moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) (01/14/85)
Saw the latest episode w/Kathleen Turner, and wanted to make a list of
good points/weaknesses of the new show.
STRENGTHS:
1) Some truly good performers, good enough to stand on their own. Billy
Crystal, Martin Small & Christopher Guest are all excellent, and can
turn even mediocre material into something worth watching. Others
are competent, and one or two (Kroeger, Mary Louise Dreyfuss) are there
for window dressing.
2) Some funny stuff coming out... the Fernando & Bernhard Goetz thing at
the beginning was excellent, as was Joan Collins test Safco safety glass
("You'll roast in Hell for this!") and the Greg Henning impression on
the talk show sketch. Even the mediocre stuff was interesting enough to
pay attention to (M. Blackwell, etc.).
3) Willingness to try to the weird sketches, or the not-straight-comedy
routines. Billy Crystal's boxer sketch, was, well, mahveluus, and left
you with a pleasant taste in your mouth. The sketch with the
hypnotizing salesman was so original, and so incredibly rich with
unexplained, weird details, I could have watched it twice.
4) Good choice of good hosts. Who'd think Bob Eucker would be that funny?
WEAKNESSES:
1) Is the makeup union out on strike? There were at least *three*
incidents on the show where the audience unintentionally broke up due to
teeth/wigs/makeup coming off prematurely. The actors carried it off
well, though.
2) Still too much bathroom humor, and not enough political. The nosehair
clipper was well-done, but when you've seen its like several times
before, it becomes tedious. Besides the Goetz sketch, the mail-order
Defense Dept. ad, and the talk about the White House cabinet being
shuffled around, there wasn't any fast-hitting satire. And with this
administration, you'd think there'd be plenty... :-)
Check it out...
"...Who'z dat guy?"
"That's Bernhard Goetz."
"Bern-hard Getzz? De jazz musician?"
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
UUCP:
{cornell,decvax,ihnp4,sdcsvax,tektronix,utcsrgv}!uw-beaver \
{allegra,gatech!sb1,hplabs!lbl-csam,decwrl!sun,ssc-vax} -- !fluke!moriarty
ARPA:
fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPAmarno@ihuxm.UUCP (Marilyn Ashley) (01/15/85)
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss has done some good characters, including her playing Linda Ronstadt with the Nelson Riddle orchestra. One of the best routines I've seen, however, is the Julio Iglesius skit on January 5th (I think). This routine had Julio singing with every conceivable artist in the world, including a duet with Cyndi Lauper singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Does anyone know who did the impersonation? ****************************************** You May Have the World at Your Feet, But that Don't Stop the Corns from Hurtin' ******************************************