SNL 40.10 Review - Amy Adams, One Direction

Original Airdate - 12/20/14

The Christmas episode is always is special time at Saturday Night Live.  They always get the top-notch hosts, the best cameos, the best musical guests.  It's traditionally one of the best episodes of the season.  This has at least been the case the last few seasons with superstar former castmembers running the show: Jimmy Fallon three years ago, Martin Short two years ago, and topping it off with the power couple of Jimmy Fallon with Justin Timberlake as musical guest/co-host last year.  For the 40th season, they had to pull out all the stops again for the Christmas episode, right?  Well, Amy Adams is a solid choice for a host, but maybe not ideal as the host for such an important episode similar to Chris Pratt's choice for the season opener.  An amazing Christmas episode was still possible, but then you add in the uncomfortable and awkward mood surrounding a variety show like SNL that lives on social satire the week a movie was pulled from theatres due to alleged terrorists threats from North Korea because it is a satire of their country.  Saturday Night Live had to be very careful with how they responded to such an un-American act of censorship, or did they?  They tried to ride that line very carefully throughout the episode, leading to a solid episode under the circumstances, but overall an underwhelming Christmas episode.

Cold Opening

The episode definitely got off to its strongest start of the season as they found the perfect way to comment on the events of the week.  After starting "A Very Somber Christmas with Sam Smith," which would match one of the potential moods of an episode where they would be forced to hold back for fear of censorship or retaliation.  It is then interrupted by the only person that could get away with being perfectly blunt and candid on the Sony hack controversy, Dr. Evil.  I mean, he went to Evil Medical for goodness sake!  Mike Myers resurrects this character and gives a scathing commentary on North Korea, Hollywood, Sony, and even his own career.  This sketch did what it needed to do; it broke the ice and loosened everyone up on a night that had the potential to be tough to do comedy.  The main thing this sketch did for me was remind me that we are coming up on 13 years since the last Austin Powers movie.  I know the last one wasn't great, but man that's just way too long of a drought...

Monologue

Amy Adams's monologue officially makes it a trend of the writers simply mailing it in and giving up on writing good material for some bits.  It makes sense that Amy Adams would sing for her monologue.  She has an amazing voice and it's the Christmas episode.  Why not?  If that's all it was, it would have been simple, elegant, and classy.  It would have fit our host perfectly.  However, Kristen Wiig comes out to crash the monologue.  Although it's always cool to see Wiig come back time after time, it felt like she was simply just told to go out and riff.  It felt like an unorganized mess that did what is hard for a monologue to do; it royally screwed it up.

Weekend Update

Here was the next opportunity to comment on the aftermath of the Sony Hack and the shutdown of The Interview.  Jost and Che were hired as Weekend Update co-anchors to push the envelope a little more than Seth Myers and Cecily Strong had been doing.  So here was their chance.  They definitely didn't shy away from the topic.  Could they have done more?  Sure.  Was it good enough?  Sure.  The best commentary on the situation came with the first guest, as Bobby Moynihan comes out in his Kim Jong-Un outfit.  I think everyone in America had the same reaction as Colin did.  "No no no no..."  Referring to him as Bobby instead of by character, Colin talked a very confident Moynihan down from the comedic ledge in one of the better commentaries of the current situation.  Next, Kenan came out as a perfect character for the occasion as he is Positive Willy with nothing to be positive about around the holidays.  It was one of the depressing but funny sketches.  And last but not least, since you have Kristen Wiig around why not pry Fred Armisen away from the Late Night set and have some Garth & Kat time.  These two are so good at this that it never ceases to be funny, even when it's impossible for them to keep a straight face.

Best Sketch

A few episodes ago, there was a sketch about a sitcom that was constantly changing its cast and concept to accommodate to fans' comments about political correctness.  It was a very effective commentary on how our society is so concerned about offending someone that it refuses to make a comment on anything.  What became a sort of follow-up sketch in a way, this commercial for "Asian American Girl" makes a similar statement in a much more direct and funny way.  The doll is completely generic with no cultural or stereotypical statements coming with it.  The kids in the sketch become the voice of reason as the parents did everything they could to not say anything wrong by not saying anything at all.  It is a very clever sketch that is not only funny, but a perfect statement on how our society is getting upset about one kind of censorship (The Interview) but is promoting another form without even realizing it.

Worst Sketch

I didn't really dislike any sketch in this episode.  With that said, this one was just too weird for me.  Two guys out for a drink hear a group of sisters singing when things go a little strange.  The strangest thing about this sketch is someone had to be in some sort of mindset to come up with this insane idea.  For pure originality, this sketch deserves a watch, but wow ... where did that come from?

Dark Horse Sketch

If you have ever read any of my SNL reviews, you will know I have a soft spot when it comes to impressions.  So when this sketch about a Cuban Christmas Special started, I was excited to see what impressions would come out of this sketch addressing one of the lost news stories of the week.  The impressions that came out of it were so-so, and the sketch would have been fairly forgettable if it wasn't for the impression of Fidel Castro.  The sketch is worth watching just to see it.  Don't blink, or you might miss it.

Grade

Like I said, this episode didn't really have a bad sketch.  The problem was outside of the Cold Open, it didn't really have a great sketch either.  Amy Adams is a great host, and this was a strong episode.  However, as a Christmas episode, it was quite disappointing.  Looking back now at the first half of the season, this episode was a great microcosm.  There were some great moments, and some moments where the writers failed.  At other times, the writing has been quite clever and intelligent.  With all that said, I have high hopes for the second half of the season as the show continues to do everything it can to get out of the shadow of Wiig, Armisen, Hader, Myers, Samberg, and the rest of the recent past.

***B-***

View the full episode here:

SNL 40.9 Review - Martin Freeman, Charli XCX

Original Airdate - 12/13/14

Martin Freeman might be the most successful actor no one really knows.  He's like the ultimate, "You know, that one guy from..." and insert successful project here: The Hobbit, Fargo, Sherlock, British The Office... Yeah, that guy.  He has been the consummate straight man, but can he handle comedy?  Well, those that remember him in Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World's End know that he has the potential to be an all-time great host.  Although this episode wasn't the revelation I was hoping for, it was good enough to hopefully earn a second go-around at some point.

Cold Opening

The Cold Opens have definitely been getting better recently.  This is no exception as Charlie Rose looks into the military's third party torture think tank.  It sounds like quite the downer of a sketch until you see which direction they take it.  Apparently, this torture organization, fronted by Bobby Moynihan and Kyle Mooney, has thought up every type of time-wasting torturous activity we deal with on a daily basis.  This successfully took a downer of a topic and made it a winner of a sketch.

Monologue

I'll admit, the monologue was slightly lacking.  After discussing the fact that nobody knows who he is, we discover that apparently all Brits are the same and know each other.  On the positive side, we get to see Taran Killam's Alan Rickman impersonation and see Kate McKinnon be an old fashioned Brit.  For as good as this episode, and Martin Freeman, could be, this monologue was pretty bland.

Weekend Update

One of the reasons I was excited to see Colin Jost and Michael Che running Weekend Update this season was it freed up Cecily Strong to bring back Update characters, like "The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party," and create new ones, like this week's "One-Dimensional Female Character From a Male-Driven Comedy."  Outside of having terrible names, these characters are so much fun.  They are her best bits she does on the show.  Second came Sasheer Zamata's first outing as herself as she discusses Apple's racism.  It sounds random until you realize iphone's hundreds of emojis do not have any of black people.  It's an interesting revelation that Sasheer vents on wonderfully.  Last, we have everyone's favorite Bar Mitzvah boy, Jacob.  That character never gets old.

Best Sketch

The standout sketch from this episode combined two of Martin Freeman's most iconic projects.  What did Bilbo do after he went on his adventure?  Well, he went to work in the British version of The Office.  Now, I have never seen that series, but I have seen the American version which gives me enough context to know that this sketch is genius.

Worst Sketch

This episode's worst sketch looked like it had a strong start.  The two talk show hosts were entertainingly annoying, and the concept of teasing the next segment a little too long and frequent is a great concept for the sketch.  The problem is it just went on too long, too far, and too stupid.

Dark Horse Sketch

Really none of the post-midnight sketches were strong enough to be worth mentioning so I went with one from earlier in the show that I really enjoyed.  One of the main cultural events of the holidays is people who usually don't go to church show up.  Some people call them "Chreasters" (Christmas/Easter) since that is when they come to church.  This sketch is a commercial for going home for the holidays and back to church with all its quirks.  You can tell this must have happened to a few of the writers as so many of the stereotypes they jump on are right on the mark.  Anyone who has experienced any sort of church stereotypes before will appreciate this sketch.

Grade

Although no sketch was truly great in this episode (perhaps with the exception of "The Hobbit Office"), no sketch truly failed miserably.  It was a fairly consistent episode from start to finish, led by its host.  Martin Freeman showed that he has the perfect skill set for a show like this.  I hope he stays relevant in pop culture, not only so more people will start to recognize him, but also so he can come back and host the show again.

***B***

View the full episode here:

SNL 40.8 Review - James Franco, Nicki Minaj

Original Airdate - 12/6/14

This episode is much more interesting looking back on now than it was in the moment.  James Franco was obviously hosting this episode as a part of his press run for The Interview, which ended up having a lot more significance in the weeks following his appearance.  With that said, as a host there are few that are better than James Franco.  He is one of the most versatile and self-deprecating actors working today.  I mean, he can go from an Oscar-nominated performance in 127 Hours to making attacking everything he stands for in This Is the End.  He is the perfect host.  Not to mention, whenever he hosts Seth Rogen shows up too, and vise versa.  When the previous episode lacked all originality, this episode brought it all back.

Cold Opening

The current event statement that needed to be made in this segment this week had to do with all the drama around the country surrounding police officers and alleged excessive force.  To comment on this, they use Kenan Thompson's Al Sharpton impression, which is about as close to a classic SNL character left on the show right now.  This character always makes me laugh, and it took a non-threatening uncontroversial personality to make the first comment on such a touchy subject for so many.  By having Al Sharpton address it, they were able to talk about it without really talking about it.  This was a fairly strong opening to the show.

Monologue

This monologue is by far the moment in this episode that looks a lot different now than it did when it aired.  When this episode was filmed, news had just started coming out about the Sony hack.  What now has become a potential international incident as North Korea was allegedly behind it to shut down the release of the fictional story of an assassination attempt on Kim Jung-Un that is The Interview, at that point it just looked like yet another invasion of the privacy of celebrities.  So with the help of his buddy Seth, James Franco reveals all the embarrassing pictures of the two of them that would no doubt be leaked as a part of the hack.  In the moment, it was a funny, silly bit.  Looking at it now, it is strange to watch and think that these two goof balls became the center of a near war with North Korea.

Weekend Update

Weekend Update started this week on an uncomfortable note as they co-anchors had to do their best addressing the police controversies.  Having one black and one white anchor made it easy to have some scripted banter about the situation, but it was just more awkward than funny.  It wasn't until Colin Jost addressed the issue as a native Staten Islander that the segment was able to hit its normal groove.  Our guest stars this week started with this season's first appearance of Anthony Crispino, the second-hand news correspondent.  I find parts of this bit hilarious, especially without Seth helping to cheesball it up, but Bobby always goes a little too far with it and ruins it by the end.  The second guest showed one of the purposes of this episode was to see if Nicki Minaj would be capable to host at some point.  She appeared in three sketches as musical guest, which is a level reserved usually only for former hosts returning as musical guests (unless you are Bruno Mars apparently ... still bitter about that).  Here, she attempts to channel Kim Kardashian to discuss her latest "break the internet" photo shoot.  Outside of her being pretty much the same shape as Kim, it wasn't a great impression.  Well actually, that's all that really matters in that impression so I guess it was right on.  Honestly, the main thing that this guest appearance did was leave everyone disappointed that Nasim Pedrad wasn't back to give one of her few great characters from her time on the show.  The last guest to the Update desk is the third appearance by Leslie Jones in the first 8 episodes of the season.  I'd complain, but she's just too funny.

Best Sketch

The first half of the episode brought about many solid episodes, but probably not any great ones.  The best of the group were these two.  First, you have the SNL version of the new Star Wars trailer.  It's a funny sketch, and I am a fan of any opportunity for Taran Killam to do his Harrison Ford impression.  Second, we have an MTV Christmas as everyone pulls out their best hip-hop impressions.  Again, Taran Killam is a genius,  How long before he becomes the next Will Ferrell?  It already could be said he has reached those heights on SNL.  He just needs to find the right vehicle to be made relevant outside the show.  This sketch also has another appearance by Nicki, this time channeling Beyonce.  Once again, I was disappointed it wasn't the former cast member coming back to do her famous impression (this time Maya Rudolph).  And once again, Nicki's impression is more about having the curves and not really trying anything, which made this impression ... once again, spot on.

Worst Sketch

There were not really any bad sketches, but this was my least favorite as it once again continued a disappointing trend.  This sketch of a strange troll having a new request to cross his bridge brought about another awkward character from Cecily Strong.  She has played pretty much this exact character three or four times before, and I have hated it every time.  It's not funny when she tries these dimwitted characters.  She is so talented that it depresses me to see her waste her screen time on these idiotic characters.

Dark Horse Sketch

The first of these Dark Horses might be my favorite sketch of the year so far.  Due to copyright issues, it took some effort to find a clip of it online, but it's worth watching even on the awkward format.  Jeremy is a young man who needs to change one of his passwords, but his brain is too full to store it.  We then go to James Franco playing Jeremy's memory manager taking us through all of the random things stuck in that brain of his.  The results are absolutely hilarious, from Sound Garden, to the word rhombus (but not the meaning), to the Fresh Prince, to the first two lines of the song "Anaconda" (yes, another appearance by Nicki).  Any child of the 90's will love this sketch just as much as I do.  The second sketch has become a standard close to the show over the last few seasons as Cecily and Vanessa bring back their infomercial by ex-porn stars.  I usually don't talk about return sketches on here, but having Franco and Rogen involved makes it funny enough that it's worth singling out.

Grade

This episode had a lot of things going on.  You had the return of one of the better hosts around.  You also had a musical guest basically interviewing for a future hosting gig.  I don't think she's ready, but I also wouldn't be surprised if she hosted her own show before the end of this season.  Then you had the news events going on.  Going into the episode, it was all about the police controversies across the country, but leaving the episode the talk had to be the Sony hack.  Few people really knew what this was at the time, but seeing James Franco and Seth Rogen make fun of it before they realized how serious it was sure was interesting to say the least.  With all of this going on, I am glad the primary focus of this review could still be a great episode to start off the three-week Christmas push at 30 Rock.

***A-***

View the full episode here:

SNL 40.7 Review - Cameron Diaz, Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars

Original Airdate - 11/22/14

I am going to admit something that probably isn't going to be quite popular.  I am not a big Cameron Diaz fan.  I know, I know, I know.  Don't crucify me.  I just don't find her that funny.  I think she is a great dramatic actress (on the rare occasion she has the opportunity to show that side of her), but outside of her first movie The Mask and some random moments here and there, I don't appreciate her comedy.  With that in mind, you can imagine I was a little less than thrilled when I found out she would be hosting.  Add to that Bruno Mars being one of the musical guests, who was a surprisingly successful combo host a couple season ago, I was really scratching my head.  I would love to say this episode proved me wrong about the host, but unfortunately the episode matched my opinion of her: mediocre.

Cold Opening

The highlight of the episode actually came in the Cold Open as the writing staff produced the first memorable start to the show this season.  This episode's statement on current events pertained to President Obama's executive order changing immigration policy without getting a vote from the House or the Senate.  That's not the way things usually work.  That's what I learned from School House Rock.  Apparently the writers were thinking the same thing as they recreated their "I'm Just a Bill" sketch.  The difference is after some time the Executive Order comes out and sings his own verse while Pharaoh's Obama pushes the Bill back down the steps of Capitol Hill.  It's a great sketch about a great topic using a great pop culture reference.  I loved this sketch, but I hate when this is the highlight of the show.

Monologue

This may have been the worst monologue of the season so far.  Everyone mailed it in on this one.  They didn't even try!  It was like they got to 11:20 and realized they had forgotten to write a monologue so they threw this together at the last minute.  I understand bad sketches, but at least show some effort!

Weekend Update

I don't know why, but I don't necessarily find Kate McKinnon's impression of German Chancellor Angela Merkel that funny.  I feel like I should, but I don't.  So whenever she pops up, I'm slightly disappointed.  The second guest to the Update desk was Charles Manson and his new fiance.  Taran Killam is great at playing a psychopath, and there are some funny bits here, but making fun of Manson just seems a little too easy.  Again, a lot of this episode lacked creativity.  As is starting to become the norm, Jost and Che once again are pretty great.

Best Sketch

Some of the sketches were pretty solid.  This was the best of them as girls once again challenge their inner bad girl (a la "Twin Bed" from last season) to talk about going home for the holidays.  Even though I felt like I had seen this before, the cast additions really made it feel fresh, highlighted by Leslie Jones's Missy Elliott-esque verse.

Worst Sketch

Cameron Diaz's latest project is the reinvention of Annie starring Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhane Wallis.  So they made Annie black.  I thought it was a creative idea to freshen up a classic story.  This sketch made it weird.  Once again, it's like the writers didn't even try.  I know it is the custom to design a sketch around the host's latest project, but it was like the writers said, "Let's throw a red wig on Leslie Jones and let her just shout random crap."  Jay Pharaoh is a master impressionist, but his Jamie Foxx is about as weak as I have seen him.  Again, at least try to make a good sketch...

Dark Horse Sketch

...like this one!  This is a perfect example of a Dark Horse Sketch: creative, weird, off-beat, not necessarily full of laughs but fun nevertheless.  It's the effort that counts; an effort that was lacking in most of the episode.  In this sketch, they pull out every cliche of an overly-artistic play.  It's a little strange, but I enjoyed it.

Grade

The Cold Opening in this episode may go down as a top 10 sketch of the season, however the rest of the episode just felt mailed in.  There were three repeat sketches also that failed in comparison to the originals.  I was fairly bored with the majority of this episode, like I usually am watching Cameron Diaz in a comedy.  This mediocre episode was compounded by the fact that a former host as musical guest wasn't utilized at all.  Have Bruno Mars appear in something!  I guess that would have been just a little too creative for this particular episode.

***C-***

View the full episode here:

SNL 40.6 Review - Woody Harrelson, Kendrick Lamar

Original Airdate - 11/15/14

How is it possible that this is only Woody Harrelson's second time hosting Saturday Night Live?!?  One of the most talented and diverse actors of the last 25 years, unfortunately known more for his drug use over the years than his immense talent, was finally asked back for the first time since 1989.  This could potentially be due to the amazing year Woody had, with True Detective and the third of four Hunger Games movies coming out this year.  By the end of the episode, I was hoping we wouldn't have to wait another 25 years to see him back again.

Cold Opening

In what was one of the better Cold Openings in awhile, we see what it would look like if President Obama and Senator McConnell had a drink (or five) together at the White House.  Although this sketch once again fell into the Cold Open trend of being a little too topical to really be a memorable highlight of the episode, it was still better than most of what the crew has put together the last few episodes for the start of the show.

Monologue

In one of the weirder monologues in recent memory, Woody Harrelson came out for his monologue in what appeared to be an obvious drunken stupor.Now if this was just an act or if this is Woody being Woody, I do not know.  Either way, it was awkwardly entertaining at first when he pulled out his guitar to sing his version of Taylor Swift's "1989" since that was the last time he hosted.  After not too long, he was joined by Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth (the only one of the Hunger Games three not to host yet) to try and save him from embarrassing himself too much.  Then when Jennifer Lawrence came on stage, things got really bizarre.  Yes, it was funny when Woody referred to her as Taylor Swift.  However, it was more awkward than comical to watch just how much Jennifer Lawrence was thrown off by Woody getting down on one knee and biting her thigh.  Needless to say, after the Cold Open and Monologue, the jury was definitely still out on what kind of episode this would be.

Weekend Update

With as strong as the Weekend Update co-anchors have been, it takes some strong segments to steal their thunder.  It starts with yet another appearance from Leslie Jones.  The stand-up-esque routines she has been delivering from the Update desk really seem to be her forte as the sketches she has been featured in up to this point have been mediocre.  She shines when she gets to just be her own ridiculous self.  Her banter with Colin Jost also is the closest thing to the report Seth Myers had built up with the many characters that came across the desk while he was host.  The second featured guest to the desk was an inevitable one.  With Woody Harrelson hosting, and the huge success of his HBO show True Detective, the topic had to be addressed.  The only question was if Matthew McConaughey would show up himself, or would bring out another impression.  Jim Carrey hilariously mimicked McConaughey earlier this season, but they also had Taran Killam's impression that debuted last season after the Oscars.  Unfortunately, Matthew did not show up, however we had some hilarious banter with Woody and Taran's McConaughey at the Update desk.  He has his cadence and random ramblings down perfectly.  Although having McConaughey show up himself for this segment would have been better, this was still pretty good.  I guess you are only allowed to bring on cameos from one project at a time on SNL.

Best Sketch

Although Woody got off to an awkward start, the good thing was once he didn't have to be himself anymore, he was able to shine like we have all become accustomed to.  This sketch is a great example of that.  This sketch featured the new dating game "Match'd."  As the title suggests, this is the hip dating show where the horny guys just talk about how they are going to get into the hot girl's pants.  This sounds pretty standard until the twist is revealed that the host, played by Woody, is the girl's father.  All of a sudden, these dirty boasts the boys had been making to turn the girl on turn into respectful complements meant more for the father than the girl.  This sketch is acted perfectly all around.

Worst Sketch

We get it!  You like to play guitar and sing!  Unless the guest host is a musician, there is no reason for two appearances by a guitar and two singing sketches.  It's just too much.  They used it once in the Monologue, but it had to come back for this sketch about the world's worst campfire song.  Although the sketch wasn't terrible, it did feel like wasted time considering the strength of the rest of the episode.

Dark Horse Sketch

This was actually my favorite sketch of the night.  The premise was simple: a group of guys sit around the car reminiscing about the good ol' days of NYC, when there was a hot dog stand on every corner, there wasn't a new frozen yogurt shop popping up everyday, and it was much easier to get crack.  Wait ... what?!?  Throughout the episode, Woody loves to make light of the fact that he spent most of the 90's intoxicated by something.  Here, as everyone remembers things normal people would remember about the past, Woody reminisces about what he would remember: the drugs.  As the sketch continues, it just keeps getting more and more ridiculous as Woody honestly feels his comments are contributing to a completely normal conversation.  Instead, we see just how funny our host can be.

Grade

This episode fit its host perfectly.  It was random, obviously under the influence of something, all over the place, yet it worked in almost every way.  Like I said at the beginning, I find it strange that this is only the second time Woody Harrelson has hosted since this show is built for a performer with the range and slight derangement like Woody.  I hope he gets asked back soon, like in the next 25 months instead of 25 years.

***B***

View the full episode here:

SNL 40.5 Review - Chris Rock, Prince

Original Airdate - 11/1/14

It's catch-up time for SNL reviews!  For the third time in the first five episodes of this season, a former cast member has returned to 30 Rock to host.  Chris Rock had some mild success on the show as a castmember, but his notoriety came more from his stand-up and subsequent movie career.  The first two times former cast members (Sarah Silverman, Bill Hader) had come back this season and had some decent success, with Hader turning in one of the best episodes of the season.  Chris Rock unfortunately did not have the same success.

Cold Opening

It almost has felt at times that the SNL writers have tried a little too hard to make the cold opens topical and current.  It has also felt at times like they forget not everyone that watches the show lives in New York.  The result is a series of sketches that may speak to the times, but have very few laughs and are completely forgettable.  This one is no different.  They talk about the quarantine (or lack thereof) of ebola patients in New York.  The one positive out of this sketch is it allows Bobby Moynihan to reprise his Chris Christie impression, which is just too perfect to not pull out every once in awhile.

Monologue

By far, the highlight of this episode was the monologue where Chris Rock got to do what he does best.  His comedy had the type of current events commentary that you can usually expect out of Cold Open.  He hit topics like the Boston Marathon and 9/11 in a way that you had to laugh at.  Now if only the whole show could have been this...

Weekend Update

Throughout this season, Weekend Update has slowly been gaining momentum again.  Now, you can firmly say it is once again the backbone the show is built on.  It is now better than the late Seth Meyers years as Colin Jost and Michael Che are more willing to be edgy and offensive in their commentary on the week's news.  For the first time in awhile, the jokes by the anchors are outshining the guest spots.  This week, the guests to the Update desk started off with Pete Davidson, who always shines as Weekend Update's "Resident Young Guy."  Next came Katt Williams.  I still have no idea who that is, but I hear Jay Pharaoh is scary in his portrayal of the diminutive comic.

Best Sketch

Do you ever have those moments where you are listening to a song for the first time and are really enjoying it until you hear who is singing it?  Apparently, so have the people at SNL.  They have come up with a solution for this phenomenon revolving around one of the more polarizing musical figures right now, Taylor Swift.  Swiftamine is one of the more clever ideas for these commercials that pop up throughout the episode this season.  However, you know the episode is a little lacking when a commercial takes the best sketch crown.

Worst Sketch

Chris Rock seemed to spend most of this episode in a grey-haired wig playing a stereotypical older black man.  I have no idea why, but none of the sketches where he did this were very funny.  The worst of these was this sketch where he and Leslie Jones play a bickering older couple.  It was more sad than funny as it seemed to either be trying too hard or not trying at all.  I couldn't tell.  Rock obviously wanted to show how grown up he was though.

Dark Horse Sketch

The only sketch that reclaimed the edge found in Chris Rock's monologue was this recreation of the hit show Shark Tank.  I have never watched the show, but you don't need to have seen it to understand the premise.  Average Joes try to get millionaire businessmen to back their business ideas.  The idea before the backers in this sketch is ISIS ... yes, that ISIS.  It was more of a shock-factor sketch than anything, but the fact that they were willing to go there was impressive enough to make this sketch a definite highlight of the episode.

Grade

After a couple of really fun episodes, this one really disappointed.  It seemed as if Chris Rock brought a lot of ideas to the table that just didn't pan out the way he thought (like many of his movies recently).  The main things to see in this episode are Chris Rock's monologue and Prince's extended jam session in the middle.  Other than that, there wasn't much to get excited about.

***C-***

View the full episode here:

SNL 40.4 Review - Jim Carrey, Iggy Azalea

Original Airdate - 10/25/14

If you were to make a list of personalities that should have been castmembers at Saturday Night Live, Jim Carrey would be near the top of that list.  His brand of comedy, especially in his prime, was perfect for the sketch show as was evident in his breakout opportunity being on the sketch show In Living Color.  The fact that he is so perfect for this show led to my surprise that this was only the third time he had hosted the show.  This was just one of three things that made this an anticipated show entering Saturday night.  Second, it was the debut of Leslie Jones as a featured player.  After several successful guest spots at the Update desk, the writer was promoted to the newcomer cast.  Third, it was the Halloween episode which always brings something special.

Cold Opening

The cold opens this season so far have been quite uneventful.  This is usually where the show gets jumpstarted with a statement on today's pop culture or current events (or both).  It seems the writing staff has been trying so hard to find stories to address that they have created a series of flat, forgettable sketches.  This is the latest in this run as they make a use of Pharaoh's spot-on Obama as they discuss the questionable selection of the recently-appointed Ebola Czar.  I'm getting bored just talking about it.  At least Al Sharpton shows up at the end to talk about the Ebola Caesar.

Monologue

One thing that became apparent from the moment you spotted Jim Carrey in this episode was that he would definitely be bringing his special brand of silly to this episode.  This started with Helvis, Carrey's Devil/Elvis hybrid.  He then sang a song about pecan pie.  The host singing a song in the monologue is something that happens quite often, but this was more than just your average monologue song.  It was, like I said, just pure silliness, and I loved it.

Weekend Update

I don't know what happened this week at the Update desk, but all of a sudden everyone clicked.  Michael Che is continuing to improve every week, and Colin Jost seemed to relax for the first time at the Update desk.  This week reminded me of the hayday of Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey at the Update desk.  It was one of the highlights of the show.  The first guest was a clever take on the standard rom-com formula.  This was delivered to perfection by Vanessa Bayer, and received perfectly by Che.  It was one of the best original characters they have created recently.

Next, we have this season's first Drunk Uncle appearance.  Since Bill Hader left the cast, Drunk Uncle has definitely taken Stefon's place as the most popular Weekend Update guest.  The formula is the same sketch after sketch, but it never ceases to be funny.  This was definitely no exception as it takes advantage of the added dynamic of having a black Update anchor with one of the show's most racist characters.  It was also refreshing to see Bobby Moynihan have a pretty significant role in this episode.  He had been riding the bench for much of the season so far.

Best Sketch

This was an easy choice, as this sketch went viral in the days following the broadcast.  It's nice to know I am not the only one that finds the new Matthew McConaughey Lincoln car ads a little odd.  This led to Jim Carrey unleashing his beautiful McConaughey impression on the world as he recreates the ads, making light of just how ridiculous they are.  A series of three ads showed throughout the night, each more hilarious than the first.  If you haven't seen this yet, or even if you have, take a break and enjoy.

Honorable mention has to go out to the Carrey family reunion.  Although it wasn't the funniest sketch of the night, it was a wonderful tribute to the amazing career Jim Carrey has had, and the wide array of characters he has created.  It also allowed for Jeff Daniels to make an appearance to remind us all that Dumb and Dumber To is coming, ready or not.

Worst Sketch

There were a couple of clunkers that came out near the end of the episode.  The worst of these sketches was definitely this portrayal of the zombie apocalypse.  As a group hunkers down to fight off the oncoming onslaught, Carrey arrives wanting for him and his son, who has obviously already become a zombie.  Outside of watching Pete Davidson make a pretty convincing zombie (I'm telling you, future star!), this sketch really is without laughs.

Dark Horse Sketch

Just when you think this episode is winding down, this sketch pops up that redefines the entire episode.  A costume party at work turns into a ridiculous tour of the entire studio as Carrey and Kate McKinnon (and even Iggy Azalea for a moment) dance in the fashion of the girl in the music video for Sia's "Chandelier."  You know it's something special when Lorne Michaels can't even keep a straight face during his cameo.

Grade

As I said in the start, silliness was expected, and silliness is what we got.  Not all sketches were great, but the Lincoln ads and the dance routine created pretty spectacular book-ends as both are early candidates for a list of top sketches of the season.  Add that to a return to the glory days of Weekend Update, and you have a pretty spectacular episode that is definitely worth a watch or two.

***A-***

Watch the full episode here:

SNL 40.3 Review - Bill Hader, Hozier

Original Airdate - 10/11/14

It's always an event when a former castmember hosts the show, especially when it is a beloved and revered SNL alum.  Unlike the previous episode's host, Sarah Silverman, this episode is hosted by one of those beloved and revered alums, Bill Hader.  It had been a little over a season since Bill Hader left, and this is his first hosting gig since.  It was only a matter of time before they would bring one of the most versatile performers the show ever saw back to host.  I was actually surprised it took this long.  However, the main reason he didn't get his hosting debut until now is because he didn't do anything post-SNL until now that warranted such an honor.  With the release of The Skeleton Twins, Hader was able to come back to a place so familiar to him.  How did he do?

Cold Opening

The first sketch made light of an interesting piece of current events that had been rolling around the news outlets.  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, normally a very public figure, had not been seen in public for weeks.  Some of the speculation was that he injured his ankles.  Some probably wondered if he was still alive.  SNL solves the riddle by bringing about a public appearance of the Communist dictator via Bobby Moynihan, one of the most underused cast members so far this season.  This bit is a little silly, but effective for its purpose.

Monologue

We knew what kind of performer Bill Hader was coming in to the show, however he had never had to give a monologue before.  One of the popular formats of the SNL monologue is to have the host sing a song, which brought about an interesting bit of trivia: Bill Hader had never sung a song before on Saturday Night Live.  As he considered whether or not to sing, we get two cameos: one predictable (fellow SNL alum and Skeleton Twins co-star Kristen Wiig) and one not predictable (Harvey Fierstein).  Eventually, you realize there's a reason why Hader doesn't sing, but no one really cares by that point.  The ridiculousness of the scenario brings enough laughs to kick the show off right.

Weekend Update

As our new co-anchors continue to get more comfortable, this backbone to every episode is becoming more and more of a highlight.  Jost and Che are starting to prove what kind of humor they bring to the table as they truly settle in.  There were two guests to the Update desk in this episode.  The first brought about the second appearance in three episodes for new featured player Pete Davidson (bodes well for the newcomer in the over-populated cast).  This bit about how wearing gold chains change you is not as funny as his first appearance, but he does show once again that much of the immediate future of the show rests on his shoulders.

And now the moment everyone was waiting for.  If Bill Hader is hosting the show, many former characters and bits will be considered for re-hashing.  However, one character was practically guaranteed to reappear: city correspondent Stefon.  One of the most popular characters in the show's history makes his long-anticipated return to the update desk to tell of all the hottest spots in NYC.  One of the best parts of Stefon's appearances are the moments where the jokes get the best of Hader as we get a rare crack in character.  Legend has it that this is a result of former writer John Mulaney, who co-created Stefon with Hader, changing jokes at the last minute and letting Hader know as he walks on set for the live broadcast without rehearsing them.  Even though Mulaney has moved on to his new sitcom, no one else could help Hader create Stefon's return, or bring about Hader's latest laugh fest.  According to Mulaney's Twitter post, he texted one of the SNL writers right before broadcast his customary changes to Stefon's cue cards.  Hader was never told of the changes, and you must think he wouldn't expect them coming since Mulaney wasn't around.  So he was discovering what the jokes were right along with the viewing audience, and it is quite obvious on some of them.  You can tell they had been saving up some of these jokes over the last year as this may have been one of the best Stefon sketches to date.

Best Sketch

When a former castmember like Hader hosts, you have to qualify the best sketches as reworkings of old sketches and completely fresh and new material.  The best sketch of the night was definitely the reappearance of ancient news reporter Herb Welch, on the scene of yet another story and getting all the facts wrong as he cracks insensitive and sometimes racist remarks.  It is Hader at his best.

There weren't many noteworthy original sketches, as it was obvious most of the brainpower was spent making the character reappearances hit it big.  Of these original sketches, this was my favorite as I am a sucker for a good impression.  Most of these impressions in Hollywood Game Night we have seen before, but the surprise of the night comes courtesy of Beck Bennett's Nick Offerman.  It's perfect!

An honorable mention for best sketch that has to be mentioned is this beautiful tribute to the late Jan Hooks.  Hooks was a castmember in the late 80's and early 90's and helped pave the way for future stars like Molly Shannon, Ana Gasteyer, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, and the list goes on and on.  This sketch, fittingly co-starring the late Phil Hartman, is a perfect sketch to honor a fallen great.  It also serves as a reminder just how many of the great SNL personalities have left us too soon.  The only issue I had with this touching moment is it once again reminded all of us that they have yet to give a proper tribute to Don Pardo.  I know I've belabored this point before, but Pardo was involved in more episodes of SNL than creator Lorne Michaels has.  How do you not stop for more than five seconds and pay tribute to the voice of Saturday Night Live?  No matter what happens, this season will be considered a failure if no Don Pardo tribute is aired.

Worst Sketch

There weren't really any sketches that missed their respected marks, however this one was one I just didn't get.  To start, I must confess I have not seen Divergent or The Maze Runner (although I have seen the first two Hunger Games films).  That probably adds to my confusion behind this sketch.  This movie spoof idea presumably combines the storylines of these three films to make The Group Hopper.  We see the heads of SNL are starting to recognize what I have already said: Pete Davidson is the future of the show.  He stars as a kid out to rebel against what he is told is normal.  The sketch has its moments, and I'm sure it would make more sense if I had seen all these films, but I just feel like I missed the joke.

Dark Horse Sketch

There were several off-the-wall sketches in the second half of the episode that were quite good.  An honorable mention can go out to the first of Kyle Mooney's goofy sketches to get a sophomore appearance with their "Inside SoCal" talk show.  However, my favorite goofy sketch comes from a twisted take on The Cat in the Hat.  The sketch starts off with the build-up to the Cat's appearance, only to discover that the mother of the children that called on the Cat happens to be his ex.  Hader as the Cat is perfect, and the reveal of the kids' new dad is priceless.

Grade

When I heard Bill Hader would be hosting, this is the type of episode I was hoping for.  Bringing back his history of past performances on the show gives the writers an easy episode to write as they don't need to come up with as many original sketches.  As for the original sketches, a seasoned pro like Hader can make even the dullest sketch entertaining with his showmanship.  Because of this, this was the best episode of the season so far.  However, this also makes this the least impressive episode so far as well.  The writers really couldn't screw this one up.  Although that doesn't really affect the quality of the show, it definitely is something to keep in mind moving forward.

***A-***

View the full episode here:

SNL 40.2 Review - Sarah Silverman, Maroon 5

Original Airdate - 10/4/14

It's always an event when a former castmember hosts the show, especially when it is a beloved and revered SNL alum.  However, rarely do you see a former cast reject that only lasted a season get big enough to garner a hosting gig.  As funny as they may be, it is hard to picture a universe where people like Brooks Wheelen or John Milhiser come back and haunt Lorne Michaels to the point that he has to bite the bullet and invite them back to host.  Such was the case with Sarah Silverman.  Silverman was a featured player in the 1993-1994 season, but didn't make a big enough impression to garner a sophomore year.  However, she went from there to become one of the most successful female comedians working today.  Rarely does Lorne give a second chance like this, but Silverman definitely deserved it and showed throughout the episode the talent that brought about her original hiring.

Cold Opening

It is always a solid start to the show when they go political.  This time the show opted for a sit-down interview with President Obama brought to you by Jay Pharaoh.  Discussing the recent issues with the ISIS organization in the Middle East, they take this opportunity give their commentary on social media.  It is a solid sketch that has a few laughs, but one that is fairly forgettable by the end of the episode.

Monologue

In one of the longest monologues in recent memory, Sarah Silverman basically combines two monologues into one.  You could tell the writers didn't know which idea to go with for the monologue, so they decided to go with both.  It starts with her interacting with the audience in an awkward way only Sarah Silverman can.  I feel for that poor girl in the front row that Silverman picked out of the crowd.  Never mind, no I don't.  She got front row seats to SNL!!!  After her crowd interaction portion of the monologue was completed, she addressed the fact that she was a former cast member, but didn't really do much other than feed the host questions from the crowd during the monologue.  She then took questions from herself back in 1993 via archive crowd footage.  It was a creative way to bring up her history with the show.  I'm glad they did the double monologue.

Weekend Update

The sophomore outing for new anchor tandem Colin Jost and Michael Che brought some progress, but still showed many areas for improvement.  For the first time since the days of Seth and Amy do we have attempts at banter between the co-anchors.  Although the effort is there, it's still not great.  It's better than last season though, when Cecily either didn't have time to develop the chemistry with her two co-hosts or simply couldn't handle the improved nature of the banter.  Either way, you can start to see the potential of this tandem.  Now on to the guests!  First, we had Kenan's Al Sharpton talking about the security breach at the White House.  Kenan's impression is so ridiculous and campy, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't funny.

Second, we had feminist folk band Garage & Her performing some of their music.  In this short bit, the most notable takeaway is just how similar the styles of Sarah Silverman and Kate McKinnon are.  These two are a match made in heaven, and this band is so silly you have to laugh.

Best Sketch

What made this such a solid episode was the fact that so few sketches missed.  Most of the sketches had their high points and laughs.  However, this sketch stood out from the crowd.  Over the years, Joan Rivers has been the butt of many SNL jokes.  The reason she was probably such a frequent target was because of her great sense of self-deprecation as well as her ability to bash just about anybody.  No one was untouchable to Joan Rivers, which I'm sure is what made Sarah Silverman such an admirer.  When Joan Rivers suddenly died over the summer, you knew an SNL tribute would come at some point, but it had to be fitting of Joan Rivers.  Having Sarah Silverman hosting provided that opportunity.  The idea of a sketch where Joan Rivers roasts several dead celebrities in heaven as its newest member may seem quite disrespectful, but if you think so, you didn't know Joan Rivers.  It was the perfect way to honor her life, and only someone who respected her as much as Silverman did could bring her persona to life the way she did.  It wasn't necessarily a laugh-out-loud sketch from start to finish like many best sketches are, but because of the what this sketch meant and how it was executed, it could easily stand as one of the best sketches of the season.  The only problem with this sketch is it once again reminded us that SNL has yet to provide a proper tribute for late announcer Don Pardo.

Disappointing Sketch

Granted, this was the last sketch of the night, which is usually a little off-beat and quirky more than funny, however it still has to be good.  This infomercial about a high-end blender that turned into a social class debate is one of the worst closing sketches in some time.  It got off to an awkward start and never really found its stride as it just seemed to fall flat from start to finish.  When the studio audience can barely muster a chuckle, you know it's not good.

Dark Horse Sketch

Silverman's awkward brand of comedy hit perfect in this sketch.  After being picked up from the airport from a long vacation, Silverman confides in her friend that she may have cheated on her boyfriend during her vacation.  We then discover that her boyfriend (Bobby Moynihan) pops up in the back seat, engagement ring in hand ready to propose in the car.  Before the sketch is over, we discover that along with the boyfriend, the back seat also holds mom, dad, and a hungry Adam Levine.  It's goofy, it's awkward, and it's hilarious.

Grade

Like I said, this episode rarely missed a beat.  The lowest moment of the episode didn't even come until the last sketch of the night (however, that sketch was pretty bad).  However, outside of the Joan Rivers tribute, this episode rarely hit the unforgettable status.  The parody of The Fault in Our Stars was clever but not special, and the commercial celebrating white people was somehow both original and not at the same time.  Overall, I laughed more times than not even though the episode ended up being slightly forgettable.  I will take episodes like this over that horrendous season premiere any day.

***B***

View the full episode here:

SNL 40.1 Review - Chris Pratt, Ariana Grande

Original Airdate - 9/27/14

Coming into the 40th season of SNL, there were a lot of questions that needed to be answered.  How would the landmark show celebrate its 40th season?  How will the show stay fresh, yet still honor its rich history?  Which of the 8 featured players that debuted in Season 39 would make the cut to Season 40?  And possibly the greatest question of all: how will Lorne Michaels replace Don Pardo, the show's announcer and one true mainstay of the show since day one that passed away over the summer at 96?

Many of those questions were answered in this first episode.  They had two options for host for this first episode of the new season: a classic host with history on the show or a fresh newcomer making his debut on the show.  They opted for a newcomer, and there was no one that deserved the honor more than Chris Pratt.  He has shown over the last few years that he not only is hilarious, but a great actor.  As far as the cast, 4 of the 8 featured players (John Milhiser, Mike O'Brien, Noel Wells, Brooks Wheelen) from last season were no longer a part of the cast (Mike O'Brien moved back to the writing room).  That meant 4 of the 8 featured players (Beck Bennett, Colin Jost, Kyle Mooney, Sasheer Zamata) were back as featured players, with newcomers Michael Che and Pete Davidson joining them.  The final question, and the most intriguing, was answered in the best way possible.  Don Pardo accomplished more for setting the tone for every episode than any sketch would.  When Pardo died, a part of the show's history and tradition died.  They needed someone that could bring something new to the table and not be compared to Pardo while still continuing on the tradition of SNL.  When Darrell Hammond, the longest tenured cast member in the show's history, was announced as Pardo's replacement it only made too much sense.  As for the question about how the show will celebrate it's anniversary season, hopefully the first episode was no indicator as it neither showed any recognition of the show's history, nor showcased any strong sign the show is headed in a strong direction.

Cold Opening

The cold opening is usually reserved for commenting on recent pop culture developments.  This makes the first cold open of the season one of the most interesting as they have a whole summer's worth of pop culture to discuss.  They decided to attack the NFL's recent string of domestic violence.  This line of commentary led to impressions of the evasive Ray Lewis and the cartoon-ish Shannon Sharpe.  This also led to an appearance by Chris Pratt channeling his inner Roger Goodell.  It wasn't a legendary sketch, but it was definitely a strong start to the episode and the season.

Monologue

Chris Pratt's monologue was the perfect example of why he is one of America's favorite average Joe actors.  After discussing how he is honored to have this opportunity, he pulls out his guitar and sings a simple song that he wrote about his experience.  This included a shout out to his wife, 2-time host Anna Faris.  After stumbling over a couple lines (my favorite being the line about him being up for 40 straight hours), you can't help but love the man.  The show had some serious promise.

Weekend Update

The new anchor combination of head writer Colin Jost and writer Michael Che was debuted this episode, and you could tell it was their first time.  The dynamic between the two showed some promise, but was very stiff and awkward for this first episode.  Jost isn't exactly established, taking over for Seth Meyers halfway through last season, and Che was added to the cast simply to take on this task.  It will get stronger throughout the season as they seem to be trying for some back-and-forth banter much more than Cecily did with either of her co-hosts.  Speaking of Cecily, one of the biggest drawbacks to her anchoring Weekend Update was it meant the end of the Girl You Wished You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party, one of the budding new guests to the Update desk.  Well, in her first episode in a season she wasn't an anchor, they brought back the Party Girl.  They must have really missed her, and it also allowed for Cecily to indirectly show that there were no hard feelings.  She showed once again what makes her such a strong cast member.

Our second guest to the Update desk was Leslie Jones, a new writer to the show making her second appearance at the Update desk.  Jones is hilarious as she brings a brand of comedy to the show with her quasi-stand-up that really nobody else has in the cast right now.  She is a welcome sight whenever she wants to come on and yell at the camera for a little while.

The last guest to the desk was the debut of the newest, and youngest, cast member, Pete Davidson.  Immediately, he showed why he was brought in.  In two minutes, Davidson proved he was naturally funnier than any of the cast members who were not brought back.  It was a little raunchy, but what do you expect out of a 20 year old stand up comedian?

Best Sketch

Although it sounds like the episode was pretty solid from the Cold Open, Monologue, and Weekend Update, those were the only highlights of the first half of the show.  It was really hard to find a regular sketch that had any laughs in it.  There were actually no laughs in the first half the episode after the monologue.  I had to go to the first sketch after Weekend Update to find a sketch that was funny at all.  This sketch had Chris Pratt and Aidy Bryant trying to flirt with each other by using rap lyrics.  They were cheap laughs, but at least they were laughs.

Worst Sketch

There were several contenders for this title from this episode, however the winner has to be the first post-monologue sketch.  This is supposed to be the strongest and best sketch of the night as it sets a real tone for the show.  Well this sketch about a boy who wishes his toys would come to life sure set that tone, but I don't think it was the tone they were meaning to set.  Also, it brought a needless cameo from Ariana Grande way too early in the show.  I don't know what they were thinking with this one.

Dark Horse Sketch

One of the main reasons Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett thrived last year and made it to a sophomore season was their off-beat quirky digital shorts that ended almost every show.  It became something to look forward to at the end of every episode, as it took the prize for Dark Horse Sketch more times than not last season.  Well, in this disappointing season premiere I knew I could count on Kyle and Beck to bring something different to the end of the show once again.  Add to that Chris Pratt, whose brand of comedy fit in a little too well with the duo, and you have not only the quirkiest sketch of the night but possibly the best one.  This sketch channels retro 80's/90's family sitcoms in a bizarre plot and corny music and punchlines.  I don't know why, but the stuff these guys put out just fascinates me in its strangeness.

Grade

With the start of a landmark season and one of the biggest funny men in the world right now hosting, this was quite the anticipated episode and disappointed on so many levels.  The majority of the sketches were not funny and the writing was terrible (a trend I was hoping wouldn't continue from last season).  However, worst of all was that it missed so many opportunities to honor the history of the show.  If you are a fan of the show at all, you were probably like me waiting to see how they were going to pay tribute to Don Pardo.  This personality that was a part of almost every episode of the first 39 seasons of SNL got a tribute of a five second screen shot afterthought at the end of Weekend Update just like any other fallen celebrity.  Even if this episode had been top notch, this one fact would have made it a disappointment.  However, the episode was about as bad as this 40th season could have started.

***D***

Watch the full episode here: