The second installment of The Rundown continues to tap into decades of Saturday Night Live history. This time, a legendary performer had the challenging task of selecting a live sketch to open the greatest episode of all time.
Former cast member Dana Carvey headlines episode 2 of the digital series, where cast members, alumni, and celebrity fans construct their ideal SNL episode one sketch at a time. Carvey takes over where Colin Jost left off in episode 1, after the current "Weekend Update" co-host submitted his pick for the cold open.
Carvey didn't get an easy assignment as he had to come up with the first live sketch to follow the monologue. The SNL alum emphasized that the post-monologue sketch is one of the most important slots in the entire show. According to him, it needs to capitalize on the energy built by the host’s monologue and deliver immediate, memorable laughs.
Naturally, Carvey had no shortage of options to consider. He highlighted several classic sketches and recurring bits that could fit the bill, each bringing something unique to the table.
He pointed to “The Cheerleaders” starring Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri for its physical comedy, “The Californians” for Fred Armisen’s sincerity, and classics like “Schweddy Balls” and “Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer” for their quality writing. Carvey also praised Chris Farley’s legendary Matt Foley character, calling it out for Farley's "singularity. However, Carvey deemed it too powerful to place so early in the show.
In the end, Carvey landed on a “Wayne’s World” installment featuring a cameo from Aerosmith that first aired in season 15. Carvey fondly recalled getting the chance to play drums during the sketch and even impressing Steven Tyler in the process.
It's not all that surprising that Carvey selected a sketch he appeared in, but the comedian swore that wasn't the reason. He spoke at length about why recurring characters have always been a backbone of SNL’s success. “When you have a recurring character that you can call on, it does make the show a little easier,” Carvey explained. “Because then you have a baseline familiarity, but something a little different. The audience really likes that, 'cause that's how they share comedy. They want to see the catchphrase again.”
Few Saturday Night Live cast members have a stable of recurring characters that can match Carvey's output. In addition to Garth, he also had the Church Lady, Hans from Hans and Franz, and his take on George H.W. Bush.
But there was also a personal reason Carvey chose a "Wayne's World" sketch over any of his other characters. “Mike Myers is ‘Wayne’s World.’ He built the house. He let me rent a room,” Carvey said. “You always want to get in a really big, funny sketch with your friends where everything just flows and is landing.”
"The Rundown" releases on Wednesdays when Saturday Night Live is off for the week. Catch the episodes on Saturday Night Live's social media feeds.