'Wasn't That Special' Season Nine Bonus Material
As the Wasn’t That Special co-hosts watch each season of Saturday Night Live, they compare notes on each episode, chatting back and forth about both popular and long-forgotten sketches. Some of the topics they discuss make it to the final podcast; others are left on the cutting-room floor.
But for those of you who join at the Executive Producer level, you will have access to Christian and Scot’s behind-the-scenes notes, as well as bonus materials the co-hosts used to prepare for the episode.
Below is the Season Nine bonus notes section, with the clips coming next week.
So please help keep the podcast advertisement-free and upgrade to the Executive Producer level, which will keep these emails coming in the future.
Episode One: Brandon Tartikoff
Christian: Not off to a good start. Light on Eddie, and even when he's there, it's middling.
Scot: Some crazy host/artist combos this year. Andrew Smith new head writer - much thinner band - I don't like the new closing song.
James Watt (Piscopo) is depressed, everybody hates him. Staff tries to cheer him up.
Christian: This would be like SNL going after Gina Raimondo week after week. Would anyone care?
Scot: Watt just died in May.
Gumby & Pokey rehearse a scene for reunion show, Pokey in bad shape - Brad plays gay choreographer.
Christian: The worst Gumby is still pretty good.
Scot: Some shows you can just feel the mediocrity oozing out of these sketches.
Rent-A-Gun - Kaz wants to rent a gun to rob a bank.
Scot: Told ya, Tim can play just about anything - Joe's very obviously reading cue cards here - It's a good little sketch.
Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert review the night’s sketches.
Scot: Hey, hey. Don't steal our bit here, Siskel and Ebert.
Episode Two: Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman
Christian: Beginning the seasons with two clunkers.
Scot: We are not off to a real great start here - Eddie announces engagement, Danny tells us Jim Belushi is joining the cast.
Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood - kid dropped off, bastard is word of the day, Robinson tries to sell it.
Christian: Wow, Mr. Robinson is getting dark - Fred Rogers was probably right to object.
Scot: They weren’t allowed to say the word “bastard” on air, so they had Eddie just point to the word on the board.
Discount psychiatrist Crazy Edelman (Piscopo) - his prices are insane and he would know
Christian: Some clever lines in here.
Scot: Joe's usual commercial personality.
It’s A Small World riders panic when their boat breaks down in the tunnel
Scot: How dare you waste Eddie Murphy's time appearing in a sketch like this.
Spanish Class - teacher (Rhea) insists class conversation be in Spanish.
Scot: This is the original, Spanish version of this later sketch.
Book Beat -Danny writes multiple books about a woman he is stalking
Scot: I kinda liked this one - Mary's picture on the book is a nice touch.
Episode Three: John Candy
Christian: Candy graduates to host just two seasons after turning down an offer to be a cast member. He hadn't been in much, just Stripes and SCTV. (And a bit role in Vacation.) But what a wretched effort. There is too much talent on this show for this to happen three shows in a row.
Scot: How do you blow a John Candy episode this badly?
Village of the Damned Little Rascals - in classroom, controlling adults - Tim as cop gives kids bad advice
Christian: They exhumed Buckwheat for this? Has the stench of the latter Matt Foley sketches.
Scot: Can Belushi stop touching the bottom of the plunger with his hands? It is grossing me out.
Backstage with Ronald McDonald (Piscopo) - turns out he's a jerk, likes to drink, likes young girls.
Christian: Presumably Piscopo thought this would be his Gumby?
Candace's Fantasy Shack - Tim and Belushi go to strip club (brothel?), JLD as Princess Leia character Tim tries to get Belushi to use services, Belushi end up as the 1,000,000th customer.
Christian: :(
Scot: Belushi is in everything tonight - AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON would have a very similar scene a few years later.
Candy and Belushi are happy to be back in prison, wish they had their old cell.
Scot: There was a way to do this sketch, but this was not it.