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Another Failed Couple Episode

Now when I say failed couple episode I wasn’t trying to point out that I wasn’t thinking that it was in reference to another failed relationship but more the fact that I have yet to enjoy an episode hosted by a couple. Now that I think about it, I think that the failed relationship aspect is part of the problem that causes these shows not to work with the passing of time.

I remember back when this episode originally aired how there was an added layer of excitement that came with the latest Hollywood connection making a joint appearance for the Valentine’s SNL episode. Now, there are more laughs that stem from Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger’s proclamations of love than any jokes that have been written into any scene.

Another aspect that made this episode a failure is, looking back, I have no idea how Alec Baldwin’s molestation of Canteen boy was ever seen as a funny joke. In fact, I was actually looking forward to seeing it again because I remember how controversial it was at the time and felt like people were just being too sensitive. I don’t even think this one is a case where “it was a different time” since minus the laugh track and the fact that these were two adults portraying the scene the reality of what is actually happening in the sketch is too realistic to find funny.

Keep in mind that I’m aware that I’m a bit of a hypocrite since I still find the Ike Turner/Kevin Nealon abusive relationship that makes light of domestic violence to be pretty funny since it’s two men and it takes place in the newsroom environment which, to me, takes it out of the realm of reality but I could see how others could disagree.

I guess the fact that I was only mentally abused made it so that I didn’t relate to these other forms of abuse and felt it was okay to joke about since I was fine joking about my own experiences that may not have been as physically harmful but left me with a mess of a head that I’m still working through to this day.

Other than that the show was okay but I wouldn’t put it up there amongst my favorite visits from Alec and I would rather see Kim get more screen time on her own. With that, it’s now time to move on and share what I saw as I give you…

The Wicker Breakdown:

This week's show started with a parody of Goodfellas where Alec reenacted the scene where Ray Liotta enters the bar sharing all of the mobster’s nicknames as he passes them, only in this version it’s all of the cast members of SNL playing the mobsters with nicknames that grow to be more and more random and bizarre as the scene led to the announcement of, “Live from New York…”
Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger the officially opened the show by talking about the fact that they are newlyweds and there hosting of this episode will be a special event as it marks their first Valentines as a married couple. Kim then decided that she felt so close to Alec that she felt comfortable admitting that she thinks he’s a terrible actor. He took it well as a sign of trust then went on to say that he made a mold of her naked body to sell to the porn industry. Just like Alec, she took this rather well then went on to share another dark secret. This went back and forth for a few rounds until they finally threw to the first sketch.
This was followed by the infamous Canteen Boy And The Scout Master sketch where Alec Baldwin tried to seduce and molests Canteen Boy while being a Scout Leader on a camping trip after the other scouts single him out to be the butt of all of their jokes which made him the perfect victim.
Phillip The Hyper-Hypo then returned only this time it was Kim Basinger playing the little girl role instead of Nicole Kidman but other than that, it was still pretty much the same scene as the last but that doesn’t mean that I don’t still find it funny when all is said and done.
UB40 then took to the stage to perform C'est La Vie.
Once again, Kevin Nealon gave us the news. This week, Ike Turner returned to talk about the Tonya Harding case while reassuring that he had nothing to do with it before he became abusive toward Kevin Nealon which led to their, “I’m sorry Kevin Nealon,” routine where Nealon sang Proud Marry while dressed like Tina Turner while also performing her dance.
This was followed by a parody of Family Feud where the Baldwin Family took on some regular rubes from Minnesota. In the sketch, the Baldwin’s ideas on what would be considered a common answer to make the board are so far off from the common man that they can’t get a single question correct.
We then went to a fancy restaurant with Chris Farley and Julia Sweeney out on a date as two live in lovers who are nowhere near the point of getting married since Farley is such a slob. We then met the Romantic Man and his crew who both worked for the establishment to provide romance for women with less attentive men as their mates.
The Adventures Of Tiny Elvis only this time it was Rob Schneider playing the tiny king who shrank down even more to become Microscopic Elvis but the jokes were still pretty much the same routine where Microscopic E liked to point out how gigantic everything is.
UB40 then returned to the stage to perform Can't Help Falling In Love.
Pyramid Of Pain was an infomercial for a new diet scheme where Alec Baldwin’s character promises that he will beat you up if you overeat since he absolutely hates fat people since his father beat him as a child for being a fatso himself.
Chris Farley then got a segment with Kim Basinger that was kind of like the Chris Farley show only he nervously expressed his interest in Kim while giving her flowers in her dressing room to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Finally, Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger closed the show by thanking the audience and saying their goodnights.

Though I don’t like the dual host episodes, this one was still pretty good thanks to these three of my favorite sketches from the night. First, I loved The Baldwins On Family Feud because I’ve always been a fan of the real game show and found it funny how they portrayed the Baldwin boys to be so out of touch with the common man. Next, I really liked the opening Goodfellas sketch because the escalating craziness of the nicknames was a pretty funny approach to the parody. Finally, I was a fan of seeing Kevin Nealon in the tiny Tina Turner dress because that’s always been a pretty funny image to me.