SNL's Continued Downward Spiral Thread

Also the debut of Jan Hooks and Victoria Jackson.

So that means that Nora Dunn, Dennis Miller and Jon Lovitz were the only ones brought back from the previous season. The cold open with Madonna certainly indicated they knew the previous season was not good at all. But they did well keeping Dunn, Miller and Lovitz.

 

I've always thought that cast, basically when they added Mike Myers was the best ever.

 

Season 16 had that crew, plus the first years of Sandler, Schneider, Spade, and also had Julia Sweeney, Rock and Farley. About the only weak links were Victoria Jackson and Tim Meadows.

The repeat at 10 p.m. Saturday has Johnny Cash and Elton John. It's from 1982 with Murphy so it might be decent.

 

I loved that cast too, but really only the Farley stuff and Sandler's update songs hold up. I think Spade had two full seasons where he was barely used. I think Rock is remembered as being better on SNL than he actually was since he's such a brilliant comic.

 

Rock was actually very good on SNL, just badly under-used.

 

Agreed. They didn't know what to do with him. Nat X was probably his best character.

 

This. I laughed my ass off. But I had a friend watch it the next day and he didn't even smile. Guess it depends on how much you have followed wrestling ... if you don't care for WWE, then I guess you wouldn't like it. But I thought the Rock was outstanding throughout.

 

I'd agree with the caveat that it was his best recurring character. Love Nat X. "SIT YOUR WHITE ASS DOWN!!"

Maybe even better was his turn as Luther Campbell in The Sinatra Group.

 

"No man, I don't haveeee any talent!"

Agree with the others that The Rock was good stuff in his hosting turn. He should be part of the five-timers club soon.

 

Yeah, The Rock is very solid as a host. He's not in the Baldwin, Timberlake, maybe even Melissa McCarthy tier, but he's right below them.

 

I have seen the "Chopin Broccoli" bit mentioned numerous times. Why is that considered funny? I must miss something as I didn't laugh when I first saw it and I didn't laugh when I last saw it.

 

If your musical reference point is the last 15 years or so, you probably wouldn't get it. But the soulful singer-songwriters who would pour their hearts out over the most inane lyrics used to be a cottage industry. "Feelings" "Shannon" and pretty much any REO Speedwagon song.