Mad TV Season 1 Episode 20 Best of Season 1

The television show Mad TV was a sketch comedy series that originally aired from 1995 to 2009. The show was known for its sharp humor, pop culture parodies, and political commentary. In the show's first season, the 20th episode was titled "Best of Season 1" and featured a compilation of some of the season's most memorable sketches and segments.

The episode began with an opening monologue by series regular, Phil LaMarr, who introduced the episode and promised viewers a hilarious trip down memory lane. The first sketch featured recurring character Ms. Swan, played by Alex Borstein, who is a sassy and often dim-witted Asian woman who works at a convenience store. In this sketch, Ms. Swan was visited by a customer (played by comedian Kathy Griffin) who was trying to buy cigarettes. The two engaged in a hilarious exchange as Ms. Swan struggled to understand the customer's request.

Next, the show featured a political parody in which the cast members of the show played the candidates in the 1996 Republican presidential primary. The sketch poked fun at the various candidates' personalities and positions on the issues, with particular focus on Pat Buchanan's controversial views.

Another standout sketch from the episode featured Will Sasso as a fictional character named Paul Timberman, who was a home-shopping host. Timberman repeatedly tried to sell a product called "Turbo Encabulator," which was a nonsensical device that was supposed to have amazing capabilities. The sketch was a hilarious parody of the over-the-top sales pitches that often accompany home-shopping shows.

In addition to the sketches, the episode also featured some of the show's popular recurring segments. One such segment was an animated parody of the Japanese children's show, "Ultraman." The parody, titled "Ultra-Mad," featured a superhero who battled various villains in ridiculous fashion, with the hero often causing more destruction than the bad guys themselves.

The episode also included more politically themed segments, such as a commentary on the O.J. Simpson trial and a segment in which a fake anchor from a fictional news station reported on the then-recent Chicago Bulls victory in the NBA Finals.

Overall, the "Best of Season 1" episode of Mad TV was a great showcase of the show's best sketches and segments from its inaugural season. The show's cast and writers proved their ability to create memorable and hilarious comedic moments, from recurring characters like Ms. Swan to political parodies to animated segments. Fans of the show were undoubtedly satisfied with this compilation of some of the best moments from the season, and the episode gave new viewers a taste of the show's irreverent humor and comedic talents.