Classic SNL Review: December 19, 1987: Paul Simon / Linda Ronstadt with The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán (S13E08)

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

OPENING: 30TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

  • Jesus is turning 30, and the apostles have planned a surprise party for him.

  • A clever twist for a Christmas show’s cold opening. I like the touch of Judas (Jon Lovitz) filling the pitcher with water so Jesus could turn it into wine and being the guy who blew the surprise. Also liked the joke about how Mary Magdalene (Jan Hooks) got the cake.

  • Written by Al Franken and Tom Davis.

  • Rerun alterations: The birthday psalm scene is replaced with dress rehearsal (Paul Simon messes up in the air show and starts singing “Happy Birthday” normally instead of to the tune of “O Come All Ye Faithful”). Small cuts after John (Dennis Miller) tells the apostles that Jesus isn’t coming and when he points at Judas.

*** 1/2

MONTAGE

  • The SNL Band gets another new montage still reflecting their new attire.

MONOLOGUE

  • Paul Simon and the namesake Senator from Illinois discuss their confused engagements with each other.

  • This works better than a lot of other celebrity/politician cameo monologues; I like that both Simons are talking to each other instead of directly to the audience.

  • The benefit concert at Madison Square Garden that was mentioned was held the prior Sunday, where money was raised for the New York Children’s Health Project.

*** 1/2

COMMERCIAL: GARY HART (repeat of 10/17/87)

  • Gary Hart had re-entered the presidential race that week, so it made sense to dust this off and rerun it.

SKETCH: CASTAWAYS

  • Stranded on a desert island, David (Paul Simon) is astounded by how well made his fellow castaway’s (Victoria Jackson) Christmas presents for him are.

  • A staple of the Christmas Past compilations during the 90s, with good reason. The increasingly specific details of the work Jackson’s character went through to make the gifts are quite funny.

  • Written by Jack Handey.

  • Rerun alterations: Audience mixed out of opening videotape.

****

SKETCH: MASTER THESPIAN

  • Master Thespian (Jon Lovitz) is challenged by his role as Macy’s department store Santa.

  • Another well-remembered sketch due to its inclusion in the Christmas Past compilations.

  • Phil Hartman’s Frank Nelson impression makes a return, and his chemistry with Lovitz adds to the sketch.

  • Thespian-as-Santa imperiously declining a five-year-old’s request for a bicycle (“Ho ho HO!”) is hilarious, as is his hammy death scene after Hartman fires him.

  • I also love the touch that the kids are enthusiastic about Thespian offering to do some Shakespeare at the end. (Random side note: those kids would be in their forties now, older than Lovitz and Hartman were at the time).

  • Written by Robert Smigel, Bob Odenkirk, and Jon Lovitz.

  • Rerun alterations: Earlier camera switch when the girl says “You killed Santa Claus!”. Different camera angle at end.

****

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “LOS LAURELES”, “LA CIGARRA”

  • Linda Ronstadt performs two traditional songs off her new Canciones de Mi Padre album with the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. Her voice is in fine form here, with some very impressive long notes, particularly in the second song.

  • The stage decorations for Christmas were a very nice touch, particularly the painted “Feliz Navidad” on the back wall.

  • Rerun alterations: Remixed; the trumpets are clearer in the repeat version.

WEEKEND UPDATE

  • Best jokes: Ivan Boesky, Bush supporting Reagan

  • Opening music: “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits.

  • A rebound for Dennis Miller this week, with some above-average jokes and a few other bits like asking “the people” about Gary Hart re-entering the race and the “shocking and disturbing” Jerry Lewis film.

  • The highlight, of course, is the first appearance of Dana Carvey’s Dennis Miller impression, after the awkwardly aborted attempt in the Candice Bergen show. It does show that Miller has become a bit of a self-parody by this point, but Carvey’s impression pretty much nails it.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*** 1/2

SKETCH: STILL SWEENEYS

  • Ski lodge entertainment Liz (Nora Dunn) & Candy Sweeney (Jan Hooks) have a medley of Paul Simon songs for their special “guest” in the audience.

  • A particularly memorable Sweeney Sisters sketch. This one gives them someone reacting to their performance; in this case, an embarrassed Paul Simon (though during the “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” part, I detected a giggle from him). The part with Candy practically belting “Bridge Over Troubled Water” into his face is a highlight.

  • The blonde woman whose cast Simon signs is Brynn Hartman, who married Phil the month before.

  • Written by Jack Handey, Marc Shaiman, Nora Dunn, Christine Zander, and Rosie Shuster.

  • Rerun alterations: Audience mixed quieter during medley.

****

SKETCH: SUBWAY

  • A panhandler (Phil Hartman) has a different story for each pass of the subway car.

  • A showcase for Phil Hartman’s character acting skills, effortlessly going from disabled Vietnam vet to professional actor to psychotic to armed robber. It’s also just the right length too.

  • Written by Al Franken, Jim Downey, and Bob Odenkirk.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*** 1/2

SHOW: PUMPING UP WITH HANS & FRANZ

  • Hans (Dana Carvey) & Franz (Kevin Nealon) show some exercises to “help “ Scott (Paul Simon) recover from injury, and give an update on flabby Helmut’s (Phil Hartman) progress.

  • We’re now at the point where Hans and Franz get recognition applause, and the audience is clapping along with them during their “pump (clap) you up” catchphrase.

  • Some good laughs from their telling Paul Simon’s character to “walk it off” without crutches and Franz lifting him onto his back.

  • The update on Helmut was a good touch. I wish they had the character on more (he only shows up one more time, as the waiter in the video date sketch)

  • Written by Kevin Nealon, Dana Carvey, and Robert Smigel.

  • Rerun alterations: Different camera angle when Simon enters.

*** 1/2

SHOW: SUCCINCTLY SPEAKING

  • Tarzan (Kevin Nealon), Tonto (Jon Lovitz), and Frankenstein (Phil Hartman) give terse takes on fire, bread, and the INF treaty.

  • The first appearance of Tarzan, Tonto and Frankenstein; this would have been remembered as just a fun piece of inspired silliness, but Phil Hartman’s memorable (and rare) character break makes this one a classic.

  • Written by Jim Downey, Jack Handey, and Al Franken.

  • Rerun alterations: Applause added at beginning. Different camera angle when Tarzan says “I no eat bread”. A few seconds are trimmed from the title screen at the end.

*****

MISCELLANEOUS: SEASON’S GREETINGS

  • Tarzan (Kevin Nealon), Tonto (Jon Lovitz), and Frankenstein (Phil Hartman) sing “Away In Manger”.

  • A good cap to the previous segment; this also works on its own and has appeared in the Christmas Past compilations.

  • A stagehand is cleaning in the background during this segment; I’m guessing they needed to set up for the upcoming music performance right away.

  • Written by Jim Downey and Jack Handey.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

****

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “UNDER AFRICAN SKIES”

  • Paul Simon and Linda Ronstadt perform their duet from Graceland; this version actually has some differences from the album version, most notably some extra bass and guitar solos. I’m not sure whether the band is still miming to a recording, but Paul and Linda’s vocals are live, and I prefer this one to the album version.

  • There was a segment featuring Paul and Linda singing with the whole cast that was cut after dress rehearsal.

  • Rerun alterations: Remixed.

SKETCH: TEXAS DINER

  • Anita (Jan Hooks) discusses the past year with her co-workers (Nora Dunn and Phil Hartman) and community college teacher beau (Dana Carvey).

  • A very nice, understated, slice-of-life piece that brings back Jan Hooks’s character from the Willie Nelson show. It doesn’t quite hit the highs of that other piece, but it has a one-act play feel that makes a good late-in-the-show cool-down sketch.

  • Someone pointed this out in the comments of Stooge’s review: the story about the Mexican couple giving birth in the garage that August is a retelling of the Nativity.

  • Written by Bonnie & Terry Turner.

  • Rerun alterations: A feedback hum is removed when Nora Dunn says “we’re not open tomorrow”.

****

MISCELLANEOUS: SPEECH TO THE FUTURE

  • Jon Lovitz has some words for those who may be watching this show in syndication in the future.

  • A short and silly piece to end the show, with a good punchline.

  • Written by Jack Handey.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*** 1/2

GOODNIGHTS

  • Paul Simon explains that the Senator really did have to leave early for his next political engagement (he was present for the dress rehearsal goodnights, though). Linda Ronstadt says “Feliz Navidad”.

  • Don Pardo announces next week’s rerun of Bill Murray / Percy Sledge, explaining that everyone is going home to see their families, except for him, whose family is joining him in the announce booth.

Final thoughts: The strongest show in a while. Paul Simon’s comfortable presence helped, but it was mostly the cast who really demonstrated what they were capable of; pretty much everyone had a good moment tonight. Phil Hartman deserves a special mention; he provides the show’s funniest moment and gets a nice showcase sketch, but also shows how well he works in support roles.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Succinctly Speaking

  • Texas Diner

  • Still Sweeneys

  • Seasons Greetings

  • Castaways

  • Master Thespian

  • Monologue

  • 30th Birthday Party

  • Subway

  • Pumping Up With Hans & Franz

  • Message To The Future

  • Weekend Update

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

  • (none)

MVP:

  • Phil Hartman

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

  • Dana Carvey: 4 appearances [30th Birthday Party, Weekend Update, Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, Texas Diner]

  • Nora Dunn: 3 appearances [Still Sweeneys, Succinctly Speaking, Texas Diner]

  • Phil Hartman: 7 appearances [30th Birthday Party, Master Thespian, Still Sweeneys, Subway, Succinctly Speaking, Season’s Greetings, Texas Diner]; 2 voiceovers [Master Thespian, Pumping Up With Hans & Franz]

  • Jan Hooks: 4 appearances [30th Birthday Party, Still Sweeneys, Subway, Texas Diner]

  • Victoria Jackson: 3 appearances [Castaways, Master Thespian, Subway]

  • Jon Lovitz: 6 appearances [30th Birthday Party, Master Thespian, Subway, Succinctly Speaking, Season’s Greetings, Speech To The Future]

  • Dennis Miller: 2 appearances [30th Birthday Party, Weekend Update]

  • Kevin Nealon: 5 appearances [30th Birthday Party, Subway, Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, Succinctly Speaking, Season’s Greetings]

featured players

  • A. Whitney Brown: 1 appearance [30th Birthday Party]

unbilled crew, extras, and bit players

  • Tom Davis: 1 appearance [30th Birthday Party]

  • Brynn Hartman: 1 appearance [Still Sweeneys]

  • Marc Shaiman: 1 appearance [Still Sweeneys]

guests

  • Paul Simon: 6 appearance [30th Birthday Party, Monologue, Castaways, Still Sweeneys, Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, “Under African Skies”]

  • Linda Ronstadt: 2 appearances [“Los Laureles/La Cigarra”, “Under African Skies”]

  • The Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán: 1 appearance “Los Laureles/La Cigarra”]

  • Sen. Paul Simon: 1 appearance [Monologue]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

  • May 7, 1988

Known alterations:

  • Gary Hart removed

  • Wilson Trap Doors (from 02/27/88) added

  • Edits: 30th Birthday Party, Succinctly Speaking

  • Dress substitutions: 30th Birthday Party (part)

  • Audio remixing: Castaways, “Los Laureles/La Cigarra”, Still Sweeneys, Succinctly Speaking, “Under African Skies”, Texas Diner.

  • Directorial changes: Master Thespian, Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, Succinctly Speaking.

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.