Final thoughts: An underwhelming first impression to the season, though I wouldn’t call it a complete disaster (despite what some writers in Live From New York recall). The silent audience in a few sketches understandably doesn’t help (something mitigated by the post-production in the repeat version), but the distance of time has helped somewhat. Madonna’s certainly not at fault; in fact, I would say she was better at sketch comedy than a few of the regulars. A few cast members made good impressions too, particularly Randy Quaid, Terry Sweeney, Dennis Miller and Damon Wayans. Still, aside from a commercial parody and a guest performance, nothing really stood out as great, and the weaknesses felt more apparent tonight: concepts that don’t deliver on their promise, no sense of the cast as a unit, and a little too much leaning on Anthony Michael Hall. I guess people anticipated Lorne Michaels’ return to the show would mean it would automatically be at 1975-79 quality, but this feels closer to an off night in 1979-80 or (more appropriately) The New Show, which had a similar overemphasis on big stars and big concepts.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

Penn & Teller

Where You’re Going

Weekend Update

El Spectaculare De Marika

SHOW LOWLIGHTS

The Limits Of The Imagination

National Inquirer Theatre

MVP:

Randy Quaid

CAST & GUEST BREAKDOWN:

cast

Joan Cusack : 4 appearances [Monologue, Where You’re Going, National Inquirer Theatre, Pinklisting]

Robert Downey Jr. : 7 appearances [Monologue, Where You’re Going, National Inquirer Theatre, Pinklisting, The Jones Brothers, El Spectaculare De Marika, Royal Visit]

Nora Dunn : 4 appearances [Where You’re Going, National Inquirer Theatre, Critic, Royal Visit]

Anthony Michael Hall : 6 appearances [Drug Testing, Where You’re Going, National Inquirer Theatre, Pinklisting, The Jones Brothers, El Spectaculare De Marika]

Jon Lovitz : 8 appearances [Where You’re Going, National Inquirer Theatre, Pinklisting, Critic, Weekend Update, El Spectaculare De Marika, Royal Visit, The Limits of the Imagination]

Dennis Miller : 2 appearances [Weekend Update, Royal Visit]

Randy Quaid : 7 appearances [Where You’re Going, National Inquirer Theatre, Pinklisting, Critic, El Spectaculare De Marika, Royal Visit, The Limits of the Imagination]

Terry Sweeney : 5 appearances [Where You’re Going, National Inquirer Theatre, Pinklisting, El Spectaculare De Marika, Royal Visit]

Danitra Vance: 3 appearance [Where You’re Going, National Inquirer Theatre, Coloring Book]

featured players

Damon Wayans: 4 appearances [Where You’re Going, Critic, The Jones Brothers, El Spectaculare De Marika]

unbilled crew, extras and bit players

Joe Dicso : 1 appearance [Pinklisting]

Al Franken : 1 voice-over [Pinklisting]

John Henry Kurtz : 2 voice-overs [Where You’re Going, The Limits of the Imagination]

Mark McKinney : 2 voice-overs [El Spectaculare De Marika (2 roles)]

Don Novello : 1 appearance [Monologue]

Don Pardo : 1 voice-over [The Jones Brothers]

Robert Smigel : 2 appearances [Pinklisting, El Spectaculare De Marika]

Dan Vitale: 1 appearance [Monologue]

guests

Madonna : 6 appearances [Monologue, National Inquirer Theatre, Pinklisting, El Spectaculare De Marika, Royal Visit, The Limits of the Imagination]

Simple Minds : 1 appearance [“Alive & Kicking”]

Penn & Teller : 1 appearance [Guest Performance]

John Simon : 1 appearance [Critic]

Brandon Tartikoff: 1 appearance [Drug Testing]

REBROADCAST HISTORY:

June 28, 1986

Known alterations:

Drug Testing and Critic removed

“Sanctify Yourself” added (dress rehearsal)

Audience sweetening: Minimal to mild: Where You’re Going, The Limits of the Imagination, Coloring Book Moderate: Monologue, Pinklisting, The Jones Brothers, El Spectaculare De Marika, Penn & Teller Heavy: National Inquirer Theatre, Weekend Update, Royal Visit

Edits: National Inquirer Theatre, Pinklisting, Jones Brothers

Dress substitutions: National Inquirer Theatre (one line)

Repeat-only content:

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: “SANCTIFY YOURSELF”