The New York Times ArtsBeat blog just ran this story about Darrell Hammond's SNL status in which it semi-confirms what everyone has been thinking.
From the NY Times ArtsBeat blog -
One longtime staff member of “S.N.L.,” speaking on condition of anonymity because of the official no-comment position, said that Mr. Hammond’s absence meant he was no longer a regular but that he remained on good terms with the producers and would be available to perform characters as needed.
There you kinda have it.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Megan Fox/U2 - Sketch-by-Sketch Review
This week saw Transformers mega-hottie Megan Fox take to the stage as SNL host and U2 take to the stage not twice, but three times as musical guests. Let's have a show rundown sketch by sketch, shall we?
Cold Open - So I know they kinda saved the best for SNL Weekend Update Thursday with the sketch about Obama being interviewed by everyone but Fox News, but was Colonel Gaddafi really that ripe for lampooning? With the exception of Fred bearing kind of a resemblance to him, I just don't get why they picked that for the cold open of the 35th season premiere. Don't remember particularly laughing at this one, might have smirked at the notion that jetlag was to blame for his speech, but that was it. Poor start.
5.5/10
Monologue - So here's something I found curious about the monologue - Megan Fox was clearly booked this week in order to promote her latest flick Jennifer's Body and yet no mention of it at all in the monologue. Way to distance yourself from a box office bomb. Anyhow, this wasn't too bad, at least it didn't resort to a Q & A (well, not really). Bobby kind of saved it with the whole schtick about the picture of her as a half-human half-horse being legit, liked the paparazzi joke. All in all not bad, but not great.
6/10
Bladavvan - Only positive thing I can say about this one was nice ending. Will Forte & Fred Armisen sharing a urinal at least made me smile.
N/A
Southern Stewardesses - I quite liked this one. Probably would have liked it better without Fox to be honest. For me, she just interrupted the good parts with Wiig, who pretty much owned the sketch. Loved the fight about Monk and the promises to find some pretzels. Spotted - new writer Hannibal Buress seated behind Andy & Abby.
7/10
Russian Mail Order Bride - Another hit/miss sketch. Anything with Armisen was pretty funny. "Svetlana cannot wink, only blink." or "Svetlana has no interests" and his lazy smile was pretty funny. Fox just kind of had to stand there & mumble Russian and the idea that the decision was so hard to make because Svetlana (the blatantly uglier bride) was cheaper wasn't all that funny. Made me laugh once or twice though.
6/10
SNL Digital Short 1 - Loved this one, dare I say it my favourite of the night. Well written & terrific job by both Forte & Fox, but particularly Will who was pretty awesome as a slightly off SWAT commander. I loved how tender yet hilarious it all was & it even had a proper ending. Think it's one of those love it or hate it sketches - count me in the love it camp.
8/10
Grady Wilson's Burning Up The Bedsheets - Decent enough. Good job by Kenan who definitely elevated the sketch. This was probably Fox's best one of the night. She let go completely and was pretty funny as a result. Favourite position?
"Its 12.00 in Switzerland. Cuckoo!"
7/10
U2 - So over U2. Being Irish, I've had enough U2 to last me a lifetime.
Weekend Update - Another highlight of the show. Solid jokes, though maybe the best were used up on Thursday. Favourite jokes -
"Colonel Gaddafi called Obama his son during his speech at the G20. Then Glenn Beck's just upped and wrote itself."
Re - Giant Babt "The mother was said to be beside herself but only because she was split in 2."
Also loved the Larry King/Michael Moore joke.
Jean K. Jean I enjoyed tremendously. Loved the Chanel belt joke. Judy Grimes stole the segment for me though. Jeez, how does she do it that fast! So funny though, I can't wait to find a transcript so I can fully appreciate the jokes in this one.
8/10
Live Lounge - It's a sketch that's been done lots of times and it didn't really feel fresh or new. My favourite part were probably the terms & conditions at the end. "If you try to cancel Live Lounge, we will tell people you use Live Lounge. Live Lounge is owned by the Russian Mafia."
5/10
Biker Chick Chit Chat- In what should have been kind of a big deal - a new cast member heading a sketch in her first week on the show - turned into a big deal for the wrong reasons. Yes, this is the one in which Jenny Slate accidentally dropped an F-Bomb. And I can't really blame her - it was a tongue teaser! There were so many fricks that I felt like I was watching a Mini-Me sketch (can I get a what-what?) But really, no amount of F-Bombs or front bums could save this one. It was one-note and the only redeeming parts of it were Megan Fox's surprisingly New Yawky accent and Kristen Wiig who made a believable biker mom-friend. Major kudos to Slate & Wiig who retained their composure after Jenny's slip-up
4.5/10
SNL Digital Short 2 - So this one was a little bizarre. It centred around Megan Fox on a date with Andy Samberg's character and her roommate Optimus Prime (who is Bobby Moynihan with an Optimus mask on). So it started off pretty funny & it quickly got weird when Optimus Prime was sitting on the sofa naked & then walked in another Transformer (Brian Austin Green) and the two of them "transformed" and dropped their shorts. Honestly, this one was just a little too odd for me.
N/A
Your Mom Talks to Megan Fox While You Finish Getting Ready - Typical end of the night sketch. Fox played herself while Wiig played your average mom who gets confused with CSI & CGI. It was fine, Wiig did a pretty good job but the only part that amused me what the anecdote about Rick Moranis.
5/10
OVERALL-
Not the best start to the season, but I didn't really expect more from a season premiere hosted by a so-so actress like Megan Fox. She didn't embarrass herself & to be honest, I fault the writers for not giving her more material that didn't make some mention to her looks. She seemed pretty game for a lot of stuff so maybe it's just getting back into the routine for the writers but I really hope they improve their game for next week with Ryan Reynolds.
Props to Will Forte, Fred Armisen, Kenan Thompson & Kristen Wiig who I thought did a particularly good job this week. Also, I just have to mention how much I enjoyed Nasim Pedrad's impression of Kathy Griffin on SNL Weekend Update Thursday - girl's got game!
Regarding SNLWUT (best acronym yet?) I loved Jason's impression of Glenn Beck & after this summer we need a Glenn Beck sketch pronto - hey, if you can lampoon Keith Olbermann, you can lampoon Glenn Beck.
Overall, very so-so start to season 35. Megan Fox didn't have major sketch comedy chops & I hope that Ryan Reynolds fares better next week.
5.5/10
STRAY OBSERVATIONS -
Cold Open - So I know they kinda saved the best for SNL Weekend Update Thursday with the sketch about Obama being interviewed by everyone but Fox News, but was Colonel Gaddafi really that ripe for lampooning? With the exception of Fred bearing kind of a resemblance to him, I just don't get why they picked that for the cold open of the 35th season premiere. Don't remember particularly laughing at this one, might have smirked at the notion that jetlag was to blame for his speech, but that was it. Poor start.
5.5/10
Monologue - So here's something I found curious about the monologue - Megan Fox was clearly booked this week in order to promote her latest flick Jennifer's Body and yet no mention of it at all in the monologue. Way to distance yourself from a box office bomb. Anyhow, this wasn't too bad, at least it didn't resort to a Q & A (well, not really). Bobby kind of saved it with the whole schtick about the picture of her as a half-human half-horse being legit, liked the paparazzi joke. All in all not bad, but not great.
6/10
Bladavvan - Only positive thing I can say about this one was nice ending. Will Forte & Fred Armisen sharing a urinal at least made me smile.
N/A
Southern Stewardesses - I quite liked this one. Probably would have liked it better without Fox to be honest. For me, she just interrupted the good parts with Wiig, who pretty much owned the sketch. Loved the fight about Monk and the promises to find some pretzels. Spotted - new writer Hannibal Buress seated behind Andy & Abby.
7/10
Russian Mail Order Bride - Another hit/miss sketch. Anything with Armisen was pretty funny. "Svetlana cannot wink, only blink." or "Svetlana has no interests" and his lazy smile was pretty funny. Fox just kind of had to stand there & mumble Russian and the idea that the decision was so hard to make because Svetlana (the blatantly uglier bride) was cheaper wasn't all that funny. Made me laugh once or twice though.
6/10
SNL Digital Short 1 - Loved this one, dare I say it my favourite of the night. Well written & terrific job by both Forte & Fox, but particularly Will who was pretty awesome as a slightly off SWAT commander. I loved how tender yet hilarious it all was & it even had a proper ending. Think it's one of those love it or hate it sketches - count me in the love it camp.
8/10
Grady Wilson's Burning Up The Bedsheets - Decent enough. Good job by Kenan who definitely elevated the sketch. This was probably Fox's best one of the night. She let go completely and was pretty funny as a result. Favourite position?
"Its 12.00 in Switzerland. Cuckoo!"
7/10
U2 - So over U2. Being Irish, I've had enough U2 to last me a lifetime.
Weekend Update - Another highlight of the show. Solid jokes, though maybe the best were used up on Thursday. Favourite jokes -
"Colonel Gaddafi called Obama his son during his speech at the G20. Then Glenn Beck's just upped and wrote itself."
Re - Giant Babt "The mother was said to be beside herself but only because she was split in 2."
Also loved the Larry King/Michael Moore joke.
Jean K. Jean I enjoyed tremendously. Loved the Chanel belt joke. Judy Grimes stole the segment for me though. Jeez, how does she do it that fast! So funny though, I can't wait to find a transcript so I can fully appreciate the jokes in this one.
8/10
Live Lounge - It's a sketch that's been done lots of times and it didn't really feel fresh or new. My favourite part were probably the terms & conditions at the end. "If you try to cancel Live Lounge, we will tell people you use Live Lounge. Live Lounge is owned by the Russian Mafia."
5/10
Biker Chick Chit Chat- In what should have been kind of a big deal - a new cast member heading a sketch in her first week on the show - turned into a big deal for the wrong reasons. Yes, this is the one in which Jenny Slate accidentally dropped an F-Bomb. And I can't really blame her - it was a tongue teaser! There were so many fricks that I felt like I was watching a Mini-Me sketch (can I get a what-what?) But really, no amount of F-Bombs or front bums could save this one. It was one-note and the only redeeming parts of it were Megan Fox's surprisingly New Yawky accent and Kristen Wiig who made a believable biker mom-friend. Major kudos to Slate & Wiig who retained their composure after Jenny's slip-up
4.5/10
SNL Digital Short 2 - So this one was a little bizarre. It centred around Megan Fox on a date with Andy Samberg's character and her roommate Optimus Prime (who is Bobby Moynihan with an Optimus mask on). So it started off pretty funny & it quickly got weird when Optimus Prime was sitting on the sofa naked & then walked in another Transformer (Brian Austin Green) and the two of them "transformed" and dropped their shorts. Honestly, this one was just a little too odd for me.
N/A
Your Mom Talks to Megan Fox While You Finish Getting Ready - Typical end of the night sketch. Fox played herself while Wiig played your average mom who gets confused with CSI & CGI. It was fine, Wiig did a pretty good job but the only part that amused me what the anecdote about Rick Moranis.
5/10
OVERALL-
Not the best start to the season, but I didn't really expect more from a season premiere hosted by a so-so actress like Megan Fox. She didn't embarrass herself & to be honest, I fault the writers for not giving her more material that didn't make some mention to her looks. She seemed pretty game for a lot of stuff so maybe it's just getting back into the routine for the writers but I really hope they improve their game for next week with Ryan Reynolds.
Props to Will Forte, Fred Armisen, Kenan Thompson & Kristen Wiig who I thought did a particularly good job this week. Also, I just have to mention how much I enjoyed Nasim Pedrad's impression of Kathy Griffin on SNL Weekend Update Thursday - girl's got game!
Regarding SNLWUT (best acronym yet?) I loved Jason's impression of Glenn Beck & after this summer we need a Glenn Beck sketch pronto - hey, if you can lampoon Keith Olbermann, you can lampoon Glenn Beck.
Overall, very so-so start to season 35. Megan Fox didn't have major sketch comedy chops & I hope that Ryan Reynolds fares better next week.
5.5/10
STRAY OBSERVATIONS -
- I am loving the new opening credits. The shots of New York and the cast are all great & Abby Elliott looks like a total rockstar in hers.
- Yay, Don Pardo is still around!
- Darrell Hammond no longer a repertory player it seems! Now just a handyman called in to do odd jobs whenever necessary!
- Nice Brian Austin Green cameo in that Digital Short.
- John Mulaney is now a writing supervisor? Nice work, Mulaney!
Jenny Slate Drops an F-Bomb
Poor Jenny Slate - the girl is hilarious & a welcome addition to the SNL cast. But first episode, she drops an accidental F-Bomb. Looking at the video, it was clearly accidental but man, you gotta feel a little bad for her.
It's the talk of the internet this morning, with EW & Huffington Post commenting on it. Both are of the opinion that it was clearly a slip of the tongue & that she doesn't deserve any punishment.
As someone with not the cleanest mouth herself, I completely agree. Anyway it's 2009, an accidental F-Bomb shouldn't rile anybody.
On the plus side, a little controversy never did SNL any harm!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Megan Fox/U2
Please post your thoughts on the show here after it's aired.
Favourite sketch? Shaky/solid start to season 35? How was Megan Fox - good a la Anne Hathaway or bad a la Rosario Dawson?
Comment, comment, comment!
Favourite sketch? Shaky/solid start to season 35? How was Megan Fox - good a la Anne Hathaway or bad a la Rosario Dawson?
Comment, comment, comment!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
SNL Weekend Update Thursday
Don't forget to tune into SNL Weekend Update Thursday tonight on NBC at 8.00PM ET where once again Amy Poehler will be co-anchoring at the Weekend Update newsdesk!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Megan Fox/U2 Promo
Display of natural comic ability - check.
Nice rapport with cast - check.
Megan Fox may not be so bad a host after all?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Seth Meyers on Late Night with Jimmy Falon
Tune into Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight where Seth Meyers will be appearing as a guest!
Also, tune into The Jay Leno Show where his co-anchor Amy Poehler will be appearing!
As per usual, vids will be posted here tomorrow.
Also, tune into The Jay Leno Show where his co-anchor Amy Poehler will be appearing!
As per usual, vids will be posted here tomorrow.
Outstanding Writing for A Variety Show Emmy Vid
Check out this nice little nominees video that aired during the Primetime Emmys on Sunday. It's for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Show and in order to list out all the writers from each show, each nominated show puts together a funny little short listing the names. SNL's is at the very end & features one-time SNL host Brian Williams.
Madonna on SNL
The ever-trustworthy internet is reporting that Madonna could be all set to appear on SNL at some point this season. Producers are apparently keen to have her host & perform, though it's likely she'll just do one or the other.
Now this is a show I'd like to see happen!
http://boyculture.typepad.com/boy_culture/2009/09/live-from-new-york-itsmadonna.html
What do you think the likelihood is of Madonna hosting? Would you like to see the Queen of Pop host for the night? How about a Madonna (Wiig) v. Madonna face-off? Ooh, the possibilities!
Now this is a show I'd like to see happen!
http://boyculture.typepad.com/boy_culture/2009/09/live-from-new-york-itsmadonna.html
What do you think the likelihood is of Madonna hosting? Would you like to see the Queen of Pop host for the night? How about a Madonna (Wiig) v. Madonna face-off? Ooh, the possibilities!
Celebuzz Interview with Lonely Island
Check out this interview with The Lonely Island from Sunday's Primetime Emmy Awards.
Rob Pattinson to Host SNL?
Maybe, maybe not, but at the Emmy awards, Seth Meyers told E! that SNL would love to get Rob Pattinson to come host the show.
"We're actually hoping if [Rob's] not available, at least his hair will come by and host," Meyers added.
I understand that a show hosted by Rob Pattinson would do great ratings-wise but I just cannot see Edward Cullen being funny in a sketch comedy environment.
What do you think? Should SNL get Robert Pattinson to host or should they leave that ship sail?
"We're actually hoping if [Rob's] not available, at least his hair will come by and host," Meyers added.
I understand that a show hosted by Rob Pattinson would do great ratings-wise but I just cannot see Edward Cullen being funny in a sketch comedy environment.
What do you think? Should SNL get Robert Pattinson to host or should they leave that ship sail?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Commiserations..
..to SNL who did not receive any Emmys at lasy night's awards show despite being nominated for five major ones. Kristen Wiig & Amy Poehler lost out to Kristen Chenoweth (who I bet on in last night's post) while The Daily Show with Jon Stewart took Best Writing & Best Variety wins. I'm not 100% sure on who won Best Song but it certainly wasn't Motherlover.
Oh well, always next season!
Oh well, always next season!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Good Luck @ the Emmys!
Just wishing SNL luck at the Emmy Awards tonight where they are up for multiple awards including Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig), Best Song (Motherlover - JT/Lonely Island) Best Writing for A Variety/Comedy Series & Best Variety/Comedy Series. They are competing against the Comedy Central boys in the latter categories, not to mention Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien & Real Time with Bill Maher.
If I'm being honest I really hope that Kristen Wiig wins the Emmy, but my gut feeling says that Amy Poehler will take it as she submitted the Josh Brolin episode (with the infamous Sarah Palin rap). I'm thinking Emmy voters will recognise her past contributions to the show over Kristen's anchoring of the show last season. If neither of them win, I'm betting on Kristen Chenoweth to take it.
Do you think Amy & Kristen stand a chance at taking the Emmy? Who do you think deserves it more? Should Amy's past contributions be recognised or should Kristen's work as SNL's resident workhorse last season be rewarded?
If I'm being honest I really hope that Kristen Wiig wins the Emmy, but my gut feeling says that Amy Poehler will take it as she submitted the Josh Brolin episode (with the infamous Sarah Palin rap). I'm thinking Emmy voters will recognise her past contributions to the show over Kristen's anchoring of the show last season. If neither of them win, I'm betting on Kristen Chenoweth to take it.
Do you think Amy & Kristen stand a chance at taking the Emmy? Who do you think deserves it more? Should Amy's past contributions be recognised or should Kristen's work as SNL's resident workhorse last season be rewarded?
Seth Meyers Interview
Here's a neat little interview that Seth Meyers did with his alma-mater newspaper North by Northwestern to discuss how he got to where he was & even about making fun of Obama.
http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2009/09/45725/seth-meyers-on-how-mee-ow-led-to-snl/
Enjoy!
http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2009/09/45725/seth-meyers-on-how-mee-ow-led-to-snl/
Enjoy!
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