John Goodman / Ja Rule

By Nick Mayhew

After the, can I say, horrific show with Drew Barrymore, I was very disappointed. With all the confusion in the online community over who would host the next few shows, I was sure that this episode would be great, only because of the host. I have NEVER heard of JaRule before, but I know its rap…sigh…This is Goodman's 12th time hosting, so it'll be big. After 2 weeks off, I'm looking for more reoccurring sketches as well as some new, good comedy. So, to sum up, I'm expecting big things…

[COLD OPENING] John Ashcroft Addresses the Nation

Seth had a good impression of Brian Williams, and could replace Parnell's Tom Brokaw impression. This was extremely funny in its entirety, and Hammond had a great impression. Great how he said a 1% chance, then 2%, then 96.7%. That was great! And, Helen Thomas cracks me up every time, and this one was better than the Pamela Lee episode she did. This also shows my point Ana is VERY funny and not used a great deal. The gas mask joke was funny, too…

RATING: 9/10

[MONOLOGUE] John Goodman

Isn't this his 12th time hosting?? This monologue had few laughs, and Goodman has had many better ones. Kattan looked nothing like Kim, and that was actually stupid. For Goodman, far below expectations. Also, it is very true what he said about my Yankeeeeeeees!

RATING: 4.5/10

[COMMERCIAL] Herbal Essence for Men

This was a great parody idea, and it worked to the fullest extent! It started a bit slow, but when I saw Ferrell, it made the sketch better. Horatio was also very funny sniffing the shampoo, and this was an exact replica of the real commercial for women, only this was for men. Not a bad idea…

RATING: 7.5/10

[SKETCH] Hudson Valley Community Circuit

SWEET!!!! AYKROYD!! It always seems funny that he's never hosted. This was a great idea and put together well. All of the names were funny, Al Gezzera, Shelia and Al Kyda, and I can't believe it, Darrell is in another sketch. That's all it basically was, but a great sketch though.

RATING: 7.5/10

[SKETCH] Liberty Medical

Well, I remember this commercial from a ways back, and Goodman did a fine impression. This was extremely funny! Everyone knows that the real guys doesn't follow a diet, and might even get 12 boxes of pork ribs delivered to his house, and how he gets a food boner every time he sees the truck! "Hell, I'd never eat oatmeal if it was filling in a nut bar! Always looks like someone's ate it first." GREAT! And to top off the sketch, it was awesome when he said I'll get off this horse, and on to another one, then on to a large dog, and then roll off!

RATING: 8/10

[SKETCH] Gaydar

This was an unusual sketch I wouldn't think have happened. Again, this sketch shows Ana is underused. TRACY WAS HILARIOUS!! He always makes me laugh. She was totally oblivious to the fact that all those men were gay, and when she said then how come my Dad is here? That was funny as well, of course, mainly because it was Will. Not bad…

RATING: 6.5/10

[COMMERCIAL] ept Pregnancy Test

"I think I'm more nervous than Karen." "Kelly." DAMN that was funny! That basically made the sketch. The phone call about the fantasy football league fit tight in, and that was great too. Good writing all around, and it shows, because I shat my pants!

RATING: 8.5/10

[SKETCH] CBS Evening Anthrax Update

YES! A Hammond impression! This did tend to drag on, but still all-around funny. Funny for NBC to poke fun at CBS for all the projections from last year's election. I know NBC hates Blitzer, and it was great for them to say he had anthrax and rabies, and how Cronkite projections showed he had scurvy's. And to top the sketch off, CBS projected that Andy Rooney has gotten cholera because it is a theory that he drank stagnant water from an air conditioner thought to be scotch. VERY FUNNY!!

RATING: 9/10

[MUSIC] Ja Rule

May I slip into a Matt Foley mode for a minute and say, "Ja Rule, I wish you could just shut your big yapper!"

RATING: 1.5/10

[WEEKEND UPDATE] With Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey

I'll start off by saying ALL GREAT JOKES!! And, in my vague opinion, I think that for the first time, Jimmy had better jokes than Tina tonight. I especially liked the joke about Jesse Jackson and Jimmy wondering he would've liked to spend Halloween with, as well as the Al Sharpton suit joke. The Will Smith joke, well, that's true. Jacko jokes are always great, and what the hell was Madonna thinking?! I think Seth will fit in nicely on WU with editorials, as this was a great one! He does have a good point, and its true; if Boston voted for gravity, we'd all be floating 3 inches off the ground! I was hoping for a Blues Brothers during Update, and this was very well done again! Aykroyd and Goodman work well together. A great update!

RATING: 9.5/10

[SKETCH] HBO - America Undercover

Good sketch idea! I loathe Goodman after seeing him with Amy. Errrr. This was a great sketch mainly because of Kattan and these are the kinds of characters I like him as.

RATING: 8/10

[MUSIC] Ja Rule

Why do they have him on again so soon? I just got ice cream 25 minutes ago…

[SKETCH] Bad Conceptual Theater

This part fit Aykroyd well. He was great as the moderator, and he was right, this was really bad. Good idea.

RATING: 6.5/10

[SKETCH] Child Investigators

I can possibly see Seth taking this character into a reoccurring sketch. It was a good, stupid way to figure out who committed the murder. For filler, not bad…

RATING: 4/10

[GOODNIGHTS] Goodbyes

I saw a whole 7 seconds! Good job NBC, cut them off so we can start Zena: Warrior Princess sooner!


SKETCH OF THE NIGHT: CBS Evening Anthrax Update

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: A dialogue between a reporter and the justice department affiliate during the cold opening, referring to the current Anthrax situation:
Reporter: "What have you given the post offices?"
Affiliate: "We've given each post office some baby wipes and a dust buster." 


OVERALL EPISODE RATING: 77/100

Better than my over-rated Seann William Scott review; yes. When you have a classic guy like Goodman hosting, you know you'll get a great show. This is what kept me going up until the show, which rarely happens. Tonight was the night of the featured players; they all appeared in more sketches than some of the regulars. Ja Rule-riiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Anyway, GREAT SHOW, and next week hopefully another good show, with Gwenyth Paltrow/Ryan Adam (who is he??!!).

Guess what folks, that's the news and I am outta here…