User Reviews

Since this episode aired on October 28, 2006, expect some jokes or sketches about both Halloween and the upcoming congressional elections. Lorne Michaels, the executive producer, appears in the cold opening mentioning the recent network cuts as he gives five minutes of his program to a foreign correspondent. It's Borat, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, a Kazakistan reporter. He basically speaks in broken English constantly repeating "Swing!" from Wayne's World while shaking himself. After a lot of tasteless, but funny, material Borat says, "Live from New York, home of the Jew (grimaces), it's Saturday Night!" After opening credits, Hugh Laurie comes on stage speaking in his natural British accent and talks about English humor ("which is spelled with a 'u' where I'm from"). He also points out England is "where my right nipple is, if I had one" after given a map of the United States. First sketch is a parody of a paranormal show in which Bill Hader, Fred Arminsen, and Amy Poelher try to identify what Hugh's fart is saying. Hilarious! In a Fox World Series sketch, Maya Rudolph is the winner of the National Anthem contest so she begins the game with a shrill rendition mixed with some lyric's to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". On TV Funhouse, we are shown an actual Republican public service ad showing Osama bin laden's photo with a quote of "kill all Americans" emphasized. The cartoon Bush then shows a couple of spoofs: The first one has a cut-off of Ted Kennedy saying "We'll cut and run" before Frenching Osama with Barak Obama in Count von Count makeup with a "Count Obama" T-shirt saying, "One abortion bill, two abortion bill". The second has a pregnant woman opening the door for trick-or-treaters with Hilary Clinton coming out of her womb and then licking pregnant woman's face! That one scares W. as he asks Cheney how much longer. "Two years" is the answer as credits roll. It should come as no surprise that Al Franken was one of the writers of this cartoon. On Hardball, Chris Mathews (Darrell Hammond) talks to Republican Ken Mehlman (Andy Samberg) about one of the congressman being a TCBY strangler. Mehlman says he's already been replaced by John Wayne Gacy, Jr. (Photo shows him looking exactly like his father). Democrat chairman Howard Dean (Jason Sudakis) mentions his party will raise taxes for everyone including "the very, very, poor" and "we're bad on defense" though the poll shows the public disagreeing. He then challenges Mehlman to a fight as sketch ends. Laurie is once again standing on home base as he sings a protest folk song while muffling what he's protesting about. In a hotel sketch, Laurie is representing the queen and telling coordinator Kristen Wiig what the queen expects when she comes like "wanting to have mini tables and chairs so she can feel superior" not to mention wanting "mini-guards to run from the queen". Needless to say, Hugh won't show up when she arrives. Beck sing his first set, "Nausea" with small marionettes of his band to the right of them. On Weekend Update, Amy begins by saying President Bush will change from saying "Stay the Course" to "Think Outside the Bun". Seth Myers mentions New Jersey's favorable ruling of gay civil unions leading to Armisen and Hader portraying an Italian gay couple who say "oh!" a lot. Commenting on the upcoming elections is Congressman Tim Calhoun (Will Forte). Among his beliefs: "I've always loved pages...I'm a voracious reader...of child pornography...studies." "I did not approve this message." In a hospital sketch, Kenan Thompson has a broken leg but doesn't trust Dr. Forte's diagnosis. Neither does his "wife" Laurie who is in blond wig and a dress. It ends, after Kenan falls down trying to leave, with Laurie telling us to trust your physician even though they don't do like the TV doctors (Hugh seems to imply on a particular doc he plays on Fox...). On the Late Late Movie (announcer asks, "Are those still around?"), English villagers are looking for Dr. Frankenstein. The Monster (Bill Hader) says that he's not here and directs them to the other side where Dracula (Jason Sudakis) tells them to go back. Monster again tells them they're in the wrong castle and then accuses them of racism (because of his green skin). Then his arm falls off as the The Late Late Movie ends (with announcer saying, "Seriously, I thought these things ended 10 years ago."). Next Beck performs, "Clap Hands" with him playing guitar and harmonica while the other members bang utensils on plates at a table they're sitting at with a turkey displayed and marionettes again performing at their side. Finally, Laurie and Armisen are partners at a law firm interviewing Poehler for a job and complimenting her achievements with "oooouuuu". When Amy gets hired, she does some "oooouuuu" herself before getting fired because it's interpreted as sarcastic by the partners. After that are the goodnights...Most of the highlights I've mentioned are from the first 30 minutes. The show loses a little steam after Weekend Update but it's consistently amusing throughout. Beck's performances were certainly some of the most unusual I've seen in the history of SNL. Hugh certainly holds his own throughout. So overall, a good show. Next time, Alec Baldwin and Christina Agulera.