Classic SNL Review: December 5, 1987: Danny DeVito / Bryan Ferry (S13E06)

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

OPENING: GORBACHEV/REAGAN

  • Ronald Reagan (Phil Hartman) points out movie-related Washington landmarks to Mikhail Gorbachev (Danny DeVito).

  • Good premise, with DeVito providing some nice straight man work opposite Hartman’s Reagan, whose knowledge of Washington, D.C. is still limited to what he recognizes from movies. I also got a chuckle out of the chauffeur (Kevin Nealon) nixing a potential visit of the War Room at the Pentagon.

  • Written by Al Franken, Tom Davis, and Jim Downey.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*** 1/2

MONOLOGUE

  • Danny DeVito proves he went to high school with Bruce Springsteen.

  • A pretty straightforward monologue, but DeVito sells this through his charm and energy. The “yearbook” picture of him looks familiar; was it used somewhere else (like Taxi)?

  • DeVito mentions his kids visiting their grandmother Julia (who cursed ABC out on SNL back in 1982); however, Julia actually died in February 1987.

  • The SNL Band gets a wardrobe change beginning in this episode, going from the white/cream jackets to dark pinstriped suits.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

***

COMMERCIAL: HANDI-OFF

  • Sheila (Victoria Jackson) gets rid of her extra fingers with the product that contains leprosin.

  • Short, straightforward, and instantly memorable, thanks to some great sight gags (particularly the extra fingers rotting and falling off the hand).

  • Written by George Meyer.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*****

SHOW: AT THE MOVIES

  • Gene Siskel (Kevin Nealon) and Roger Ebert (Phil Hartman) give their thoughts on a trio of all-male adult movies.

  • Siskel and Ebert treating gay porno as serious film making is a pretty funny premise, and there are some solid jokes sprinkled throughout. I love the deliberately bad acting and the running gag of the visible boom mic in the film clips.

  • This is one of the handful of times we see Kevin Nealon on the show without his hairpiece; that’s actually his real hair in this sketch.

  • The guy playing Kip in the first clip is Joe Forristal, a Broadway Video producer who worked on The Kids In The Hall, and Lorne Michaels’s former brother-in-law.

  • The use of a massage as the punchline for the clips reminds me a little of Franken Davis’s “Porno For TV” sketch from 1979 (“They rubbed backs to get to the top!”).

  • Written by Al Franken, Tom Davis, and Lorne Michaels.

  • Rerun alterations: The “Pizza Boys” clip is replaced with dress rehearsal; the superimposed title is in a different font, while the boom mic gag is more visible in this version. Audience response mixed quieter in places.

*** 1/2

SHOW: CHURCH CHAT

  • Church Lady (Dana Carvey) interviews Jessica Hahn (Jan Hooks) and plays drums during Danny DeVito’s musical number.

  • By now, the sketch is pretty much on its stride, where you know what the hooks are but the journey to get to them is still pretty enjoyable, and this outing is no exception. The Jessica Hahn interview has some good barbs, and returning guest Danny DeVito brings some fun in terms of the musical number, where Carvey gets to show off his drumming skills.

  • Written by Bonnie and Terry Turner and Dana Carvey.

  • Rerun alterations: Small edit before Jan Hooks enters.

****

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “THE RIGHT STUFF”

  • Bryan Ferry performs the first single from his new album Bête Noire, which was adapted from The Smiths’ instrumental “Money Changes Everything”; fittingly, Johnny Marr is here tonight to play guitar. A pretty solid and charismatic performance.

  • Also in tonight’s band: current SNL Band members G.E. Smith (guitar), Leon Pendarvis (keyboards), and Chris Parker (percussion). former SNL Band members Marcus Miller (bass) and Steve Jordan (percussion), plus Andy Newmark (drums, also a one-time SNL Band fill-in in 1979) and three backing vocalists (one is Fonzi Thornton).

  • Rerun alterations: Audio remixed.

WEEKEND UPDATE

  • Best jokes: Haig’s head shrinks, Joe Piscopo blows up.

  • Opening music: “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” by Elton John.

  • Dennis Miller’s slump continues. There are a lot of jokes that fall flat tonight, particularly the runner about increasingly conservative groups criticizing each other (following conservatives turning on Reagan for the INF treaty).

  • Kevin Nealon’s back with another Thoughtful Insight, this one starting off from airline disasters and going through stories about tinted windows being installed backwards, safe alternatives to fireworks, and whether long distance is the next best thing to being with someone between the cliches. Not Nealon’s best either, but it’s better than a lot of Miller’s jokes tonight.

  • Rerun alterations: None

** 1/2

SKETCH: JUNGLE ROOM

  • Eddie Spimozo’s (Jon Lovitz) former bartender (Danny DeVito) bonds with recently-jilted Nancy Maloney (Victoria Jackson).

  • DeVito’s understated performance makes this feels a little different from the usual Spimozo sketch; there aren’t as many laughs this time around (the usual business with Eddie and Charlie, plus Nancy’s song aren’t as funny as before), but it feels deliberate, like they’re going for a more melancholy installment about the people Eddie mistreats.

  • Interestingly, this is Jon Lovitz’s only appearance all night.

  • Written by Jon Lovitz, Robert Smigel, Phil Hartman, and Victoria Jackson.

  • Rerun alterations: Audience mixed quieter.

***

SKETCH: MONA LISA

  • Appraiser (Phil Hartman) breaks bad news to a gullible trailer park couple (Danny DeVito and Jan Hooks).

  • An enjoyably silly sketch. DeVito and Hooks are both enjoyable as the white trash couple (“I knew that guy didn’t look like no pirate!”), as is Hartman as the patient and apologetic appraiser. Not too sure about the ending with the real Orlov diamond, but it’s still better than a lot of SNL sketch endings.

  • I love how ridiculous some of the fakes are (a Stradivarius that’s a plastic ukulele, Hitler’s staff car being a ‘65 Plymouth Valiant, a jujube that’s supposedly a ruby from the crown of Old King Cole).

  • Written by Phil Hartman.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*** 1/2

SHOW: ANN LANDERS’ PLAYHOUSE

  • Ann Landers (Nora Dunn) dramatizes her advice on how to deal with an overly fresh date (Danny DeVito).

  • I always enjoy Dunn’s Ann Landers, and this has some funny moments; it does feel like it’s missing a beat somewhere, like they had to cut something out of the sketch between dress and air. As a result, the whole thing just comes off a little too abrupt.

  • Written by Nora Dunn and Christine Zander.

  • Rerun alterations: One camera angle change to remove an errant cue card appearing on screen.

***

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “KISS AND TELL”

  • Another track from Bête Noire, which would be released as a single the following February and be his only solo U.S. Top 40 entry. I really like the ending with the band gradually getting quieter.

  • Sammy Figueroa joins Chris Parker and Steve Jordan as a percussionist. G.E. Smith told a story during an interview for the Archive of American Television that Jordan was a last-minute conscript for tonight’s performances because Figueroa was a no-show, though he misremembers a few details (it was the first number that Figueroa missed, not the second).

  • Rerun alterations: Audio remixed.

SKETCH: DOORMAN

  • Doorman Manny (Danny DeVito) chats with Mr. Martin (Phil Hartman) as he moves out of the building.

  • This is one I’ve always liked, and it feels like something they would have done in the early seasons: a slice-of-life/character study that doesn’t really have any hard laughs in it but is a relatable situation. Again, DeVito’s performance helps the sketch work.

  • Interestingly, this sketch gives some lines to an uncredited extra playing one of the tenants in the building (third screencap above). I wonder who the actress is.

  • Written by Robert Smigel, Bob Odenkirk, and A. Whitney Brown.

  • Rerun alterations: Small edit during DeVito’s description of Hartman’s patch of grey in hair.

*** 1/2

GOODNIGHTS

  • Danny DeVito announces that everyone had a good time and shouts out to wife Rhea Perlman in the balcony.

  • Bob Odenkirk joins the writing staff this week, though he had been contributing informally beforehand; former staff writer Brian McConnachie has an additional sketches credit.

  • Don Pardo announces next week’s show with Angie Dickinson, David Gilmour and Buster Poindexter, and says he’s excited because he and Angie used to live together and haven’t seen each other in 20 years.

  • Rerun alterations: Don Pardo removed from closing theme.

Final thoughts: A pretty good show. By now, Danny DeVito is a reliable presence when he hosts; he makes some of tonight’s sketches more fun, while also managing to carry a few lower-key pieces. It feels like most of the cast is taking a breather this week, though; aside from Phil Hartman and Kevin Nealon, most of the regulars only appear in one or two sketches apiece. Bryan Ferry also managed to be a very good choice for tonight’s musical guest.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Handi-Off

  • Church Chat

  • Doorman

  • At The Movies

  • Mona Lisa

  • Gorbachev/Reagan

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

  • Dennis Miller’s jokes on Weekend Update.

MVP:

  • (tie) Danny DeVito/Phil Hartman

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

  • Dana Carvey: 2 appearances [At The Movies, Church Chat]

  • Nora Dunn: 2 appearances [Ann Landers’ Playhouse, Doorman]

  • Phil Hartman: 4 appearances [Gorbachev/Reagan, At The Movies, Mona Lisa, Doorman]; 1 voiceover [Church Chat]

  • Jan Hooks: 2 appearances [Church Chat, Mona Lisa]

  • Victoria Jackson: 2 appearances [Handi-Off, Jungle Room]

  • Jon Lovitz: 1 appearance [Jungle Room]

  • Dennis Miller: 2 appearances [Handi-Off, Weekend Update]

  • Kevin Nealon: 5 appearances [Gorbachev/Reagan, Handi-Off, At The Movies, Weekend Update, Jungle Room]

uncredited crew, extras, and bit players

  • Joe Forristal: 1 appearance [At The Movies]

  • Don Pardo: 1 voiceover [Weekend Update]

  • Christine Zander: 1 voiceover [Ann Landers’ Playhouse]

G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band

  • Cheryl Hardwick: 2 appearances [Church Chat, Jungle Room]

  • Chris Parker: 2 appearances [“The Right Stuff”, “Kiss and Tell”]

  • Leon Pendarvis: 2 appearances [“The Right Stuff”, “Kiss and Tell”]

  • G.E. Smith: 3 appearances [Church Chat, “The Right Stuff”, “Kiss and Tell”]

guests

  • Danny DeVito: 8 appearances [Gorbachev/Reagan, Monologue, At The Movies, Church Chat, Jungle Room, Mona Lisa, Ann Landers’ Playhouse, Doorman]

  • Bryan Ferry: 2 appearances [“The Right Stuff”, “Kiss and Tell”]

  • Johnny Marr: 2 appearances [“The Right Stuff”, “Kiss and Tell”]

  • Rhea Perlman: 1 appearance [Goodnights]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

  • April 9, 1988

  • August 13, 1988

Known alterations:

  • Edits: Church Chat, Doorman

  • Dress substitutions: At The Movies (part)

  • Audio remixing: At The Movies, “The Right Stuff”, Jungle Room, “Kiss and Tell”]

  • Directorial changes: Ann Landers’ Playhouse.

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.