Classic SNL Review: December 12, 1987: Angie Dickinson / David Gilmour, Buster Poindexter (S13E07)

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

OPENING: TRANSLATOR

  • Translator (Kevin Nealon) mangles Gorbachev’s address to the United Nations General Assembly with his insufficient knowledge of Russian.

  • Another Kevin Nealon character whose incompetence becomes move obvious the more he tries to do his job. Phil Hartman’s reactions are also hilarous, especially his blunt “get out” after Nealon has Gorbachev speaking a “more obscure language”.

  • Great reveal that Nealon’s working for Fox (still only a fledgling network at this point in time).

  • Written by Jim Downey.

  • Rerun alterations: The first shot of Nealon looking at the monitor and the final portion of the sketch after he returns to translating are replaced with dress rehearsal.

****

MONTAGE

MONOLOGUE

  • Angie Dickinson approaches SNL the way she’s approached her career: being hot and game.

  • Not really a whole lot to this monologue, though Dickinson does come off well, even ad-libbing in response to an audience reaction (“And you know it!”)

  • Written by Al Franken and others.

  • Rerun alterations: None

** 1/2

COMMERCIAL: DOCU-FRESH

  • The document deodorizer helps fight “constitution odor”.

  • A funny, if straightforward commercial parody.

  • Rerun alterations: Audience noise mostly mixed out

***

SKETCH: STEWARDESS

  • Flight attendant (Angie Dickinson) tries to discreetly ask sleeping passengers if they can land the plane.

  • A little bit of a slow build here, though Dickinson’s none-too-subtle attempts at bringing the conversation around to airplanes are a little funny. This does pick up once it gets to her smothering a panicking Jan Hooks (I also love her blatant lies to her).

  • The twist with Phil Hartman’s character being insane was a little obvious, but he’s good at playing this kind of role.

  • Written by Andy Breckman.

  • Rerun alterations: Slight edits before Dickinson speaks to Hooks and Hartman. Different camera angle used for one line.

***

SHOW: DONAHUE

  • Americans love the visiting Raisa Gorbachev (Nora Dunn) much more than their own First Lady, Nancy Reagan (Jan Hooks).

  • Not quite on the level of the other two Donahue sketches, but there are some funny disses of Nancy Reagan here, and some very good reactions from Jan Hooks.

  • The audience being disappointed after Raisa states she has no intention of invading the United States was funny.

  • Written by Al Franken, Jim Downey, Robert Smigel, Andy Breckman, and Bob Odenkirk.

  • Rerun alterations: Phil’s introduction before the show title sequence is replaced with dress rehearsal; the woman extra who speaks at the end can be seen entering late and sitting next to Victoria Jackson in the original airing. Small cuts before Most Admired List and to remove a verbal stumble from Hartman. Dress used for Raisa’s answer about invading the U.S.A., Kevin Nealon’s question for Nancy, and her response.

***

SHOW: WEDGIE FEVER!

  • Masochist Dale Butterworth (Jon Lovitz) likes the punishment for getting answers wrong on a game show.

  • A fun sketch, featuring the last appearance of Hartman as Big Bill Franklin, and another appearance of the perpetually recast Dale Butterworth.

  • Some very funny visuals and reactions from Lovitz getting more and more answers wrong. I also enjoyed the bits with Hartman cheerfully reading the angry viewer letter and interviewing last week’s champion (Kevin Nealon)

  • Written by Andy Breckman.

  • Rerun alterations: Music starts earlier during Hartman’s introduction for Lovitz in rerun and lasts longer. Applause added after Kevin Nealon segment. Different camera angle for “I’m fine, except for my crotch!”

****

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “HOT HOT HOT”

  • Buster Poindexter (David Johansen) and his Banshees of Blue perform the first single from the Buster Poindexter album, a cover of Arrow’s 1982 soca hit. Yes, it’s total cheese, and Johansen would later (understandably) call the song the bane of his existence, but you have to admit this is a pretty fun performance, with the band going around the studio and getting audience members to sing “Hot Hot Hot”.

  • This is the only time SNL Band fill-in bass player Tony Garnier appears on the show this season.

  • Rerun alterations: Audio remixed.

WEEKEND UPDATE

  • Best jokes: South Korean Olympic events, Statute of limitations for respecting Bob Hope

  • Opening music: “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles.

  • Another somewhat underwhelming week for Dennis Miller, and a tepid audience to match; I’m not sure if it’s just me, but he also sounds a little under the weather tonight.

  • Victoria Jackson’s movie review segment was alright; there really wasn’t a whole lot to it, but it gets in and out pretty fast.

  • Miller’s interview with Stephen King (Jon Lovitz) was decent, particularly the gag of him constantly typing (and doing it one-handed as he drinks a glass of water) and his seconds-long bout of writer’s block. (Segment written by Al Franken)

  • A. Whitney Brown is back to put the INF treaty into The Big Picture, drawing comparisons with America’s treaties with Indigenous people. Some good lines as usual but overall a step below Brown’s usual standard; he also seems a little stumbly this time out.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

** 1/2

SKETCH: CHRISTMAS PARTY

  • Partygoers inadvertently trigger each other’s traumatic memories with innocent comments.

  • There are some good absurdist touches here (Dickinson’s husband being killed by a hummingbird, Dunn’s parents being run over and entombed by a “very fast” glacier), but I would have liked to see this lean a little more into that. A pretty quick sketch, though.

  • Written by Jack Handey.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

***

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “SONG FOR MY SARA”

  • David Gilmour joins G.E. Smith, T-Bone Wolk, and the Saturday Night Live Band to play a one-off instrumental, similar to what Eddie Van Halen did on the show the previous February. I wish the show did this more often, have a guest appear to play with the band on (as far as I know) something specifically done for the show.

  • I’ve heard this piece called either “Song For My Sara” (named for Gilmour’s daughter) or “Ah, Robertson, It’s You”; I’m not sure what the official title is, though I think it’s the former.

  • Rerun alterations: Audio remixed.

SHOW: POLICE WOMEN

  • Pepper (Angie Dickinson) coaches Mary Beth Lacey (Nora Dunn) on using her feminine wiles on suspects.

  • The whole angle about Lacey being unattractive may be a little too mean-spirited, but I have to admit Lovitz’s over the top reaction made me laugh, as did her attempt to be sexy.

  • I also got a laugh at how Cagney met her demise (she drank a quart of muscatel and tried to drive a loaded paddy wagon over the Verrazano Bridge).

  • Written by Christine Zander and Brian McConnachie.

  • Rerun alterations: Small cut before the Police Woman titles start; the audience laughter is also mixed out for the rerun. Small cut during Lovitz spinning the bag of heroin. The entire sequence after Lacey makes out with Lovitz is from dress rehearsal (this does create a new mistake; the on-screen graphic in the rerun says “Police Woman” instead of “Police Women”. Audio dropout during band shot fixed.

*** 1/2

COMMERCIAL: THE ASSIMILATED JEW’S HANUKKAH

  • Henry Kissinger (Al Franken) promotes an album that puts a Jewish spin on familiar Christmas songs.

  • Al Franken’s Henry Kissinger impression returns for a decent commercial parody; the altered lyrics provide some laughs.

  • The set from Christmas Party is reused here; I also noticed that in these last few shows, there’s usually been a shot through the side window or of the exterior of the set.

  • Written by Robert Smigel.

  • Rerun alterations: Audience mixed quieter. Small cut before track listing scroll. The Jewish people saying “Happy Hanukkah” at the end are mixed out, while Don Pardo’s voiceover is also fixed.

***

SKETCH: DRUNK MAN

  • Booze gives a seemingly-unassuming man (Dana Carvey) the superhuman confidence to confront a barroom bully (Phil Hartman).

  • Dana Carvey’s performance carries this sketch, although it feels like it doesn’t quite feel fleshed out enough beyond the main concept. I did like the part where he’s confiscated Hartman’s gun and is just carelessly waving it around.

  • The music at the beginning is “Freddie Freeloader” by Miles Davis; the stock music cue for the Drunk Man theme was reused in Young Superboy in 1991 and Weekend Update with Norm Macdonald.

  • Written by Jack Handey.

  • Rerun alterations: Audience mixed quieter; additional applause mixed in at the end. Band shot includes yellow show logo in original airing but fades to bumper in rerun.

***

GOODNIGHTS

  • Angie Dickinson says it’s up to her to say “happy holidays” and commends the “great, great group” before telling the band to “take us home!”

  • Don Pardo announces next week’s show with Paul Simon and Linda Ronstadt, and wonders what Santa will bring him this year, sharing that he got an electric can opener because he was a “bad boy” last year, then wishes for either a Casio calculator watch…or another electric can opener.

  • Rerun alterations: Don Pardo mixed out; audience noise also mixed out at point where Pardo’s voiceover began.

Final thoughts: Not a bad episode, though mostly forgettable; most of tonight was pleasant and enjoyable, but not necessarily something you’d rewatch the whole show just to see again. The same could be said about Angie Dickinson as host; though it also felt a little like the writers had trouble coming up with stuff for her to do. Davd Gilmour’s performance with the SNL Band is a highlight, though.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Wedgie Fever

  • Translator

  • Police Women

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

  • a lot of Dennis Miller’s Weekend Update jokes.

MVP:

  • Phil Hartman

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

  • Dana Carvey: 3 appearances [Translator, Stewardess, Drunk Man]

  • Nora Dunn: 5 appearances [Docu-Fresh, Donahue, Christmas Party, Police Women, Drunk Man]

  • Phil Hartman: 7 appearances [Translator, Stewardess, Donahue, Wedgie Fever!, Christmas Party, Police Women, Drunk Man]; 2 voiceovers [Donahue, The Assimilated Jew’s Hanukkah]

  • Jan Hooks: 2 appearances [Stewardess, Donahue]

  • Victoria Jackson: 6 appearances [Docu-Fresh, Donahue, Wedgie Fever!, Weekend Update, Christmas Party, The Assimilated Jew’s Hanukkah]

  • Jon Lovitz: 7 appearances [Stewardess, Wedgie Fever!, Weekend Update, Christmas Party, Police Women, The Assimilated Jew’s Hanukkah, Drunk Man]

  • Dennis Miller: 2 appearances [Weekend Update, Christmas Party]

  • Kevin Nealon: 6 appearances [Translator, Stewardess, Donahue, Wedgie Fever!, The Assimilated Jew’s Hanukkah, Drunk Man]

featured players

  • A. Whitney Brown: 1 appearance [Weekend Update]

uncredited crew, extras, and bit players

  • Al Franken: 1 appearance [The Assimilated Jew’s Hanukkah]

  • Don Pardo: 4 voiceovers [Wedgie Fever!, Weekend Update, The Assimilated Jew’s Hanukkah, Drunk Man]

  • Christine Zander: 1 appearance [Donahue]

G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band:

  • G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band: 1 appearance [“Song For My Sara”]

guests

  • Angie Dickinson: 5 appearances [Monologue, Stewardess, Christmas Party, Police Women, Drunk Man]

  • Buster Poindexter: 1 appearance [“Hot Hot Hot”]

  • David Gilmour: 1 appearance [“Song For My Sara”]

  • The Banshees of Blue: 1 appearance [“Hot Hot Hot”]

  • The Uptown Horns: 1 appearance [“Hot Hot Hot”]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

  • April 23, 1988

Known alterations:

  • Edits: Stewardess, Donahue, Police Women

  • Dress substitutions: Translator (part), Donahue (part), Police Women (part)

  • Audio remixing: Docu-Fresh, Wedgie Fever!, “Hot Hot Hot”, “Song For My Sara”, Police Women, The Assimilated Jew’s Hanukkah, Drunk Man

  • Directorial changes: Stewardess, Wedgie Fever!

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.