The Wicker Breakdown:

1. This week's show started with a return to D.C for another sketch about the Iran-Contra Hearings making fun of one of the key-players testimony and his attempts to gain sympathy for how he's been treated since getting caught, ignoring the political crimes that got him in trouble in the first place. This technique works as the rest of Congress then tries to cheer him up leading to his announcement of, "Live from New York..."
2. Garry Shandling then officially opened the show with a monolog about always wanting to host the show as if the show was around since he was a little kid, he then admits to this show coming out when he was in his twenties and is actually just happy to be doing anything on a Saturday night, this late in his life before meandering through the rest of his routine in that way that only Gary Shandling can pull off while still being super funny. 
3. Gary Shandling then wandered from the main stage into a Department Store set to officially start off the first sketch before going to commercial. In the sketch, Gary tries a shirt but doesn't remember his receipt. He also seems to have forgotten that he was supposed to be acting in a sketch because he keeps breaking the scene to talk to the camera while also calling the characters by their real names and complimenting them on their performances. 
4. Dana Carvey then played a Bruce Wayne type by day who was a jewel thief by night who was known as The Puppy. During the sketch, we learn why he has earned this name because when a detective arrives to discuss the latest crime Dana can't hide his excitement to talk and shows many other characteristics that are very reminiscent of the actions that would be done by a young dog.  
5. This was followed by a Support Group Therapy sketch where Kevin Nealon played the counselor to a group who for the most part have common problems. That is until we got to Gary Shandling who plays a complete neurotic with a mother who is actively trying to warp his mind. In sharing his story we learn the group is completely on his side and after hearing two years of his stories the entire group decides to go on a field trip to confront this crazy lady. Once we get to the mother's house we learn that we've only been hearing half the story and all of the horrible things that were done are actually from Shandling's own doing and that he's just an attention whore that stems from an incestuous crush. After making out with his "mom," Gary breaks the scene to admit this is the most disturbing character he has ever played and Jan Hooks, as mom, also agrees as the two apologize for what has just been seen. 
6. Los Lobos then took to the stage to perform Is That All There Is? 
7. Once again, Dennis Miller gave us the news. This week, "Jimmy Stewart" dropped in for a segment to talk about the government's attempt to ban the colorization of classic movies with arguments as to why we should leave the black and white content alone.
8. The Teeny Cafe was a sketch that takes place in a tiny New York establishment where the hipsters from the time pay a crazy amount of money to eat tiny food is a space that so small you can't turn around in it, even though there is room for a grand piano for Nora Dunn to sing us a tune that was written in French and translated to English that turns out to be a parody of Send In The Clowns.
9. Apparently, this episode was shot around the time of the smoking ban on airplanes because Chewing Tobacco Airline was a sketch that made fun of the chewing/non-chewing sections of the plane as an outlet for these would be smokers. 
10. Hollywood Mom was a short film starring Tracey Ullman that shows her receiving the call informing her that she got The Tracy Ullman Show while delivering her first baby and seems more excited about the news from her agent than the child coming out of her womb. We then see her a couple years later as she continues to brag about her Hollywood life while neglecting her child only to get shot by him while he is playing with a handgun. This was done comedically without a political point making the joke actually funny allowing the viewer to translate the message rather than having it shoved down your throat the way a sketch like this would be performed today.
11. We then went to a nice restaurant for Dana Carvey and Jan Hooks' Anniversary Dinner with Gary Shandling as the waiter who just tries to do his job while witnessing the happy couple's relationship fall apart.    
12. Los Lobos then returned to the stage to perform One Time, One Night.
13. Finally, Garry Shandling closed the show by thanking the audience and saying his goodnights. 

The Wicker Breakdown:

1. This week's show started with an Easy Rider parody where it uses clips from the real movie before going on to show what happened the day after the final scene that is just as rambling and pointless as the original movie but at least this version of the burn out's world is pretty funny because of the special effects of Dennis Hopper doing motorcycle tricks before announcing, "Live from New York..."
2. Dennis Hopper then officially opened the show with a monolog about how he used to provide the cast drugs and now here he is as host then goes on to joke about fried food being a worse thing to put in your body than anything that will get you high. Right after this, he announced his new found sobriety before throwing to the first sketch of the show.
3. Church Chat then returned for another segment with the Church Lady cherry picking her guests answers to accuse them of aligning with... "SATAN." As always, when it comes to this sketch, I liked it when I was a kid but have seen it so many times and heard so many impersonations over the years that I find it more played out than the nostalgic joy that I know, deep down that this character actually deserves, especially when dealing with such a demented Dennis Hopper.
4. Roy Orbison then took to the stage to perform Crying and Pretty Woman back to back. 
5. Dennis Hopper then revived his Blue Velvet character for a game show of a sketch called Frank Booth's "What's That Smell?" In the sketch, Frank Booth is the host who asks celebrity contestants to huff fumes from a tank and guess what the source of the smell is.
6. Once again, Dennis Miller gave us the news. This week, The Pathological Liar returned to the news for a segment to defend Oliver North that of course is filled with nothing but lies.
7. Problem Drinkers From Outer Space was a parody of an old black and white low budget film with a War Of The Worlds feel only our invaders were alcoholics.
8. This Week with David Brinkley was a parody of what I assume was a real show from the time where talking head fixtures from the time talk about world events. The main joke to this sketch is that Sam Donaldson is constantly on the verge of falling out of his chair, but I couldn't find any evidence on the internet as to whether or not this was based on something that actually happened. A. Whitney Brown also sat in for a Big Picture segment with a message to the class of '87 who are entering the working world similar to today only this was before all of our problems were pumped up like they are on steroids.
9. We then went to a fancy executive meeting room where a bunch of executive type interview Dennis Hopper about his interest in cannibalism as if it were a requirement for the job that he's aiming for.
10. Roy Orbison then returned to the stage to perform In Dreams. 
11. Last Chance Gas Station was a sketch that took place in a gas station with the titular name where Phil Hartman plays a rich businessman who high-end car broke down in the middle of nowhere and the yolk mechanics are upset with him for abusing his car. At first, Hartman talks down to the two idiots only to find out that they not only know about cars but they also know plenty of details about his career as an investment banker to the point where they can also point out his work related errors as well.
12. Sweeney Sisters then returned to the show, only this time they had no additional pretext as to why. It was just the two girls on the Saturday Night Live stage singing a medley of their lounge style songs to the audience.
13. Finally, Dennis Hopper closed the show by thanking the audience and saying his goodnights.

SNL: SEASON TWELVE SUMMARY