Review of 11-7-1998 episode (MD-407; some spoilers) More good news on the Nicole Sullivan front: Nicole Sullivan's father easily won re-election to the New York State Assembly's 69th District (somewhere in uptown Manhattan; I think it's near the GWB), defeating the challenger Evan Edwards with 91 percent of the vote. Erratum: MAXMOUSE was right! At some point between the season opener and the Halloween episode, Michael McDonald was added to the cast. So now, departed from the show are: Mary Scheer, Chris Hogan and Lisa Kushell. Returning from last season are: Alex Borstein, Pat Kilbane, Phil LaMarr, Will Sasso, Aries Spears and Debra Wilson. New cast added in season four are: Andrew Bowen, Mo Collins, and Michael McDonald. Returning as of MD-406 is veteran cast member Nicole Sullivan, who appeared on the show from October 1995 to May 1998. So that's the cast of Mad TV. =========================================================================== =============== Opening Segment: Stan the Java Man (Pat Kilbane) makes his first appearance this season. He's using caffeine patches to battle his addiction. Hmmm, maybe the FDA should regulate caffeine as a drug... Nothing special here, but an OK opening. Little Hassan Taylor: Little Hassan Taylor (Phil Lamarr) delighted music-lovers with such songs as "What the World Needs Now (Is More Dead White Folks)." Now, the definitive Taylor compilation is available, according to this parody of cheesy music commercials. It was a good concept. But I didn't laugh out loud - until they got to the part about how Taylor died mysteriously after his show-stopping performance at the 1972 Republican National Convention. Saving Ryan's Privates: "Saving Private Ryan" is turned into a porn movie. Two nymphos (Debra Wilson, Mo Collins) are assigned the task of saving the privates of the best-endowed American soldier (Andrew Bowen). We also get that porn producer that Aries Spears sometimes does. This character is pretty good, although I thought that Bryan Callen's porn producer (from the XXX Files) was probably a closer parody of an actual porn guy (although I could be wrong). Adolf Hitler (Pat Kilbane) also appears. Not the best movie parody I've seen, but up to the usual Mad TV standard established by "Gump Fiction" and its progeny. Johnson Jeoparty: Magic Johnson hosts "Jeopardy," and Shelia E. (Debra Wilson) is the music director. She is such a good drummer that her drumsticks don't even make contact with the surface of the drum. He doesn't ask many questions, even though he's the quizmaster, but he replaces one of the contestants with Tommy Davison (Phil LaMarr). He can't read too well, either (funny!). Then he's cancelled (again!). This segment was better than I expected, especially when Johnson tries to read a question. Lowered Expectations: We get to see the Lowered Expectations spokeslady (Debra Wilson) for the first time this year; also we see Marylin Manson; this androgynous, rather wierd pop star is looking for a soul mate. Pretty good stuff. Intensity: College girl (Nicole Sullivan) is obsessed with someone named Ben (Pat Kilbane); she even transfers to his college so that she can pursue him. The part where she sticks the tissue with Ben's boogers in her face was disgusting but funny, as was the part where she throws her roommate (Alex Borstein) out the window. What makes this segment resonate is the fact that it is not very far from the type of shows that the WB is currently airing. An excellent segment. Melina and Lida's Beauty Parlor and Stuff: The two Hispanic girls (Nicole Sullivan, Debra Wilson) have opened up a beauty salon in this parody of home-brewed cable commercials. Their hatred for that slut Rosa is touched upon in this segment, as is their talent for making conventional-looking people look rather trashy (Alex Borstein and Will Sasso stop by for makeovers). Pretty good, about as good as the last segment (from last season) with these characters. Lowered Expectations: Stuart (Michael McDonald) and his mother (Mo Collins) are on. Even though the first segment aired over a month ago, she still sticks to the explanation that Stewart's father left last Tuesday. This character is starting to get a little annoying; still, this segment was OK. HMO: Like "ER," only slightly different. Good parody of those reality-based dramas, in the vein of "L.A. Valet" from season two. It's pretty funny when a doctor (Alex Borstein) gets into her BMW and backs over a patient. Again, somewhat low-brow humor so it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I liked it. Story Time With Mr. Sasso: Drunken slob (Will Sasso) who has had a show on PBS for 30 years tells kids stories rather incoherently. Not that funny. When Babies Attack: I remember this one! A parody of those cheesy Fox specials (e.g. When Animals Attack), only with babies. I have to admit I laughed a lot. Mary Scheer does not really resemble Fran Drescher that much, even with makeup, but it's a good impression. The denouement, with Fran Drescher's arm being bitten off by a baby, was admittedly low-brow, gross humor, but it achieved the desired effect: I laughed. Orlando Jones also appears as man who videotaped a baby attack. "I guess she was trying to make it to the hose to try to hose them off - but she never made it." This I found to be uproariously funny. Lowered Expectations: With the Icelandic chanteuse Bjork (Alex Borstein). One of the best Lowered Expectations segments this season, if for no other reason because of the rather amusing video editing. The Clintons and Jesse Jackson: Hillary (Hill-ar-ee) Clinton (Mo Collins) and Bill Clinton (Will Sasso) meet with Jesse Jackson (Aries Spears); Mrs. Clinton then announces that she plans to cheat on the President with Mr. Jackson. Probably the best moment here is when Jackson insists that the Clintons cease their bickering "for the good of the country" - and then mugs for the camera. Also Alex Borstein appears briefly as - who else - Chelsea Clinton. It was OK; not much to talk about here - although invevitably there will be the comparisons between Mo Collins's Hillary Clinton and Nicole Sullivan's Hillary Clinton, and which is better. I haven't decided yet, although at first glance Collins seems to bear more of a physical resemblance to the First Lady. ======================== ===================================================================== After last week's extravaganza, I expected this week to be a let-down; however, the writers have managed to pull together and put out another solid show. There were a few weak segments but nothing really bombed, and the good stuff far outweighed the mediocre stuff. Nicole Sullivan returns for the second straight week and her contribution is limited to two segments (not counting the "Mad TV Classic"), but both segments are good - and so are most of the segments featuring the new cast. ===================================================================== Number Six | http://www.nic.com/~dzien/nicolesullivan/ dzien@nic.com | (The Unofficial Nicole Sullivan Tribute Page) ======================================= ==============================ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ