Showing posts with label SNL 40 Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SNL 40 Review. Show all posts

Monday, May 18, 2015

Saturday Night Live 40 Review: Louis CK & Rihanna (THE FINALE)

Well, everyone. The time has come. This is the final review of Saturday Night Live 40.

The Cold Open is pretty much like musicals that take place in the summer. Everyone is at the beach, having a great time and enjoying themselves. That’s when Hillary Clinton comes in.
You know where this’ll go.

I won’t say much, but Kate Mc continues to kill it as Clinton, and I can’t wait for next season to come so she can kill it again. The same with former-cast-member/current-announcer/occasional-cast-member-when-needed Darrell Hammond (who I should give a nickname, too, from now on. I guess; is D-Hamm okay?) with his ever-so-great portrayal of Bill Clinton (aka Billary Rodham Clinton).
What made the CO even more special is that all the cast members this season (repertory and featured) are in the Open, and put in almost as much as they did as Kate Mc did, even though Kate Mc was clearly the star of this. It was sweet seeing everyone get a line, as this season was all over the.place with cast members getting dominence, especially with Taran Killam, Bobby Moynihan, Cecily Strong and Kenan Thompson getting more screentime, and the other members being lucky to have even a line in just one sketch. It’s sad as I don’t know what, so it’s good to watch all of them get together for the CO, and it felt really nice. Also seeing every cast member say “Live from New York, it’s ‘Saturday Night”!” was really sweet.

After the open, Louis CK came to the stage for the final monologue of the season.

The things he said from the topics he chose for it just blew my mind.
As funny as most of it was, it was also really boring..The lapses of raunchy and shocking material was great, though. The Mono also seriously divided social media. Everyone either thought it was disgusting, inappropriate and unwanted or bold, funny and awesome, with some middle ground.
Here’s my thoughts:
Comedians will make fun of anything for a laugh, whether cheap or strong. And they have the right to talk about whatever they want, whenever they want, just like we can say our thoughts about them whatever we want, whenever we want. People should know that when a comedian is saying a dirty, raunchy or controversial joke, they wouldn’t really take what they’re saying seriously. Any topic is up for discussion, and they will treat it like fair game. In hindsight, I do agree that these jokes should not have been touched on TV, and that whoever cleared them should not have a done so, and should be suspended (even if SNL was known for stuff like this before). If people are going to rant on about this, that’s fine. It’s their opinion, and others should respect that--that is if it’s more dignified and readable. I thought the Mono was bold and funny, with the transition between the joke about child molestation and the joke about Mounds bars being brutally hilarious. It’s not really my cup of Frog, but I can enjoy it while I can.

In the Sketch After is the retold story of The Shoemaker and the Elves. And it’s a creepy one.

Apparently, for not doing their jobs, they want to be punished. Intentionally. And Sexually.
The elves sound like gay robots. Their voices are annoying. Kenan and Nessa B did do the roles right, though. Also, the visual effects with the elves was amazing. The producers really did great putting the Elves on the set via green screen and the magic of live television.
The genius part came in at the end, when CK’s character breaks the fourth wall to ask the viewers what the Shoemaker will do: stay faithful or fuck his little shoe-making sickos. This was grossly hilarious at the end.

This is How I Talk
At a Sprint store, three employees are about to work, when one of them begins to mock the boss. And, as used by the great TVTropes.org, Hilarity ensues.

I don't know, if I should laugh or feel offended. But Louis CK talking like a straight-up black woman from the ghetto was somewhat delightful to me. His mannerisms, tone and accent are just right and the

Another thing I should mention is glaringly obvious. During the near-start of the sketch, Leslie Jones accidentally interrupted CK giving a line, apologized and, after a second of silence, the skit picks back up, though terribly. It was uncomfortable and a little cringing. This is the second time a mistake with her happened. Fortunately, they happened at very far different parts of the season, so all is not bad for her.
This sketch was strangely hilarious.

Dinner Date 2: Cabana
Remember that couple from the Dinner Date sketch a few episodes back? The one with the many onions rings? Yeah, well, they’re back. And Jemma, too.

When I first watched this, I recognized the couple almost immediately as that couple from the Dinner Date sketch from Episode 16, hosted by Dwayne Johnson. Then my mind got much clearer when the British chick Jemma also returned to annoy Gene into submission. And she has another man next to her-- except The Rock is replaced by Louis CK. Which makes her a down-ass chick. It was funny, though, especially with a lot that came out of Jemma’s mouth. And CK acting like Michael Rappaport was strangely awesome.

Uhh...no. And how the hell do they do that so quickly?
--
At a police station, the officer (Kenan) is helping a guy (Pete Davidson) prove a guy who mugged him on the street. All the guys (Taran Killam, Kyle Mooney, Beck Bennett & Louis CK) that appear in in a line-up (also looking like hipsters) are asked to repeat the line that led up to the mugging. And yet they like like start-up actors. Because they are start-up actors.

The guys in the line-up were hilarious with their reactions as if their auditioning for a role in an indie film. And they’re treating this line-up as if they’re auditioning for a role off Broadway--magic.
--
Reese De’What returns once again for the final sketch of the season, Forgotten TV Gems. This final gen of the sketch is “Whoops! I Married a Lesbian” (sigh), a sitcom from the 1950s that tackled the understandable taboo of lesbianism.

Everyone did great in their roles, especially Bobby Moynihan, who played the actions and mannerisms of a 1950s TV character up to the hilt. And that’s all I can say positively.
There are so much I want to point out about how wrong and anarchic this is, but I’d just annoy you all (and myself) with the many details.So I’ll just leave this here. This wasn't very funny and was really boring. A sad, pathetic end to this episode, and to a pretty middle of the road season.

The Lumberjack

During the show, there was a recurring sketch with a Lumberjack walking around places and watching people discuss things, which involving products made of trees. When they don’t buy them, the Jack cries. It was kinda stupid, yet pretty funny.

This is a perfect use of CK’s dry absurdist humor.

Rihanna is the final musical guest of the 40.
And let’s just say...I couldn't give much less of a shit if I tried. But since I have a love for a

She performed “Bitch Better Have My Money”.
As much as I said this on Twitter,

I couldn’t have done that, because someone else was in the room, and they wanted to watch it. So in hindsight, I’m glad I did. It looked like a music video shoot: She was in a fake, removable car, with an extra in the back as a woman she captured; the crew taking the car apart and moving it away; the performance later ending up a true SNL performance; and a crew member clicking a marker board. This was an interesting set-up... and that was genius. I couldn't keep my eyes off the screen, and I actually enjoyed what I saw. Great job, Riri. Even greater job, producers.

Also genius, this.
I love when a big name guest has enough star power to convince Lorne to change the performance set to whatever they want for a performance. Here, Riri uses large projection screens to provide images of classic America during her performance of “American Oxygen”.

I like this song much better, because it was a more real and emotional look at our country after the turn of the century. Also because it was not “Bitch Better Have My Money”. Well, the song, not the performance; I find “BBHMM’s” set-up a little better than “Ame. Oxygen”.
(And here’s something ironic: this song with “American” in the title is sung by a Barbadian musician. Strange.)
But other than that, I thought this was a great performance set by Rihanna. The set-up was amazing, her vocals were fantastic and I honestly enjoyed more than I thought I would. What a great end to a fantastic year of music performances on SNL.

Time for an Update:
Part 1:

Part 2:

These guys surely came in a long way from the start of the season, but they gotten to a better place (at least for me). So let’s see where they stand now:
They were good. Their jokes were really good and some carried some edge. The best came from the joke about Jost about Chinese soldiers being prohibited from wearing Apple Watches because of cyber safety.
“But my daughter made it for me”. That was bold and hilarious.
--

Tom Brady stopped by to discuss his involvement in Deflategate, but he instead tries to sweet-talk Che into getting out the interview (and successfully did it to Jost). I loved Che’s performance here, as will as Killam’s performance as Brady, although it was pretty bad.
--

Resident Young Person Pete Davidson returned once again, and is in a special position. Not only did he appear in the first episode, but he also is appearing in this last episode as well. So that’s gotta be awesome for him. And he was as funny as he ever was. His topics related to his age were really funny.
--

Yep, that's right! Riblet returned once again to show us why we love him: by taking over Michael Che's jorb, and showing him how he do's it. And he do's it well.

Well, that's it. The final episode. And I think it was...eh, meh. The jokes were funny, but were pretty weak, outside of the China Soldiers Banned from Apple Watches line.

They really have. I can;t wait to see what happens at Update next season.


Well, guys. This was a huge year for me. I can’t believe I’ve done it, I can’t believe I’ve went this far, and I can’t believe I’ve gotten a chunk of my life out to doing this. And I’m proud to have done it. These past few months have been special doing this review of this series. It’s the first regular TV series I’ve ever reviewed, and I’ve gotten to do this all season, all 21 episodes, all the sketches, musical performances and everything else in between. And I've been proud of these reviews, for better or worse, and I've enjoyed all it gave me and this blog. And I can't wait for late September so I can continue this review under the "Saturday Night Live Review" name. And I hope you'll all join me.
Thank You. Goodnight.

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Monday, May 11, 2015

Saturday Night Live 40 Review: Reese Witherspoon & Florence + the Machine (#MaroonMay)




Hello, everybody! Welcome to my second-to-last Review of Saturday Night Live 40.
And I’ve been very happy about this moment--for two reasons:
1. I’ve done something long-term on this blog that I’m happy about (don’t worry the other I’m also happy about is still reoccurring. #StarvsTheReview)
2. That it can finally end for a while, so I can get a few months of sleep before next season comes in late September (or early October; I don’t know, NBC could pull a change).
But I’m also saddened by this point. Because I’ve really enjoyed doing this review series for the past few months and that I’ve got something to make this blog more interesting and enjoyable. And I’m glad that this helped get the job done. I’ve enjoyed doing everything this can offer:
--writing my opinion on sketches, music performances, Update and the cast and host-of-the-week’s performances;
--creating the bumpers for them (especially after Episode 14, as they’re just as fun to create them as they are great to look at);
--offering the humor that came into mind first and fits with the jokes of the sketches; and
--giving you guys an enjoyable experience every Sunday and Monday night for this season.
And I’m grateful for the response it has gotten for better or worse (well, mostly better). So let's check out the next-to-last episode review and enjoy this for another two weeks. If you can.

This week's (or should it be called last week's; I could stop doing that) show is hosted by Reese Witherspoon. She's an award-nominated and -winning actress with many memorable roles to her credit, including her recent one in Wild, which netted her an Academy Award nomination. And this is her second time hosting; her first since hosting the season premiere after the 9/11 Attacks. So she had to bring her A-Game this time around to help keep her count up right? Well, she did...appear in the sketches, so let's walk though this episode, which was...well, better than last week's, that for sure.

The episode begins with the Cold Open taking place at an event in Oklahoma City, the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, where Conservatives come together to celebrate their noms against Hillary Clinton in the next election. Let's see how they get down and get loose!

This was a really funny CO that relied on the strengths on the looks and talents of the cast members portraying the members of the Republican party nominated for the next election. My favorites were Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul. Everyone did a great job and made this an amazing start.


After it, Reese comes out for her Mono. This involves her and the cast bringing out their mothers to apologize for things they did when they were kids. Their moms are lovely, beautiful people and their responses were hilarious and sweet. I can only imagine who much the cast realized how grateful they are to have them in their lives. Then, some clips were shown of the cast when they were kids. These were beautiful.

Honestly, this was a really great Mono, and one of the best of the season. Watching this really made my heart warm, and my stomach ache at the same time, and it can't get better than this. Actually, it really can't...because the rest was mixed as hell.

LA Scene
This is some local entertainment talk show. Meh.

This was a less-than-average skit. Ambiguously gay Kenan and Jay was the best part. Their reactions, behavior and mannerisms in their voices was hilarious. I admit, the fart part also was hilarious. Her comment sold it for me.

Hallmark: Mr. Westerberg
This pre-tape takes place at the offices of Hallmark Cards. Employees are discussing their grumpy boss, Mr. Westerberg, and how he seems like a nightmare. One of them, Louis (Beck Bennet), then makes some mocks that get less funny and get more...creepy.

This was truly funny. Those lewd, inappropriate cracks (ahem, no pun intended--if you want it to be) Louis made about Westerberg that, according to the look on his face, seem true- makes truly made me crack up. And Westerberg himself and the mimicking his co-workers make was also a riot.

Picture Perfect
In this game show skit, two couples and their celebrity partners try to play the game, involving one drawing pictures for their teammates to guess. One team, , and their partner Reginald VelJohnson (Kenan) have the interesting time of their lives with one answer.

I thought they would get to more categories to make the pacing go faster, but meh. This sketch got much more better when The Prophet Muhammad appeared on-screen. The looks on Moyni’s and Kenan’s faces made this. It was freaking impossible for her to guess something so obscure like Muhammed, but it was funny nonetheless. Also, TKill was goofy yet devilishly perfect as the show’s host. His remarks of the rules were rude, but funny.

And another funny thing...there is a claim by another TV show that SNL writers stole the idea of the sketch from the writers of that sketch that they wrote that aired in an episode of their show. This Hour Has 22 Minutes, a Canadian satirical news program, has a sketch very similar to this one that also involves a game show where contestants must draw for a big cash prize, and one of them must draw the infamous Prophet. Even the set of the shows look similar.
Here’s the claim from some writers:


and here’s the sketch itself:

The notable differences here are this: in the 22 Minutes sketch, the contestant is told the answer, while the SNL sketch had the contestants shown the answer, and there are teams of couples with celebrity guests as partners.
I even read some comments on YT saying that the producers should do something about it. How’s that gonna help anything? 22 Minutes is a Canadian show; SNL is American. Fighting a plagiarism case won’t help because most people don’t watch or even hear of the former show in the first place. All it will do is increase some relevance for both shows that will go away soon. All everyone involved will do is accept that “Imitation is The Best Form of Flattery”.

Why does this keep happening? Why must SNL write and make sketches that end up similar to sketches from other shows? It’s happened for the second time this season this season and it’s now getting annoying. Remember that sketch in Episode 4 where Sarah Silverman, Nessa B & SaZam play Tina Turner impersonators with discussions of their lives, that was later turned out to be similar to a sketch made by The Groundlings? Yeah, this situation is just like that. You know the phrase “Fool Me Once, Shame on You; Fool Me Twice, Shame On Me”? Well, this fits here. SNL writers, shame on you for copying a sketch from another show, and making it yours for a minute. I stuck by you once before, and now even I can’t defend you. You’re on your own this time.

I’ll be discussing Florence + the Machine’s performances in a moment, but first…
This shit...again.
It’s like the show is trying out sketches to see if they work, in the hopes that the first time was horrible. It’s just like “How to Dance with Janelle” and “Right Side of the Bed”; fortunately the two aforementioned sketches have picked up on quality a bit the second time around, so let’s see where “High School Drama Theater” does this time.

It was...less crap. I did laugh a few times and their efforts were more appreciated here. Also, the reactions of Leslie Jones hilarious. This won't be a favorite of mine in the long run, but I enjoyed this a little more than I did last time. It felt weak, but the concept wasn't. I wouldn't mind them trying this again next season, but not enough to care.

Southern Ladies
A group of women from the South discuss some things that got them drunk…you know, Southern stuff.

This sketch was...boring. Just women getting tipsy for the more obscure of things. It barely got a laugh out of me. And this is probably the weakest sketch of the night. But fortunately, it wasn’t the worst.

This next sketch was complete bullshit.
Two water park attendants are causing accidents to their customers when they try to flirt with a lifeguard.

Like I said, complete bullshit. Why this sketch come in is beyond me. It’s not funny, it’s boring and it's sterile. The only reason why this came in the live show in the first place, is because the water slide set is expensive and can’t be used more than once. It may look amazing and lifelike, but it couldn’t save this crap sketch from getting any laughs. This is the worst sketch of the episode.

Whiskers R We
Never thought I see this again, too, but it was a good thing. Kate Mc bring life into the creepy old woman Barbra DeDrew selling cats with a young woman (usually a female guest host) on her side to not only help sell them, but also slip in some inappropriate stuff we can be glad we've only heard once. Her assistant is Purr-sula (Resse), and she's eager to help out, but DeDrew has other things in mind.

DeDrew is less strange here and Purr-sula was kinda tame but also good.
I laughed like hell when DeDrew said to one of the cats, Sapphire, "Bitch, you're 4 1/2,", and calls another Magellan because of his greatest discovery, "his own butt-hole!". This was a great sketch to end the episode and ended it on a high note. Now, this is a sketch I want back nest season. For three reasons:
1) Kate McKinnon
2) KITTENS!!
3) The funny gags and puns that come from it


This week’s musical guest, Florence + the Machine, are simply one of the best modern-day bands I’ve ever heard. The compositions, the music, the lyrics, everything. Florence’s voice--dear God, Florence’s voice. It’s like a angel and a judas mated and their child began sing after her birth. Her voice, to me, is a hybrid of Janis Ian and Janis Joplin, with a pinch of Olivia Newton-John thrown in. Seriously, it just gives me life every time I hear her. So you could see my excitement when they were performing this week. Oh...and from this tweet I made a few weeks ago:

Either way, I’m ecstatic that they performed.

Here’s the first song, “Ship to Wreck”:

The beat is wonderful, Florence's vocals (along with those of the background singers) were hauntingly beautiful and the song itself is quite nice, with its wonderful, trance-ful beat and amazing performances, it reminds me of a good Fleetwood Mac song.

The next song “What Kind of Man” is just fucking awesome.

It’s about being in love with someone who isn’t there for you when you need him/her most. The lyrics are amazing in portraying the guy as a self-centered asshole without calling him such, and is like long-form poetry. And the beat is should be a musical equivalent of a spirit animal; it starts quiet and soothing with the use of a harp, and then kicks up a couple notches with drums, bass, and a trumpet (which was played awesome-ly in the recorded version by Goldfrapp's Will Gregory). And again, Florence’s vocals carry the track into the ionosphere, and give us all another reason why Florence + the Machine is one of the hottest, coolest, amazing-est and most talented bands of the modern day.

They have a new album coming on the 29th, called How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (sounds like a perfect slogan for Viagra, amirite?). I suggest you go buy it. You don’t need to be a fan to listen to it; it’s all amazing. I’m going to.

Time for an Update:
Part 1:

Part 2:

That joke about Floyd Mayweather calling Manny Pacquiao a coward was dark. Made me wonder why I was laughing at at. Oh yeah, because we all know Pacquiao was the real winner of that fight, and Mayweather was an asshole about it.
Another highlight was when the co-anchors asked their mothers to send in a joke in time for Mother's Day. They were intentionally old-fashioned, and therefore very funny. Also, Colin mom's is also a very lovely mom. And I can only bet that Michael's mom would've been fabulous!
Also, Colin’s comments on McDonald’s new Hamburglar was also hilarious.
Oh and someone needs to tell Michael to get a Red Bull; or at least make his face look like he doesn't need one?
--

Relationship Expert Leslie Jones returned for her last appearance of the season, and of course was a riot. Her flirting with Jost was funny as always, and her letters were hilarious. Although her yelling is a little pretentious and is quite a turn-off (pun intended). Nonetheless, I can’t wait to see her again next season and see what love problems she’ll encounter next.


The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party (Cecily) also returned, and this time, she brought a friend (literally) in another Girl (Reese) to discuss the San Francisco Police Department's assessment of previous arrest that may have been racially motivated. Of course, Cecily brings it with this brainless beauty and her opinions of the big stories. Reese also did a good job as the other Girl, but not as much as Cecily. It felt more forced than not.


Another returnee was Willie, Michael’s neighbor and the most optimistic guy he knows. He's there to talk about Graduation, the time of the school year where students get ready to move up with their lives, and miss friends and teachers. The jokes were pretty good, and pretty uplifting. This Kenan portrayal is a pretty nice and enjoyable.
--
This week's Update was more average than not. I loved the jokes from Jost & Che, which, while had a bit bite, were still funny enough not to call bullcrap. Then the recurring characters came in and it was all steep from there. Leslie Jones was really good, but not great, Two Girls at a Party were fine, but not really good, and Willie was while a little limp, was still really funny and enjoyable.
All-in-all, this was mostly barely memorable. That's all I got.
Favorite Bits:
Mayweather's "Pacquiao's a Coward" Joke (in a dark, personal way)
Hamburgular
Mother Jost and Mama Che's Mother's Day Jokes

As for this entire episode. it was...borderline forgettable.
I enjoyed some sketches while wishing others never existed. The Highlights to me were the CO, Mono, Mr. Westerberg and Whiskers R We, while Lowlights were Southern Ladies (for being so weak) and Waterslide (for being bullshit), with LA Scene, Picture Perfect and High School Theater being middle-of-the-road, for having some good tidbits while not being fully great. This episode had a smorgasbord of mediocrity.

Reese was a good host, but she wasn't given much to do in almost all of the sketches. She gets a few sentences at most, while the cast took over. And when she does get a line to speak, it's not all that cracked up.. Not memorable and not much to deal with. Kate Mc and TKill were the best of the bunch to me, with everyone else more so-so. Again--Not memorable and not much to deal with.

So in the end...uhh, let's say it was better than last week. But only by a couple hairs. My faith in this show making a comeback is like the death of Generalissimo Francisco Franco: It dies, is still dead, and nothing else will come of it. (At least until another quick call-back)

Next week, it's the big night. The big episode everyone is waiting for. The season finale, hosted by Louis CK with music from Rihanna. I'll be there, you'll be there. Yeah, see you then.
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Monday, May 04, 2015

Saturday Night Live 40 Review: Scarlett Johansson & Wiz Khalifa (#MaroonMay)


Well, everyone, we’ve reached the home stretch. Saturday Night Live 40 has reached the end, and all we can do is either be sad we can’t watch any more of this hilarious, amazing show OR be ever so happy that this piece of dreck is over. Either way, at least these reviews will tide us over until Season 41 begins in the fall.
So Let’s prepare for either the ingenious comedy coming our way soon” OR the unfunny dreck that will befall us as another reason this show has never been funny since (insert year or decade you actually believe SNL stopped being funny here).

Today, I’m reviewing Episode 19, hosted by Scarlett Johansson, who has obviously been having a huge year this year. She’s now a mother with a beautiful baby daughter. And she’s starring in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The Cold Open is a scroll with an announcer telling us about NBC airing a day of sports for snooty-ass white people. And the desperate reason for them dedicating more to a single day than to possibly the rest of the television season: by sneaking in a raw, unauthorized broadcast of the “The Fight of the Century” between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao (which, between you and me, was just a boring-ass fight with a terrible outcome and a grace from God that meant I’m glad that I watched Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero and the Roast of Justin Bieber, among others, over that)

I love how self-aware this CO is: it’s clear that Money is shorter than Jay Pharoah, that Pac-Man is played by a large white woman (Aidy Bryant) who really doesn't know the language of the Philippines, and that Kenan and Phaoah later go in musical guest Wiz Kalifah’s dressing room to watch it live (and legally). If that element of the sketch wasn't added, this sketch wouldn't have been funny. Or would've been as boring as the match itself.

After the open, Scarlett comes to stage for her Monologue. She mentions that she is a proud first-time mother to a baby daughter. Then Kenan and Taran Killam come in...for some reason.

This was a creepy Mono. Who in the hell sings a Donna Summer song guaranteed to make a baby to a baby?!? It’s clear that Johansson doesn't, so. I did find Taran and Kenan’s reactions hilarious, and that photoshopped pic of her head on a baby’s body was also chuckle worthy, so not all is lost for me.

But what should be lost to me, yet came back to haunt me (along with many of you guys) is The Sketch After, Right Side of the Bed. The first time I watched this sadly-now-recurring sketch (back in Episode 13 hosted by Martin Freeman), I didn't find anything in this to be funny and found the hosts annoying and everything they said pretentious. But this time…

it’s slightly different. I found some of the jokes funny, and didn't lose my patience with these two Southern dorks this time around. The shining spot of this segment was Scarlett as guest Daniela. One of the funniest parts was during a phone call she made with her man (who’s in jail) and remarks that she’s on a show with ”some gay man and his mom”. That had me cracking up! Another bright spot was Kate McKinnon as Hozier. Just like her turn as Keith Urban the last time, she somehow nails it (mostly in looks) as the dreary indie folk artist.
I guess I do have less hatred for this sketch and wouldn't mind seeing it again next season. It’s not a sketch I would love or truly enjoy, but it’s somewhere in the middle.

As the Uprising in Baltimore has continued, the MLB has made the most unusual decision ever in letting a planned game between the city’s Orioles baseball team and the Chicago White Sox go as scheduled. Without any fans in the stands. So SNL made sure to mock this any way it can, by making fun of the Riots on the surface and the game itself. And they did a good job (not as in home run, but more like a close to third base).

It did feel sorta predictable to me, what with the obvious jokes about the Riots and safety from the game, but they still will funny.
I’d also like to point out that this is the third sketch (non-consecutively of course; and second it you don’t count the Monologue) in which TKill and Kenan appear in a sketch. And the fourth time Taran appeared my screen so far. I didn’t mind this at all.

After this is one pre-tape for a film I actually wouldn’t mind seeing, had Marvel actually made this. After many questions has surrounding the film company about not making a film based around Black Widow (Scarlett), they tell us to “Chill” and get ready for the movie that everyone will be seeing...which looks like a chick flick. It's "Black Widow: Age of Me".

This was..,genius. Instead of some action film with a bunch of fight scenes, sexual tension and some stuff blowing up, we get: new girl in the city, new job at fashion company, new boyfriend (in Ultron), the Avengers talking shop...and stuff blowing up. It’s all of these that make this spoof unexpected and hilarious.
Plus we still have some Avengers cameos...even if they weren’t played their actors themselves. This was a really funny pre-tape, and definitely put this as one of the best moments of the episode.

Girlfriends Talk Show has returned...again.
Hot, naive Kyra and lovely, neurotic and ever so paranoid Morgan return to dish about everything girls would talk about (that I’m not gonna list here). This time around, it’s prom week, and their guest , a former prom queen, stops by to discuss all the goings-on and happenings at prom. It’s weird.

I never have much about this one, so I’ll just say that Johansson did great as the Prom Queen/Potential Alpha Bitch, and that Aidy is ever so funny as Morgan (although watching her always coming close to self-destruction is pretty sad, but Aidy’s humor and timing does make things a little better).

“Dino Bones”/”Okay, Random”
At the American Museum of Natural History, a tour is being held for a collection of dinosaur bones. When the tourists ask questions about them, they are flabbergasted by two of their own, who might as well be the most annoying set of Valley Women you’ll ever meet.

This is a simple plot taken way underdone. Just two women asking weird questions about the dinosaurs and commenting like hipsters watching Teletubbies. It’s annoying. I did find their voices sometimes funny and the other tourists’ reactions pretty funny, and I did feel like the guide swooping his hair like Justin Bieber circa 2010 was supposed to be a gag, but I didn’t find it humorous. Plus, I was pretty bored. I found this the weakest sketch of the episode, and that’s not random.
Mm-kay?
(Also, the reference to “FourFiveSeconds” was pretty corny.)

In this pre-tape, TKill stars as Detective Blazer, a New York cop busting down the bad guys and checking out with the ladies...at least it seems that way...until he was fired for being a huge bigot.

Okay. This was awesome, Not only for being funny, but also for how visually pleasing it looks. The clip looks like something on TV back in the late 80s or early 90s, and feels like it too. Wiz Khalifah also makes a good cameo appearance. This was one hell of a Pre-Tape, and I’d call it one of the highlights of the episode.

Up next, Virgin Airlines has introduced a new line of stewardesses destined to service fliers with their needs. Only one problem: they’re new. And they're robots.
And need an update. A huge one.

This sketch reminds me of the Merryville Brothers sketches--robotic characters doing shit jobs and creeping people out. Here, though, they talk and they walk freely, yet still cause trouble. I liked their voices and mannerisms here, which are so close to robotic, it’s scary. Especially ScarJo’s, as her portrayal just sends me chills.
I found the passengers’ reactions hilarious (especially Aidy’s and Leslie Jones’, which had me cracking up), and the captain’s sexist remarks were also hilarious. As for the captains, it’s clear they would’ve gotten any male cast member (especially because the teenager is one of them), but they settled on Taran...for some reason.
I did like and enjoy this sketch enough to make it one of my favorites.

In the final sketch of the night, “Jingle Writers”, two women writers who look ready for bit roles in “Hocus Pocus” are trying to bag an account for Pampers diapers. But crap...this is corny.

The songs were terrible as were the women, and I can't take this sketch anymore. A shit ending to a really lackluster episode.


This week’s musical guest, Wiz Khalifa, had a reason to be here.
He’s performing “See You Again”, the song from the soundtrack of the final ride in NBC sister company Universal's The Fast and The Furious series, Furious 7, along with featured artist Charlie Booth...

"Now eat your cake...

...and I'll see you again."

oh, I’m sorry, I mean Charlie Puth. (No wonder I had some interest in him right there)
And...he did great. He was as energetic as any one who smokes weed like God told him it was his reason on Earth, and had my attention the entire performance. Puth also did a great job in his role as guest artist, clearly feeling like he'll have a limited stay in the music world while looking like a mix of Nick Jonas and Sam Smith.

Okay, the next performance is of his hit single “We Dem Boyz”, a song I put at #10 on my Worst Hip-Hop Songs list last year. Although I hate the song, the performance was really good. Although I did feel the musicians tried too hard, making a sound I didn’t like to hear, I thought this was a well-done performance that could raise my contempt in this song. COULD--I still hate it.

I don’t find Khalifa as one of the best rappers in Hip-Hop nor do I find his topics in his songs endearing. But his performances here were alright and I did enjoy them a bit. I won’t

Time for an Update:
Part 1:

Part 2:

Jost went back to being slower this week, and Che flubbed a line. But fortunately, they had enough force to keep me awake during his jokes. Speaking of the jokes, I don't know what to say about them. Some were funny, and some were edgy, but the edgy jokes weren’t as funny as I’d like for them to be. And the funny ones didn’t feel hilarious. Just funny. The closest thing to both was one about Bruce Jenner’s interview about now becoming a woman. Colin trying his best to make a crack was funny, but him trying to pull Michael in and Mike ducking out is hilarious.

Kate McK returns as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg…and really just hits it out of the park. She really knows what she’s doing (like that’s a surprise), and her dancing was hilariously great. I hope she returns again next season.

Also joining in at the desk were Samwell Tarly and Gilly, two characters from “Game of Thrones”. I...I know, right?

This was just weird. I know Update has had characters whom are weird and off-the-wall before, but this was strange. They’re here to discuss how they’re the only characters that are a true couple. Okay? I didn’t find this part that funny, except for the remark about Cersei and Jaime, who are infamous for committing Incest (which doesn’t count). And it was pretty boring. Also, what blew my mind is the fact that writers believed that two American actors repeatedly saying “thank you” in an English accent would be funny.
I didn’t think so.

Rounding out the group this week were Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal from Inside the NBA. They came to discuss the outcome of the Playoffs so far.

Kenan and Jay return to form in these roles. While Kenan did hold his own very well and got some good laughs, of course, the star of the final part was Pharoah as Shaq, who continues to be hilariously stupid with each passing day. This definitely beat KcKinnon as Ginsburg, but only by a hair.

All in all this was a pretty middle of the road Update. There were good jokes, but they weren’t hilarious. Jost & Che still held their own well, and kept my attention, but I didn’t stay interested all the way. At this point I’m inclined to call this one of the best parts of the episode, but that’s because everything else was so weak, I could have a hard time finding the gems from the crap covering them..

This was a very mediocre episode. The writers have picked up on humor only by a little. The jokes were there; they just weren’t more than what I wanted. I have given up on my hope that SNL would pick up the edginess and hilarious-ness just in time to end this season on a high note. Fortunately, had that not happened, I would’ve been so angry, I would’ve ripped off all my hair, to the point of reaching my scalp and ripping off skin. Because after a bright spot in a season, you shouldn’t expect so much from a show to drop this low in quality.

Johansson did a job well done as host. She held her own, and was, I think, a highlight of all the sketches, at least on top of some sketches over the cast. And speaking of the cast…
I can barely remember any of them in a sketch except TKill and Kenan, whom, as I’ve mentioned earlier has appeared together in a some of them (including the first three and the Mono), with TKill taking a slot in the first four sketches alone. What’s surprising of it is, I’m not annoyed of this as much as I usually am. When he appears in more than three sketches, I get so annoyed that I’d write a mini-rant about this happening. But now, I’m not; I don’t mind it anymore, mostly because this will keep happening for another few seasons until he leaves.
Many cast members barely appeared here with each of them getting a couple sketches at most, some of them where any member could’ve got a role as a character that isn’t recurring.:
--Pete Davidson and Beck Bennett only appeared in two sketches, with Davidson talking in one (the “Virgin” sketch), along with Bennett appearing in the Black Widow pre-tape.
--I felt like Aidy Bryant was lucky to appear this week at all (even if it was three), with the CO and Girlfriends Talk Show sketch.
--Cecily Strong got RSOTB, Girlfriends, and the “Okay, Random” sketch,
--Jay Pharoah got some good leeway, and
--Kyle Mooney and Leslie Jones only appeared once, with Jones in the “Virgin” sketch and Mooney in the “Jingle Writers” sketch.
It’s really clear that the producers simply adored Killam well enough to make him appear in almost. every. sketch. of this episode. It’s like this is his last season, and wanted to make this his best year ever as a cast member, so Lorne and everyone else did their best to make him feel special by appearing in 65% of each episode, as characters he could do (recurring, new and one-shot), even if he didn’t have to, because again, they could’ve gotten anyone for characters. Because the times I’ve seen him here is staggering. Again, I don’t hate him at all, and I find him really funny, but him being stuffed down our throats this season is deathly annoying. (Oooh, there it is) After this episode, I hope the producers have less of him in the final two. Not because he’s terrible, but because his appearing in every other sketch is annoying.

How Was the CO?:
It was like Mayweather’s performance--all hug and no bite. But had some punch thanks the meta aspect.

Best Sketches:
Virgin Airliner/Stewardesses from Hell
Right Side of Bed (I know, I can’t believe it either)
Orioles

Best Pre-Tape:
Both Black Widow: Age of Me (stupid, dated title) and Blazer

Worst Sketches:
THE REST OF THEM

This episode is mediocre in every sense of the word. and that’s all I have to say this week.


Next week, Reese Witherspoon returns to Studio 8H to host Episode 20, with music by the ever-so-amazing Florence + the Machine. I’m not going to have any expectations.
See you then!!
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Monday, April 13, 2015

SNL 40 Review: Taraji P. Henson & Mumford & Sons

Remember those sketches in Episodes 14 & 15? Those sketches that were parodies of Birdman and Empire? Yeah, who knew that they would later become foreshadowing? Because after those shows aired, episodes that aired later on featured the stars from the actual film and TV show. The man who played the titular fake superhero (Michael Keaton) and the woman who stole our hearts and laugh boxes as Cookie Lyon have actually hosted Episodes 17 and 18, the latter of which we'll be looking into this week.

Now, you know Taraji P. Henson is known as a wonderfully talented actress. She can act in comedy AND drama very well, and has done big wonders in both film and TV as well, being a breakout on Person of Interest and red-hot hit of the season Empire. If there's anyone who should be known for her talent (and sex appeal, too; let's get that out of the way), it should be her.

The Cold Open begins at the compound of Bill and Hillary Clinton, where the latter (Kate McKinnon, flawlessly and effortlessly), along with help from her assistant (Vanessa Bayer), prepare for her big announcement of becoming a candidate for President in the 2016 Election.

I won’t have much to say about Kate McK’s performance, but that it was awesome and that she nails the impression amazingly. I eagerly await what will happen in the next two seasons when she plays Clinton again during Election season. As for Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton, he really returned to form here and never missed a beat. It’s good that Lorne kept the current announcer handy just in case. Nessa B also did pretty good as the assistant. This was a great CO, so with that, LIVE FROM PHILADELPHIA, IT’S SUNDAY--i mean, MONDAY NIGHT!!

After the open, Taraji comes to the stage to do the Monologue. During it, she mentions Empire (as expected), and talks about how grateful she is to have been in show business for over 20 years. She then turns it into a song number about what would’ve happened had she not gotten the chance to act on the silver and small screens. And it was great

Man, Taraji can SANG! And has the talent to talk during a song like she’s in church.
I also liked some of the cast member’s responses (especially Kenan’s, in which he mentions Good Burger [which, to me, is not that bad of a film], Kate Mc (for some reason) and LesDogg’s [who really looks like she could make some woman her bitch in jail]). A really good Mono, and it makes me appreciate song number Mono’s now.

The Pre-Tape After asks the important question: Do you wear your Depends? If you refuse, will you wear Depends Legends? (Seriously?)

I honestly didn’t care for this one. It was too weird for me; and not the weird SNL has been known for (especially in the entire 2000s), but the weird that wouldn’t look out of place on MadTV.

In the next sketch, HLN is covering a courtroom case on an inappropriate sexual relationship between teacher Janet Johnson-Luna and her student Gavin Daly.

This was a really good sketch, parodying HLN for its over-reliance on courtroom cases. Also, Henson did great in a more dramatic role as Daly's mother's lawyer. Also, Pete Davidson fits the role of the teenage student well. Mostly because he's barely a teenager anymore.

DreamWorks Animation has hit success with its latest film Home. So of course the film is getting a sequel--Home 2. In this “First Look”, the cast (Jim Parsons and Rihanna with some other people) has expanded to include Hip-Hop stars including Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar and Rick Ross, along with Sofia Vergara and two odd choices.

Having Taraji play Nicki was a nice change of pace (mostly because Sasheer Zamata is already playing Rihanna), and she played really well; she emphasized on Minaj’s hyper behavior and voice and made it funny. Also, TKill and Cecily were also the best parts with their impressions of Parsons and Vergara. It wasn’t great, but still got the job done.
And another thing, you can’t make a film so quickly after the first one was released, unless you wanna make it look like something out of Video Brinquedo.

On QVC, actress-turned-designer Claudette Fontaine appeared with its host (Taraji P.) to talk about her clothing line: a 3-way poncho. But she can’t tell a thing about the three ways.


I’m just leaving this here.

If you wondering why I put this there is because when I read “the 3-way poncho” on Yahoo!, I immediately thought of this. Maybe some writers watched this one day on non-Big 3 stations, or on Ion Television late one night, or on YouTube, and immediately found funny. Was it the shirt, was it Suzanne Somers’ over-modeling of the shirt, or was it the background music that clearly sounds like the incidental music on Glee? Either way, had this happened, this was an interesting muse for the skit.
Back to the skit itself, Kate McK does a great job as Fontaine, a seemingly washed-up singer turned desperately-clinging-to-fame fashion designer with ease, along with Henson as the QVC host, in what I think is a parody of such, who acts a little too happy and excited to be around nice, expensive, sometimes un-needed products, and are only this way for the paycheck (and if they’re lucky, some of the products themselves). Another thing, did Montaine watched Miss Trash 2015 on TV and liked Miss Delaware’s performance so much, that she hired her as a model here? That’s what I see here.

No disrespect to Baby Aidy, but really, that’s what I see.
This was one of the weaker sketches of the ep, and would’ve be even weaker had Kate Mc not appeared in the sketch (although I can’t see how any of the other female cast members could pull off “old lady with a washed-up attitude and creepy leer” like Lori Beth Denberg on All That, there’s a plus.)

I’ll get to Mumford & Sons’ performances in a moment.

First, Hollywood Game Night is back!! And after so long (the last time was in Episode 3 Hosted by Bill Hader). This time around, host Jane Lynch tries to keep her sanity in check while around these celebrities: Vin Diesel (TKill), Wynonna Judd (Aidy) and Common (Pharoah), whom are playing against Nick Offerman (Beck Benn--YES!!), Marion Cotillard (CecStrong) and Wanda Sykes (Henson).
Because the celebrities matter more than the civilians here.

Kate Mc really returns to form as Lynch, as hot, funny and cross-dressing-ly as possible.
Also, my favorite part has to be Beck also returning to form as Offerman. Seriously, he does it so well, it’s like the real deal is there. Anyway, this was a fine sketch and everyone did great. It's great to see this sketch back after a while, and I enjoy it very much.
I do wish he was chosen to talk more than TKill's Vin Diesel, which wasn't all that impressive, as was Henson's Wanda Sykes. Woman tries so hard to yell like her.

They actually brought this back. I don’t know why, but they did. Somehow this makes sense.

Vlog Two/How 2 Dance with Janelle To
Anyway, this segment was pretty meh; pretty much so, compared to the last one in Ep. 5 Hosted by Chris Rock. At least that one was interesting. Janelle is fine, but not great character, even if it gives SaZam some screentime, Teddy (KyMoo) is dull, but he did get a few laughs out of me. I really hoped that Taraji would be the saving grace as Janelle’s mom, and she was. This was one of the weaker sketch of the show, but does beat out the QVC sketch by a hair..

Well. I knew this was happening. It’s still funny nonetheless.

If you’re not an Empire fan, you must admit, the Muppets’ reactions to Cookie was priceless.
If you are an Empire fan, you know this Laugh-Your-Ass-Off hilarious. And if you’re a Sesame Street fan...well, I don’t blame you for Elmo’s sudden and untimely demise, thanks to Cookie’s indulgence for out-of-style fashion sense.
I also want to praise the characters and puppeteers for appearing in the sketch. The participation was amazing. All of the Muppets that appeared really did put a smile on my face. Not bad for a show that at first hated Muppets for having their own sketch.

Cinema Classics returns with host Reese De’WHAT! (Kenan) presenting another film gem that not many really remember, "Their Own League", a movie made during the Baseball origin story boom of the 80s. In it, a group of women (pretty much all of the white female cast members...and Moyni...for the aforementioned reason) try to please their coach (TKill) in the hopes that they’ll play baseball. Then, two black women (Henson and LesDogg) ask to join.
You can see where this goes.

This was an alright sketch. It got some laughs out of it. It was also predictable, what with the obvious racism jokes, but they were pretty chuckle-worthy.

The Five-to-One (can remember the last time I used that) is an odd one, even by their standards. (But hey, SNL is known for odd, so this’ll pass). It’s called Connectatron, which pretty much looks like Video Brinqueto’s shitty version of Transformers, Megaman, Voltron and Power Rangers rolled together. But somehow, this had an interest on me.
The members of the crew (Usual Guys 1 & 2 Usual Girl #2 Cecily [Kate Mc is pretty much UG #1 at this point] and Pharoah) are ready for a fight from the evil Shark . But the fifth member Mavis (Taraji) doesn’t want to help, because she feels the others are treating her like crap, and becomes the biggest ghetto bitch ever with her responses.

I didn’t find this hilarious, but there were some good jokes. I found the ripoff elements to be absurdly delightful and the set was absolutely amazing for a tiny part of a studio in a New York City building high above the ground. I also found TKill’s voice absolutely annoying. But since this is the tone I hear every time he appears on screen (which is every week in every other sketch), I learn to get through it. So yeah, on paper this was a great.concept, and the execution of everything else was very good, but this still was a mediocre sketch to end the show on.


This week’s musical guest is Mumford & Sons, a folk-rock band that has been heating up the mainstream for the past few years with their hot tracks and impressive string work. I’ve heard a few of their songs, my favorite being “Little Lion Man”; and I’ve become really impressed with their music.
So for their first SNL appearance, they just had to start with a bang, right? HELL YEAH!!!

Their first song, “The Wolf”, is just freaking awesome. The guitar work just blows me away and their vocals is soothingly wonderful. Just from the top, it just gets me in the mood of bopping my head like I’m in the mosh pit at their concerts. I love this performance so much it makes me feel like I want to watch it every day for the rest of my life. But I won’t, because then I’d stop almost immediately. You can tell that it was a great performance when the Audience pops hard immediately after the last lick of music.

Their last song “Believe” is the complete opposite in the scale of sound. It’s a softer, quieter and soothing song that could take you to another world of bright lights and flying angels, even if you're still awake. I love this just as much as ”Wolf” for being completely different in sound and tone. I can't wait for their next album in a few weeks, and I should listen to more of their music. Seriously, it's fantastic.

Time for an Update:
Part 1:

Part 2:

You know, what’s the point of putting in 50 more words about this segment?
They’ve gotten much better and I actually laughed at the jokes. That should be enough, right?


Cecilia Gimenez, the woman who created the crappy Jesus painting, returned to give her thoughts on the Lucille Ball statue in Upstate New York that went viral for scaring everyone that comes in contact with. Her thoughts are just this: “I’m so glad my painting is so much better that that crap statue”. The mentions of the Comedy legends whose statue


Jacob the (Several-Years-Long) Bar Mitzvah Boy also returned for another long-arse list of thank you’s to, and jokes about, every who’s been a part of his family’s lives. And of course he ignores the anchor’s questions like a dick, before going back to them. But the reason he's here with his Jewish-stereotypiscal jokes is because he's here with his dad (BILLY CRYSTAL).
I’m sorry, but whoever online thought that Billy Crystal “stole the show” is a Goddamn liar. The jokes he had as Jacob’s father was just as corny as hell as Jacob’s. (But Jacob has the advantage of being a boy, so he’s fine.) I mean he reads like a child just barely illiterate. Plus the second time the Audience applauded was just pretentious. It’s no wonder Michael gets annoyed with them at his podiatrist office.

This was a fine Update. The jokes were really good, and Kate McK’s turn as Gimenez was way funnier than Jacob the Dry Shade bot and I-Think-I’m-Funny-So-Laugh-at-Me father, despite what the editors at the TV show website were paid to tell you.

How Was the CO?
Like Hillary Clinton, Ready for Elections
Best Sketches:
Cookie on Sesame Street
Hollywood Game Night
How 2 Dance with Janelle To (this one squeaked past for being really funny at the end)
Honorable Mention
Worst Sketches:
The Rest of Them

On my thoughts of Ms. Henson as host, she was very good, and did everything she could that the scripts told her to. But she wasn’t that great as I thought she would be. And I hope this episode would begin a big rebound by the writers to end the season on a higher note. But after watching this, it seems that it’s gonna take a while before they actually reach treble.

This was an overall middle-of-the-road episode. The were a few good sketches, but even then, they weren't really strong. But hey, after last week’s episode hosted by Michael Keaton, this is no way they could capture lightning in a bottle twice in a row. Taking that option away, it seems like some of the episodes I’ve reviewed this season. It was very mediocre and the hosts try their best, but it doesn’t help. Also, ironically, Weekend Update was the best of the best, and it’s clear that the writers have listened to everyone’s cries/whines (mine included) to be better and they have gotten better.

As for the cast, they've all did their best, but the writing just didn't help with their performances this week. Also, Kate McK clearly is becoming the Usual Girl of the sketches. But in this case, I really don't mind. The characters she play are hilarious, her impressions are mind-blowing and her delivery is just fantastic. Unlike Moyni and TKill (where outside of impressions, they could've gotten any of the other cast members to play characters), they have only one woman to play some of these characters right, and it's Kate, and she plays them very well. I really hopes she stays a long while, while also hoping Lorne and the producers doesn't treat her the same way the treated Kristen Wiig during her tenure as cast member.
Well, yeah. This was frustratingly mediocre and I don't think I'll ever see this one again soon.

SNL will return on May 2, when Scarlett Johansson returns to Studio 8H as host for the fourth time. Hopefully with another long-ass hiatus, the writers can recharge itself and pop out another hot one. That or the cast of Avengers: Age of Ultron will make a cameo in the Monologue and a sketch parodying the film. Either way, I'll be a very happy man. See you then!!
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Monday, April 06, 2015

SNL 40 Review: Michael Keaton & Carly Rae Jepsen



Guys...they've done it again! The writers have managed to make it two good episodes in a row!! And this one was really good. All it needs as the cherry on the Sundae (heh, pun. See, it's a pun because it airs on Sundays for the last 60 minutes of airtime. It's really geni--never mind)--anyway, what was the icing on the cake is Michael Keaton as host.

This week's host has been flying over the stratosphere now, but previously in the 80s and 90s, he was a white-hot commodity. With such films as Jack Frost, Mr. Mom, Beatlejuice, Night Shift, Jackie Brown and of course the Batman films with him in the Bat-suit as The Dark Knight.
But then, after keeping his career heating up for over three decades, he hit acting gold when he starred in last year's critically-acclaimed, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning film Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). After this, everyone wants him in their films, and he couldn't be any bigger of an actor. So, of course he's hosting Episode 17 of SNL 40. And I have my review here. Let's go!

The CO is a broadcast of the Road to the NCAA Final Four on CBS. Ernie Johnson (Beck Benn), Kenny Smith (Jay Pharoah) and Charles Barkley (Kenan Thompson) discuss an announcement from Duke coach Mike Krzyewski.

Jaleel Okafor is out of the game to study for a major test so he has a replacement: 36-year-old grad student Steve (Bobby Moynihan).
Kenan returns to form as Barkley, Beck Benn and Pharoah are also great as (respectively) Johnson and Smith, and TKillalso got laughs as Duke coach Krzyewski. along with Moyni as Steve. I did feel the applause "Steve" gotten was pretentious, but it did serve its purpose. Also, some of the questions asked by the reporters about Okafor leaving the game for a test were stupid, even though this is a parody. I didn't know why, but that did serve its purpose too. All-in-all, a very good Cold Open.


After the open, Michael comes to the stage for his third Monologue.
He mentions after the first time he hosted in 1982, that he had a baby (who's now 31) and a new girlfriend (who may or may not be 28). And in come Usual Guy #1 and Usual Guy #2--I mean Moyni and TKill. (I could've sworn this was a parody of the many times they're appeared in sketches more than everyone else, but no this is legit.) They yuk it up to Michael's jokes and pretty much kiss his ass. (You can tell it in their fake smiles and many looks into the camera.) The reason for this: they segue into a song number about their asking him to be Batman and Beatlejuice in a sketch with them, and the reasons why (TKill's "birthday" & Moyni having an fatal illness with only six weeks to live). They have Pharoah dress up in costumes and do impressions related to this, and dog him on about it.
Then they have a special clip with them as (respectively) The Penguin and The Joker/Man & Woman (with Michael being edited in as Batman & Beatlejuice)
I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm acting this way about them. They're funny and talented, and this Mono was really funny, especially the tribute clip. I think this redeemed them more for me. Also, how quick was Pharoah getting dressed as Harry Belafonte after being dressed as Bat-Ass?? I know they do a quick run to wardrobe to dress up for the next sketch, but damn, that was fast.
So overall, fantastic Mono.

Next up, a spoof on CNN's over-reliance of 3D graphics in its news reports, in the place of its' weekday rolling news program Newsroom. Brooke Baldwin (Cecily Strong) anchors the stories of the day, including last week's Germanwings Airliner Incident in the French Alps, with a report from Jacqueline Jackson (Sasheer Zamata). Also, Jake McKinsey (Moyni) reported from Switzerland where the US and Iran negotiated on a deal on Nuclear Weapons. And finally a report on Indiana's controversial Freedom of Religion Laws. It's what you'd come to expect if you hate CNN. And if you love CNN, you gotta admit--it's funny.

This was funny as f**k.
-The graphics used in the Germanwings story were a hilarious mocking of those used by CNN, which look like something made in the 80s. In fact this was mentiontioned here as "made by the same team who did the Dire Straits' 'Money for Nothing' music video from 1985".
-The puppet troupe reenactment looks like something out of Sesame Street, but fact this made it funnier.
-The dance troupe is my favorite part and a great dramatization of the Freedom for Religion laws controversy in Indiana. Michael Keaton, Kenan and Aidy dancing made the last part for me.
-And this too...

This is one of the best skits of the ep for me.



Ad Agency
At Wallace Advertising, CEO Mr. Wallace joins his staff (CecStrong, Kenan, LesDogg and Beck Benn) for a transforming session and things go from good to worse.

The work on this one project was meh for, but the knockers part and the "grandma-face-on-grill" part was chuckle-worthy. Also, there wasn't much to know about the injury Wallace suffered. There were some laughs here, but the sketch was weak, and should be one of the worst sketches for me.

Smart House
An old Southern couple are having neighbors over, so they discuss a new beginning for their house. It's a Smart House which brings all the latest technologies to you in the comfort of your home. But to the neighbors, there's a discomfort.

God, this skit was creepy. Some parts were funny, but I couldn't stop cringing like the neighbors were here. And how the couple said their dialogue made things worse. It's like the House has taken over them and is in the progress of continuing. I don't think this is one of the best. But it did do its job of creeping the audience, the viewers and the neighbors.

An Easter Message
Michael takes the time to talk to viewers about Easter and one of the joyous parts of it: Candy and Easter Baskets.

Boy, he looked extremely effeminate here. And that face.

Brr...
But he was a riot, and the puns on the Basket items were cringingly hilarious, especially the one on the Friday DVD. Kate Mc was also hilarious as doe-eyed dingbat Portia. To me, she's more than "kind of" cute. She's...uh...super cute. (I couldn't find a word to describe "more than above average", so that'll do.) Along with Moyni as the nut Jordan, this sketch was weird, explicit, and downright cringe-worthy. But it was extremely funny, and definitely one of my favorites of the episode.


Carly Rae Jepsen is this week's musical guest.
And yet, she had another hit after "Call Me Maybe". It's not that I hate her; it's that I expected her to be a One-Hit Wonder That Would Get Another Hit after that big-ass popularity explosion the song got after it was released. So she's here with another hit single in "I Really Like You". That's mostly thanks to the music video with Tom Hanks. But thanks to her debut appearance here, that song just may be more popular. And you know what? I really, really, really, really, really, really like it.

It's fun, jumpy, catchy and destined to be a big hit for the summer. It may very well be just like "Call Me Maybe" in the vein of puppy love/huge teen crush songs that somehow caught wind of the public conscience, but it's kinda fresh and very catchy, plus it has a really nice 80s Pop vibe to it that is just infectious, and I wouldn't mind listening to it every time it plays on the radio or when I play it on YouTube.
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If you expected the next (and final) song to be her personal tribute to the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series from the 90s and early 2000s, than you'd be seriously disappointed.
"All That" is about someone proving to their lover that they're worth being in love with. This track is a very soulful, sultry ditty that no teenage singer would ever sing (unless they've reinvented themselves by singing it and failed). Jepsen really proves she has the range with the lyrics provided and has the just enough sex-appeal (without showing so much like everyone else) to make it hot. I really like this song as well, and would love to hear it if it ever plays on the radio or if I play it on YouTube.

Did I mention she's nearly 30? Yeah, God really made it good on her looks, as if she still looks like a freaking teenager, and it shows. You really can't blame me (or anyone else) for repeatedly thinking she's that young, even after knowing she's "parent-with-kids" age.

Jepsen's vocals here were really good. They feel raw, raspy and weak, but in a good way. Plus her vocals and lyrics work very well in a throwback-genre song than in a straight-up pop song. retro vibe meshes so well with Carly's vocals that you'd think she really was a pop artist from the 80s. I'm seriously interested in listening to more of her latest album, and maybe a lot more from Ms. Jepsen.

Time for an Update:
Part 1:

Part 2:


It got better. It really got better. Weekend Update has gotten better. The jokes are more polished, they're more edgy and biting, and, most of all, they're funny. Jost & Che are much more comfortable and inclined at the desk and I'm actually enjoying them a lot more. Colin is less boring and droll and more relaxed and open, and Michael is less irritable and messy and more smooth and . I really can't be any more surprised at the fact that I'm actually happy that Jost got to stay with Update and that Che replaced Cecily Strong.
(although there will be a few more times where I will say, had he appears again, "Riblet should replace one of them")
It's taken nearly all of this season, but Update has found a beat in these two guys and I hope this continues into the final stretch of the season, and I really hope that they come back next season with the same energy, same bite and same humor as before.

Resident young person Pete Davidson returned to discuss the fifth season finale of The Walking Dead, with a new fear of a Zombie apocalypse. With a few slip-ups about weed. Meh.

His appearance and performance never fails to be funny (Except that one time when he did). But his report on TWD's finale was very funny. I don't watch the show, but I felt like I've known enough of it to find it so. And Norman Reedus' cameo appearance was just the icing on the cake. The appearance as his character was also very funny. Very good so far.


JEBIDIAH ATKINSON IS BACK!!
The reviewer of everything shown in a machine from the 1860s is back for another round of brutal, biting, vicious material about some of your favorite TV shows, movies and music. And I couldn't be any more happier! This time, it's Mad Men, Game of Thrones and House of Cards.

I thought the jokes from his "archives" were a few "biting-the-hand" jokes at NBC. Which would've been fine, as I'm sure Robert Greenblatt would've loved them (as he wasn't at the network to oversee them back in the 80s and 90s), and the Presidents of Entertainment wouldn't care enough to be offended.


Favorite Bits:
Addicted to Smocking


EVERY F*CKING WORD THAT CAME OUT OF JEBIDIAH ATKINSON'S MOUTH

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Top Three Best Sketches:
Easter Message
CNN Newsroom
Tribute Monologue

honorable mention:
Call Your Grandparents

Worst Sketches:
(this time, the worst sketches chosen here weren't because they were horrible; it's that they had a potential to be good or even great, but didn't rise up)
Smart House (it was more creepy than funny)
Ad Agency (it wasn't funny enough)
--
I must say...this episode is f**king awesome. And it will be a serious contender for the best episode of the entire season. Yes, I think it's that good, and can you blame me. The writers rebounded hard, and everyone put in seriously great performances. And for once, I really didn't mind The Two Usual Guys appearing in almost every other sketch, because they were super funny in all of them.
In fact everyone did a great job in the sketches they were in, especially Kate Mc (including the hilariously eccentric "Easter Message" sketch). I commend everyone for their consistent appearances in the sketches.

Keaton was superb in his guest host role. All the sketches he appeared in showed off a different side to him
(--A damn good dancer
--A Ad Agency CEO with the mind of Jhonen Vasquez
--A old man with a hankering for people-scarring science
--A creepy joker about Easter Baskets and Candy )
and he does them so freaking well. It's like watching a group of different guys doing these roles yet act like the same person on the surface. Keaton definitely has the chops to become one of the best host this season (maybe even a long time). I just wonder why he doesn't do this show more.

The writers really woke up during the hiatus and realized those two episodes after the 40th Anniversary Special were mediocre trite. These episodes have really taken this season from borderline unwatchable and put it into middle-of-the-road with a fighting chance of being at least good. And I can't wait to see what the next episode. And speaking of the next episode...

Next week, star of the silver and small screens, and breakout of both "Person of Interest" and this season's runaway monster hit "Empire", Taraji P. Henson will be host of Episode 18, with music from Mumford & Sons. Both will be making their debut appearance on SNL, and I'm eager for what happens then. I hope this lucky streak continues.
See you then!!
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