Showing posts with label Kellyanne Conway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kellyanne Conway. Show all posts

Sunday, January 1, 2017

SNL 42.9 Review - John Cena, Maren Morris

Original Airdate - 12/10/2016

I think it is safe to say that John Cena has followed in the career path of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.  He has successfully turned a WWE wrestling career into a pop culture phenomenon.  Earlier this year, he hosted the ESPY's, and now he is hosting Saturday Night Live.  He actually has a pretty decent talent for comedy too.

Cold Opening
Once again, the Cold Opening is reserved for attacking our soon-to-be president.  Many people have been very critical of Trump's strange cabinet selections, so SNL has decided to try and make the ridiculous even more ridiculous.  The setting is an episode of The Lead With Jake Tapper.  The guests are Kellyanne Conway, tragically played by Kate McKinnon, and Trump's new head of the DEA, the one and only Walter White.  If he wasn't fictional, Mr. White might actually be in the running...

Monologue
You have a wrestler hosting SNL.  So, of course, the cast is going to try and challenge him to a fight.  Each castmember is trying to come up with a great wrestling persona, but nothing beats the last one.  Nothing is scarier than Leslie Jones.  It was silly, but still entertaining.

Best Sketch
When you have a physical specimen like John Cena hosting, you take advantage of it by talking sports.  I really enjoyed one sketch where they had Cena portraying the larger than life Rob Gronkowski, however the best sketch took a shot at the Alabama football program.  In the presentation of final projects in a science class, two science majors get disappointing grades on very solid projects.  However, Cena, portraying a Bama football player, aces his project on bananas nailed to a board.  It's a beautiful sketch, especially since it is Alabama they are making fun of.

Weekend Update
I have never been a huge fan of Kate McKinnon's portrayal of Angela Merkel, Germany's Prime Minister.  With that said, they keep going back to it as it is continually relevant with our political climate.  She is the first guest to the Update desk in this episode.  The other guest is another I have not been fond of in the past.  Cecily Strong's Cathy Anne character I have found more annoying than anything in the past.  However, she is hilarious in this appearance as she discusses everything going on in our country.

Worst Sketch
There were several sketches that weren't necessarily great.  The worst of these was this strange sketch about a TV talent show, a pair of brothers, and an owl.  It was just weird and strange and not worth the payoff.

Dark Horse Sketch
There were also several sketches that could have qualified for the Dark Horse Sketch.  This was my favorite, as John Cena portrays a Fabio-type character in a romance bookstore.  It is completely ridiculous but pretty funny at the same time.

Grade

I had fun watching John Cena in this episode.  Coming from his WWE background, he is used to live theater and it shows as he really was a natural in most of his sketches.  It wasn't a great episode by any measure, but I do hope I see John Cena again on Saturday Night Live soon.

***B-***

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Friday, December 16, 2016

SNL 42.2 Review - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Twenty One Pilots

Original Airdate - 10/8/16

Over the last year or so, Lin-Manuel Miranda has become a household name for writing the Broadway phenomenon Hamilton.  His talents are perfect for a show like SNL.  Although the episode wasn't great, he definitely showed who he is and how talented he is throughout the episode.

Cold Opening
In an election season, it's likely that the Cold Open is going to be political in nature.  When that election season involves Donald Trump, it's a guarantee.  Alec Baldwin might as well just be a cast member this season.  This Cold Open starts with the Vice Presidential debate and then jumps into Donald Trump news.  The headline of the week this week was the Access Hollywood bus.  It's rare for SNL to not pull any punches, however they are brutal in their satire of the political scene right now.

Monologue
This is one of my all time favorite monologues.  When you have a veteran of stage that is a writer himself as a host, just let him do his thing.  It's not surprising that Miranda did a song from Hamilton, but he turned his song "My Shot" into an amazing rap about how great it is to be hosting the show.  Just sit back and enjoy.

Best Sketch
Two trends continued with this sketch.  First, there was the satire of the election season and its candidates.  Second, you have yet another pre-recorded sketch.  This one features Kate McKinnon as Kellyanne Conway, Donald Trump's campaign manager, as she tries to take a day off.  However, Trump's antics refuse to let her enjoy that day.

Weekend Update
As the anchors continue to get better and better, there is less and less time for guests to the Update desk.  First, we have Pete Davidson in another one of his hilarious rants.  Next, we have a treat as two former Update anchors, Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey, arrive in a not very well rehearsed bit.  It really didn't matter though.  Seeing them back at the desk made it all worth it.

Dark Horse Sketch
There have been several sketches over the last few years with this setup.  A substitute teacher comes into a class and hilarity ensues.  However, this one takes on a different turn.  Lin-Manuel Miranda is the sub trying to take advantage of his reputation after Hamilton by teaching historical events through hip hop.  However, the kids aren't having anything of it.

Grade
Outside of the first 10 minutes, there really wasn't anything memorable.  There wasn't really bad, but it was mostly forgettable.  I wish it had been a little stronger of an overall episode with Miranda hosting.  With all that said, the host hopefully earned a future return to the SNL stage.

***C+***
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