John Goodman is a beloved figure in Hollywood, known for his roles in iconic films and TV shows. But before he was the seasoned actor we know today, Goodman was a recurring host on Saturday Night Live (SNL), charming audiences with his comedic timing and everyman appeal. This review revisits his May 6, 2000, hosting appearance, offering a fresh perspective on Goodman’s performance in this particular episode and reflecting on how it fits within his broader SNL hosting history, even hinting at glimpses of a “John Goodman Younger” comedic energy still present.
The episode opens with WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE, a sketch that cleverly spoofs the popular game show.
Lance Bass and Regis Philbin in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire SNL sketch
Darrell Hammond’s Regis Philbin introduces Lance Bass, played by Jimmy Fallon, hilariously misidentifying his location as “Flash In The Pan, Florida.” Chris Kattan’s David Duchovny impression stands out, relying on exaggerated facial expressions for comedic effect. The sketch incorporates running gags about Time Warner interruptions, a parody of actual ABC network interruptions at the time, adding a layer of meta-humor that, while initially funny, does wear thin as the sketch progresses. Hammond’s Regis continues to shine when introducing Cheri Oteri’s Kathie Lee Gifford, quipping, “The next voice you hear will be that of SATAN!!!” This segment gets a rating of *** stars.
The OPENING MONTAGE introduces Maya Rudolph as a new cast member for this episode. Her late-season addition raises questions about potential cast changes and Lorne Michaels’ strategies for maintaining the ensemble.
Next is the MONOLOGUE, where John Goodman, the host, plays a plastered version of himself who mistakenly believes he starred in a Flintstones prequel.
John Goodman dancing goofily in SNL monologue
The humor derives from Goodman’s drunken antics and bizarre Flintstones-inspired dance moves. A cutaway gag featuring Tim Meadows and Will Ferrell reacting to Goodman’s performance highlights the absurdity, with Ferrell delivering the line “He is plastered.” The sketch also includes a funny bit where Jimmy Fallon, Horatio Sanz, and musical guest Neil Young are the only ones enjoying Goodman’s antics, enthusiastically agreeing “he’s kickin’ ass!” However, the premise of “John’s an alcoholic and needs an intervention” doesn’t quite land, making the monologue somewhat uneven, earning it **½ stars.
PLATINUM MACH 14 is a commercial parody for a fictional razor, playing on the trend of multi-blade razors that was emerging at the time.
The commercial draws a parallel to SNL’s own Triple-Trac commercial from the show’s first episode, which mocked the idea of three blades. The humor is slow-building, with the first real laugh coming from the concept of a “phantom blade” for stabilization. The final visual of Will Ferrell’s face covered in cuts provides a dark comedic payoff, but overall, the commercial is rated **.
WANNA BE A VJ 3 satirizes MTV’s VJ search contests, a popular trend in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Jimmy Fallon as Carson Daly in Wanna Be a VJ 3 SNL sketch
Jimmy Fallon debuts his Carson Daly impression, complete with the catchphrase, “I’m Carson Daly, and I’m a massive tool.” The casting of John Goodman as MTV’s Dave Holmes is intentionally bizarre and seems like a way to incorporate Goodman into the sketch. A poll where “Play some damn videos” wins resonates with audiences likely tired of MTV’s shift away from music videos. Kattan’s character’s video package is intentionally strange, featuring a random shot of him grabbing his crotch, eliciting an unexpected laugh. The sketch marks a turning point in the reviewer’s SNL project, as the appearance of Maya Rudolph signals the approach of SNL’s modern era. Ana Gasteyer’s character shines in the latter half, particularly her feigned knowledge of Method Man and the Wu Tang Clan, delivering the line “I love the Wuuuuuuu!” with hilarious awkwardness. While the sketch has its moments, it leans a bit too close to actual MTV content of the era, earning it **½ stars.
OFFICE FLIRT introduces Cheri Oteri as Adele, an office worker with unsubtle sexual innuendo.
Cheri Oteri and Rachel Dratch in Office Flirt SNL sketch
This sketch is notable as a new character for Oteri, especially considering her impending departure from SNL. Adele’s over-explanation of her innuendos is a comedic highlight. A particularly funny bit involves Adele using Rachel Dratch’s character to demonstrate her bisexuality, leading Dratch to exasperatedly declare, “I’m just a temp!” The sketch concludes with a risqué joke about the office having a waterbed and KY Jelly. Overall, “Office Flirt” is a strong sketch and possibly Cheri Oteri’s last great original SNL character, rated **** stars.
TV FUNHOUSE presents “The Life of a Catchphrase,” a cartoon by Robert Smigel that tracks the life cycle of catchphrases.
Animated Lorne Michaels in TV Funhouse SNL cartoon
The animation reuses elements from the SNL 25th Anniversary Special TV Funhouse cartoon, including a Dennis Miller doll gag. Lorne Michaels is depicted reading a profane fan letter criticizing SNL for running jokes into the ground, adding a layer of self-awareness. The cartoon cleverly uses cast members to illustrate successful and unsuccessful catchphrases, with Rob Schneider’s “Makin’ copies!” being cheered and “You like-a da juice?” resulting in audience aggression. There’s another jab at Joe Piscopo, continuing a running joke from the previous episode. Molly Shannon’s segment seems like a meta-commentary on her recent SNL performances. The cartoon becomes increasingly meta, culminating in a bit about Jon Lovitz’s “Yeah, that’s the ticket” catchphrase being overshadowed by Dana Carvey’s “Well, isn’t that special?” A bizarre animation choice depicts Jenny Jones as a black woman, which might be an error or intentional joke. The cartoon predicts SNL reruns on Comedy Central in 2019, which proved inaccurate. A highlight is aliens worshiping Jon Lovitz after seeing an SNL rerun, only for him to destroy the TV when a Church Lady sketch appears. This “TV Funhouse” is a brilliant and meta commentary, earning ****½ stars.
THE CHRISTOPHER LOWELL SHOW parodies the home decorating show format with Chris Kattan in a typical flamboyant role.
John Goodman and Chris Kattan in The Christopher Lowell Show SNL sketch
While a familiar Kattan character, he initially generates laughs. John Goodman, in Christopher Lowell-esque attire, oddly resembles Dom DeLuise. Goodman’s “MMM-mmm!”s and “AHH-ahh”s are surprisingly funny. However, the sketch’s one-note nature leads to diminishing returns, resulting in a **½ star rating. The rerun version of this sketch includes a blooper where Kattan’s beard comes loose, prompting an ad-lib.
Following is a MUSICAL PERFORMANCE by Neil Young, performing “Razor Love.”
WEEKEND UPDATE features Colin Quinn and guest commentator Kevin Brennan.
Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton on Weekend Update
Colin Quinn ad-libs “MMM-mmm!” referencing the Christopher Lowell sketch. Kevin Brennan, an SNL writer, makes his second and final Update commentary, delivering a dry, A. Whitney Brown-esque segment. The reviewer finds Brennan decent but not anchor material, deeming his delivery too monotone. Colin follows with a wordless editorial, humorously tearing up a betting slip for a losing Kentucky Derby horse. Darrell Hammond returns as President Bill Clinton, commenting on the Elian Gonzalez controversy, telling the Cuban-American community to “Shut the eff up” because he’s already been impeached. A technical glitch with the Weekend Update theme music playing loudly mid-commentary is noticeable. Hammond’s Clinton commentary is strong, earning Weekend Update **½ stars overall.
ROCK & ROLL RESTAURANT features Horatio Sanz as a Jim Morrison impersonator waiter.
Horatio Sanz and Tracy Morgan in Rock & Roll Restaurant SNL sketch
Tracy Morgan plays a waiter impersonating the lead singer from Cameo. A funny exchange occurs when Jimmy Fallon’s character doesn’t recognize Cameo’s singer, leading to Morgan’s waiter to retort, “Yeah, and I guess my kids can eat dirt!” Horatio Sanz’s Jim Morrison impression, portraying a later, more erratic Morrison, is a highlight. The rock-themed menu items add to the sketch’s humor. The reviewer notes Sanz and Fallon’s early SNL tenures, observing Fallon’s commitment to character despite Sanz’s over-the-top performance. While Sanz gives it his all, the Jim Morrison bit becomes somewhat repetitive. A moment of shock humor occurs when Morrison grabs customers inappropriately. John Goodman delivers a funny line about accepting Morrison’s exhibitionism. Eventually, Sanz smashes a bottle on Fallon’s head and dives onto a table. The sketch concludes with Sanz yelling “Buncha JACKHOLES!” at departing customers, rated **½ stars.
TRAFFIC STOP brings back the Bloater Brothers as recurring characters.
John Goodman and Tim Meadows in Traffic Stop SNL sketch
The Bloater Brothers, despite being a guilty pleasure for the reviewer, return with their refrigerator commercial jingle. Tim Meadows gets a big laugh with his deadpan delivery of “I’m gonna take this nightstick and hit ya in the head.” “Traffic Stop” earns *½ stars.
Another MUSICAL PERFORMANCE follows, with Neil Young performing “Silver & Gold.”
TEK-CO is a commercial for a “Mechanical Currency Masticator” that automates coin valuation by biting them.
Will Ferrell and Chris Parnell in TEK-CO SNL commercial
Will Ferrell makes a rare appearance in this episode as the product user. Ferrell revealing missing teeth from biting coins is a funny visual gag. The commercial premise is random and humorous, with Chris Parnell as the pitchman. Parnell briefly fumbles a line but recovers quickly. The sketch includes Parnell listing ridiculous coin names. A funny moment shows John Goodman trying to pass off a fake coin. The rapid-fire, complex dialogue seems challenging even for Parnell, earning “Tek-Co” *½ stars.
The episode concludes with GOODNIGHTS.
SNL cast goodnights with John Goodman and Neil Young
IMMEDIATE POST-SHOW THOUGHTS are that the episode is subpar and forgettable, though not as bad as initially remembered. John Goodman’s hosting is again described as forgettable and backgrounded, despite some laughs. The reviewer questions Goodman’s frequent hosting gigs, acknowledging his likability but noting his lack of standout performances compared to hosts like Buck Henry. A break from Goodman hosting the following season is considered a positive development.
BEST OF MOMENTS chosen by the reviewer include “Office Flirt” and Darrell Hammond’s Clinton on Weekend Update.
Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton Weekend Update best moment
Compared to the previous Tobey Maguire episode, this John Goodman hosted show is deemed a big step down. The next episode will feature Britney Spears.
