Saturday Night Live

[IenjoyAcidPops]

There's already a thread specifically on Taylor Swift's episode from Nov. 7, but "SNL" is a television institution, so I figured I'd start a thread for the show itself. Use this thread to discuss all things "SNL": favorite cast members, characters, sketches, hosts, people you'd like to see do the show, ways the show should be improved (because I know "SNL" seems to be hated everywhere these days), and so on.

[freelantzer]

Great thread topic, Acidpops! I was just thinking the other day, "Someone should make an SNL thread."

I'm with you on Lautner. Really?!? But I'm excited for Franco. I hope the writers step it up and really do him justice. The guy's hilarious and willing to make fun of himself, which always makes for a great sketch.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

Yeah, Franco was good the last time he hosted. And I had first heard that Derek Jeter (who was, unsurprisingly, terrible when he hosted in '01) would be hosting that show, so this is certainly a better way to go.

[Fawkesfan1]

Man I love SNL . Especially John Belushi and his Samurai Delicatessen sketches. Those are just a riot .

[featherfish81]

I've heard Zachary Quinto (sp?) say he wants to host, and I think that would be cool.

I'm not sure what to do to improve it. I love Weekend Update, but some of the other sketches aren't very good. I don't like the one where the girl keeps harassing her classmates (Gigli, or something like that?). It's just dumb.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

Decent episode Saturday night, nothing remarkable about it either way, but the big problem for SNL right now was demonstrated in a big way yet again: apparently every single sketch IS going to recur at some point. I did not expect the ESPN Classic sketch with Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis as color commentators hawking feminine hygiene products (first Tampax, then Vagisil) to come back, but lo and behold, there it was on Saturday night's show. And later in the episode we saw the godawful Kenan Thompson character Virginiaca, who I thought (foolishly) we'd seen the last of. Kristen Wiig's apparently-lesbian newscaster, Bill Hader's alien sportscaster, Fred Armisen as Nicolas Fehn, nearly every single sketch/character is being run into the ground these days - if it's funny once, you will see it again and again, and exactly the same, and this time, not so funny. Thankfully, we have a great cast to make the show worth watching still - Hader, Forte, Wiig, and Sudeikis in particular.

[featherfish81]

Yeah, it's a tough line between continuing a funny character and running one into the ground, and they don't always find the right balance. Personally, I'll be happy to not see McGruber again.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

^So I take it you won't be waiting in line for the MacGruber movie opening in April?

[featherfish81]

They're turning that into a movie? Seriously? I'm just surprised they can develop a plotline that will last for a full-length movie.

[Spacecadet]

you know i think lautner did a respectable job this week on SNL. I dont typically watch anymore as i miss the days of adam sandlar, mike meyers, chris rock, kevin neiland, chris farley, etc but they had some pretty good skits (especially when they made fun of team jacob/team edward). my problem with SNL currently is that they are very hit or miss, they hit the highlights (i.e. making fun of current pop culture) but they seem to take somethings too far just for a laugh or do things that are just stupid and not funny. I think the cast might just be a bit too much on the immature side. Either that or i just grew up and dont find this stuff as funny any more.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

Okay, I'll admit it (and this is very big of me, because I hate Twilight with every fiber of my being - so everyone take note!): Taylor Lautner did a decent job. This was also the best episode so far this season (and whaddyaknow, the fewest recurring sketches all season), so that certainly helps. The PGA commercials with Jason Sudeikis were the funniest part, IMO.

They're turning that into a movie? Seriously? I'm just surprised they can develop a plotline that will last for a full-length movie.

That's true of every sketch-turned-movie, but I was especially surprised when I heard about MacGruber because those are all, what, 10-30 seconds? The incredibly short length is one of the things that make those sketches really stand out. I trust Will Forte, I think he's been the funniest person on the show since he joined in '02, so I hope he's got something up his sleeve.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

Did anyone see that "A Very Gilly Christmas" special the other night? I was very pleasantly surprised; I was rather disappointed with last year's "Presidential Bash" compilation, because every full sketch was from the previous two seasons or so, with anything from the first 30+ years just a brief clip before commercial break. This time someone actually seemed to remember that SNL has been on for 34 years! (Look, Dan, John, Chevy, Garrett, Gilda, Laraine, & Jane singing "Winter Wonderland!" Is that "Consumer Probe" with Irwin Mainway and Candice Bergen? What's this, Steve Martin's Christmas wish? (I was also happy to see some favorites I didn't think would get in, like "Two A-Holes in a Nativity Scene," and Robert Smigel's "Christmastime for the Jews" with Darlene Love.)

[freelantzer]

I didn't get to see the Christmas special, but I agree about Lautner. I was pleasantly surprised by his ep. I especially loved the sketch where he played a teenage girl obsessed with Edward.

I wish Franco had gotten better material. He's fantastic, always willing to make fun of himself, and he had some funny moments. But most of the ep was lackluster. A lot of repeat sketches.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

Jon Hamm's hosting the next episode, next Saturday, a choice I'm SO happy with. I was hoping he'd become a recurring host, because he did an excellent job last season (I think that was the best episode of the '08-'09 season). Ashton Kutcher, another good host (this will be his fourth time doing the show), is hosting the following week.

[freelantzer]

It's kind of late to comment on them, but I watched both the Charles Barkley and Sigourney Weaver episodes since I last logged on here. I was actually pleasantly surprised by Barkley. I thought he managed to be pretty funny and I enjoyed several of the sketches. But Weaver was horribly unfunny. Not sure if it was her or the sketches, but I think the only thing I laughed at in that show was Update, which she wasn't in at all.

[IenjoyAcidPops]

Wow, last Saturday's episode was actually really good! Easily the best show of the year so far. If I'm not mistaken, there was only one recurring character in the whole show, and it was a funny one: Bill Hader's not-an-alien sportscaster Greg! I particularly loved the "Closet Organizer" commercial, and the way it...well, if you haven't seen it, I won't spoil the surprise, because there's actually a surprise! On an episode of "SNL" this season!

[IenjoyAcidPops]

Just when I was getting optimistic about the second half of this season, after 2 very good episodes (Jon Hamm and Ashton Kutcher), comes last night's show - yet another dominated by recurring characters. Even the Kenan Thompson love guru/narrator character, so strange and funny in the Taylor Lautner episode, was brought back! I mean, I watch just about everything on this show today knowing it'll be dredged up again soon enough, but this was another disappointment.

[Rastaban43]

I never stopped watching SNL but I stopped being entertained by it several years ago. I mean, there are occasional skits that gems (diamonds in the rough, perhaps) and Weekend Update is consistently funny, but other than that, the show had got so mundane in recent years.

But, I really have to admit, the last two episodes (Jude Law/Pearl Jam and Tina Fey/Justin Bieber) were absolutely great. A few earlier episodes this year were not bad, and they had some good moments, but the last two specifically felt like they put the show back on track perhaps. I hope that's the case and the show continues to be funny this year.

[Fawkesfan1]

So looking forward to May 8th...

Betty White has been confirmed to be host of SNL on that date. Can't wait to see how it goes . I'm such a big fan of hers .

article about it

[Rastaban43]

This last weekend's SNL was another really great episode with "Precious" actor Gabourey Sidibe as host and musical guests MGMT. Sidibe did a great job as host despite practically coming to stardom overnight. She's got a really approachable and down-to-earth personality. The music seemed to run a little longer than usual, but that's forgivable, since I usually fast-forward that anyway. XD

I'd be interested to know how many of you guys watch SNL for the music more than the skits. Or do you watch just bits and pieces like Weekend Update? The best part about the show this week, though, was the writer's schpeel about girl scout cookies. SO TRUE!