Saturday Night Live has been a disappointment, pretty much
for all of 2013 so far. As a long
time fan, it’s been challenging to watch.
And what’s really weird is that the 2012 half of the season was pretty solid. Same cast and writers, different
outcome.
But here comes Sir Justin Timberlake to save things. He’s always funny and he’s one of those
hosts that’s talented enough to be a cast member. And he always brings his “A” game.
Clearly I’m setting myself up for disappointment.
Let’s start with our rating system;
Phil Hartman – Comedic gold
Chris Farley – Definitely funny, but kinda messy
Norm MacDonald – Funny, but not for everyone
Kristen Wiig – So-so premise saved by performer.
Tim Meadows – Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it, dripping with adequatulence
Darrell Hammond – Funny, but overstayed it’s welcome
Jim Breuer- Crowd pleaser, but a bit obvious
Robert Downey Jr – Brilliant performer, not a lot to work with
David Spade – Trying too hard
Janeane Garofalo – Weird weird, not weird funny
Memorial Service for Hugo Chavez – Incredibly ambitious of
Justin to be in the cold open.
Generally the hosts shy away from that, but not Justin. And he sings! He doesn’t sound a thing like Sir Elton John, but that’s
ok. This is a funny bit that’s
gets a bit obscured behind things.
Rating: Chris Farley
Monologue – I’m slayed by the return to the Five-Timer’s
Club. I’m not going to worry about
the implications of bringing heavy hitters to supplement for a host pulling
double duty. No, I’m going to
relish seeing Hanks, Baldwin, Chase, Bergen, Simon and everyone else show up
for this sketch. It’s not really
funny, but the wattage is impressive.
That said, it runs crazy long.
Rating: Darrell Hammond
It’s a Date – I thought that this sketch was unoriginal when
it began and Hader was playing the host.
But then to trot out Samberg, Martin and Aykroyd to rehash characters,
it made me cringe. And this sketch
took on a meta significance if you consider that Moynihan represents a current
cast member being overshadowed by the show’s past.
Rating: Jim Breuer
Vegan-Ville – These bits are always funny, because
Timberlake puts so much into it.
There’s really not much more to say other than that.
Rating: Kristen Wiig
NuvaBling – This was a pretty clever bit. I liked the attack on Big Pharma and
the notion that women care more about being fashionable than their health. It was also shot spot on.
Rating: Norm MacDonald
Justin Timberlake Performance #1 – Oh hey, it’s a song
that’s everywhere. It’s that song
that’s inescapable despite the fact that everyone feels lukewarm about it. It’s that song that shows how far past
his prime Jay-Z is.
Weekend Update – This week may have been brief, but it was
packed full of comedy. Infinity
pesos. Honky Tonk Bar Fight
Airlines. Stefon had me weak with
Joseph Gordon Fisherman.
Tales of Sober Caligula – This is a very funny concept that
went absolutely nowhere. This is a
textbook case of a halfbaked idea.
It’s sad because to far, this is the first original sketch of the
night.
Maine Justice – This is a case of “be careful what you wish
for.” We loved this sketch so much the first time around, but this time around
it fell short. Sure the New
England Neverglades and Praline & Andullie Chowder were funny. And the Benies reference was dope. Timberlake does a decent Jamie Foxx
impression, but the crazy explainations for things were such an integral part
of the original sketch. This time
around they were sorely missed.
Rating: Tim Meadows
Justice Timberlake Performance #2 – So, this is two weeks in
a row with white guys doing Black music backed by Black musicians. I bet this
song is dope if you like Timberlake.
She’s Got A Dick – This is a perfectly crafted parody, but
the punchline is so lame. And they
really hammer it down. Hard. It’s
so wack.
Rating: Jim Breuer
Moet & Chandon – Yet another sketch from Jamie Foxx’s
episode? Wack. Yeah, it lends itself to a return bit,
but the writers are lazy enough to take two sketches from the same
episode? It’s mildly funny, but
the unoriginality is wack.
Rating: Kristen Wiig
Final Thoughts – Yet another disappointing episode. Sure, maybe expectations were too high,
but the writers phoned it in again.
The only original sketch flopped and everything else was just
acceptable. I’ve given up on being
optimistic about future episodes of SNL.
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