The Best of Chris KattanFeature running time approx 90 minutes. Grade - A for feature and extras. The Best of Chris Kattan is one of the best of the SNL Best of DVD's. It's filled with most of his best sketches and has a pretty decent running time. As with all of the Best Of's it always seems that they could add more. This DVD also has some nice extras. Sketches - Roxbury - (additional cast - Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri) I believe the sketch included on this DVD may be the first appearance of these characters on SNL. There is no appearance from the host and the familiar Haddaway song "What is Love" is not playing in the background. While this is not the best Roxbury sketch it is kind of nice for historical purposes. JLO and Mango - Host Jennifer Lopez (additional cast - Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond, Tracy Morgan, Maya Rudolph, Chris Parnell, Ana Gasteyer, Molly Shannon). This is one of the best Mango sketches. It's a well developed story line and has several different set ups, making it pretty ambitious for live TV. It does break a little with the traditional Mango adoration by the host, instead we get some Diva rivalry between JLO and Mango. Lawyer Suel Forrester - Host Joan Allen, Cameo John Goodman (additional cast - Molly Shannon, Tim Meadows, Chris Parnell). Kattan's recurring character whose garbled talk is impossible to understand. If I had been able to pick the best sketch for this character I would have went with Suel Forrester basketball coach with Ray Romano. What's fun about these sketches is listening for the somewhat inappropriate sounding words that come out of his gibberish. The How Do You Say...Ah Yes show with Antonio Banderas - Host Jennifer Love Hewitt (additional cast - Jimmy Fallon, Horatio Sanz, Darrell Hammond). I have to admit this is not one of my favorite recurring sketches. While I don't find it particularly funny I do admire it's audacity. Kattan playing a real actor who does nothing but make inappropriate remarks about his female guest's body. Mr. Peepers - Host Kevin Spacey (additional cast - Will Ferrell). In this installment of Mr. Peepers Spacey plays an research scientist perplexed with his assistant's (Ferrell) inability to control the rambunctous Mr. Peepers. The best thing about this character is that Kattan never holds back in any way. He's clearly not afraid to get up close and personal with the host and his fellow cast members. My personal favorite sketch for this character was Mr. Peepers first appearance on SNL with Tom Hanks in 1996. I was hoping that one would be on this DVD, but this one is pretty good too. DeMarco Brothers Dance Audition - Musical Guests Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora (additional cast - Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz). This is one of my favorite recurring sketches from Kattan. It's always funny, and for once my favorite appearance of this character made it to the DVD. Kattan and Parnell's enthusiasm for the characters really make this sketch work. The little details, like the iron on letters for their shirts and the Bon Jovi wigs, make the sketch all the funnier. Also Horatio Sanz's brief appearance at the beginning is priceless. Gollum on special Superbowl Weekend Update (additional cast - Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey). This was the first appearance of Kattan as Gollum. For the 2003 Superbowl SNL did a special Weekend Update during half time. In this bit Kattan as Gollum has stollen the Superbowl ring and Fallon and Fey attempt to talk him into giving it back. Kattan does a great Gollum, playing Gollum's "good" and "bad" sides perfectly. I was glad this was included on the DVD, since it was a special instead of a regular airing, some people may not have seen it. America Undercover - Host John Goodman (additional cast - Amy Poehler, Tim Meadows). This is one of my favorite sketches of all time. Everything works in it. In this sketch Goodman and Meadows play cops responding to a domestic disturbance call. Kattan and Poehler master the look of the typical "low class" couple usually seen on episodes of Cops. Kattan has a mullet and is walking around in just a t-shirt and briefs. Poehler has the bad perm and 80's stretch pants. Throwing in that Kattan's character is obsessed with science makes the sketch all the funnier. There is a moment of unintentional humor that makes the sketch all out hilarious. It has to do with Kattan's briefs and his worry that they might not be staying on (outtake footage reveals he wore boxers in the rehearsal). Overall this is a very well written and detailed sketch. For whatever reason this sketch did not appear on the NBC airing of the best of, so I'm glad it did make it to the DVD. Rialto Grande - Host Ray Romano (additional cast - Fred Armisen, Jimmy Fallon, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler). Kattan created the character Buddy Mills in his final season on SNL. The character is an old style comedian with perpetual prostate problems. In the sketch Mills will bring on another over the hill comedian and the two will commiserate about the changing times. Ray Romano's appearance in the sketch is probably the best one. Romano's comic timing is as good as Kattan's and he really seems to get what Kattan was going for, and he comes up with his own style as an old time performer which is a nice contrast to Kattan. Armisen is also good as a very elderly drummer who is always about three steps behind the joke. Gay Hollywood Hitler Weekend Update Appearance - (additional cast - Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey). This is just a very short appearance with Kattan doing his Gay Hollywood Hitler impression. Goth Talk - Host Christina Ricci (additional cast - Molly Shannon, Will Ferrell). This was one of the best Goth Talk sketches with Ricci, Shannon and Ferrell holding a funeral for Kattan's Azrael Abyss. There is a very funny video sequence showing the pre-goth Azrael aka Todd getting a Mickey Mouse phone for Christmas, only a couple years prior. One of the best things about this sketch was them showing the supposedly alternative goth croud enjoying the same things as everyone else. In this cas Ricci just recieved a new Dodge Neon from her parents and Ferrell is just coming in from his job at Dunkin Donuts. The only thing that would have been nice would have been to include anthother Goth Talk with Jim Breuer as Azrael's jock brother. Kippy Strug on Weekend Update - Guest Kerri Strug (additional cast Norm MacDonald, Mark McKinney ). A funny appearance with Kattan playing Kerri Stug's (fictional) brother Kippy. The Zimmerman's Halloween - Host Ben Stiller (additional cast - Cheri Oteri, Ana Gasteyer). This character may be my favorite recurring character of Chris Kattan's. He and Cheri Oteri are very funny as the over sexualized married couple, who don't know they're being sexual. The part where Kattan is trying to open a champagne bottle is hilarious though Stiller blows his line. Impressions montage - a brief clip of several impressions done by Kattan: Al Pacino, Andy Dick, Ricky Martin, Anne Heche, David Gest, Britney Spears, Steve Irwin Crocodile Hunter, Kid Rock. Shop At Home - Guest Mark Hamill (additional cast Will Ferrell, Jim Breuer). Kattan and Ferrell did this a couple times, as the totally over the top sports card shop on tv sales guys. The scary part about this sketch is that Kattan and Ferrell may not have gone even as far as the real guys who do that show. This one is pretty funny, although I thought the one they did with Robert Downey Jr. was funnier. This one, however, features a cameo from Mark Hamill as the ultimate Star Wars collectible. Blind Date with Twins - Host Jennifer Garner (additional cast - Jimmy Fallon, Rachel Dratch). I was suprised to see this sketch on the DVD, because it is not really Kattan's sketch. I was glad to see it though, becuase it's pretty funny and it show's Kattan's versality as a comedian. His performance in this sketch is more reactionary and subtle than the characters he usually does, and he plays the part of the bewildered and put upon fried perfectly. End Credits - while the end credits play there is a clip of Mango and Garth Brooks. I have to say overall good choices were made for this DVD. One glaring omission, I think, is that there are no "terrible reenactments." Kattan did several of these over the years and I think it's strange none were included on this DVD. I thought it would have been perfect if they had put Kattan's terrible reenactment of his own career he did for his final episode. EXTRAS Kattan's SNL audition - Here we see the familiar Suel Forrester and an unfamiliar Christian Slater impression. There is also a character that drinks too much coffee. Dress Sketch - these are a nice addition to the new SNL Best Of DVD's. Normally these cut sketches are never seen by anyone who wasn't at the rehearsal show, so it's nice to get a few on these DVD's. This one features Kattan as an astrologer appearing on Weekend Update with Colin Quinn. The character is clearly a precursor to his Buddy Mills, both in appearance and mannerisms. Outtakes - some funny unexpected moments from some of Kattan's sketches. One notable one is a wardrobe mishap with Cheri Oteri during a Zimmerman's sketch. Two Conan appearances - in one appearance he is promoting the 1999 SNL season finale, where he prophetically predicts the Jar Jar Binks character will ruin the new Star Wars prequel. I'm not sure when the other appearance was, but it seemed to be earlier the same year, or maybe 1998. |
My conversation with Chris Kattan.
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