This post was originally published on News Cult in May 2018.
A lot of websites post their lists of the best SNL sketches of the season. What is unique about this particular list is that it is not the same as any of those other lists. If you love SNL, and you love reading about SNL, chances are this is not the only best sketch list you have read and are going to read, because you just love consuming a full range of opinions about a show that always inspires a full range of opinions. So without further ado, here is a thoughtful, passionate, well-researched ranking of the 10 best sketches of SNL Season 43, with honorable mentions of 20-11 as well. (Please note: dress rehearsal cuts that were posted online were considered alongside sketches that made it to air, in consideration of how much online viewing plays a part in this current SNL era.)
20. Family Dinner
19. The Dolphin Who Learned to Speak
18. New Wife
17. Fighter Pilots
16. Dying Mrs. Gomez
15. Ad Council Awards Dinner
14. James Madison High School Graduation
13. Black Jeopardy!
12. Office Break Room
11. The Last Fry
10. Za
A lawyer’s (James Franco) argument rests upon his insistence that nicknames are based on pronunciation, not spelling, and he has never been more convinced of anything in the world. The writing on this one is actually paper-thin, but Franco propels it to classic territory with his ferocious delivery of “lasagna: za, pizza: suh.”
This review was originally published on News Cult in May 2018.
NewsCult Entertainment Editor Jeffrey Malone watches every new episode of Saturday Night Live and then organizes the sketches into the following categories: “Love It” (potentially Best of the Season-worthy), “Keep It” (perfectly adequate), or “Leave It” (in need of a rewrite, to say the least). Then he concludes with assessments of the host and musical guest.
Love It
James Madison High School Graduation – In a spiritual successor to the St. Joseph’s Christmas Mass Spectacular, Beck Bennett gets into the intense voice-over detailing the foibles and high points of a common American ritual. There are the typical goofs: butchering names, falling off the stage, microphone troubles. And then it goes to another, all-time level with the lasers shooting out of the eyes of the kids looking at different cameras.
This review was originally published on News Cult in May 2018.
NewsCult Entertainment Editor Jeffrey Malone watches every new episode of Saturday Night Live and then organizes the sketches into the following categories: “Love It” (potentially Best of the Season-worthy), “Keep It” (perfectly adequate), or “Leave It” (in need of a rewrite, to say the least). Then he concludes with assessments of the host and musical guest.
Love It
Jurassic Park Courtroom – Is this the first time a Jurassic Park parody has ever centered around the titular land of amusement being sued for wrongful death liability? It seems unlikely that it should take this long, but whatever, I’m not complaining. Maybe a lesser-known previous example exists, but the one we have now is simply incredible. I didn’t used to know that Donald Glover needed to adopt a ridiculously over-the-top Southern affectation to play JP’s lawyer, but now I have seen the light. This is the goofy, nerdy Glover so many of us fell in love with during his Community days, and thank heavens he is still willing to deploy it.
This review was originally published on News Cult in April 2018.
News Cult Entertainment Editor Jeffrey Malone watches every new episode of Saturday Night Live and then organizes the sketches into the following categories: “Love It” (potentially Best of the Season-worthy), “Keep It” (perfectly adequate), or “Leave It” (in need of a rewrite, to say the least). Then he concludes with assessments of the host and musical guest.
Love It
Hollywood Update – Mulaney finds brilliant inspiration from his very own “Family Flix” (aka “Rocket Dog”), one of the greatest sketches he ever wrote during his SNL tenure. This time around, the objectionable material for supposedly family-friendly entertainment is squarely present both in front of and behind the camera. Simply mentioning the uncomfortable sexual ramifications of a parent-child body switch premise would have been enough to make this sketch a winner, but the disturbing details just keep on coming.
This review was originally posted on News Cult in April 2018.
NewsCult Entertainment Editor Jeffrey Malone watches every new episode of Saturday Night Live and then organizes the sketches into the following categories: “Love It” (potentially Best of the Season-worthy), “Keep It” (perfectly adequate), or “Leave It” (in need of a rewrite, to say the least). Then he concludes with assessments of the host and musical guest.
Love It
Black Jeopardy – SNL’s most resilient current recurring sketch is its ghetto take on the answers-and-questions game show, as it just keeps on discovering new spins on the same formula. This time around, the odd man out is Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the Black Panther himself. As the formula dictates, his answers are way off from what the judges are looking for, but it is hard to outright say no to the utopian world of respecting your elders and police always living up to the requirements of their job. And on top of that, it is a hoot to hear T’Challa give his own erudite spin on zinging a white woman who does not adequately season her potato salad.
This review was originally posted on News Cult in March 2018.
NewsCult Entertainment Editor Jeffrey Malone watches every new episode of Saturday Night Live and then organizes the sketches into the following categories: “Love It” (potentially Best of the Season-worthy), “Keep It” (perfectly adequate), or “Leave It” (in need of a rewrite, to say the least). Then he concludes with assessments of the host and musical guest.
Love It
Stefon – It is rare that an SNL recurring character gets as satisfying a “final” appearance as Stefon did, which would seem to render any subsequent City Correspondent segments sacrosanct. But when Bill Hader returns to host, are you going to not have him revive one of the greatest bits in comedy history? Stefon just continues to epitomize excellent humor writing, doling out new, fascinating information in perfectly timed, rhythmic fashion.
This review was originally posted on News Cult in March 2018.
NewsCult Entertainment Editor Jeffrey Malone watches every new episode of Saturday Night Live and then organizes the sketches into the following categories: “Love It” (potentially Best of the Season-worthy), “Keep It” (perfectly adequate), or “Leave It” (in need of a rewrite, to say the least). Then he concludes with assessments of the host and musical guest.
Love It
Dying Mrs. Gomez – So Nickelback was and remains a punchline for many people as the height of 2000s rock music mediocrity. But while they were the most disproportionately successful of their ilk, they weren’t the worst. They actually have a few decent sing-along stompers, and “How You Remind Me” is the best of the bunch. And thanks to this episode, we now know that is the perfect tune to build a sketch about a dying unlikely superfan around.
This review was originally posted on News Cult in March 2018.
NewsCult Entertainment Editor Jeffrey Malone watches every new episode of Saturday Night Live and then organizes the sketches into the following categories: “Love It” (potentially Best of the Season-worthy), “Keep It” (perfectly adequate), or “Leave It” (in need of a rewrite, to say the least). Then he concludes with assessments of the host and musical guest.
Love It
The Champions – Given all the research available on head trauma, it is no profound observation to note that former professional football players have some cognitive difficulties. But Kenan’s performance as DC Timmons, an NFL veteran of 9 games (over 7 seasons), is so imaginative and so silly in how it renders the full ravages of his career. And it avoids bad taste by anchoring itself with a genuine sense of poignancy.
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