Ep 18. Episode #518

Mad TV was a popular sketch comedy show that aired on Fox from 1995-2009. Season 5, episode 18, titled "Episode #518," aired on March 1, 2000, and featured a variety of sketches and parodies that kept audiences laughing throughout the night.

The show opened with a parody of the film "The Sixth Sense," with comedian Michael McDonald playing the Haley Joel Osment role of the young boy who sees ghosts. This sketch was darkly comedic, as McDonald's character sees the ghost of a man who died by accidentally shooting himself in the head with a gun. The sketch continued to escalate, with the ghost haunting McDonald's character in increasingly bizarre and ludicrous ways. The performance was both chilling and hilarious, and set the tone for the rest of the episode.

Next up was a parody of the popular game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." In this version, however, the contestant (played by Debra Wilson) is so confident in her knowledge that she insists on answering the questions before they're fully asked. This leads to some hilarious misunderstandings and misinterpretations, as she's forced to backtrack and change her answers repeatedly. The sketch was well-written and expertly executed, capturing the manic energy of the original game show while poking fun at the contestants who take themselves too seriously.

The next sketch was a parody of MTV's "Cribs," where various celebrities show off their luxurious homes and lifestyles. In this version, the host (played by Alex Borstein) takes us through the home of a fictional character named "Super Nanny," who specializes in disciplining unruly children. The sketch was amusing and cleverly satirical, playing off the absurdity of reality TV while offering commentary on the role of discipline and authority in parenting.

The fourth sketch of the night was a game show parody titled "Pants or No Pants." The premise of the game was simple: contestants would appear on stage wearing a long coat, which they would then remove to reveal whether or not they were wearing pants. The sketch was silly and juvenile, but also surprisingly funny, with the contestants' reactions and antics providing plenty of laughs.

The fifth sketch of the night was a musical number called "Jesse Ventura's Rap Academy," featuring comedian Will Sasso playing the former wrestler and governor of Minnesota. The sketch was a lighthearted spoof of the burgeoning rap scene, with Sasso's Ventura spitting rhymes and offering advice on how to get ahead in the music industry. The performance was energetic and well-choreographed, with Sasso's comedic timing and physicality shining through.

The final sketch of the night was a recurring Mad TV bit called "Lowered Expectations." In this sketch, various characters (played by cast members Nicole Sullivan and Michael McDonald) would appear on a dating show, where they would describe their ideal partner in absurdly unrealistic terms. The sketch was always a fan favorite, providing humor through its satire of shallow dating culture and the absurdities of superficial attraction.

Overall, Mad TV season 5 episode 18 was a solid entry in the long-running sketch comedy series. With its mix of parodies, musical performances, and recurring sketches, the show kept viewers laughing from start to finish. It was a prime example of what made Mad TV such a beloved and enduring part of TV comedy history.