Ep 3. Rosanna Arquette/Ric Ocasek

Saturday Night Live season 12 episode 3 featured host Rosanna Arquette and musical guest Ric Ocasek. The episode kicked off with a spoof on the Iran-Contra scandal which at the time was making headlines across the country. The sketch was a satirical take on Reagan administration officials who had been caught selling arms to Iran and secretly funneling the proceeds to rebels in Nicaragua.

Following the cold open, Arquette took to the stage for her monologue, which included a bit where she pretended to be nervous and had to be consoled by her brother David, who made an appearance. The sketch comedy show then continued with a variety of skits, including a commercial parody for a product called “Sudden Death” which was marketed towards people who wanted to die quickly and painlessly.

Another standout sketch from the episode was a fake game show called “Spin the Bottle” which featured cast member Martin Short and a group of teenage contestants. The premise of the game was simple: each player had to spin a bottle and kiss the person it landed on. Hilarity ensued as the teenagers tried their best to be cool and nonchalant while getting close to each other.

The musical performances by Ric Ocasek were well received by the audience, with the lead singer of The Cars performing two of the band’s hit songs, “Just What I Needed” and “Good Times Roll”. The episode also featured a Weekend Update segment, where cast members Jane Curtin and Dennis Miller delivered satirical news reports on current events.

Overall, Saturday Night Live season 12 episode 3 was a strong installment of the long-running sketch comedy series. The episode featured a balanced mix of political satire, commercial parodies, and classic skits that have become trademarks of the show. The performances by Rosanna Arquette and Ric Ocasek were both entertaining, and the writing was top-notch as usual. If you’re a fan of Saturday Night Live or just enjoy irreverent humor, this episode is definitely worth checking out.