Classic SNL Review: December 3, 1988: Danny DeVito / The Bangles (S14E07)
RATING SYSTEM:
***** - Classic
**** - Great
*** - Good/Average
** - Meh
* - Awful
OPENING: PUMPING UP WITH HANS & FRANZ
Hans (Dana Carvey) & Franz (Kevin Nealon) respond to a viewer letter, introduce the manager of their new gym (Danny DeVito), and get a visit from their cousin Arnold Schwarzenegger.
We’re back to the normal format, but there are the usual solid laughs, and DeVito is hilarious as their aggressive gym manager (“Dead! Dead! Dead!”). The Arnold Schwarzenegger cameo wasn’t bad; this is the kind of thing that became cliche for the show after a few years (the “sneaker-upper”), but it hadn’t been done to death at this point, and it made sense as DeVito was promoting their movie Twins that week.
Written by Kevin Nealon, Dana Carvey, Robert Smigel, and Jim Downey.
Rerun alterations: None.
*** 1/2
MONTAGE
The SNL Band photo has been revised.
MONOLOGUE
Danny DeVito loves the excitement of coming onto the SNL stage so much, he wants to do it a second time.
The podcast That Week In SNL mentioned how DeVito always seems to have an infectious enthusiasm whenever he appears on the show, and this monologue is probably the best example of this; it’s impossible not to feel the excitement he shows while standing behind the doors with Joe Dicso, mouthing along to Don Pardo’s introduction.
Steve Turre and T-Bone Wolk are back with the band tonight; this is the first show of the season where there aren’t any fill-ins.
Rerun alterations: The opening theme and monologue is replaced with the dress rehearsal up to when DeVito runs into the audience to talk to Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the live show, he is already on stage by the time the camera pans around; he is also much more animated than in dress.
*****
COMMERCIAL: BIG RED
Kids have fun with the spinning toy Viking that sprays red goop everywhere.
A very simple idea, but it’s hard not to like this. Probably the most enduring sketch of the episode, thanks to its catchy jingle and inclusion in Best Of compilations over the years. The on-screen text disclaimers (“Caution: May Irritates Skin”, “Clean-Up Kit Sold Seperately”.
Written by George Meyer.
Rerun alterations: None.
****
SHOW: SEX TONIGHT
Jessica Hahn (Jan Hooks) co-hosts the titillating newsmagazine, Casey Kasem (Dana Carvey) gives the top five 19th century euphemisms for masturbation, and Wilford Brimley (Phil Hartman) promotes the Reclino Love Lounge orthopedic sex chair.
Most of it was pretty funny, particularly the repeated citation for the San Diego Centre for Sex Studies, Hooks as Jessica Hahn, Carvey’s Kasem, and the Reclino Love Lounge commercial; the one part that didn’t really land was Nealon’s co-anchor congratulating Jessica on her improvement (though I did like her cold “Thank you” afterwards).
There are some technical issues with the on-screen graphics during the Kasem segment, which is replaced with dress rehearsal for the rerun.
Written by Al Franken, Tom Davis, Jim Downey, Christine Zander, and Shannon Gaughan.
Rerun alterations: “Sex, sex, sex, sex, sex. Andy?” and the Casey Kasem segments are replaced with dress rehearsal. Small cuts before “This Date in Sex History” and “Sex Quiz” bumpers.
*** 1/2
SKETCH: SCROOGE II
Scrooge (Danny DeVito) is still a changed man, but his generosity last Christmas seriously affected his ability to continue with the giving.
The audience didn’t really respond to this, but despite the low-energy feel, I thought this had a good premise and a strong performance from DeVito, who plays Scrooge as a bit embarrassed but still trying to save face and reassure Bob Cratchit (Dana Carvey) that he hasn’t lost his Christmas spirit.
The main hard laugh comes from the whole scene with Victoria Jackson collecting alms for the “Spendthrift Drunken Sailor’s Home”; this was worth an extra star. I also liked the part where Jacob Marley (Kevin Nealon) volunteering to finish Scrooge’s work so he could go off to dinner with the Cratchits, recognizes the account that’s open (which didn’t get a laugh).
Written by Jack Handey.
Rerun alterations: None.
***
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “IN YOUR ROOM”
The Bangles (plus touring keyboardist Greg “Harpo” Hilfman) get a few screams from the audience before launching into the sexually charged first single from their new album Everything. Solid playing and harmonies here.
Rerun alterations: Audio remixed.
WEEKEND UPDATE
Opening music: “Radar Love” by Golden Earring.
Best jokes: Presidential libraries, lotto winner.
The jokes this week weren’t as strong as they had been this season, though we did get a reprise of Dennis Miller’s Susannah Hoffs impression.
Dennis Miller interviews Yasser Arafat (Jon Lovitz) via satellite from Geneva, Switzerland about being denied an entry visa into the U.S. I wasn’t too crazy about this, aside from the ending where Miller asks Arafat is he’s gay, and Arafat responds “Are you?”.
Almost a year after his last one, Kevin Nealon returns for one final Thoughtful Insight, this one about priorities. It’s pretty much the usual that you’d expect from these pieces, though I did enjoy a few of his between-cliche bits as usual (teaching “P.E.” instead of the whole alphabet, picking your nose is a habit and a hobby); it seems like he knew the bit was out of juice as well, as this one ends with him begging “stop me, Dennis” as he gets locked into cliche overload.
Rerun alterations: A small edit to remove Dennis Miller stumbling on the word “Switzerland” in the intro to the Yasser Arafat interview.
** 1/2
SKETCH: MEXICAN BANDIT
Bandito Gariton (Danny DeVito) quickly turns remorseful after shooting a saloon patron (Jon Lovitz) in the foot to make him dance.
This is one of those pieces that mainly works because of the performances, particularly DeVito as the bandito and Lovitz’s over the top “Yew shaaht me!”, but I did like all the other people in the saloon, including Jan Hooks as a prostitute, shaming him over his actions (“You just didn’t think, did you?”).
Written by Conan O’Brien and Greg Daniels.
Rerun alterations: Small edit before “We just sent for a doctor”. Replaced with dress rehearsal from Hartman asking Gariton “Why’d you do a thing like that” up to the end of the scene. Music cue issue fixed during the “later that day” still. Band shot has yellow logo in the repeat as opposed to blue, and is extended to allow for the next week bumper.
*** 1/2
SKETCH: THE BASTARD BATALLION
In World War II, a group of soldiers demonstrate why they were known by a certain name.
Another piece that doesn’t really seem like a lot on paper, but the different contexts for the “you bastard!” line were well done, especially Jan Hooks saying it in the throes of passion with Phil Hartman’s character.
Written by Jack Handey.
Rerun alterations: The music is louder and the sound effects are quieter in the repeat. A number of scenes have small edits beforehand to tighten the sketch up; Hartman starting a line too early is also removed.
***
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “HAZY SHADE OF WINTER”
The Bangles perform their hit hard rock cover of the Simon & Garfunkel song from last year’s Less Than Zero soundtrack. Another strong performance.
Rerun alterations: Audio remixed.
SKETCH: BUDDY PRECISELY
Snooty maître d’ Buddy Precisely (Dana Carvey) keeps restaurant patrons waiting at the bar if they aren’t famous enough for a table.
Carvey and the others have some good performances here, and it’s always nice to see Hartman’s Burt Reynolds impression. This was pretty much tailor-made to be a recurring character thanks to the clear hooks (“Wait at the bar, wait at the bar”, “Take it outside”), but this only appeared one other time.
A very funny use of Victoria Jackson, who plays herself and gets shooed out by Buddy after she tells him she’s in SNL’s “new cast”, also presaging her appearing as herself in Carvey’s Tonight Show sketches. They seemed to try something like this with Chloe Fineman showing up as herself in a jury duty sketch to do a Parker Posey impression, though it didn’t work as well as it does here.
Jan Hooks’ floozy character’s facial expressions are hilarious. Speaking of Hooks, there was a bit in the 15th Anniversary Special where she reveals this was the night she set a record for “most prostitutes played in a single episode”, counting her Jessica Hahn impression.
Written by Dana Carvey, Bonnie Turner, and Terry Turner.
Rerun alterations: DeVito and Hooks’ scene is dress rehearsal from their entrance through DeVito saying “They’re thinking of making it a recurring character.”
*** 1/2
SKETCH: GUARDIAN ANGELS
Other guardian angels console William (Danny DeVito) after he mistakes a man (Kevin Nealon) contemplating his blessings on a bridge for suicidal.
Not bad for a ten-to-one; another pretty low-key sketch, but it largely works because of DeVito. I did like the part where he gives Nealon his whole spiel and Nealon’s giving brief affirmative responses (“OK”, “I know”), but the biggest laugh was him telling Hartman that he wishes he never died (“Don’t ever say that!”)
Written by Bob Odenkirk, John Bowman, and Robert Smigel.
Rerun alterations: A few seconds are trimmed from the beginning of the sketch.
***
GOODNIGHTS
Danny DeVito says “Goodnight everyone, we love you!” while Arnold Schwarzenegger reminds the audience “Go see Twins!” Jon Lovitz is wearing a My Stepmother Is An Alien T-shirt.
Don Pardo announces next week’s show with Kevin Kline and Bobby McFerrin, and says that the Pardos will be getting a little extra in their stocking because he did the opening twice tonight.
Rerun alterations: Don Pardo voiceover removed. Some footage is reused after the credit scroll finishes.
Final thoughts: It’s hard not to like a Danny DeVito episode, but the monologue and Big Red were the only real standouts tonight, though a few sketches come close. There were also a few more lower-energy pieces than usual, and a slightly sub-par Weekend Update. DeVito did manage to elevate everything he was in as usual, though, and The Bangles gave two solid performances that managed to bring the energy level back up.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:
Monologue
Big Red
Buddy Precisely
Mexican Bandit
Sex Tonight
SHOW LOWLIGHTS:
parts of Weekend Update.
MVP:
(tie) Danny DeVito / Jan Hooks
CAST AND GUEST BREAKDOWN:
cast
Dana Carvey: 6 appearances [Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, Sex Tonight, Scrooge II, The Bastard Battalion, Buddy Precisely, Guardian Angels]
Nora Dunn: 2 appearances [Mexican Bandit, Buddy Precisely]
Phil Hartman: 5 appearances [Sex Tonight, Mexican Bandit, The Bastard Battalion, Buddy Precisely, Guardian Angels]; 1 voiceover [Pumping Up With Hans & Franz]
Jan Hooks: 5 appearances [Big Red, Sex Tonight, Mexican Bandit, The Bastard Battalion, Buddy Precisely]
Victoria Jackson: 3 appearances [Scrooge II, Buddy Precisely, Guardian Angels]
Jon Lovitz: 4 appearances [Weekend Update, Mexican Bandit, The Bastard Battalion, Buddy Precisely]
Dennis Miller: 2 appearances [Weekend Update, Mexican Bandit]
Kevin Nealon: 9 appearances [Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, Big Red, Sex Tonight, Scrooge II, Weekend Update, Mexican Bandit, The Bastard Battalion, Buddy Precisely, Guardian Angels]
featured players
A. Whitney Brown (uncredited): 1 appearance [The Bastard Battalion]
crew, bit players, and extras
John Bowman: 1 appearance [Buddy Precisely]
Tom Davis: 1 appearance [Mexican Bandit]
Joe Dicso: 1 appearance [Monologue]
Conrad Goode: 1 appearance [Big Red]
John Henry Kurtz: 2 voiceovers [Big Red, The Bastard Battalion]
Conan O’Brien: 1 appearance [Buddy Precisely]
Don Pardo: 1 voiceover [Monologue]
Christine Zander: 1 appearance [Buddy Precisely]
guests
Danny DeVito: 7 appearances [Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, Monologue, Scrooge II, Mexican Bandit, The Bastard Battalion, Buddy Precisely, Guardian Angels]
The Bangles: 2 appearances [“In Your Room”, “Hazy Shade Of Winter”]
Arnold Schwarzenegger: 2 appearances [Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, Monologue]
Maria Shriver: 1 appearance [Monologue]
REBROADCAST HISTORY:
May 6, 1989
Known alterations:
Edits: Sex Tonight, Weekend Update, Mexican Bandit, The Bastard Battalion, Guardian Angels
Dress substitutions: Montage, Monologue (part), Sex Tonight (part), Mexican Bandit (part), Buddy Precisely (part)
Audio remixing: “In Your Room”, Mexican Bandit, The Bastard Battalion, “Hazy Shade Of Winter”.
Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.