Segments are rated on a scale of 1-5 stars
COLD OPENING
A Trump Christmas- Magi-like gifts cheer up Donald (PHH) & Ivana (JAH)
— This is the very first time Donald Trump has ever been impersonated on the show.
— Hmm, Phil’s Trump impression doesn’t sound as good as it later would.
— Donald’s gold door gift is pretty funny.
— Good line with Ivana confessing she had to sell the mansion just to buy the gold anchor.
STARS: ***
MONOLOGUE
host is honored to be with the great Shakespearean actor Master Thespian
— Very fun beginning with Kline eagerly joining the SNL Band in the theme music by playing the piano. I always love when hosts in this era do something like this.
— Interesting use of Master Thespian outside of his own sketches.
— Master Thespian once again randomly slips into a Tommy Flanagan voice (a character that we’ve been getting a much-needed long break from). Funny bit with his lie about “fading” over to London.
STARS: ***½
GAME BREAKERS
(host) is genuinely concerned about game show contestants
— They would later re-use the “Game Breakers” title in a soap opera-themed gameshow sketch from the Susan Lucci episode in season 16.
— I like the camera actually following Nealon as the losing contestant as he makes his way to the exit door.
— Ha, a pre-taped sequence with Kline’s gameshow host actually walking Nealon outdoors. I love it.
— Funny brief cutaway to an impatient Nora back at the studio just looking around while Kline’s still outside with Nealon.
— Liked Bob Odenkirk’s brief walk-on.
— The tear rolling down Kline’s face when Nealon leaves is an excellent touch.
— Hilarious how as soon as Victoria enters as a new contestant, Kline immediately goes “Let’s get to know you a little bit better” and leaves the studio with her and takes her to a restaurant. I absolutely love how extensive this sketch is.
— Nora as the neglected contestant eventually interrupting the reunion at the restaurant is very good.
— Overall, probably one of my favorite gameshow sketches of all-time.
STARS: *****
PLUG AWAY
Harvey Fierstein (JOL) helps Jimmy Stewart (DAC) self-promote
— Jon’s Harvey Fierstein voice is freakin’ hilarious.
— Jon as Fierstein: “I just wanna be loved; is that so wroooong?!?”
— Good use of Dana’s Jimmy Stewart and Phil’s Jack Nicholson.
— Very funny facial reaction from Phil’s Nicholson to being asked by Fierstein “If you were gay, would you find me attractive?”
— Funny visual of Kline with his leg up on the piano while happily playing away on the keys.
— Nice part with Jon’s Fierstein suddenly losing his raspy voice while singing in a great voice.
STARS: ***½
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest performs “Drive”
WEEKEND UPDATE
translation of Gorbachev speech explains why it is “Kennedy-esque”
Death Watch- George Burns (DAC) reports from outside Hirohito’s room
AWB dissects Gorbachev’s speech to the United Nations
— Loved the joke about Donald Trump (pictured in the first screencap above) being a “Bolshevik artist”.
— Dana’s George Burns impression is priceless (I especially love his way of saying “coma”), and this is a funny use of him, reporting from outside of a dying Hirohito’s hospital room.
— A. Whitney: “I saw [Gorbachev’s] speech at the United Nations, and I have to say, it was more entertaining than the presidential debates. But, I guess it helps to have a translator.”
— I liked A. Whitney’s “ich bin ein mongold” bit.
— Dennis’ Jim/Tammy Faye Bakker bit was fantastic.
— Love how it’s been a running joke this season regarding a news story of two Alaskan gray whales popping up in random places.
STARS: ****
THE BIG CHILL
Harold (host) & Meg (VIJ) have marathon sex in alternate Big Chill ending
— Jan’s performance is hilarious.
— Priceless sudden turn with Kline wildly throwing Victoria onto the bed and them immediately going at it with each other.
— Very funny exaggerated bed-creaking sounds being heard from upstairs while Jan is in the kitchen doing a slowburn.
— Love how parts of the ceiling have suddenly come crashing down.
— Fantastic part with a sweaty Kline briefly coming downstairs to the kitchen just to gulp a whole bunch of Gatorade before going back upstairs.
— Strong twist ending with this suddenly turning into Fatal Attraction.
STARS: *****
EXECUTIVE ISLAND
despite being marooned, ad execs manage to continue business as usual
— I liked Nora’s line asking her co-workers to “refer to the graph on leaf number 3”.
— The whole idea of this sketch is quite clever and enjoyable.
— Pretty funny anger from Kline over the execs being more concerned over their company than about getting off the island.
STARS: ***½
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest performs “The Star-Spangled Banner”
RASPBERRY RESPONSE
all of (host)’s questions to wife (VIJ) are answered with a raspberry
— Uh……
— Yeah, not too sure about this.
— WTF at the random “have an affair” non-sequitur?
— Well, the sketch’s ending was somewhat charming, at least.
STARS: *½
ROY ORBISON TRIBUTE
Roy Orbison’s death is marked with rerun of “Crying” performance
GOODNIGHTS
IMMEDIATE POST-SHOW THOUGHTS
— Very enjoyable episode. Aside from the Raspberry Response sketch, I felt pretty highly about everything, and there were two sketches in particular (The Big Chill and Game Breakers) that stood out as masterpieces. This season continues to be amazing.
HOW THIS EPISODE STACKS UP AGAINST THE PRECEDING ONE (Danny DeVito)
a slight step up
My full set of screencaps for this episode is here
TOMORROW
Melanie Griffith hosts the Christmas episode