Please welcome...

Abby Elliott and Michaela Watkins!
The two lovelies are the latest additions to SNL. Abby Elliott is 21 years old, daughter of SNL alum Chris Elliott and was trained at Amy Poehler's UCB Theatre.

Michaela Watkins has no age to speak of. But she did star in New Adventures of Old Christine, maybe you caught her? She was trained at Groundlings, where Will Forte and Kristen Wiig were trained!

Welcome ladies, make yourselves at home..

But don't overdo it.

Ben Affleck/David Cook review

Cold Open: Fantastic premise! John McCain was excellent, and maybe stole the show from Tina Fey. Strike that, no maybe about it, he was awesome. My particular favourite? The plates commemorating the ten town hall debates that Obama refused to participate in.
9/10

Monologue: A little short and uneventful. I've become accustomed to celebrity cameos and glitzy monologues these past couple of weeks, so this one fell a little flat for me.
6/10

Jar Glove: Yes, it's a repeat from the Michael Phelps episode. Still amusing, but not nearly as funny as the first time.
6/10

The View: Very good. Only, I wish they had done a little more with the sketch than just have each character essentially repeat their catchphrases. All of the impressions were spot-on though, even Kenan's. Also, props must be given to Casey Wilson's impression of Jennifer Aniston, which while it was lost in this sketch and really had no place in it, was still great. The best I've seen from Casey so far, good work!
8/10

Countdown with Keith Olberman: Best sketch of the night! It painted Keith Olbermann as being deranged and mentally unstable. It ran a little long, but Ben Affleck's delivery just made it! He smirked a few times, but honestly I don't know how he made it through the entire sketch and not crack up. His personal comment addressing Mr. Lieberstein was classic. Absurd and bizarre. Just the way I like it!
10/10


Target Lady: The best Target Lady sketch in a while. This time saw a cheesy UPS man with corn-rows hit on Target Lady, much to both her dismay and delight!
"Can I scan you? Just like I thought! Priceless!"
9/10

Giraffes: This was a message from Staten Island Zoo, that presented a student-made video about giraffes. Much like the Sloths sketch before it, it was hilarious. Some information I did not know about giraffes : They come from outer space, vampire blood runs through their veins. Who knew SNL was so educational?
9/10

David Cook: n/a
Yeah, I didn't watch it.

Weekend Update: Best one in a while actually. I'm really warming up to Seth Meyers who has proved himself to be an extremely competent solo anchor. Guest commentators included Aunt Linda, John McCain and two brothers who sang a song about voting machines, which was hilarious.
9/10

Night School Musical: Wasn't as good as it could have been, and the music drowned out the lyrics, so I could hardly hear what they were singing about.
6/10

How to Get the Fire Back in Your Marriage DVD: This was one of those sketches that was cringey and disgusting, but you couldn't help but laugh at it. Kenan played an old man who released a DVD providing love-making tips for the older couple. And they showed examples. Oh, they showed examples.
8/10

Pitching a Movie: Bill Hader's only appearance tonight, and it was gold, absolute gold. He played the emo brother to Ben Affleck's emotionally stable character. Both were pitching a coming-of-age tale but Bill's character Stefan also introduced some lude elements into his pitch, including "diaper people". Has to be seen, best character of the night!

Bierhoff Brother's House of German Coats: 8/10 Fred Armisen and Ben Affleck played the Bierhoff brothers who were selling coats to german tourists, which had a wide array of accessories. They could even be used as a tent. Pretty funny. Ben Affleck's German accent really did it for me.

Overall, this was a good solid episode. Ben Affleck blended into the cast seamlessly, and I have to say it almost became The Ben Affleck Show. Some cast members were hardly seen, like Bill Hader, Will Forte, Darrell Hammond, Bobby Moynihan, and Jason Sudeikis. So, hope to see more of them, and maybe a little less of Fred Armisen, whom I love, but I'm getting a little too much of.

Favourites : Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Movie Pitch, Weekend Update

Live from New York, It's Saturday Night, with host Paul Rudd/Beyonce

Yes, our prayers have been answered and Mr. Rudd of Knocked Up, Friends, Clueless, Forgetting Sarah Marshall fame will host SNL November 15th.

Beyonce will be musical guest, but whatever, PAUL RUDD!

Strike.TV

http://www.strike.tv/show/global-warming/

Click up there to watch new Kristen Wiig/Aasif Mandvi web-series Global Warming!

Jon Hamm/Coldplay review

Cold Open:
I was away for a week, so I wasn't 100% certain as to what exactly happened with Sen. Biden and Rep. Murtha. But given that it was 10 days to the election, this seemed like an odd way to open the show. Not as funny as Will Ferrell and Tina Fey's bit on Thursday Night.

Monologue:
Amusing, and well delivered. It was a bit in which Hamm urged viewers to watch his show Mad Men on AMC, by reeling them in with a list of false gimmicks, i.e. McCain and Obama will appear on the finale smoking weed.

Hallowe'en Paedophile:
Here Will Forte played a paedophile going to his neighbour's house looking for candy, but also to reveal to him in a roundabout way, that he is in fact a sex offender. The sketch felt a little stale, like something I'd seen before, but Forte saved it, by being the phenomenal character actor he is. There's something incredibly intense about every character Forte does, as he gives 120% and his full commitment. This sketch was no exception.

SNL Digital Short : Ras-Trent:
Only the second good digital short this season, after Extreme Activities Competition. This was Andy Samberg playing a white rasta wannabe, to an incredibly catchy beat. Seriously, this song could be a hit.
"Me toil part time at a ColdStone Creamery."
Excellent.

Two A-Holes at a 60's Ad Agency:
Hail the return of the Two A-Holes! This time our favourite A-Holes were pitching a stationary hula-hoop to the Mad Men characters! Cameos from John Slattery and Elisabeth Moss. It was absolutely hilarious, and Will Forte and Bill Hader blended in flawlessly. My favourite line?
"What about you, gay guy?"
"Who, me???!"
Bill Hader's face was amazing.

Obama Variety Half-Hour:
Best sketch of the night. Maya Rudolph returned to play Michelle Obama, and Mr.and Mrs. O presented their variety half hour, which included Nancy Pelosi (Wiig), Barney Frank (Moynihan) and Ron Emmanuel (Samberg) singing Our House, and Bill Clinton singing "Don't Your Forget About Me." Jon Hamm also played John F. Kennedy's spirit who returns to endorse Obama. Wonderful, neat, tidy sketch.

Don Draper's Guide To Picking Up Women:
Another Mad Men reference. This was a taped bit, that showed Hamm reprise his character Don Draper, and divulge his secrets. My favourite:
1) Be Silent.

Coldplay :
I dislike Coldplay, so I fast-forwarded this.

Weekend Update:
Tonight opened with the revelation that Amy Poehler couldn't be there because she was having her baby! So, Meyers went solo. And, I have to say, he did a pretty good job. Guest commentators included Ralph Nader, played flawlessly by Bill Hader, RoboCall played by Will Forte, and Nicholas Fehn. I loved Nicholas Fehn in the beginning, but it's wearing just a little thin now. Perhaps, it's awesome to see Armisen improvise all that, and that's why the audience reaction is so strong and favourable each time. But I think it's time to put it to rest.
Update ended on the loveliest note, with Kenan Thompson and Maya Rudolph performing a rendition of "We Love You Amy" to the tune of "I Love You, Baby." It's so obvious how much the cast truly love her, and the affection they hold for her. What? I'm not crying, I just have something in my eye.

Vincent Price's Halloween Show:
Here saw Bill Hader return as Vincent Price in one his specials. His guests included Gloria Swanson, who was a pirate, and James Mason. It was Hamm who played Mason, and he did a killer job at playing the Lolita star. Best part was when Price went to read The Raven, and asked for musical accompaniment from Liberace (Armisen). One of the best of the night.

Jon Hamm's John Ham:
Okay, this sketch, while clever, made me feel nautious. The roll of ham in the bathroom, the mustard dispenser.. it was all a little juvenile.

Pat Finger, Butts, NY:
This sketch was a series of campaign ads from the unfortunately named Pat Finger (Hamm) who is running for Butts Council. Lots of Finger in Butts jokes ensue. And then in an attempt to remedy his initial campaign ads, he changes his name to Pat Dildeaux. Dildo in Butts. You get the picture.

Coldplay:
Didn't watch.

Overall, I thought this was a strong episode. Consistent show, with one of the strongest hosts thus far (after Anne Hathaway). It was good to see Bill Hader get more airtime, and perform some of his killer impressions, which he have hardly seen this season. Not a lot of Wiig/Wilson this episode, which is kind of a nice change. I adore Wiig, but I fear that now Amy has left, she is going to be used to the absolute maximum. Wilson kind of bothers me. Its clear she has talent, but she overacts in every sketch. If she took it down a notch, then she'd be simply fantastic. But as it stands, she's a little annoying.

Score: 8/10

Obama not feeling Armisen's impression

From TV Guide -


The presidential hopeful admitted, ever so diplomatically, of course, that his Saturday Night Live other half leaves much to be desired in his parodies."I've gotta say, compared to Tina Fey and what she's been doing with Gov. Sarah Palin, my imitator isn't doing as great a job," he told WUSA9.com.

"I do know my ears have been getting bigger and bigger each episode," Obama said. "I'm sure they'll get me right over time."

Keith Olbermann

Keith Olbermann apparently managed to shimmy past security, and watch rehearsals of a sketch that is said to mock him savagely.
But Olbermann, through a spokesman, was complimentary on his first time being mocked on "SNL" — a position his MSNBC colleague Chris Matthews has been in over the years.

“I’m not Sarah Palin,” Olbermann said. “I know how valuable it is to me. And it’s funny."

No show Novemeber 8th

I expected this, but just confirmed it via NBC Media Village.
SNL will be taking a break, and airing in its place will be a repeat of James Franco/Kings of Leon.

But if you have an itch only SNL can scratch, then don't forget to tune in to SNL Presidential Bash 2008 on Monday Nov. 3rd at 8pm.

Armisen & Hammond to appear on NBC's "Today"

Monday, November 3 (7-9 a.m.): The final NBC News/Wall Street Journal election poll unveiled on "Today". Darrell Hammond and Fred Armisen are interviewed. -
NBC Media Village

The two men responsible for impersonating McCain and Obama will drop by "Today" for laughs, chats and cookies.

Rumours : Britney Spears to host Nov. 22nd

Although it has yet to be confirmed, many news outlets/gossip sites are reporting that Ms. Spears may host on Nov. 22nd.
I, for one, would love to see this happen. She has hosted twice before, back in 2000& 2002, when I was eight and ten years old, respectively.

Watch this space.

Ok..

I have not been keeping this as well as I should have been. Just returned from a trip to Krakow/Berlin, which was amazing! Everyone should go there.

BUT ANYWAY :

1) Amy Poehler gave birth to a baby boy Archie, does this mean we will never again see Amy grace our screens at 11.30 again? Most likely. End of the Poehler era.

2) McCain is scheduled to appear on SNL tonight. No Obama? Man.

3) Old favourite Ben Affleck is hosting tonight! Should be a lot of fun!

4) Jon Hamm was, as Jean K. Jean would say, "INCROYABLE!"

Access Hollywood says:

Apparently Mark Wahlberg will appear on SNL this weekend?
I don't know, I haven't found any more info about this, so I'll keep you guys posted!

In other news...

Just want to reiterate how much of a douche Mark Wahlberg is.



I wrote this post in anger.
Mark Wahlberg's a good guy.

Palin on SNL this weekend!

Sarah Palin will appear on SNL this weekend, in a last-ditch attempt to make America fall in love with her, and take her to the White House.
Yay, hockey moms!

Dr_Henry_M_Morris from IMDb wants to see Sarah Palin slap Tina Fey.

Mark Wahlberg threatens to clock Samberg

From WENN:
Reformed thug Mark Wahlberg has threatened to 'crack' comedian Andy Samberg's nose after the funnyman poked fun at him in a skit on American comedy show Saturday Night Live.
The Happening actor, a one-time juvenile delinquent, admits he was far from impressed with Samberg's comedy in a farmyard segment, where he pretended to be hard-man Wahlberg.
And he made his feelings known on late-night chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday when he was reminded of the clip.
Wahlberg said, "When I see that kid, I'm gonna crack that big f**king nose of his."
But the actor made sure Kimmel knew he was partly joking when he used Samberg's Wahlberg catchphrase, adding, "And then I'm gonna tell him, 'Say hi to your mother for me.'"
But Samberg still needs to be worried; Wahlberg said, "I think I'm gonna get on a plane tomorrow, I'm gonna go to New York... wherever the f**k they shoot that show. He probably doesn't have a dressing room so I have to find him in the cafeteria, and I'm gonna slap him in the big nose.
"Tune in, I guaran-f**king-tee you... And then instead of me forgiving him, I'll ask him to forgive me. Right?"

Wow, Wahlberg's more of a tool than I thought.
Say hi to your mother for me.