Ep 17. Sharon Stone/Pearl Jam

In season 17, episode 17 of Saturday Night Live, Sharon Stone takes on hosting duties, while Pearl Jam rocks the stage as the musical guest. This episode, which originally aired on April 11th, 1992, features a range of sketches and skits, showcasing the comedic talents of the SNL cast.

The show opens with a tongue-in-cheek political commentary, as the SNL crew takes on the 1992 Presidential campaign. Featuring appearances from Dana Carvey as George H.W. Bush, Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton, and Kevin Nealon as Ross Perot, the sketch pokes fun at each candidate's foibles and follies. From there, the show moves on to a series of hilarious sketches, including a spoof on America's Funniest Home Videos, and a satirical take on the rise of infomercials.

Of course, no episode of SNL would be complete without a few outlandish character sketches, and Sharon Stone gets to flex her comedic muscles in a segment featuring Mary Katherine Gallagher. The character, played by Molly Shannon, is a socially awkward Catholic schoolgirl who dreams of becoming a superstar. Stone plays her drama teacher, who tries to coach her in the ways of the theater, with hilariously disastrous results.

Another standout sketch features Stone playing a customer in a restaurant who just can't seem to get her order right. As she continues to make increasingly absurd requests, the waiter (played by Mike Myers) and chef (played by Chris Farley) become more and more exasperated. The scene culminates in a chaotic food fight, which sees Stone covered in all sorts of messy concoctions.

As always, the musical guest takes center stage midway through the show, and Pearl Jam doesn't disappoint. The Seattle-based band, fresh off the release of their debut album Ten, performs two of their biggest hits: "Jeremy" and "Alive". Eddie Vedder and company bring their signature grunge sound to the SNL stage, much to the delight of the audience.

In the second half of the show, the sketches continue with a playful take on the classic TV show Lassie. In this version, Lassie is a surly, chain-smoking dog who isn't interested in rescuing anyone. The sketch features a string of guest stars, including Stone as a damsel in distress, Mike Myers as the dim-witted owner of a mine, and Chris Farley as a bumbling rescue worker.

Other memorable moments from the episode include a spoof of the TV show COPS, which sees the SNL cast playing a group of incompetent police officers, and a hilarious fake commercial for a new brand of deodorant. There's even a segment that imagines what would happen if The Godfather was made into a Saturday morning cartoon.

Overall, Sharon Stone and Pearl Jam make for an entertaining combination in season 17, episode 17 of Saturday Night Live. The episode showcases the show's trademark irreverent humor, as well as its willingness to push boundaries and take risks. Fans of the show will undoubtedly enjoy this eclectic mix of sketches and musical performances, proving that SNL is as unpredictable and entertaining as ever.