Classic SNL Review: February 20, 1988: Tom Hanks / Randy Travis (S13E12)

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

OPENING: CALGARY 1988

  • Jim McKay (Dana Carvey) and Dick Button (Phil Hartman) comment as figure skater Mark Messano (Tom Hanks) does a cowboy-themed routine.

  • Hartman is very funny in this as the fey Button, as is Hanks’ figure skater character, who gets laughs without saying a word. I love Hartman’s “I think these scores are very low” line.

  • There is a brief mention of Brian Boitano, who had won the gold earlier that day.

  • Written by Al Franken, Jim Downey, and Robert Smigel.

  • Rerun alterations: Intro and Hanks warmup footage trimmed. Live scenes with Carvey and Hartman replaced with dress, as is Hanks waiting for the judge’s scores.

*** 1/2

MONOLOGUE

  • Tom Hanks admits that he doesn’t really know too much about politics.

  • It’s not quite as memorable as the more high-concept monologues that Hanks would do in his next few hosting stints, but Hanks carries it on his own, and has some good jokes about his alleged ignorance of the candidates and electoral process.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*** 1/2

SKETCH: GIANT BUSINESSMAN

  • Giant Businessman (Phil Hartman) is frustrated with neighbors playing their music too loud.

  • A very silly (and aware of it), simple, but fun sketch, with a particularly memorable visual of Hartman crouching in a tiny living room set with a tiny book and prop telephone. Hanks is also quite funny playing the neighbor, and the ending with the Giant Businessman being terrified by Hanks yelling at him was solid.

  • Written by Jack Handey.

  • Rerun alterations: Audience applause mixed out of beginning. Different sound effect used during footage of police car.

****

SKETCH: THE BEAN CAFE

  • Most of the comments at the phaseolus-based eatery are barely-averted fart jokes.

  • Another silly and simple sketch, with some cleverly-done fake-outs.

  • It looks like Victoria Jackson is wearing the same wig that will feature in her upcoming Weekend Update commentary.

  • Written by Jack Handey and Christine Zander.

  • Rerun alterations: Traffic sound effects added to opening shot. Dead air before Tom Hanks answers the phone removed. Small cuts before Phil Hartman’s entrance, Victoria Jackson’s first line, and before Hanks turns on the TV. Swimming meet audio louder in rerun.

*** 1/2

SHOW: THE PAT STEVENS SHOW

  • Pat (Nora Dunn) does some isometric exercises, and spurns Barbara Bush (Phil Hartman) for pal Elizabeth Dole (Jan Hooks).

  • A bit of a return to form for the character after the weaker than usual installment in the Dabney Coleman show, with a lot of it coming from her poor treatment of Barbara Bush, particularly the memorable line where Pat tells her that she must be proud of her “son” George for his success in the New Hampshire primary.

  • Written by Nora Dunn.

  • Rerun alterations: Pat’s first two “thank you”s are mixed quieter under applause in rerun. Camera switch to Barbara rolling her eyes added after Elizabeth reads the second step from her book.

***

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN”

  • Randy Travis performs his big hit single from the previous year, which at the time was nominated for (and would soon win) Best Country & Western Song at the Grammys. This is a pretty good performance, as neotraditional country’s clarity translates pretty well to the SNL stage.

  • I like the touch with the mural on the set occasionally being repainted to match the musical guest; this week has a nice depiction of farmland.

  • Rerun alterations: Remixed.

WEEKEND UPDATE

  • Best jokes: George Bush Jr., Jimmy Swaggart, Mardi Gras

  • Opening music: “When The Music’s Over” by The Doors.

  • Campaign ‘88 dominates another Weekend Update, as well as the Calgary Olympics. Most interesting is a mention of future president George W. Bush, where Dennis muses that his pop must hate him for being so much better looking.

  • Kevin Nealon reports on the Winter Olympics in a bit called “I Wanna Say”, where he makes bad guesses at words and numbers. It’s a nice change-up from the Thoughtful Insights with the string of cliches, and there are some pretty good lines in there.

  • Victoria Jackson half-heartedly begins another sociological introspective called “The Life of a Coffee Mug”, but quickly breaks down and rips her blonde wig off, expressing that she’s tired of keeping up the act that she’s a ditzy blonde. This is probably Jackson’s best bit overall, as she pretty much transforms herself with a change in demeanor and speaking in her lower register throughout. The ending where she rips the brown wig off (or tries to) and reveals that blonde squeaky-voiced Victoria is the real her after all felt a little superfluous.

  • Instead of talking about the budget, Jon Lovitz declares that the way to become important, famous, and successful is simple: “GET TO KNOW ME!”, and claims that Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth only got where they are by doing so. This is a memorable bit and also somewhat of a turning point for Lovitz, as he would adopt this more bombastic persona more regularly going forward.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*** 1/2

SKETCH: GIRL WATCHERS

  • Losers (Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz) are pretty used to their failure at picking up women on the street.

  • The debut of these recurring characters, who would appear the next two times Hanks hosts. He and Lovitz work pretty well together, and the self-deprecating lines are even funnier in that faux-smooth cadence.

  • Some of Hanks’ lines definitely sound like something Conan O’Brien would say, particularly the one about the size of his head.

  • Written by Conan O’Brien and Robert Smigel.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

****

SKETCH: COMPUTER PANIC

  • An inexperienced computer user (Tom Hanks) gets help from an Apple Support Systems operator (Kevin Nealon).

  • It’s pretty funny how the plot is pretty straightforward, with no big hook like the tech support guy being an asshole (like Jimmy Fallon’s Nick Burns). It’s the performances that make this sketch, with Nealon’s calm, reassuring demeanor contrasting with Hanks’ terror.

  • Written by Kevin Nealon and Tom Hanks.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

***

COMMERCIAL: CASEY KASEM SINGS THE BEATLES

  • The America’s Top 40 host’s new album has him taking on the Fab Four.

  • Another very straightforward piece here; not really much to say other than it’s pretty funny (particularly “Helter Skelter”).

  • Nice touch with the band playing “Dizzy Miss Lizzie” in the outro.

  • Written by Dana Carvey.

  • Rerun alterations: Small cut before album cover graphic appears.

***

SKETCH: DELIVERY ROOM

  • An expectant father (Dana Carvey) misinterprets the noises in the other room.

  • This is such a shamelessly dumb sketch that I can’t help but enjoy. It helps that it‘s quite brief: just three different misinterpretations before the fourth wall break with Hanks telling Carvey that they couldn’t come up with an ending to the sketch.

  • Written by Jack Handey.

  • Rerun alterations: Applause added after Hanks says “Goodbye, you poorly-developed characters, you!”.

*** 1/2

SKETCH: STAND-UPS III

  • Paul (Tom Hanks), Bob (Jon Lovitz), and Steve (Dennis Miller) have more observations to discuss backstage.

  • The characters first introduced in Hanks’ first hosting gag make their final appearance (aside from a cut-for-time bit with Hanks and Kyle Mooney nearly 30 years later). This one actually has a little more going on, including a discussion of Lovitz’s girlfriend moving out that turns into more observational jokes, as well as Lovitz and Miller getting into a fight over whether half-and-half should be called “crilk” or “meam” (which Hanks breaks up with an observation about Gilligan’s Island).

  • Hanks’ character is referred to as Bill here, but his name is Paul in all his other appearances.

  • Written by Robert Smigel, Tom Hanks, Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller, Jon Lovitz, A. Whitney Brown, Conan O’Brien, and Bob Odenkirk.

  • Rerun alterations: None.

*** 1/2

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “WHAT’LL YOU DO ABOUT ME”

  • Randy Travis performs an album track from Always & Forever, a lighthearted Dennis Linde-penned tune from the perspective of a one-night stand turned stalker.

  • Rerun alterations: Remixed.

SKETCH: THE PAWN SHOP

  • A pawnbroker (Phil Hartman) pays out based on the item’s sentimental value.

  • A good low-key sketch to close tonight’s show that has a very clever premise, and a solid Hartman characterization. Lots of good details here, including the bronzed baby shoe being from an adopted kid, and the kids’ drawings being the most valuable.

  • Written by Shannon Gaughan.

  • Rerun alterations: Small edit when extra comes out of stock room.

*** 1/2

GOODNIGHTS

  • Tom Hanks says he was joking earlier about not being registered to vote, saying he’s been registered for a full six and a half months, and introduces Randy Travis mentioning that he’s won “a ton of awards”.

  • Don Pardo announces next week’s show with Judge Reinhold and special musical guest 10,000 Maniacs, and teases that the Church Lady will be speaking with Jimmy Swaggart (“I’m so glad she’s back, I’ve missed her!”)

  • Rerun alterations: Don Pardo mixed out.

Final thoughts: Tom Hanks has mentioned a few times that he doesn’t think this show was all that great; it does pale somewhat compared to some of his later shows, but tonight felt like a laid-back week with a host that knew what he was doing, as well as an openness to try anything, no matter how silly or stupid. It’s not the first show I would grab to watch, but there aren’t any bad sketches, and it even has an above-average Weekend Update (helped a lot by Victoria Jackson’s bit).

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Giant Businessman

  • Girl Watchers

  • The Pawn Shop

  • Stand-Ups III

  • Delivery Room

  • Monologue

  • Calgary 1988

  • Weekend Update

SHOW LOWLIGHTS:

  • (none)

MVP:

  • (tie) Tom Hanks/Phil Hartman

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

  • Dana Carvey: 6 appearances [Calgary 1988, Giant Businessman, The Bean Cafe, Casey Kasem Sings The Beatles, Delivery Room, Stand-Ups III]

  • Nora Dunn: 4 appearances [Giant Businessman, The Bean Cafe, The Pat Stevens Show, The Pawn Shop]

  • Phil Hartman: 5 appearances [Calgary 1988, Giant Businessman, The Bean Cafe, The Pat Stevens Show, The Pawn Shop]; 1 voiceover [Casey Kasem Sings The Beatles]

  • Jan Hooks: 3 appearances [Calgary 1988, The Pat Stevens Show, The Pawn Shop]

  • Victoria Jackson: 5 appearances [Giant Businessman, The Bean Cafe, Weekend Update, Delivery Room, The Pawn Shop]

  • Jon Lovitz: 6 appearances [Giant Businessman, The Bean Cafe, Weekend Update, Girl Watchers, Delivery Room, Stand-Ups III]

  • Dennis Miller: 2 appearances [Weekend Update, Stand-Ups III]

  • Kevin Nealon: 6 appearances [Giant Businessman, The Bean Cafe, Weekend Update, Girl Watchers, Computer Panic, The Pawn Shop]; 1 voiceover [Giant Businessman]

featured players

  • A. Whitney Brown: 1 appearance [Giant Businessman]

unbilled crew, extras, and bit players

  • Andy Murphy: 1 appearance [Girl Watchers]

  • Don Pardo: 2 voiceovers [The Bean Cafe, Weekend Update]

G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band

  • G.E. Smith: 1 appearance [Giant Businessman]

guests

  • Tom Hanks: 8 appearances [Calgary 1988, Monologue, Giant Businessman, The Bean Cafe, Girl Watchers, Computer Panic, Delivery Room, Stand-Ups III]

  • Randy Travis: 2 appearances [“Forever and Ever, Amen”, “What’ll You Do About Me”]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

  • June 11, 1988

Known alterations:

  • Edits: Calgary 1988, The Bean Cafe, Casey Kasem Sings The Beatles, The Pawn Shop

  • Dress substitutions: Calgary 1988 (part)

  • Audio remixing: Giant Businessman, “Forever And Ever, Amen”, Delivery Room, “What’ll You Do About Me”

  • Directorial changes: The Pat Stevens Show

Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.