Classic SNL Review: October 8, 1988: Tom Hanks / Keith Richards (S14E01)
RATINGS SYSTEM:
***** - Classic
**** - Great
*** - Good/Average
** - Meh
* - Awful
OPENING: PUMPING UP WITH HANS & FRANZ
Hans (Dana Carvey) and Franz (Kevin Nealon) offer their take on the Summer Olympics, steroids, and show an Olympic-style “up close and personal” tribute.
Last season’s breakout characters have the honour of opening the new season, after opening what turned out to be the final show of the previous one. Carvey and Nealon get a big round of applause from the audience at the beginning, though, and this sketch has some pretty good lines (“pre-stirred muscle yogurt”, mocking Greg “Stuganis” for making a “puny splash”).
The slow-motion salute was amusing; it looks like a lot of the clips came from the previous episode. It also looks like the show must have gotten new cameras over the summer break.
Good understated beginning to the season.
Written by Kevin Nealon and Dana Carvey.
Rerun alterations: Entire sketch replaced with dress rehearsal version.
*** 1/2
MONTAGE
The debut of this season’s brand-new montage made by Jim Sonzero of Jennie & Co., with a prominent blue tint and more kinetic shots of the cast and New York City nightlife. This also premieres the circular SNL logo that would be in use until the mid-90s.
Frank Ockenfels 3 replaces Karen Kuehn as the show photographer.
Tony Garnier fills in for T-Bone Wolk and Joe Shepley fills in for Earl Gardner in the band tonight.
Rerun alterations: Audience is mixed clearer in repeat version.
MONOLOGUE
After denying he’s the nicest guy in Hollywood, Tom Hanks’ backstage conversations with the cast and crew prove otherwise.
The first high-concept Tom Hanks monologue doesn’t disappoint: the set-up with Hanks being all self-effacing about his reputation has some good lines, but things really take off once he goes backstage, encountering Nora Dunn, moved to tears about his gift of researching her family tree, and Phil Hartman, whose anger about his wig subsides to “a sense of perfect peace” after Hanks gives him a few kind words.
I always like when the show goes backstage and shows some of the various real people who work on the show: the control room scene includes familiar faces Paul Miller, Robert Caminiti and Audrey Peart Dickman, as well as several other production staff that Hanks refers to by their first names, including production associate Kiki Kazanas.
Writers Conan O’Brien and Bob Odenkirk get prominent speaking parts; this is also O’Brien’s first onscreen appearance (Odenkirk was an extra in last season’s BushWhacked! cold open).
Funny ending with Hanks returning to home base to thank individual audience members after Dennis Miller tells him that he forgot to thank the audience.
At the beginning of the monologue, a tube that will be used during the debate sketch can be seen above the stage; as well, the stage is being set up for the sketch when Hanks returns to it.
Rerun alterations: Small cut after G.E. Smith signals to the band to hold off. Dress rehearsal used for Keith Richards’ response to Tom and the conversation with Dennis Miller; Miller is wearing more formal clothes in the dress rehearsal version.
****
COMMERCIAL: FIRST CITIWIDE CHANGE BANK I
Spokesman Paul McElroy (Jim Downey) explains the change-only bank’s mission as customers give testimonials.
One of the most well-remembered commercial parodies from this era; it works so well because its played completely straight.
Written by Jim Downey.
Rerun alterations: None.
*****
SHOW: ABC CAMPAIGN 88
Diane Sawyer (Jan Hooks) moderates the debate between presidential candidates George Bush (Dana Carvey) and Michael Dukakis (Jon Lovitz).
A long sketch (14 minutes), but worth every second, with solid performances from pretty much everyone involved and no shortage of great jokes.
Good use of Tom Hanks as Peter Jennings, and Jan Hooks’ sultry take on Diane Sawyer is pretty funny. Always nice to see Kevin Nealon’s Sam Donaldson again too, who is especially hilarious as he interrupts the other panelists and asks questions to the wrong candidate.
Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz have had time to work on their impressions; Carvey’s Bush isn’t quite in its final exaggerated form yet, but has finally found the cadence which would be used from now on. Lovitz’s Dukakis also has his share of good moments, particularly his “enraged” response to Donaldson’s question and the classic line “I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy”.
I’ve also always enjoyed Bush demonstrating that he will be “the President in the bullet-proof bubble” by having Carl Rowan (Grafton Trew) fire a gun at him. This appears to be a reference to a real-life incident involving Rowan that happened earlier that year. Trew’s deadpan facial expression makes it even funnier.
The closing remarks were good, particularly Dukakis’ line about being able to “think and talk in complete sentences”.
Phil Hartman’s David Brinkley also has a strong moment here, with his particularly cynical outlook on both the debate and life itself, followed by one of the best gags in the whole sketch, child actor Jeff Renaudo playing Dan Quayle; his entrance alone gets a huge laugh. While the show would have revolving Quayles, Renaudo would return a number of times to play opposite Carvey’s Bush.
Written by Al Franken and Tom Davis, with assistance from Jim Downey, Robert Smigel, and Conan O’Brien, possibly others.
Rerun alterations: Small edit before Carvey and Lovitz’s entrance. Small edit to remove Jan Hooks’ flub during introduction of panelists. Applause added after Bush’s “hammer and sickle” line; Hooks scolding the audience about applauding and getting popcorn thrown at her is replaced with dress (her “That was uncalled for” reaction is more upset than in live). Small cut when Nealon interrupts Carl Rowan.
*****
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “TAKE IT SO HARD”
Keith Richards, who last appeared on SNL 10 years earlier with The Rolling Stones, promotes his first solo album Talk Is Cheap with his own band, the X-Pensive Winos, featuring Waddy Wachtel (guitar), Ivan Neville (keyboards), Charley Drayton (bass, drums) and former SNL band member Steve Jordan (bass, drums); all of whom have appeared on the show at least one other time. Drayton is on drums and Jordan is on bass for this number.
This is a a big improvement over the Stones’ lackluster appearance the decade before where Mick Jagger had blown out his voice; Richards and band are relaxed but rocking here. I like the little flourish of the splash when Drayton hits the cymbal.
New musical guest stage design for this season! This has always been one of my favourites.
Rerun alterations: Audio remixed; Keith Richards’ vocals are clearer in rerun.
SKETCH: MR. SHORT-TERM MEMORY - THE BLIND DATE
Jeff’s (Tom Hanks) lapses complicate the experience of dining out with Caroline (Victoria Jackson).
The debut of a new recurring character, complete with his own catchy theme song. The performances from Hanks, a perfect fit for the character, and especially Hartman, who walks away with the sketch as the increasingly frustrated waiter, are the main things that put this over, but there’s also good escalation here, particularly the climax where Hanks forgets that he put the poached salmon in his mouth, then proceeds to eat it again.
Written by Conan O’Brien, Robert Smigel, Greg Daniels and Bob Odenkirk.
Rerun alterations: Small edit transitioning from intro to sketch. Scenes where Jeff notices his watch and the food in his mouth replaced with dress rehearsal. Hartman says “smoked salmon” instead of “poached salmon” in live show; line is relooped for rerun. On-screen title during closing not in rerun.
*** 1/2
COMMERCIAL: FIRST CITIWIDE CHANGE BANK II
More satisfied customers tell about their positive experiences with the all-change bank.
The line about the wrinkled bills being replaced by new crisp ones being a “special request” that they can process “usually the same day” was a nice subtle joke.
Phil Hartman’s testimonial about the bank not being able to convert a 20 pound note but providing change in UK currency was also very funny.
Written by Jim Downey.
Rerun alterations: None.
*****
WEEKEND UPDATE
Music: “Simply Irresistible” by Robert Palmer.
Best jokes: Quayle/Bentsen conversation, Pinochet, Ben Johnson.
Dennis Miller comes out of the gate strong this season, thanks to Bush’s choice of running mate; he gets several good jokes out of that subject alone this week.
Boosting an already strong outing is the memorable All-Drug Olympics segment, written by Jack Handey, featuring Kevin Nealon reporting on a Soviet weightlifter (Phil Hartman) who ends up pulling his arms off in an attempt to break a world record. Very quick, very funny.
Rerun alterations: Pro-life demonstration joke removed. Florence Griffith-Joyner and Ben Johnson jokes replaced with dress rehearsal because of a delay in switching to the Jimmie Walker photo in the live show, which results in Dennis Miller adlibbing and abandoning the punchline.
****
SKETCH: GIRL WATCHERS
At their 10-year high school reunion, the losers (Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz) have even less luck with the ladies than before.
A bit of a step up from the previous Girl Watchers sketch, partially because it puts the characters into a more specific context, with more opportunity to flesh out how pathetic they are. I also like that they gave Kevin Nealon more to do here; his lines about his date are funny, as well as the losers just responding with admiration.
Written by Conan O’Brien and Robert Smigel.
Rerun alterations: Dialogue after Hanks and Lovitz making the sizzle sound removed up to Jessica Chase’s appearance; a different camera shot is used to disguise the cut. Dialogue including high five removed from between “It’ll be a while” and “Our bodies are starting to deteriorate”. SNL logo in band shot white in original airing, yellow in rerun.
****
SHOW: JEW, NOT A JEW
Contestants guess whether celebrities and public figures have Jewish lineage.
This works very well. Particularly impressive is Tom Hanks masterfully tackling the run of the explanation of the game’s rules, but the premise is strong, and the Ed Koch question was hilarious.
Another amusing “You Make The Call” segment, with a funny sponsor plug.
This was originally written for season 11 but only finally made it to air after NBC dissolved its Standards and Practices division; I’m curious how well that season’s cast would have been able to pull off this sketch.
Jan Hooks is wearing the Bobbi Mohan-Culp dress here.
Written by Al Franken and Tom Davis.
Rerun alterations: Entire sketch replaced with dress rehearsal; Hartman is wearing glasses and Hooks’ hair is down in original airing. Buzzer sound effects play before the buttons are pushed in original airing. “You Make The Call” background music has been changed.
****
MISCELLANEOUS: BIG
Outtakes from the summer blockbuster show Josh (Tom Hanks) using his size to push around the other kids.
A fun little interlude; I enjoyed the sequence with Hanks running into the catcher, dragging him around, then running back to the base and calling out “safe!”
Written by Al Franken and Tom Hanks.
Rerun alterations: Audience mixed quieter in rerun.
*** 1/2
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “STRUGGLE”
Steve Jordan and Charley Drayton switch instruments for this riff-driven rocker.
Rerun alterations: None
SHOW: THE PAT STEVENS SHOW
Barbara Bush (Phil Hartman) and Kitty Dukakis (Jan Hooks) get catty with one another.
This installment is actually quite underrated; while it doesn’t have the moment where Pat refers to George Bush as Barbara’s son, it has a little more meat than the average Pat Stevens sketch, thanks to the whole “pageant” aspect and the two guests’ interactions with each other, as well as Pat’s general cluelessness.
Many strong lines here, particularly Pat’s “At least she was concerned about her weight!” when Barbara makes a passive-aggressive remark about Kitty’s amphetamine addiction.
Written by Nora Dunn and Christine Zander.
Rerun alterations: None.
****
GOODNIGHTS
Tom Hanks says “That’s it for season #14 premiere, thanks for coming!” before the credits roll. No Don Pardo voiceover tonight.
George Meyer is credited with additional sketches.
Final thoughts: A very strong start to the season with two all-time classics in the first half hour alone, solid installments of Weekend Update and other recurring sketches, and Hanks officially cementing himself as one of the show’s best hosts. Keith Richards was also a solid choice for musical guest, a well-known and familiar face (and sound) that still manages to bring tonight’s show some energy.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:
ABC Campaign 88
First Citiwide Change Bank (I & II)
Jew, Not A Jew
Monologue
Weekend Update
The Pat Stevens Show
Mr. Short Term Memory
Big
Pumping Up With Hans & Franz
SHOW LOWLIGHTS:
(none)
MVP:
Tom Hanks
CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN
Dana Carvey: 2 appearances [Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, ABC Campaign 88], 1 still [Mr. Short-Term Memory]
Nora Dunn: 4 appearances [Monologue, ABC Campaign 88, First Citiwide Change Bank II, The Pat Stevens Show]; 1 still [Mr. Short-Term Memory]
Phil Hartman: 6 appearances [Monologue, ABC Campaign 88, First Citiwide Change Bank II, Weekend Update, Jew Not A Jew, The Pat Stevens Show]; 1 voiceover [Pumping Up With Hans & Franz], 1 still [Mr. Short-Term Memory]
Jan Hooks: 4 appearances [First Citiwide Change Bank I, ABC Campaign 88, Jew Not A Jew, The Pat Stevens Show]; 1 still [Mr. Short-Term Memory]
Victoria Jackson: 2 appearances [Mr. Short-Term Memory, Jew Not A Jew]
Jon Lovitz: 2 appearances [ABC Campaign 88, Girl Watchers]; 1 still [Mr. Short-Term Memory]
Dennis Miller: 2 appearances [Monologue, Weekend Update]
Kevin Nealon: 6 appearances [Pumping Up With Hans & Franz, First Citiwide Change Bank I, ABC Campaign 88, Weekend Update, Girl Watchers, Jew Not A Jew]; 1 still [Mr. Short-Term Memory].
featured players
A. Whitney Brown (uncredited): 1 appearance [Weekend Update]
Al Franken (uncredited): 1 voiceover [Jew Not A Jew]
unbilled crew, extras, and bit players
Robert Caminiti: 1 appearance [Monologue]
Tracy Cooper: 1 appearance [Monologue]
Audrey Peart Dickman: 1 appearance [Monologue]
Jim Downey: 2 appearances [First Citiwide Change Bank I, First Citiwide Change Bank II]
Kiki Kazanas: 1 appearance [Monologue]
Mark McKinney (archived): 1 voiceover [The Pat Stevens Show]
Paul Miller: 1 appearance [Monologue]
Conan O’Brien: 1 appearance [Monologue]
Bob Odenkirk: 1 appearances [Monologue]
Don Pardo: 2 voiceovers [Mr. Short-Term Memory, Weekend Update]
Jeff Renaudo: 1 appearance [ABC Campaign 88]
Sandra Restrepo: 1 appearance [Monologue]
Grafton Trew: 1 appearance [ABC Campaign 88]
G.E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band
Lenny Pickett: 1 appearance [Monologue]
G.E. Smith: 1 appearance [Monologue]
guests
Tom Hanks: 6 appearances [Monologue, ABC Campaign 88, Mr. Short-Term Memory, Girl Watchers, Jew Not A Jew, Big]
Keith Richards: 3 appearances [Monologue, “Take It So Hard”, “Struggle”]
The X-Pensive Winos: 2 appearances [“Take It So Hard”, “Struggle”]
REBROADCAST HISTORY:
February 4, 1989
August 19, 1989
Known alterations:
Edits: Monologue, ABC Campaign 88, Mr. Short-Term Memory, Weekend Update, Girl Watchers.
Dress substitutions: Pumping Up With Hans & Franz (full), Monologue (part), ABC Campaign 88 (part), Mr. Short-Term Memory (part), Weekend Update (part), Jew Not A Jew (full).
Audio remixing: “Take It So Hard”, Mr. Short-Term Memory, Big.
Additional screen captures from this episode are available here.