The premiere of Season 12 starts with a cold open monologue that's clever but doesn't totally land. Madonna opens the show by apologizing for the entirety of Season 11. Since she hosted the previous year's episode, NBC thought she'd be the perfect choice to read their official statement claiming it was all a dream. Host Sigourney Weaver brings out playwright Christopher Durang to present some really heavy material, but the show cuts to commercials before they can get started. Again, two funny ideas that still somehow miss the mark.
Despite these false notes, the episode makes this list because of some classic sketches. For instance, Kevin Nealon does his subliminal messaging act. He's done it on "Weekend Update" and it always kills. Then there's "Church Chat" with Dana Carvey playing the sarcastic and condescending Church Lady. While it's structurally similar to every "Church Chat," Sigourney Weaver reprises her "Ghostbusters" role, and that's great to see. Plus, this episode sees the original airing of the "Chopping Broccoli" sketch, where Carvey plays a creatively bankrupt songwriter who freestyles a terrible song about the vegetable.
Also, the "Quiz Master" sketch has a nice arc to it. Carvey plays a game show contestant who is also psychic. While it serves him well at first, he starts getting visions of a meteor. Finally, the meteor crashes into the studio and takes out his opponent. It's refreshing to see a sketch with a strong beginning, middle, and end.
