November 15, 2015
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Black Jeopardy, Bruce Chandling, Disclosure, Elizabeth Banks, Lorde, Sam Smith, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live 4105, Saturday Night Live Season 41, SNL, SNL Season 41
SNL: Disclosure, Elizabeth Banks, Leslie Jones, Sam Smith, Lorde (CREDIT: YouTube Screenshot)
This review was originally posted on Starpulse in November 2015.
“SNL” often responds to its most controversial outings in subsequent episodes, but the Donald Trump spectacle is nary mentioned at all a week later, save for a quick hit on Weekend Update. And this is for the best, because Elizabeth Banks shall not be overshadowed. She has been a deserving host for at least a decade, and in her debut, she puts on a showcase monologue, and then she fades into the ensemble for an episode that is all over the place. Meanwhile, musical guest Disclosure makes it a party by inviting their friends Lorde and Sam Smith.
In lieu of an opening sketch, “SNL” acknowledged the terrorist attack at Paris’ Bataclan Concert Hall with Cecily Strong stating a message of solidarity in both English and French.
Elizabeth Banks’ Monologue (BEST OF THE NIGHT) – “Catching the directing bug” is a simplistic premise, and musical monologues are overdone, but Elizabeth Banks uses the setup to show off her personality – the wisest direction to go when making your “SNL” hosting debut. The flourishes that she adds by taking the reins away from Don Roy King are just weird and edgy enough to start this episode off with some individuality. She is a lady in control, unafraid to demand diversity and make hacky tricks like green screen and star wipes work like gangbusters. B+
More
November 15, 2015
jmunney
Television, What Won TV?
In this feature, I look back at each day of the past week and determine what shows “won TV” for the night. That is, I consider every episode of television I watched that aired on a particular day and declare which was the best.
Sunday – Bob’s Burgers
Monday – Fargo
Tuesday – Fresh Off the Boat
Wednesday – Arrow
Thursday – Nathan for You, with the new theatrical sensation
Friday – Jeopardy!
Saturday – Saturday Night Live, on which (Somebody’s got to say it!) Bruce Chandling spilled his guts yet again
November 14, 2015
jmunney
Music, Television, VH1 Top 20 Countdown
VH1's The 20
Each week, I check out VH1′s The 20 (formerly Top 20 countdown), and then I rearrange the songs based on my estimation of their quality.
Original Version
1. Shawn Mendes – “Stitches”
2. Taylor Swift – “Wildest Dreams”
3. The Weeknd – “The Hills”
4. Drake – “Hotline Bling”
5. One Direction – “Drag Me Down”
6. Elle King – “Ex’s & Oh’s”
7. Justin Bieber – “What Do You Mean?”
8. X Ambassadors – “Renegades”
9. Ellie Goulding – “On My Mind”
10. Alessia Cara – “Here”
11. Selena Gomez – “Same Old Love”
12. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz – “Downtown”
13. R. City ft. Adam Levine – “Locked Away”
14. Calvin Harris & Disciples – “How Deep Is Your Love”
15. Meghan Trainor ft. John Legend – “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”
16. Demi Lovato – “Confident”
17. Adele – “Hello”
18. Hailee Steinfeld – “Love Myself”
19. Pentatonix – “Can’t Sleep Love”
20. Conrad Sewell – “Hold Me Up”
Jmunney’s Revision
1. The Hills
2. Hello
3. Same Old Love
4. Downtown
5. Ex’s & Oh’s
6. Renegades
7. Confident
8. Hold Me Up
9. Here
10. On My Mind
11. What Do You Mean?
12. Hotline Bling
13. Drag Me Down
14. Wildest Dreams
15. Love Myself
16. How Deep is Your Love
17. Can’t Sleep Love
18. Stitches
19. Like I’m Gonna Lose You
20. Locked Away
November 10, 2015
jmunney
Cinema, Movie Reviews
Steve Jobs
The most quixotic quest in Steve Jobs does not come courtesy of the title character, but of his Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who shows up at each of the three product launches that this film covers over 14 years to request acknowledgement for the team that worked on the Apple II computer, whose contributions Jobs keep insisting are irrelevant to the direction of the future. It is highly unlikely that the real Woz actually kept this up, or that all the other same set of people in his life kept showing up 5 minutes before Jobs was about to take the stage. That improbability is part and parcel of the artfulness that visionary creators like Aaron Sorkin and Danny Boyle always strive to convey. In the case of Steve Jobs, that structure is not just style, which is especially evident in the Seth Rogen-portrayed version of Woz’s Sisyphean streak.
The question of whether or not Jobs will express gratitude to accomplishments that are (supposedly) irrelevant to his promises is at the heart of whether or not great figures with personal shortcomings are necessarily wired that way. Michael Fassbender’s performance lends itself to either interpretation: perhaps Jobs would not have been the influencer he was if he had made more interpersonal compromises, or maybe he would have accomplished even more. What is undoubtedly true is that he saw the world like no else did, and it will take someone with a similarly unprecedented mind to solve the brilliant/decent binary-or-not conundrum.
November 9, 2015
jmunney
Cinema, Movie Reviews
Amy Ryan, Bridge of Spies, Mark Rylance, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks
Bridge of Spies sneaks up on you. The 20th century conflict between the Americans and the Soviets was not just cold, it was also dry. Accordingly, Bridge of Spies is mostly procedural. Discussions of due process are elucidated, and negotiations are often portrayed as merely functional. This approach is boosted with impassioned integrity and deadpan existentialism (the best running gag is Mark Rylance as Soviet spy Rudolf Abel asking “Would it help?” when told he never worries). Then, the movie brings out its finishing move, throwing down with the scale of all that negotiator James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) achieves, through the power of patience and keeping the faith.
November 9, 2015
jmunney
Television, What Won TV?
In this feature, I look back at each day of the past week and determine what shows “won TV” for the night. That is, I consider every episode of television I watched that aired on a particular day and declare which was the best.
Sunday – Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and hopefully you voted (if you had someone good to vote for)
Monday – Fargo
Tuesday – The Grinder
Wednesday – You’re the Worst
Thursday – Nathan for You
Friday – Tim and Eric’s Bedtime Stories, featuring indelible characters like Bobby Bologna and Mama Pantone
Saturday – Doctor Who
November 9, 2015
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, Television
Donald Trump, Drake, Drunk Uncle, Hotline Bling, Michael Che, Mr. Crocker, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live 4104, Saturday Night Live Season 41, SNL Ex Porn Stars, Toots
There were several successful sketches on the latest episode of SNL (read my review here), but it is hard to embrace them, as they came at the expense of giving Donald Trump a platform. Considering that much of the episode played off of his personality and controversy, I am torn, as the good bits may have never even been pitched in the first place if he had not been there. Could the best moments have happened in any other episode? Here is a rundown of the top sketches, listed in order from most reliant to least reliant on Trump’s presence.
1. Weekend Update – Update was probably written independently of Trump’s direct influence, though he did figure in the material. That would have likely been the case anyway, as a matter of the political news cycle, but Trump actually being there probably did light a fire under Michael Che.
2. Toots – The fact that such a non-Top 40 band as Toots and the Maytals was the musical guest the last time Trump hosted was mostly a matter of bizarre randomness. Kenan appearing as Toots was not about Trump so much as it was about something that Trump happened to be present at. This bit could have been utilized in 2 weeks when Matthew McConaughey host if the Maytals had been on when he last hosted in 2003.
3. Drunk Uncle – Bobby Moynihan’s signature character still could have been introduced as “Trump’s #1 Fan” on any other episode.
4. Ex-Porn Stars – The low-rent co-opting of luxury in these sketches works insofar as the brand being advertised isn’t actually present, so Trump’s appearance actually didn’t really make sense.
5. Mr. Crocker – The head of Startraxxx Productions felt like a role designed for Kyle Mooney. It had a blowhard quality that fit Trump, but it needed someone weirder to really work.
6. Hotline Bling – The joke of awkward middle-aged men dancing alongside Drake worked without Trump showing up – he was just slotted in that so that he’d have something to do.
November 9, 2015
jmunney
Music, Television, VH1 Top 20 Countdown, VH1's The 20
VH1's The 20
(Sorry for the late posting. I was on vacation over the weekend.)
Each week, I check out VH1′s The 20 (formerly Top 20 countdown), and then I rearrange the songs based on my estimation of their quality.
This week, “You Oughta Know” artists are featured.
Original Version
1. Sam Smith – “Writing’s on the Wall” (Class of 2014)
2. X Ambassadors – “Renegades” (Class of 2015)
3. Miguel – “Waves” (Class of 2015)
4. Elle King – “Ex’s & Oh’s” (Class of 2015)
5. Rachel Platten – “Fight Song” (Class of 2015)
6. Nate Ruess – “Great Big Storm” (Class of 2015)
7. James Bay – “Let It Go” (Class of 2015)
8. Tori Kelly – “Should’ve Been Us” (Class of 2015)
9. George Ezra – “Blame It on Me” (Class of 2015)
10. Ella Henderson – “Ghost” (Class of 2015)
11. Hozier – “Someone New” (Class of 2014)
12. Walk the Moon – “Shut Up and Dance” (Class of 2012)
13. Tove Lo – “Timebomb” (Class of 2014)
14. Disclosure ft. Lorde – “Magnets” (Class of 2013)
15. Echosmith – “Bright” (Class of 2014)
16. Adele – “Hello” (Class of 2008)
17. Ed Sheeran – “Photograph” (Class of 2012)
18. Sia – “Big Girls Cry” (Class of 2011)
19. Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk” (Class of 2010)
20. Sara Bareilles – “She Used to Be Mine” (Class of 2007)
Jmunney’s Revision
1. Hello
2. Ex’s & oh’s
3. Renegades
4. Waves
5. Ghost
6. Magnets
7. Should’ve Been Us
8. Big Girls Cry
9. Blame It on Me
10. Someone New
11. Timebomb
12. Shut Up and Dance
13. Great Big Storm
14. Uptown Funk
15. Writing’s on the Wall
16. Fight Song
17. She Used to Be Mine
18. Let It Go
19. Photograph
20. Bright
Older Entries
Newer Entries
Jmunney's Blog 