memories, It’s A Wonderful Life.

    • Medium: Trekkies, The True Life Story of Frankie Toussaint.

  • Edits: Monologue, Trekkies, “Shelter”, Star Trek V: The Restaurant Enterprise, It’s A Wonderful Life.

  • Dress substitutions: T.J. Hooker (part)

  • Hawaiian Pride Sugar outro bumper added

  • It’s A Wonderful Life removed (1991 rebroadcast only).

  • Big Red (from 12/03/88) added (1991 rebroadcast only).

Repeat-only material:

COMMERCIAL: HAWAIIAN PRIDE SUGAR

  • The sugar of messy divorces now has an easy-pour spout.

  • This is another “fake sponsor” outro joke (like “These Things” in Kinison); like that other one, I won’t give this a rating, but it’s interesting that the show tried this kind of thing. I wonder how many others were made.

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.