It's September. It's Saturday night. And that can only mean one thing - the season premiere of SNL is finally upon us! Tonight, veteran host Alec Baldwin takes to the stage for a record sixteenth hosting stint, while British rockers Radiohead are musical guests. We've been promised some surprises by Mr. Baldwin (ahem, Steve Martin and Seth Rogen, ahem) and I think we're in for a great show. 

I want you, loyal readers, to post your thoughts on tonight's show after it has aired. Favourite sketch? MVP of the show? Thoughts on how Baldwin fared? 

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Justin Timberlake/Lady Gaga - Thoughts

Tonight marks the end of Saturday Night Live's 36th Season. As always, I want you to post your thoughts! How did JT fare in his fourth outing as host? Favourite sketch? 

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Note : later this week, I will compile a list of my top ten favourite sketches of the season.

Ed Helms/Paul Simon - Thoughts

Apologies for the lateness of this.

Last night saw Ed Helms host this season's penultimate episode. As always, I'm curious as to what you guys thought? I thought Helms was a little underused, but I greatly enjoyed the likes of Ambiguously Gay Duo and What's Up With That?

Share your thoughts in the comments!

Tina Fey/Ellie Goulding - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on tonight's show after it has aired! Favourite sketch? Any special guests? MVP of the show?

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Helen Mirren/Foo Fighters - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on last night's show! How did you like Helen Mirren in a hosting capacity? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show? 

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Elton John - Thoughts

Post your tonight's show after it airs! 

How did Sir Elton John fare? Were the musical performances sublime? Special appearances? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show?

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Zach Galifianakis/Jessie J - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on last night's show! How did Zach Galifianakis fare in his second stint as host? Do you expect Jessie J to repeat her success in America? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show?

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Miley Cyrus/The Strokes - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on last night's show! How did Miley Cyrus fare in her first time out at SNL? Favourite sketch? Worst sketch? MVP of the show?

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Russell Brand/Chris Brown - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on tonight's show after it has aired! How did British funnyman Russell Brand fare in his debut stint as host? Any special guests? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show?

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Dana Carvey/Linkin Park - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on tonight's show after it has aired! 

How did SNL alum Dana Carvey fare in this third hosting stint? Did he reprise any of his well-loved characters? Any special guests? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show?

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Gwyneth Paltrow/Cee-Lo Green - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on tonight's show after it has aired!

Did you enjoy Gwyneth Paltrow's stint as host? Did she and Cee-Lo perform alongside one another? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show?

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Jim Carrey/The Black Keys - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on tonight's SNL after it has aired! Did Carrey get 2011 off to a winning start? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show? Any surprises?

In the meantime, enjoy this photo of Jim Carrey getting fitted for a wig -

SNL - Midseason Review (Season 36 Episodes 1-10)

So, now that 2010 is drawing to a close and SNL has offered us ten episodes of season thirty-six, I think it’s high time that I complile my top ten favourite sketches of the season. Without further ado, here are my top ten sketches of season thirty-six thus far.

1. Les Jeunes de Paris - If forced to pick my favourite sketch of the season thus far, this would probably be it. Not to get too pretentious about things, but I just felt like this was comedy in its purest form - all physical and visual. Just an incredibly well-executed and joyful sketch, featuring a nice interplay between host Emma Stone and featured player Taran Killam. 
2. “Sex Ed” Vincent - This was a taped infomercial which featured Paul Brittain front and center playing his character Sex Ed Vincent, an amateur sex educator. Long a stalwart of the Chicago improv scene, Sex Ed Vincent’s debut on SNL was hilarious and really solidifed Paul Brittain’s status as a “one to watch”. 
3. Back To The Future Screen Tests - I mean, this was absurdly good and showcased so many of the cast’s impressions, including Bill Hader’s dead-on impression of Alan Alda, Taran Killam’s impression of Pee-Wee Herman, Jay Pharoah’s impression of Eddie Murphy - the list goes on. Everyone was on their game here and it was tremendous and fun to watch.
4. Stars of Tomorrow - A hilarious send-up of child actors starring Vanessa Bayer and Scarlett Johansson front and center. When will an eleven year old girl performing Bubba’s monologue from Forrest Gump not be funny? Never, that’s when. And this sketch was never not funny.
5. Wikileaks - TMZ - Firstly, I’ll go on the record to say that I think Hader as Assange is absolute gold. I loved this sketch and I think it’s easily the best cold open of the season, in that it kind of killed two birds with one stone - satirising Julian Assange and Harvey Levin’s TMZ operation. Everything was so on point - from the schlubby guys in the TMZ newsroom to the paparazzi voiceovers in the clips to Hader as Assange. Just brilliant.
6. Visiting The Queen - This is the sketch which featured Anne Hathaway as the soon-to-be princess Kate Middleton visiting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip who, behind closed doors, are a couple of old geezers. I’m sure this has been done before and possibly done better, but in light of the royal engagement, I thought this was very simple and well-executed. Fred Armisen just slayed me as “Debra” as did Hader as Prince Philip who, at one point, calls in a servant just to tell him to “piss off”. Who are these people? Characters from Sexy Beast? Loved it.
7. Mega-Mart - Infomercial for a super sale, “12 Minute Madness” on Black Friday. Kind of in the same vein as Kickspit Underground Rock Festival and just as hilarious. That Kirk Douglas would be hidden somewhere in a store, for customers to find him, touch him and win an iPad will never not be funny to me. Also - “DJ Thunderthrust”.
8. The Ladies Who Lunch - This was such a wonderful lady-centric sketch from the season premiere with Amy Poehler which featured Kristen Wiig as a lady whose hats are consistently upstaged by her friend’s even tinier hats. It was so absurd and ridiculous and a reminder that the ladies should all collaborate on sketches more often.
9. Stumblin’ - A musical reworking of 9 To 5 with Andy Samberg and Paul Rudd flailing and stumbling all around New York City with a cameo from Paul McCartney performing a tiny harmonica solo. I don’t think I need to explain why I loved this so.
   
10. The Bjelland Brothers - I could see that some people might have really disliked this sketch or found the refrain, “I sent a bottle of sparkling apple juice to your house/Did you get it?” to be annoying or irritating. Me? I found it to be wonderfully silly and charming.

OTHER NOTABLE MENTIONS -

• Every appearance by Stefon on Weekend Update has been superb. “Eleven Little Richards.” Okay.
• Watching Jay Pharoah’s appearances in sketches and on Weekend Update has been like watching the birth of a comedy star. His Thanksgiving Rap Medley where he debuted his impressions of Drake, Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G was the tops. Pharoah has surpassed Hader as the best impressionist on the show - no easy feat and one that ought to be acknowledged and lauded.
• The Miley Cyrus Show is probably my favourite new recurring sketch.

Jeff Bridges/Eminem & Lil Wayne - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on tonight's edition of SNL after it airs! How did The Dude fare sketch-wise? What about Eminem/Lil Wayne? Any surprises for the Christmas show? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show?

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Paul Rudd/Paul McCartney - Thoughts

Share your thoughts on tonight's edition of SNL. How did Paul Rudd fare in his second stint as host? Did former Beatle Paul McCartney appear in any live sketches? Favourite sketch of the night? MVP of the show?


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Robert DeNiro/Diddy Dirt Money - Thoughts

Share your thoughts on tonight's SNL after it's aired. How did De Niro fare? Did P. Diddy have his wish to appear in a sketch granted? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show?

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Anne Hathaway/Florence and The Machine - Thoughts

Share your thoughts on last night's episode of SNL. How did Anne Hathaway fare her second time around? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show? How were Florence and The Machine?


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Scarlett Johannson/Arcade Fire - Thoughts

Post your thoughts on last night's SNL. How did Ms. Johannson fare her third time out? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show? How were Arcade Fire?


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Jon Hamm/Rihanna - Thoughts

Share your thoughts on last night's episode of SNL. How did Jon Hamm fare in his third stint as host? Favourite sketch? MVP of the show?

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Emma Stone/Kings of Leon Thoughts -

What did you think of last night's show? Did the uber-enthusiastic Stone do a good job? How about Kings Of Leon? Favourite sketch of the night?


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