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SNL is Friggin' Horrible! Except when Timberlake is hosting. (1 Viewer)

Willie Neslon said:
I watched the earlier SNL this week that aired at 10pm. It was from the 1990 season. I was surprised how funny it still was to me. I don't remember seeing that episode back then. The cast was much smaller but there wasn't a single bad cast member. The energy of the live crowd seemed to be different as well. It started with Dana Carvey doing a skit as George Bush. Every skit was funny. I was left to wonder what had changed since then. Back then the performers were much more interchangeable and they did so many things effortlessly whereas now they have more specific roles to play. They always seem to fall into the same thing in every skit now. I guess what I mean to say is there were not many one trick ponies then and now it feels like they are mostly one trick ponies. Not all of them but most of them. I don't even think the writing was much better back then they were just better at pulling it off even if it wasn't the greatest idea.

I watched the later show and I was left to wonder why they showed that Jan Hooks bit and not something where she was funny, which was probably everything else she did on that show. I found what they showed to be a little bit strange. They said she was the funniest woman and then showed something where she was not. Come to think of it why did they even do that skit back then? I don't remember anything like that in all the years watching the show. It would be like if Tony Bennett died and for the Grammy tribute they showed him dancing.
I was thinking the exact same thing

 
Willie Neslon said:
I watched the earlier SNL this week that aired at 10pm. It was from the 1990 season. I was surprised how funny it still was to me. I don't remember seeing that episode back then. The cast was much smaller but there wasn't a single bad cast member. The energy of the live crowd seemed to be different as well. It started with Dana Carvey doing a skit as George Bush. Every skit was funny. I was left to wonder what had changed since then. Back then the performers were much more interchangeable and they did so many things effortlessly whereas now they have more specific roles to play. They always seem to fall into the same thing in every skit now. I guess what I mean to say is there were not many one trick ponies then and now it feels like they are mostly one trick ponies. Not all of them but most of them. I don't even think the writing was much better back then they were just better at pulling it off even if it wasn't the greatest idea.

I watched the later show and I was left to wonder why they showed that Jan Hooks bit and not something where she was funny, which was probably everything else she did on that show. I found what they showed to be a little bit strange. They said she was the funniest woman and then showed something where she was not. Come to think of it why did they even do that skit back then? I don't remember anything like that in all the years watching the show. It would be like if Tony Bennett died and for the Grammy tribute they showed him dancing.
I was thinking the exact same thing
I'm not a big fan of that skit because I remember even watching it when it first aired and thinking, "What? This isn't funny." But apparently it's a very loved skit. It's been on all of the "Best Of" shows that feature skits or shorts. Weird.

 
Willie Neslon said:
I watched the earlier SNL this week that aired at 10pm. It was from the 1990 season. I was surprised how funny it still was to me. I don't remember seeing that episode back then. The cast was much smaller but there wasn't a single bad cast member. The energy of the live crowd seemed to be different as well. It started with Dana Carvey doing a skit as George Bush. Every skit was funny. I was left to wonder what had changed since then. Back then the performers were much more interchangeable and they did so many things effortlessly whereas now they have more specific roles to play. They always seem to fall into the same thing in every skit now. I guess what I mean to say is there were not many one trick ponies then and now it feels like they are mostly one trick ponies. Not all of them but most of them. I don't even think the writing was much better back then they were just better at pulling it off even if it wasn't the greatest idea.

I watched the later show and I was left to wonder why they showed that Jan Hooks bit and not something where she was funny, which was probably everything else she did on that show. I found what they showed to be a little bit strange. They said she was the funniest woman and then showed something where she was not. Come to think of it why did they even do that skit back then? I don't remember anything like that in all the years watching the show. It would be like if Tony Bennett died and for the Grammy tribute they showed him dancing.
I was thinking the exact same thing
I'm not a big fan of that skit because I remember even watching it when it first aired and thinking, "What? This isn't funny." But apparently it's a very loved skit. It's been on all of the "Best Of" shows that feature skits or shorts. Weird.
It was one of the "Schiller's Reels" shorts that SNL used to air. There were a bunch of them (black and white and somewhat artsy). Schiller also did Belushi as the last surviving SNL cast member, and the Fellini parody.

It is a bit maudlin and not funny like her other skits, but I was okay with using a maudlin skit there.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I watched the earlier SNL this week that aired at 10pm. It was from the 1990 season. I was surprised how funny it still was to me. I don't remember seeing that episode back then. The cast was much smaller but there wasn't a single bad cast member. The energy of the live crowd seemed to be different as well. It started with Dana Carvey doing a skit as George Bush. Every skit was funny. I was left to wonder what had changed since then. Back then the performers were much more interchangeable and they did so many things effortlessly whereas now they have more specific roles to play. They always seem to fall into the same thing in every skit now. I guess what I mean to say is there were not many one trick ponies then and now it feels like they are mostly one trick ponies. Not all of them but most of them. I don't even think the writing was much better back then they were just better at pulling it off even if it wasn't the greatest idea.

I watched the later show and I was left to wonder why they showed that Jan Hooks bit and not something where she was funny, which was probably everything else she did on that show. I found what they showed to be a little bit strange. They said she was the funniest woman and then showed something where she was not. Come to think of it why did they even do that skit back then? I don't remember anything like that in all the years watching the show. It would be like if Tony Bennett died and for the Grammy tribute they showed him dancing.
I was thinking the exact same thing
I'm not a big fan of that skit because I remember even watching it when it first aired and thinking, "What? This isn't funny." But apparently it's a very loved skit. It's been on all of the "Best Of" shows that feature skits or shorts. Weird.
It was one of the "Schiller's Reels" shorts that SNL used to air. There were a bunch of them (black and white and somewhat artsy). Schiller also did Belushi as the last surviving SNL cast member, and the Fellini parody.

It is a bit maudlin and not funny like her other skits, but I was okay with using a maudlin skit there.
I remember those...especially that Belushi skit.

I never questioned them at the time...just found them to be interesting and stretching the actors abilities to tell the story.

 
I watched the earlier SNL this week that aired at 10pm. It was from the 1990 season. I was surprised how funny it still was to me. I don't remember seeing that episode back then. The cast was much smaller but there wasn't a single bad cast member. The energy of the live crowd seemed to be different as well. It started with Dana Carvey doing a skit as George Bush. Every skit was funny. I was left to wonder what had changed since then. Back then the performers were much more interchangeable and they did so many things effortlessly whereas now they have more specific roles to play. They always seem to fall into the same thing in every skit now. I guess what I mean to say is there were not many one trick ponies then and now it feels like they are mostly one trick ponies. Not all of them but most of them. I don't even think the writing was much better back then they were just better at pulling it off even if it wasn't the greatest idea.

I watched the later show and I was left to wonder why they showed that Jan Hooks bit and not something where she was funny, which was probably everything else she did on that show. I found what they showed to be a little bit strange. They said she was the funniest woman and then showed something where she was not. Come to think of it why did they even do that skit back then? I don't remember anything like that in all the years watching the show. It would be like if Tony Bennett died and for the Grammy tribute they showed him dancing.
I was thinking the exact same thing
I'm not a big fan of that skit because I remember even watching it when it first aired and thinking, "What? This isn't funny." But apparently it's a very loved skit. It's been on all of the "Best Of" shows that feature skits or shorts. Weird.
Can't imagine anyone requesting that skit. But it's Hartman and Hooks and they both look their best. Whimsical rather then funny not such a bad choice in this instance.

 
It's official. Leslie Jones is promoted from writer to featured player. She will get her name in the opening credits this weekend.

She's destroyed in two Weekend Update commentaries and was great in that HelpFund sketch ("Which country you in right now?"), so may as well see if she can hang for a full season.

Her humor and body type won't lend itself well for a wide range of impressions, but there's potential for some strong characters and panel work.

 
Jim Carrey hosts tonight. Should keep the streak of good episodes going.
Rooting for them.My guide said the Vintage episode was an old Tom Hanks with musical guest Aerosmith. That was a good one. Aerosmith were guests on Wayne's World and discussed the political ramifications of the Berlin Wall being torn down.

 
I'm in the prime age group to remember how much ### In Living Color kicked every Sunday night and how great James Carrey was on it, so I'm probably a bit biased towards Carrey the sketch comedy genius.

I thought Carrey was great. It was weird seeing that monologue song get nothing, but SNL's target demo never saw Elvis Presley perform when he was alive. After that, though, a lot worked. The Lincoln ads killed, Carrey crushed Secret Billionaire and the dance-off, and the Carrey family reunion was great fun.

After early doubts, I'm a buyer on Michael Che. He's getting smoother on camera, and he's brining the funny. The guy sold a "your mama" joke, for crying out loud. Loved his work with Vanessa Bayer's reviewer, and Drunk Uncle rejecting him was a nice touch.

Che's improvement makes Jost's lack of improvement even more puzzling. Jost is a good writer, but on camera he comes off like a guy at the office reciting Seth Meyers jokes around the water cooler.

Good to see more Vanessa Bayer this week. She might not capture the audience's attention the way McKinnon does, but her she's got some range and absurdity, and hardly ever breaks or flubs a line.

But mostly I just loved seeing Carrey create characters and fully commit to them in front of a live audience. He is straight up crazy, both in the sense if praising comedic work and as a medical diagnosis.

 
But mostly I just loved seeing Carrey create characters and fully commit to them in front of a live audience. He is straight up crazy, both in the sense if praising comedic work and as a medical diagnosis.
thought it was a great episode. when Carey was wearing the body suit and pretended to give birth lol.

it would be great if he was a cast member for a season. don't know how his career is going or if he's too old but he's pretty awesome.

 
His career has been on ice for a decade. What's his last movie that was even good...Truman show? That said, dumb and dumber to looks funny.

 
His career has been on ice for a decade. What's his last movie that was even good...Truman show? That said, dumb and dumber to looks funny.
"Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind" was very good, but that was ten years ago. He has picked awful roles ever since. He also has the reputation of being a nightmare to work with, which might be a reason he doesn't work with big name directors. A movie like "Silver Linings Playbook" would seem to be in his wheelhouse as an actor, but David O. Russell seems like someone who wouldn't take Carrey's crap.

 
Jost is a complete waste of skin...cannot believe they haven't cut the cord on his worthless @zz.

Other than that...I came in in HIGH expectations and of course Jim Carrey knocked them out of the park...great episode.

 
Chris Rock hosting this week. Prince is the musical guest.

Rock didn't quite break out like his SNL contemporaries did as cast members, but you could see the talent. His high point was probably "The Dark Side With Nat X", IMO one of the best talk show sketches the show has ever done. I also loved Rock's "White Person's Guide To Playing The Apollo", which also coaxed a great performance out of Rob Morrow.

Prince is getting extra stage time for his performance, eight minutes in the slot before Update.

 
Chris Rock hosting this week. Prince is the musical guest.

Rock didn't quite break out like his SNL contemporaries did as cast members, but you could see the talent. His high point was probably "The Dark Side With Nat X", IMO one of the best talk show sketches the show has ever done. I also loved Rock's "White Person's Guide To Playing The Apollo", which also coaxed a great performance out of Rob Morrow.

Prince is getting extra stage time for his performance, eight minutes in the slot before Update.
Nat X was hilarious.

 
In the old days, that wouldn't have much of a chance of making the show. Most of the audience would have no clue what they were referencing. Even if they were baseball fans, they would have had to stay tuned during the presentations. But in the internet age, this story was all over the place.

 
Vintage episode appears to be Josh Brolin and Adele. That's from fall 2008, so a lot of political stuff. Tina Fey comes back as Sarah Palin, Brolin promoting a movie where he portrays George W Bush. Amy Poehler is about nine months pregnant co-anchoring Weekend Update with Seth Meyers. Not sure what all they will show, but that episode had an usually high amount of screen time of little-used Casey Wilson, who just premiered a new sitcom on NBC.

 
Not the best Mark Cuban impersonation ever.
Agreed. Killam is usually pretty good at picking up little idiosyncrasies of his impressionees, but he was a minus there. Cuban is a lot more fidgety and demonstrative when he talks than what Killam gave there, especially when he loves or hates a pitch on Shark Tank. Kenan played Daymond John a bit too prissy IMO.

Overall I dug the sketch, though. TV spoof and political statement at the same time. Didn't tip its hand, either: I was expecting a run of short, bad pitches played for laughs like a montage of lousy American Idol auditions.

 
Based on recent comments from this thread, i decided to watch SNL for the first time in ages.

The Prince sketch with the all girl band in costumes in a highschool gym was the funniest thing on the night. And it wasn't funny.

I'm back out. That was terrible.

 
Based on recent comments from this thread, i decided to watch SNL for the first time in ages.

The Prince sketch with the all girl band in costumes in a highschool gym was the funniest thing on the night. And it wasn't funny.

I'm back out. That was terrible.
Hard to argue comedy. I laughed. You didn't. That's fine. I'm into the craft of it enough that I find the show interesting even when it's not funny, but I acknowledge that puts me in a small minority.

Next week SNL is rerunning the Bill Hader episode that triggered the recent positive comments. Might be better to judge based on that one.

 
Worst episode I've seen in a long time, maybe ever. Having a sketch about Isis is about as tasteless as it gets. I made it to the old couple getting dressed where the lady forgot her lines, it was extremely unfunny anyway and I just turned it off and deleted. Not one decent laugh in the whole episode.

 
Worst episode I've seen in a long time, maybe ever. Having a sketch about Isis is about as tasteless as it gets. I made it to the old couple getting dressed where the lady forgot her lines, it was extremely unfunny anyway and I just turned it off and deleted. Not one decent laugh in the whole episode.
My wife is watching SNL right now. This very sketch is on. Horrible.

 
Thought Rock was pretty damn brave to open with that material.
Very Prior-esque. He could give a damn if anyone laughed. Totally committed to his sensibility. What standup is all about.
I thought his monologue was fantastic. Didn't laugh at every bit, but thought it was funny, smart, well-constructed, and above all, authentic. Like y'all said, brave and committed to his POV. Reminded me of Rock doing standup about Columbine before most people were ready to make jokes about it.

When Rock was an SNL cast member, he once did a Weekend Update commentary about Native American-themed sports nicknames like Braves and Redskins. More than 20 years ago. "Washington Redskins? That's like naming a team the New York N------." It got about the same reaction his monologue did last night: a mix of laughs, discomfort, disdain, and respect.

Even though Rock didn't break out as a cast member, he speaks mostly positively about his time there. Says he learned a ton about comedy writing and production, gave him experience on the technical side of TV production he utilized later in his standup specials and his HBO show.

 
ok good- after Bruce D's reply, I thought I just wasn't "getting it".

I'll try to give next week's a watch, if it's really the one you guys all seemed to have liked. But this one was painful.

 

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