January 20, 2013
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Jennifer Lawrence, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38, The Lumineers
Is this the most synergistic guest lineup ever on SNL (Jennifer Lawrence hosts six days after winning a Golden Globe, on the same weekend that the movie that she won for expands into wide release, while the musical guest is the one whose hit song plays in the commercials for that same movie)?
Cold Opening – Piers Morgan Tonight
Ah, a twofer sketch with Lance Armstrong and Manti Te’o! Oh wait – here comes Jodie Foster – it’s a three-fer! Bobby’s as Manti struggling to understand the non-existence of his girlfriend was fun to behold. Jodie’s “I’m 50” declaration was a great moment of art imitating life imitating art. B+
Jennifer Lawrence’s Monologue
J-Law was confident. Almost too confident. She had the right attitude for zinging her fellow Best Actress nominees. But she zoomed through the concessions of how great they really are, which didn’t allow her to fully tone down that attitude. But, that’s a nitpick, cause you gotta love that confidence. B
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December 16, 2012
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Martin Short, Paul McCartney, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38
I asked for an end to genocide.
Cold Opening – The New York Children’s Chorus performs “Silent Night”
At first, I assumed this performance was in response to the Connecticut shooting. Then I figured it was just be the kids singing. But as it turns out, it probably was in response to Connecticut. Anyway, they sounded good.
Martin Short’s Monologue
What really made this monologue work was the timing of the revelation of the guest appearances: Oh, Kristen’s stopping back. And Jimmy’s here, too! And Tom Hanks! And Sam Jackson?! (Oh, but he’s too scary to kiss.) B+
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December 9, 2012
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38
[EDIT, 12/10/12: I forgot to include the “J-Pop America Fun Time Now” sketch when initially posting this review.]
One time, I was with 8 guys at once, and I thought that was a pickle, but now – it’s crystals.
Obama/Boehner Press Conference
This sketch was funny because it captured what I believe to be the essence of the relationship between John Boehner and his colleagues in the Republican Party. B+
Jamie Foxx’s Monologue
Some may have found Jamie’s refrain of “How black is that?” a bit gaudy and too racially obvious. But he wasn’t really making jokes, so much as he was setting a tone, and set a tone he did. B
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November 20, 2012
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Jeremy Renner, Maroon 5, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38
My feelings about erotic asphyxiation have always been complicated.
Cold Opening – Booknotes
Reading sexually explicit exploits in a matter-of-fact, calm tone – that’s how you do it. Also, thanks for the shit-faced grin on Fred Armisen’s face. B
Jeremy Renner’s Monologue
Wow. Most awkward monologue ever? Not bad considering. B-
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November 11, 2012
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38
If you wanted a house of representatives, you built one yourself.
Cold Opening – Mitt Romney’s House
I chuckled at Mitt telling America that it hurt his feelings “very, very much.” What was up with the heart forming around the scene and then going away before the scene ended? B-
Anne Hathaway’s Monologue
Another singing monologue?! Well, Anne’s a good singer. And the entire cast was involved! That actually makes it all better. I couldn’t quite make out the lyrics while they were all singing at the end, but it definitely came together quite nicely. B+
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November 4, 2012
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
fun., Louis C.K., Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38
Cold Opening – Michael Bloomberg Press Conference
The SNL sketch about the response to Frankenstorm Sandy is about … Mayor Bloomberg’s vendetta against sugary sodas and trans fats? That’s kind of funny, in a bizarre way. Bobby’s Christie sounded like just a Joisey tough guy, which was disappointing because Christie does have a distinctive voice. But he did get the attitude right. B-
Louis C.K.’s Monologue
Louie in all black – the classic Louie getup. As far as I know, Louie is the best stand-up comedian working today, so he could have chosen any bit from his current material to make this monologue work. I don’t think the old lady at the airport was his best routine, but it did feature some classic moments, particularly Louie’s explanation that he “can’t switch” to not helping the old lady after he has already started helping her and the moment she points at him and declares, “I shall never forget you.” A-
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October 21, 2012
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Bruno Mars, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38
Cold Opening – Town Hall Debate
Right from the get-go, everyone was rearing to go, and I could just feel that we were finally going to get a political sketch this year that hit all the right beats. The Romney-Obama sniping was palpable (“I am not your friend”, “Candy, is he bothering you?”, “I’m about to cut you”), Aidy Bryant delivered as Candy Crowley in the first big role of her SNL career, and the Long Island milieu was right in place (particularly Bobby as the ass-kicker in the Giants jacket). Then Obama dropped his mic and wiped dirt off his shoulders, and I just about lost it. A
Bruno Mars’ Monologue
Ignoring everything else for a moment, the song was all right, I guess, and of course Bruno Mars has a great voice. But this monologue was about Bruno Mars asking why he was chosen to host SNL. So he brought up that question, acted like he was going to answer t, and then … he didn’t answer it. (What was the point of Kenan’s appearance?) C
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October 14, 2012
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Christina Applegate, Passion Pit, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38
Cold Opening – Vice Presidential Debate
Couldn’t this have just been Biden saying, “Oh boy, here we go,” the whole time? B
Christina Applegate’s Monologue
I liked the part with the “Fruppets” and Dane Cook, though in general this was pretty stupid. C+
Gillette
I would have enjoyed this if it were just a shot-for-shot recreation of the actual Gillette commercials for the sake of seeing Taran, Fred, and Jay riff on being Adrien Brody, Gael García Bernal, and André 3000. And then Jerry Sandusky showed up. And it was … strange. B+
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October 7, 2012
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Daniel Craig, Muse, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38
Cold Opening – Debate
I admired the tactic that they chose of Obama being distracted by forgetting his anniversary and the elevation. But the execution didn’t match the premise. B
Daniel Craig’s Monologue
I admired this premise of an unusual monologue and appreciated Craig’s enthusiasm. But the pacing was bizarrely off. Didn’t he kill anyone in Layer Cake? B
Construction Workers
Oftentimes in scenes in which someone has trouble with saucy language, the joke is that he is unfamiliar with the subject. But Craig’s character seemed familiar with lady parts; it’s just that his phrases were so strangely arranged. It was something to make someone with a love of language swoon. Bobby’s face was hilariously frozen in response to one of Craig’s lines. The flashback to Dad getting shot was incredible. B+
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September 26, 2012
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mumford & Sons, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 38, SNL, SNL Season 38
Cold Opening – Live! with Kelly and Michael
That was a solid Michael Strahan. Is it true that every era of Live! gets the SNL parody it deserves? B-
Joseph Gordon Levitt’s Monologue
A Magic Mike-based routine is timely-ish, I suppose. I am a straight male, but I still find something worth admiring in the beefcake. B-
Low-Information Voters of America
Random Asian person sighting! No, but seriously, this commercial went into full-on Winning[!] territory when it embraced the silly with questions like “What is oil?” and “Where’s my power cord?” B+
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