Ep 18. Julia Louis-Dreyfus/Paul Simon

On April 8, 2006, actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus hosted Saturday Night Live alongside musical guest Paul Simon for the show's 31st season, episode 18.

The episode kicked off with a sketch called "60 Minutes: Behind the Music", which saw Louis-Dreyfus serving as the interviewer for a parody of the popular TV news magazine. In the sketch, Simon played himself and offered humorous tidbits about his life and career, including that he was born with a fork in his hand and that he doesn't like to be hugged from behind. The sketch was a playful and fun way to open the show and showcased Louis-Dreyfus' comedic chops as an interviewer.

The episode also featured a recurring sketch called "The Falconer", which was a spoof of a cheesy adventure show. Louis-Dreyfus played the titular character's love interest, and the sketch included absurd elements like a giant spider attacking the group. The highlight of the sketch was the absurdity and how it played off typical adventure tropes.

Another highlight from the episode was a commercial parody for a perfume called "Angelique" that promised to make women smell like cheese. Louis-Dreyfus played the model in the ad and did a fantastic job of playing it straight while surrounded by the ridiculousness of the concept.

In one of the more memorable sketches, Louis-Dreyfus took on the role of a teacher in a high school classroom. The sketch was a send-up of inspirational teacher movies like Dead Poets Society and Stand and Deliver. Louis-Dreyfus gave an over-the-top performance, complete with dramatic pauses and meaningful looks, that made the sketch a standout.

The episode also included a Weekend Update segment where hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler tackled the news of the day. They covered topics like the controversy surrounding the Dubai Ports World deal and the recent firing of Don Imus. The segment was well-written and delivered with Fey and Poehler's usual wit and charm.

The musical performances from Paul Simon were also a highlight of the episode. He performed two songs, including "How Can You Live in the Northeast?" and "Outrageous". Simon is known for his iconic voice and intricate guitar playing, and he didn't disappoint during his SNL appearance.

Overall, the Julia Louis-Dreyfus/Paul Simon episode of Saturday Night Live was a solid one. There were plenty of laughs and standout moments, and Louis-Dreyfus proved that she was more than capable of holding her own as an SNL host. The episode was a great example of what makes SNL such an enduring and beloved show, and it's definitely worth revisiting for fans of comedy and pop culture.