Adam Levine/Kendrick Lamar (1.26.2013)

Okay, here’s my review. This show was seriously lacking, but had some saving graces here and there which kept it from being the absolute worst of the season. That honor still belongs to Mr. Renner. Assessing Levine as a host, I have to say he wasn’t as stiff or as out of his element as one would expect (or as other recent hosts were) but it's kind of hard to critique his performance since he was just kind of been blending into supporting roles and then just blatantly played himself in two other sketches where he was completely stiff and was glued to the cue cards. For all this show's weaknesses, I still say it was more enjoyable than last week with Jennifer Lawrence. It was also good to see plenty of Hader, Sudekis, Moynihan, Kilam, featured players and ZERO Armisen for once. Anyway, let’s get right on with it.

Inauguration Night - This opening felt like it went nowhere, but Kenan had some good lines and did fine with the MLK impression. C-

Monologue - This was a little more fun than I expected it to be. Seeing Samberg again midseason was nice. The Cameron Diaz and Jerry Seinfeld cameos (hell, I honestly would’ve preferred an actual Aguilera appearance) felt too tacked on, but Seinfeld had some good lines about when to use your Jewishness. Cameron was actually on to something with her speech though as I felt Levine didn’t take nearly enough advantage of the opportunities presented to poke fun at his own image and it might have made him more likable if he had. Also, the gag of Levine removing his shirt even though Seinfeld told him not to was kind of ruined since we could clearly hear his Velcro suit being torn off. I’m surprised they didn’t fix that online. B+

Rosetta Stone - This commercial felt like something I read about getting cut from dress weeks ago, but it was really funny. Hader and Kilam we're especially funny in it. I'm sure Hader was purposely channeling John Mark Karr from 06-07. I also liked Robinson having his identity hidden by a voice changer and pixilation. C+

Just for fun, I’d like to share verbatim another comment posted on the nbc.com clip of this sketch.

“Dear SNLI have been a viewer for several decades. I had to turn off the tv in total disgust last night after your "Rosetta Stone" skit. It was the most disgusting and vile skit ever! Shame on you--fire your writers!!!SincerelyTobi Toenz”

Circle Work – During the commercial, I thought they were setting up either "Kalle" or that entertainment show sketch Wiig and Hader used to do. Then, I realized it's reasonably unlikely that they'd give us two Wiig cameos within five weeks of each other. So, I guess a brand new sketch is preferable over something recurring that didn't go over the first time. The least I can say about this sketch is that it was interesting. I liked how Levine was underplaying it just a bit. For a beyond tired SNL trope, this had some genuinely funny lines. I chuckled at the "beard/decoy babies" lines. C+

The Sopranos Diaries - This was another funny premise, even if it went on too long. Hader, Moynihan and McKinnon were especially funny in this. I especially laughed at Moynihan beating up Robinson's principal character a library book as well as all the fake bad reviews. Also, a couple of people took to Artie Lange’s Twitter to inform him that this sketch was a ripoff of his old “Casino Man” sketch from MAD TV in which he played Joe Pesci to David Herman’s Pauly Shore in an “Encino Man” parody. Personally, I see very little resemblance but here is the sketch for comparison purposes. B-

Firehouse Incident - I still don't quite know what to make of this fireman sketch. It is a little odd that they'd put two seemingly gay themed sketches that both prominently feature turned up collars on either side of a filmed interstitial, but Moynihan and especially Hader made me laugh hysterically in this even if it went on far too long and Hader pretty much milked it dry. This kind of performance from Hader is more suited to a walk on or a brief reaction shot. Also, Nasim's dress was a highlight. Still, this sketch doesn’t hold up on repeat viewings especially since some commenter on hulu said Hader’s performance was too reminiscent of an autistic student. That was kind of a bummer. Also, why did they get a cheap soundalike version of the song “Scream and Shout” by will.i.am and Britney Spears instead of just the real song for Hader to dance to? C+

Digital Short: YOLO - I was worried about the possibility of a Lonely Island Music Video Digital Short based entirely around the beyond tired and played out "YOLO" catchphrase (especially since everyone seems to like the stylistically different direction the short films have taken in their absence) but I will say the surreal silliness of this worked for me. I also liked the Danny McBride cameo but I'm surprised it didn't get a bigger audience reaction. Kendrick Lamar's cameo was also a nice touch and I liked his live performance. I know TLI kind of overdid the whole white boy rap thing, but it's nice to see them return to their roots with this one. B-

Update is on a bit of a downward slope. Seth's jokes were middling. Nassim's Huffington commentary was alright, but her last one was better. Kenan's Ray Lewis was all over the place. C-

Bar Rumble - This sketch felt at first like it was going to be a decent premise that was executed poorly and then fell apart until Bill and Jason showed up. Even Kenan as Darius Rucker was funny but Jordan Peele did a better impression. Taran was also funny as the lead singer of Train. It is a little disappointing that Levine's first actual part in a sketch was him playing himself and even more disappointing to see his timing off and him being glued to the cue cards. Thankfully, they knew just where to end this sketch before it got dragged out too long. Also, did Adam seriously get his bandmates to play extras with no lines in this sketch or were they actual extras? No, that would be pointless. C+

Catfish: The TV Show - I'm glad this didn't revolve around Manti Te'o. That would've been far too obvious. Instead we got a more or less pointed satire of the show even if it didn't seem like it required a ton of effort on the writer's part. Levine was just okay as the host. He seemed to be pulling off a decent impression even if he was still stuck on the cue cards and I couldn't help but wonder who else in the cast could've played his role better (probably Jason or Bill). It was also good to see Aidy get another lead role. She and Jay were very good here. I also liked the Photoshopped Brian Williams picture. C+

Janet II – This Moynihan character was another thing I really thought we would never see again. It was pretty much the same script as last time, but at least they changed a few minor things about it. Even though Bobby has stepped up as a performer lately, he still couldn't breathe much life into this particular character. I did chuckle at the ending when Bobby got trapped between the wall and fold out bed and Bobby’s snowman joke. I also liked how Bobby referenced the Tom Brady sketch from the Channing Tatum episode, but that was another horrible episode that deserves to be forgotten. D+

Biden Bash - This was okay. It was a decent way to end the show. Even though Jason's Joe Biden is always entertaining, it felt like he was just coasting on weak material here (which seemed to be a recurring theme throughout the night). Still, I did chuckle at his channeling "Macho Man" Randy Savage. C+

Well, that was somewhat disappointing. Justin Beiber will be hosting in two weeks and what HASN’T been said about that that still needs to be said? I’m not really looking forward to it. See ya!

Jennifer Lawrence/The Lumineers (1.19.2013)

Okay, here’s my review. So far, this was a far cry from worst of the season. It was a pretty forgettable episode but still more enjoyable than almost any episode form the 2012 half of the season. I wouldn’t say we’ve entered a January slump just yet, but something is missing in the writing department. As for Miss Lawrence as a host, I would say she performed exactly as I expected. She came of a little nervous, but she looked like she was having fun with the cast. She showed off what I viewed to be her complete comedic range tonight. Yes, she comes off as a fun easy going girl with a sense of humor in interviews but it doesn't translate into her acting as she is still a little young and green. Still, I could see her being asked back to host if she has another big hit movie on her hands. It was a good night for the new featured players since they got a lot of air time. It was also a good night for Hader, Moynihan and Sudekis as they also were in a lot and it was great seeing them again. Let’s get right to it.

Piers Morgan Tonight III – This cold open had its moments even though I was a little disappointed they didn't have Tim playing Alex Jones. Jason did a fine Lance Armstrong and his "fat bitches" yelling was funny. Bobby playing Manti Te'o as an oblivious moron was also hilarious (although I find it odd that they put bronzer on him as Snooki but not as Te’o). Kate as Jodie Foster felt a little too tacked on to me. B+

Monologue  - Jennifer was just fine here. For what it might have been lacking in terms of writing and delivery, it was nice to see another straight monologue instead of another song (outside of Hader's great cold silent Tommy Lee Jones stare and neck dance). Jennifer alternately trashing then warmly praising her fellow Oscar nominees was also funny, even if she kind of awkwardly stumbled over some lines. B-

Verisimo – This Starbucks commercial was a clumsy premise, but Jay and Cecily’s voice overs pulled it off well. Also, it’s worth noting that the hulu clip a lot of comments in a similar vein to that of Jamie Foxx’s monologue last month except some are daring to argue that it’s NOT racist. C+

Girlfriends Talk Show II - I wish they hadn't made this recurring, but considering the host I can see why they had to. Lawrence still did more for the dynamic of this sketch than Hathaway did because she was playing a more developed character. Still, Aidy's lines can make this worth watching and Cecily talking about her fake boyfriend is admittedly pretty funny. C+

Post Hunger Games Press Conference - Wow, I wonder what happened to them not doing any "Hunger Games" sketches? Oh well, at least if it weren't for the promos her comments about "retiring the bow and arrow" would still technically be accurate. Anyway, Jay, Tim, Bobby, Kenan and Jennifer had plenty of funny lines. I especially laughed at everyone making fun of Hader's beard. It was nice to see what appeared to be a well written satirical parody of "The Hunger Games" after that half assed ten-to-one from Sofia Vergara's episode last April. Still, I have to say it feels a little dated now. B-

Hobbit Sequels – This fake trailer was kind of lame, but Jason, Taran and Jennifer had funny lines in it. I wonder how they’re going to try and stop weird unexplained video pauses during future taped segments. Still, it does speak volumes to the amazing cinematography seen in the taped segments nowadays. Also, this was the only sketch Lawrence was in all night where I wasn’t distracted by how badly I wanted to make out with her. D+

Johnny Two Tones - This diner sketch was okay. All the girls were really good in it  but did it seem like a blatant Whitest Kids U'Know ripoff to anyone else? C+

Ho Hey - Normally, I don't comment on the musical guest but hearing the Lumineers, I guess it was one of those songs I've heard everywhere but couldn't place with a band and it's definitely more than a coincidence that they're playing a song featured heavily in the song "Silver Linings Playbook" which Miss Lawrence is promoting tonight.

Update is still on an upswing. Seth's only good jokes were his Manti Te'o/hissing possums/ German Game Show lines. I thought Bobby's second hand news guy was retired for good after 10-11, but they bought him out of mothballs anyway. I did like laugh at his "no eyes Eddie"/Lance Armstrong lines and he and Seth were riffing off each other well. This makes me think of how eerily accurate some of us were with our predictions. Kudos to whoever called second hand news and Girlfriends Talk Show in “Guess the Recurring Sketches”. I'm just glad Update was shorter tonight. B-

Top Dog Chef - This seemed like a premise that tried more to be cute rather than funny, but Bill, Bobby and Vanessa were good in it. Actually, Bobby was kind of doing his Snooki here, but whatever. Also, is it bad that when I saw them setting this up during the commercial I thought that was Tim in Fred’s costume? C-

B108 FM - The Morning DJs from Minnesota didn't need to be bought back either, but everyone really stepped up their performance from the last sketch. Lawrence was pretty good here as well. Strangely, an actual Minnesotan commenter on nbc.com seemed to enjoy this sketch. C+

Danielle: A Free European Woman - This was a sketch I was too unfamiliar with to make sense of. I've never seen "Emmanuelle" but I just know that it's crappy soft Cinemax porn. Lawrence and Hader stood out in this, but it could've benefitted from purposely worse dubbing. They should’ve been more out of sync and had a different actor than themselves doing their voices much like in the “Iron Chef” sketch from the Charlie Sheen 00-01 episode. Still, I liked Armisen’s “peasant children” line and HAder turning to the camera and simply saying “Danielle”. C+

Love Letters - This Civil War sketch was pretty funny. It had its moments, but it was kind of unremarkable other than the fact that it's Tim's first leading sketch in months. It does kind of remind me an old Greg Giraldo routine. Still, it's one of the few things I genuinely laughed at the night. Is it just me, or does anyone else sees this as a sketch Samberg could’ve done worse verbatim if he were still in the cast? A-

Well, I guess that's the show. Next week, Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine will be serving as host. I can’t quite tell if he has any acting ability, but he seems like the type of guy who the cast would have fun with throughout the week so this couldn’t possibly be a worse show than when Justin Bieber hosts on February 9^th. See you then!

Martin Short/Paul McCartney (12.15.2012)

Okay, here’s my review. This was one of the better shows of the season. In terms of Christmas shows. It wasn’t quite as good as Fallon’s from last year, but it was still fun. I liked how they tried a few different things, but I was a little disappointed that they didn't devote any full sketches to Short's 84-85/SCTV era bits. I guess that's to be expected since the Christmas shows go for a little broader appeal and they figured nobody would remember this stuff. MAN has there been an ABSOLUTE. FUCK. LOAD of cameos tonight OR. WHAT? I just wish some of them could've been utilized a lot better. I also hope to see a bit more Ed Grimley outside of the monologue. Good to see plenty of Hader tonight, but I wish the cast would’ve been a little more balanced in terms of airtime. Let’s get to it.

Silent Night Cold Open – Hearing all this talk of a “solemn” cold open, I have to say this wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. If you’d just woken up from a coma yesterday, you wouldn’t even guess that there was a deadly tragedy during the week. It was the kind of sketch that makes you guess what they might have cut that was the original cold open. Still, it short, but sweet and a nice way to introduce the show with some levity in the wake of a tragedy that they didn’t feel obligated to reference as good taste would dictate. 

Monologue - This was very fun to watch. Paul Schaffer's cameo was a nice touch as he hasn't been on SNL in decades. I was sort of expecting a musical monologue given that all the ones he hosted had one (although the 86 one was Steve's song and not Marty's) but I like how Short put a bawdy surrealist slapstick twist on his. I especially liked the bit with short climbing on the piano. For some reason, I was pretty much expecting a Wiig cameo with this being the Christmas show and all but I'm glad we didn’t see much of her elsewhere in the show. All in all, it was refreshing to see a zany cartoonish twist on the typical musical number monologues we’ve come to expect all these years. B+

Tony Bennett Christmas Special - Seeing Baldwin's Tony Bennett was nice. Short did a passable Bennett voice and played off Baldwin well. Jay was great as Kanye and had several funny lines. I'm glad it was short. B-

Royal Family Doctor - This sketch would've seemed pretty lame on paper, but only Martin Short (or possibly Hugh Laurie) could've saved it. He added a surrealist SCTV vibes. Hader did a good job of not breaking. I did like Short’s listing of “acceptable” synonyms for vagina. Bobby’s hat creeping into frame kind of ruined the royal guard gag for me. I'm very glad Armisen's part was small. B-

You’re a Rat Bastard, Charlie Brown – This sketch was performed quite well and a good way to utilize the cast's impressions. I liked Hader's Pacino, Short's Larry David and Taran as Micheal Keaton. A-

Update was surprisingly food tonight. Seth had some of the best line he's had this season. I'm surprised they bought back Vanessa's bar mitzvah boy from the 2011 Gwenyth Paltrow episode, but that was best left a supporting role. Cecily's party girl has gotten funnier. I don't know if it's because she played the role more broad, but it was her best appearance so far. I especially liked the secret Santa line, the phone bit and Cecily mimicking Seth. B-

What Up With That IX - I kind of hope this is the last time we see WUWT. I have to see Carrie Brownstien was a really underwhelming choice for a cameo because it's something we all would've expected given her SNL connection. Still, I have to say the Jackie Rogers Jr. cameo absoultely made my night as did the Hawiian shirt Santa and dancing Scrooge and Tiny Time bits. I hope the safe harbor rule is on Sam Jackson's side tonight. I also liked Kenan's subtle dig at Fred at the end. B-

Old Friends - This sketch was good for a few lines, but not great. I liked the low-key vibe of it, but it seemed like something that would be a better fit for Portlandia than SNL. It was anic eot see Short not play it too broad for one (aside from the EMt acting bit). C-

Pageant Auditions/Simply Having a Wonderful Xmas Time - The Short/McCartney musical number was a nice way to end the show. Short berating McCartney was the comedic highlight and its nice when they have a sketch introduce a musical guest. Strange, that's something else they borrowed back from the Gwenyth Paltrow show. Go figure. Still, I know it's the Christmas show and all, but I've always found that to be one of McCartney's most overrated song of all time, holiday themed or otherwise. B-

Malibu High – This was another bit that was cut at dress rehearsal posted online. It was a pretty bare premise on paper, but Short and Downey’s performances made it work. I chuckled at Downey saying “epic fail” and “blueballs” in his deadpan voice. Short didn’t have many memorable lines, but his presence was pretty solid. C+

Well, that was one of the better shows in a while. I'm looking forward to Jennifer Lawrence hosting next year. She's proven to have a sense of humor in interviews. Until then I leave you with my rushed mid-season show rankings. Happy holidays!

1. Seth Macfarlane/Frank Ocean
2. Martin Short/Paul McCartney
3. Louis CK/Fun.
4. Christina Applegate/Passion Pit
5. Joeseph Gordon-Levitt/Mumford and Sons
6. Daniel Craig/Muse
7. Anne Hathaway/Rhianna
8. Bruno Mars
9. Jaime Foxx/Ne-Yo
10. Jeremy Renner/Maroon 5

Jaime Foxx/Ne-Yo (12.8.2012)

Okay, here’s my review. Foxx proved to be just as capable of a host as he was ever going to be and this show had a few saving graces that kept it from being the worse show of the season. Well, it’s a strong contender for second or third worst at this point, but at least we got the feeling that the host really gave a shit about doing the show this time. I liked seeing Hader and some of the new girls in a lot, but I wish the cast had been more balanced in terms of airtime.

Fiscal Cliff Open - This Obama/Boehner sketch was a better political open than most. Jay's Obama continues to improve and Hader played a great straight man to him. I'm glad they are finding different angles to his impression, too. I’m glad he didn’t just do the cowardly lion cry the whole time. I especially liked the ladies' bathroom bit. C+

Monologue - Foxx's monologue was good, but not great. It was great for getting the crowd psyched for the show, but it didn't really go anywhere and "how black is that?” got old pretty quick? I like that we essentially got two stand-up monologues this season. It's also a little odd that we got two monologues involving pianos in a row, but he could've taken the singing a little further. Also, the Two Chainz cameo made no sense. I almost thought it was Jay at first. Foxx has talent, but he still seems a little too full of himself. Not surprisingly, this clip has about nine comments on its nbc.com page of people calling Jamie Foxx an ignorant, repugnant racist for his “how great is that?” line after mentioning how he gets to kill all the white characters in “Django Unchained”. One person said they even “emailed the clip to every news station out there”. Yeah, THAT will accomplish something. Another person said he should be “ashamed of himself and his race” and that this clip was evidence that blacks were the most prejudiced race against others Someone replied to that calling out the previous posters latent racism. You can’t make this stuff up, folks. You should check them out for yourself. I mean, yeah the monologue was bad…but that doesn’t mean it can’t be taken with a grain of salt. Joe Piscopo sure was right about people having too much time on their hands, huh? D+

Bitch, what’s The Answer? - I liked this upon first viewing far even if it is the thinnest premise so far this season, but it didn’t hold up as well upon repeat viewing. Only those who can match the acting talent of Foxx, Kilam and Moynihan could pull this off. I think the humor came from the extreme open ended vagueness of all of Foxx’s questions. It actually kind of reminds me of a cross between "What's that Bitch Talkin' About?" From the first show Tina hosted in '08 and that Neve Campbell sketch where Kattan's gibberish guy, Suel Forrester, hosted a game show. Also, does the name “Mookie Meeks” sound like it’s been used elsewhere before to anyone else? C-

J-Pop America Fourth Time Now! – This definitely should've stayed retired, but this installment was interesting just to see how they would try to work Foxx into it. His lines were a bit trite and the sketch was still a little repetitive for my liking, but Foxx's strange, stilted (intentional) awkwardness was entertaining. Still, I was expecting the ending to be a big reveal that Foxx's character was faking his Japanese cultural infatuation in order to hit on Bayer's character. I did like the "unteaching" and "Japanizzles" lines. C-

Tyler Perry Presents Alex Cross 2: Madea Special Ops - This parody was a little underwhelming and underperformed though and it went on a bit too long. This is probably the weakest taped piece of the season. It felt derivative because it reminded me of the "Alex Cross-Dresser" poster parody I saw on MAD magazine's blog "The Idiotical". Still, Foxx does a decent imitation of Tyler Perry's "Madea" voice. I did like the slow-mo montage at the end, though. C-

Update was once again, quite forgettable. Good for Aidy getting another big role as Mrs. Claus, but sad to see her stuck with such lame derivative jokes. Also, it was nearly identical to her internet commentary as Kourtney Barnes so that can't be helping her. I can't help but think the ding dong bit would've been better had Jay or even Kenan possibly performed it because Foxx's performance was just awkward. In fact, I actually thought it was Jay under that white pipe cleaner mustache until he spoke and it was clearly Jamie's voice. C-

Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney - I don't know how I kept myself from changing the channel during this, but I'm kind of glad I didn't. It had its’ moments. I liked Bill's performance as well as Jay, Jamie and Kenan's head shaking "hell no's" at the beginning and Kenan's "you're a sick man" line. I also liked Jamie's “Derbil McDillett” written answer. Mulroney was a good sport for making a cameo. C-

Marcus Banks: Tree Pimp - This was another paper thin premise, but I did like Foxx's performance. I also liked Kenan smacking and alternately humping a tree, but that's about it. It was one of Kenan’s better performances, though. I find it a little odd that Kenan’s character mentioned being a pimp for 12 years when that’s the exact length of time between Foxx’s hosting gigs. C+

Maine Justice - I'll defend this just for the genuinely unexpected Charlie Day cameo alone. It was definitely the best live sketch of the night. I can't remember the last time we saw a strange conceptual sketch like this. It definitely reminds me of something Will Forte would've done. I also liked how Sudekis appeared to be playing his character from the Blake Lively Potato Chip sketch, but he didn't have any lines that were that good. I also liked Bobby's sheer bewilderment at the whole thing. This has as many comments as the monologue, but most of them were from Louisiana Southerners who got it plus one person form Maine who didn’t get why there weren’t enough accurate references to her state. B+

Swarvoski’s Crystals - This had so many great lines I can barely name all the ones that I liked. It was definitely the second best live piece of the night. I can't remember the last time they wrote something this bawdily absurd. Jamie's performance was also great. B+

Well, that show had its faults, but it took baby steps in the right direction. Next week, Martin Short returns with Paul McCartney. Let’s hope the writing doesn’t fail him. See ya next week!

Jeremy Renner/Maroon 5 (11.17.2012)

Okay, here’s my review. This had to have been the worst show of the season so far. Renner didn’t even have that good of material to begin with and he turned out to be the worst host this season. He seemed a little nervous but he really seemed like he didn't give that much of a shit. I can’t imagine the cast, crew or especially the writers had the best time working with him all week. I’ll bet they were just phoning it in. It's odd that they have Renner playing fake piano when he could've just as easily played real guitar. Good to see the cast feel pretty balanced tonight and the new featured players get on a bit more. Although, Cecily is a little more disappointing as they try to shoehorn her into meaningless roles. Anyway, let’s just get to it. 

C-SPAN Booknotes - This was pretty forgettable. I guess the whole joke was Cecily reading those lines in such a deadpan voice, but it felt derivative and predictable given all the other comedians that have given us Patreaus jokes this week. Seeing people leave made me chuckle and so did one of Cecily's lines that I can't remember right now. Hader was wasted in his role. Somehow, I felt Armisen would be the last guy standing there, so that took away from it, too. Come to think of it, this kind of reminded me of that sketch from '98 where Molly Shannon as Monica Lewinsky addressed congress. D+

Monologue – If this was gonna be memorable, it would be for the wrong reasons. That audio snafu was awkward, but Renner covered nicely for it. He also isn't that bad of a singer, either but he did kind of kill the monologue and make it go on too long with his stammering, mildly nervous Colin Quinnesque delivery. I did like the Bourne/Kings of Leon theme. Those were parody lyrics worthy of Mr. Alfred Yankovic himself! I was a little disappointed when the fake Lorne twitter account alluded to a musical monologue, but this was a nice take on it (even if it was like a cross between Kelsey Grammer's '98 monologue and Jason Sudekis's bit from the MTV Movie Awards with Emma Stone when he hosted). C-

Hometown Tourism - It was kind of awkward seeing them segue from a band number to a taped commercial, but this was well done even if it feels like I've seen this exact same bit done on CollegeHumor before (but in text/fake brochure form). As someone who goes back home to visit immediate family every Xmas/Thanksgiving, I can relate to this pretty well. I did chuckle at Bobby and Tim's appearances and I also laughed at Bill watering his lawn in his underwear. C+

The Californians IV - I didn't like this again, but I liked this better than the Applegate version. Seeing Fred crack up was nice because it really made him look dumb and like less of a pretentious douche. I also like Taran, Tim and Jeremy's characters as well as Bill's "we thought you were dead" line. Seeing Hader and Bayer both with transparently smeared lipstick also made me chuckle. C-

The Stand Off – This was a pretty funny short film. It felt a little similar to something The Lonely Island would do, but was obviously different stylistically. I liked the ice rink bit and Adam Levine's cameo worked for me. B-

The Situation Room VII - This was something we haven't seen since the dreaded '09-'10 season, so I was a little wary, but this started out okay. Jason’s Wolf Blitzer hasn’t changed that much, but I did like his “ghost of an old beard” line and his revelation that Renner’s character was the “self-proclaimed” mayor of Tampa. Even Renner was funny before he started repeating himself. I also chuckled at Tim in the dress as part of the “reenactment”. C+

Update was only good for commentaries tonight. Jay did a funny Katt Williams and had plenty of good lines. I mean, if you closed your eyes, it would almost seem like Katt himself was there. I mean, he was much funnier than the real Katt, but still. Chris Christie was pretty funny too, but he wasn't that good at being fake angry because he was obviously having fun with his own image. He was a good sport and I respect that about him. B-

The Avengers - This sketch was okay. Renner was the only one really bringing it down. I did like Hader, Sudekis, McKinnon and Moynihan in it. They did a great makeup job on Bobby. I liked Sudekis’s “you just got quipped line” and his Hunger Games jokes. C+

Dick Fuel - This sketch seems like something I read about getting cut at dress last season. I was expecting another Jeff/boom mike sketch (especially since Hader identified himself as "Wes Underballs") but this just went nowhere. I did like Jason's claymation line though. He tried his best, but he couldn’t save this sketch. C+

Midnight Snack: Drones - This short was a little strange. I didn't hate it, but it felt a little out of place on SNL instead of the internet. If they have more shorts like this, I am willing to give them another chance. It's just nice to see animation like this on SNL in the post TV Funhouse/post Lonely Island era. C-

Coroner - This sketch had to have been the best live segment of the night. I liked it just for its sheer absurdity. Even Renner was pretty funny in it. . I'm not saying it made up for his shortcomings as host, but he certainly got some goodwill from it. B+

Well, that was a slow train wreck. Next week, Jaime Foxx will be the host. For a guy who seems to take himself way too seriously, he does have legitimate acting and comedy talent. He should’ve hosted around 04-05 when “Ray” had come out, but it’s about time he came back. He did a pretty good job with his first show in 2000. That should be a fun show if they don’t saddle him with a bunch of lame sketches like they did this week. See ya then!

Anne Hathaway/Rhianna (11.10.2012)

Okay, here’s my review. This could possibly be a contender for the worst show of the season, but it might still be a little early to call it. If it doesn’t turn out to be the worst of the season, it would definitely be the worst of the three that Anne Hathaway has hosted. The worst of the season so far would be JGL followed by Applegate. Somehow, this would place a close third at highest. She proved to be just as capable of a sketch performer as she always was, but she couldn’t really save a bunch of the material. I mean, I knew this was gonna be a bit of a comedown from everyone’s Louis CK high form last week, but yeesh…none of us expected to come down this hard. 

Romney Balcony - This open felt a little too predictable and seemed like it was missing something, but Taran and Bobby were very funny in it. The milk thing was kind of trite and cheap, but the sound of the cartons cracking open was a nice touch. I also liked the Donald Trump/Paul Ryan lines as well as Karl Rove being thrown off the balcony. C-

Monologue - I liked the theatricality and heavy cast involvement. Jason’s appearance was a god way to start it off. It was fine for a big musical number and all, but I liked her first two legit monologues better. Also, was anyone else expecting more when Anne said she wanted to play Stefon? B+

Girlfriends Talk Show - During the commercial, I thought another Roger Brush sketch was being set up until I notice the opening sequence was missing stills of one of the female cast members as the absent host. Then, I thought this was a sketch that got cut from the MacFarlane show until I remembered that they were playing ethnic characters whereas here they just seem to be playing generic white bitches. I'm glad we got an original sketch instead, but this ended up going nowhere. Still, I did like Aidy's performance in it. Also, this sketch is giving the feeling that all of Cecily's characters are going to completely run together which will make me like her substantially less. There were a lot of similarities between this and her Update Party Girl. I hope they never make this recurring. C+

The Legend of Mokiki and the Sloppy Swish - This music video is quite interesting. It got much funnier as it went along as the absurdities of Taran's character kept building. For some reason, I saw the “venom” part coming, but it was a nice touch nonetheless. B+

Homeland - This might be funnier to me if I had actually seen the show at some point, but I have to say it was decently well acted. I did like Taran and Annes' performances. Bill and Kenan were also good in supporting roles. I liked how at first this didn't feel like a 09-10 type one joke sketch until it turned into the focus just being Hathaway mugging wildy. Nassim was useless here. B+

McDonalds Layoffs - I don't know what to make of this sketch, but Bobby and Cecily are very funny in it so far. Perhaps, I was too quick to judge Ms. Strong if it weren’t for her blatant cue card staring throughout the whole sketch. Taran's one creepy facial expression was also funny. The ending was also a little predictable. B+

Diamonds - Did they just green screen the fuck out of the whole goddamn stage for Rhianna? WTF? Even Kanye must think this is some pretentious horseshit.

Update actually saw Seth start out a bit strong with his jokes, but quickly head in the wrong direction. Pharroh's commentary as Obama felt like another bit that was predictable, but he did have some funny lines about Boehner and the GOP rape congressman. The Gay Couple from Maine was pretty disappointing. Hader and Armisen kind of overdid it again. That bit just felt like a hammy and unfunny version of the Carvey/Colbert "Skinheads From Maine" sketch from The Dana Carvey Show. Drunk Uncle was just more of the same, but I liked how Bobby put more into his delivery. I'm surprised the show made no mention of Colorado and Washington both legalizing it, but I'd rather see no mention than a half assed one. Then again, it might have done well to replace the Bill and Fred commentary. D-

Ellen - This talk show parody was nothing really special. It could've done without the dancing bit with Taran and Cecily, but it was okay, I guess if not quite a bit dated. Kate's impression was really carrying it. The Nassim/Vanessa bit was cute though. Kenan had some decent lines as the DJ. I also liked the Sofia Vergara texting bit and the “half talk show, half weird day care” line. I can't believe they're having Anne play Katie Holmes again, but I guess it shows just exactly how little fucks Anne Hathaway gave after her last hosting stint. C+

American Gothic - This sketch seemed like a lame premise on paper, but I liked how Anne and Jason really gave it their all. It felt a little derivative and predictable toward the end. It kind of reminded me of that news promo sketch from the Jack Black 05 episode. C+

Flaritin – This, on the other hand, was a premise that seemed funny on paper but was missing something in execution. The list of possible fake allergies was funny, though. Apparently, this seriously offended some actual gluten allergy sufferers for implying that their disease is fake. Again, while they may have a legitimate complaint, I think they must’ve missed the entire point of this sketch. C+

Also, it's pretty obvious that the show ran a little short and they must've cut something at the last minute. Why else would Anne appear almost as if she were on Ecstacy with a laundry list of people to thank during the goodnights?

Well, that was a disappointment. Next week, Jeremy Renner will be in Studio 8H. I literally have no idea what to expect from him. See ya!

Louis C.K./fun.(11.3.2012)

Okay, here’s my review. I would say this episode would be a contender for possible best of the season, but that would be more because of how it was carried by the host’s presence rather than the material itself. There were only about two or three memorable things he was in. It seemed like once again, they were afraid to let a distinctive stand up host have too much creative control over the show and they were afraid to give him their best material, so they just front loaded the show with some of their standard trunk bits. Still, Louie didn’t disappoint as a host and certainly wasn’t afraid to bring HIS A-game. It certainly felt like he poured his heart out to the audience even if the monologue and email he sent before the show weren’t proof enough of that. Still, the cast could’ve been more balanced in terms of airtime. Some people would argue that they deserve all the credit that’s due for even putting on a show at all in the wake of the biggest storm to hit the east coast and I wouldn’t necessarily argue with them. This show turned out great under any circumstances. Anyway, let’s just get right to the show.

Hurricane Sandy Press Conference - I was a little disappointed that they would center another cold open on Armisen's lame Bloomberg impression, but Cecily, Bobby and Nassim made it worth watching. I liked Cecily’s bits revolving around first responders and Obama’s motorcade and I liked both Cecily and Nassim both sticking out their ears to sign “Obama”. Bobby Moynihan still isn't very good with impressions, but at least he made his Chris Christie funny (granted, he's playing Christie kind of as a more subdued Snooki, but still). We could’ve done without the message to Spanish speakers, though as it wasn’t very funny. Apparently, this sketch severely offended at least two deaf people on nbc.com. I think they missed the entire point of the sketch. I wouldn’t be surprised if this sketch sparked some form of protests from the deaf support community on Monday, but then again I’d be even MORE surprised if it actually did. B+

Monologue - This was great. In fact, I’d say it was the best live segment on the show. I'm glad Louie got through a whole set without going f-bomb or s-bomb. I was impressed that he could still also be funny because that must've still been pretty restricting for him. I'm also impressed that he was able to mine some comedy out of what was essentially a moment of tender humanity in a dire situation, but he always does that in his act. A-

FOX and Friends V – This parody was another rather forgettable one, but Bobby was pretty funny in it. I like how he's playing Brian Kilmeade as more cartoonishly dumb. I particularly like his lines about the WNBA and piranhas with AIDS. Sudekis as Trump wasn't as accurate as Hammond's but it is funnier and a better impression than his Chris Matthews. He had some funny lines about Obama texting fictional supervillans having a charity that pays kids to throw garbage at Rosie O’Donnell. Also, Louie played a good straight man here. B-

Lincoln - This was possibly the best segment of the night. I'm glad they could execute so well what seemed like such a silly, simple premise. Good to see Aidy also get such a substantial role. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that if Louie himself didn't pitch this he at least directed it. Maybe Seth wrote this as sort of a tongue in cheek jab at Colin Quinn's suggestions. I have to say; maybe Seth was listening to Louis’ “Chewed Up” album when he wrote this because the fake stand up bit about slavery sounds awfully close to his “being white” album from that one. B+

Australian Screen Legends – This was something I felt really stupid about laughing so much at, but I just couldn't help myself. Only Hader, McKinnon and Louie could really pull this off successfully, so they did cast this well. It was certainly preferable to another tired TCM classics parody with Sudekis’s Robert Osborne. Still, it doesn’t seem to hold up on repeat viewings. B-

Update was forgettable in terms of Seth's jokes although I admit I liked his Sandusky effigy line. Jason's Mitt Romney was just serviceable here with a few good lines, but nothing that stood out too much. I liked Aidy getting another lead role and it was funny, but still pretty unoriginal and derivative. She performed it well, even if it went on a bit too long. I did like her "internet is real" line at the end. I liked seeing Cecily's party girl the first time during the Thursday special, but I hope they don't just run it into the ground and let it settle into a predictable pattern. Still, I appreciate seeing more relatable human condition humor like this on SNL these days. C+

Mountain Pass - I'm guessing this sketch is the one Louie said he was humiliated by on Fallon. He is wearing a ridiculous enough costume and kind of half-assing his lines, even stumbling over some of them. Still, Bill and Bobby added funny bits to it. I laughed at Hader’s “Zezus Jeist” line. Actually, it kind of reminded me too much of that stupid witches' brew sketch from Cameron Diaz's first show in '98. C-

Hotel Fees - This sketch, like the last one doesn't seem to be going anywhere, but Louis added something and Bobby played a good straight man. I did like the noble gas, stuffed bobcat, entertainment charge and tax advisor bits. It looks like they obviously had fun with it at the end. B-

Last Call - That was pretty fun to watch. It felt like one of Louie's stand up routines translated into a sketch. I'd say it was Kates’ best performance of the year so far (and definitely her most committed one). I was especially liked how they acted like they were absolutely amazed that they had nothing in common and Kenan’s facial expression during the kiss. I also liked Kenan spray painting the window at the end saying “I don’t wanna know how that pans out.” A-

Well, that was another show that exactly met my expectations. I’m sure Anne Hathaway will do the same next week. See ya then!

Bruno Mars (10.20.2012)

Okay, here’s my review. This episode wasn’t as much good or bad as it was consistent. It was the most consistently enjoyable episode since the season premiere with Seth MacFarlane. It was a show that didn’t fall completely apart since the last one or two sketches. Bruno Mars pretty much exactly met my slightly raised expectations for him as a host once I saw the promos. Good to see the newer cast members also have an increased presence. Let’s get to it.

Third Presidential Debate -While not necessarily as good as the VP debate sketch, this did turn out very funny. They did a fine job playing up the contentiousness of the actual debate. Aidy did fine as Candy Crowley. I liked her line about the audiences questions based on the severity of their accents and that they might be seeing them for the first time as well. Jay's Obama also continues to improve. I also liked how this sketch gave Jason a chance to breathe some life into his Romney. Seeing Fred up there in the role of Jeremy just made me think of how much better Samberg or even Robinson might be in that role. Bobby, Kate, Taran and Cecily's parts were very funny. My roommate started cracking up immediately on seeing Kate’s face before she even said anything. Still, I had to wonder why Tom Hanks wasn't hosting when I saw his all too brief cameo. Jason casually shoving Jay and Jay’s mic drop were brilliant endings. On a slightly unrelated note, is it just me or does Aidy Bryant remind anyone else of Lori Beth Denberg from the Kenan’s early years on “All That”? C+

Monologue - Bruno's singing felt like inevitability, but lyrics about his nervous regret made it funny. He did appear to be quite the bundle of nerves, though. I can already tell he has some Timberlake-esque qualities in him that made him a competent (if not forgettable) host. B+

Brad Pitt Commercials - Seeing Taran's Brad Pitt again was nice at first, but maybe they ran it into the ground after about the fourth ad. They really should’ve stopped with the dog condom one because that’s a ridiculous enough product that they couldn’t follow it. Also, I can’t remember the last time they did more than three of the same recurring commercial. Still, his impression is also moving in the right direction and you gotta give him credit because Brad Pitt still isn’t the easiest impersonation to pull off or find a hook for. I found two or three funny despite not being terribly familiar with what these ads were parodying. I understand Conan did a parody of these ads, but I have yet to see it for myself. C+

Haters – This had some sharp human condition satire behind it, even if the concept felt a little dated. Thankfully, they didn't revolve to heavily around two men in drag. I did like Bobby’s line about spamming people for a living and getting kicked off a JetBlue flight. Tim, Aidy and Jay's cameos were very funny. Is it just me or was Cecily wearing a wig that made her look like Sofia Vergara? C-

Pandora Internet Radio – This sketch had a rather flimsy premise, but Bruno's performance made it fun to watch even if all his impressions sort of ran together by the end of this sketch. B-

Sad Mouse – This film wasn't funny, but it was sort of cute and endearing. I wasn’t the first to say this, but I also notice some similarities to the 75-77 short films/home movies in terms of style, but those wouldn’t necessarily hold up today. As soon as I saw the frog costume, I knew what direction it was headed in. I kind of wish the frog had taken off her head, though. C-

Update was actually good tonight in terms of Seth’s jokes. I did like the Honey Boo Boo endorsing Obama joke. Thank god it wasn't too long. I loved seeing Stefon. They made him delightfully insane this time. I also liked the lack of interaction between him and Seth as well as the changes to the set Stefon format with his nightly schedule and the "Slimer" ghost story. I also liked the champagne/piss line and the Wham horse costume joke. B-

Merryville Trolley III - It was wise of them to bring this back to play to Bruno's strengths. This one had potential to be funnier, but they didn't go far enough with it. I did laugh at the robots brandishing knives (even if it was a waste of Tom Hanks although dubbing his voice was a nice effect) and Jay's face on the tombstone but that's about it. C-

Yeti Point - This sketch was the only thing that just went nowhere. Hader was the only one worth watching here. It felt like a cross between the Brutus the ape sketch with Jonah Hill last season and the Christmas Kangaroo sketch with Will Ferrell and Hugh Jackman from 2001. Thank god it wasn't TOO long though. D+

Donkey Punch The Ballot - I actually liked seeing the Under-Underground festival again. This one felt less underwhelming than the previous one and it felt like they put more effort into tweaking the parts that just stopped working. C+

While this episode turned out better than I expected, I am PSYCHED for Louis CK finally hosting two weeks from tonight. See you in two weeks!

Christina Applegate/Passion Pit (10.13.2012)

Okay, here’s my review. This was consistently weaker than all the previous shows from this season, but there was still some fun to be had here and there. Sadly, they bought back the trend of repetitive recurring sketches that plagued the last three seasons. Hopefully, the featured players get more chances to shine in the future. Applegate once again proved to be another competent if not forgettable host. Anyway, let’s just get on with it. 

Vice Presidential Debate - They did pretty well with this one. It’s nice to see them do an actual “debate” sketch as opposed to last week’s narration-fest that presided over the first Romney-Obama debate. I especially liked the line about Jim Lerher, Ryan looking directly into the camera and Biden’s “workout” and Catholicism as well as the Goat Boy water dispenser that Ryan drank from. Usain Bolt's cameo was funny too (partly because of how unexpected it was) Also, it seems like Jason is getting more accurate with Biden's voice and he played him like less of a silly caricature. B+

Monologue - This had a really lame premise (and the Matt Foley reference felt really lazy and forced) but Christina isn't a bad singer plus the fake knock off Muppets were funny. Seeing Jason's Dane Cook again made me chuckle. C-

Gillette Ad – This shock value commercial made no goddamn sense. Jason’s buck teeth and Pharroh’s Andre 3000 were funny but the less said about it the better. I’m actually surprised this got fewer comments than the debate sketch on nbc.com considering how dense and high strung their commenters are. D-

Californians III - I'm a little annoyed that they found a way to still do this without Wiig, but at least they had the good sense to try to bring something different to it with Christina, Bobby, Taran and Jason's characters though. Applegate, particularly played a role that seemed to suit her. It's not like they saved this sketch or anything, but at least just seeing them here made this sketch less irritating than the first two. Still, we could've done without this Usain Bolt cameo. He added nothing. I could definitely see this sketch being the next "Debbie Downer" if they keep bringing it back like this (considering how the first one was famous for just corpsing). C-

Tech Talk - When I saw the next sketch being set up, I thought they were going to bring back "Kalle" until I realized that Wiig is still gone. Still, this "Tech Talk" sketch has a decent premise even if it feels quite derivative of last year's "Comment Section" and got a little predictable toward the end. I think it would've been better if Strong had more lines than Armisen and Pedrad. I did like her "handbag" line and the violin/sarcastic dance/bug gag. C+

Give Us All Back Our Daughters - This trailer was also very funny. I especially liked Taran's Liam Neeson, Bill's Schwarzenegger, Christina's Uma Thurman and Bobby's Steven Segal (even though I totally thought it was Tim Robinson at first glance). Seeing Jason's Mel Gibson was also nice even if they just recycled a bunch of tired jokes about his anti-Semitism. C+

Update was pretty forgettable, but I did like Seth's very last joke at the end. Nassim's Huffington commentary was actually pretty funny because of all the birth control jokes, the lines at the end about Biden and Ryan's qualities and the way she pronounced "penis" (especially "my penis is shinier"). I'm sure none of us missed Jean K. Jean but at least it meant Kenan got Seth to shut the fuck up for a while. C-

Sirens - This sketch wasn't funny, but at least it was interesting for a couple of good reasons. First, I can't really remember the last time they did a faux historical sketch like this. I'm sure there was something like this done in the last couple of years, but for some reason I'm thinking back to when Franken and Davis were still there because they speciali-oh, wait...I just remembered that royal taster sketch with Hader and Russell Brand from two seasons ago. Also, it makes me wonder how this sketch would be different if they used songs from this decade instead of ones from the late '90s. Oh, wait...that would probably be worse somehow. Never mind. How does it make sense that they would know those songs in Ancient Greece anyway? Ah, well it's still nice to see Sudekis getting as many lead roles as he did tonight. Huh, this sketch kind of reminds me of something that Fallon would do with the song covers and all. B-

Hell-oween Ball - I enjoyed seeing Pharroh's principal again. Christina's nerdy librarian character was funny and I liked her donation box bit. For some reason, she kind of reminded me of a cross between two Ana Gasteyer characters: Bobbi Mohan-Culp and the “Delicious Dish” host. Pharroh had some funny lines about baboon and Lion King Costumes. Kenan's gym teacher is also usually funny, but didn't have any good lines here. C+

Dance Studio - This sketch was pretty frightening. It reminds me far too much of something Wiig would do. Seriously, Christina's voice in this makes it sound almost exactly like Wiig's "Secret Word" character if she were a Broadway dance teacher. It's already going on way too long but at least Kenan's character was mildly funny in this. D-

Well, that show certainly fell apart quickly, didn’t it? Bruno Mars will be pulling double duty next week and I’m already not looking forward to it. See you then?

Daniel Craig/Muse (10.6.2012)

Okay, here’s my review. I would still say that so far, this episode is a far cry from the worst of the season. Maybe worst so far, but there’s still time. I’m just saying I found it more consistently enjoyable than the JGL show form two weeks ago. It started out strong enough, but then really fell apart after…oh, who am I kidding here DURING Update. Daniel Craig proved to be another competent if not forgettable host. Good to see all the new featured players get more screen time. Anyway, let’s just get on with it.

First Presidential Debate - After watching the first presidential debate on Wednesday night, I was worried that it would make for a rather shitty cold open but I was glad to see they came up with a clever take on it with Jay's Obama wonders what to get Michelle for their anniversary while Romney drones on. Even though The Daily Show already did the altitude sickness jokes, Jay's performance made them funny. Also, it was good to see Parnell back again as Jim Lehrer. I liked his reaction to the PBS as well as Jay's coffee mug line, Jason's intense stares at the beginning and Parnell’s line about Romney taking credit for Bin Laden’s death. It did feel like a cross between the Rick Perry opening from the Emma Stone show last season and the Democratic debate from '88 with Carl Weathers as Jesse Jackson but it was better than I expected even though I kind of wanted something more substantial from another obligatory Presidential debate sketch. On a tangentially related note, I’d agree that the altitude was a lame excuse for Obama’s first debate performance. I mean, I saw him twice in person during this year’s campaign on campus here at CU Boulder and he seemed quite animated giving both speeches. I wonder what the opposite of altitude sickness is like. I wouldn’t know, because I haven’t traveled out of Colorado since 1994 when I was 3. B-

Monologue - This was enjoyable enough. Craig’s dry British wit really carried it, but it felt a little underwritten and he could’ve put a little more effort into it. The "In Memoriam" montage turned out quite funny especially when he had to interrupt it and explain why he killed the sound engineer. B-

Construction Site – Even if it felt pretty derivative, this sketch turned out to be quite funny. All of Craig's lines had me laughing and I especially cracked up at Hader being shot by Nasim. B+

Bond 50 - This just had its moments. Vanessa added nothing, but Kate really stole the sketch as Ellen and Jodie Foster. Nasim as Lea Michelle was cute, but not terribly funny. I'm starting to appreciate Armisen's Penny Marshall more but it didn't stand out that much here. C+

Three Days Later: A Look Back at the Obama Debate Disaster – This rather heavy-handed MSNBC sketch was another one that just had its moments. Cecily did a fine Rachel Maddow. Kenan's Sharpton had some decent lines about Obama and Romney switching bodies, hemispheres and altitude. I did like his line about how we can’t know how many feet there are in a mile because it reminded me that there is in fact a magazine published in Denver called “5280”. I’ll let you guys figure that one out. Jason's Chris Matthews made this sketch for me, but I still like Hammond's better. C+

Long Island Medium - Let me first say that I legitimately had no idea that this was a real Bravo program. Go ahead and whine at me, Chuckles. This sounded like a lame premise, but it was very well acted. I especially liked Taran and Bobby's cameos but Craig's presence felt a little awkward. I did laugh when he pointed to his own goatee. C+

Mars Misson - This space sketch was pretty lame. It reminded me too much of something Wiig or Armisen would do. Specifically it felt like a cross between Wiig's "I Lost My Purse" sketch and Armisen's drag stenographer mixed with the scene from "Tommy Boy" where Spade and Farley were in the diner. Still, Bobby bought everything he could to it. The ending was alright even if it was a little predictable. It is good to see Cecily, Tim, Aidy and Kate getting a lot of airtime tonight. Also, NBC is apparently trying to make a meme of this sketch. God…fucking…dammit. D+

Update was nothing to write home about, but Seth had some good lines about the debates and some good Biden jokes during "Winners and Losers". Big Bird's cameo was nice, but it felt a little awkward and didn't go anywhere. I did think Kate's Italian painter bit was pretty funny even if I wasn't paying a ton of attention to it because I was typing my live thread comments on my smartphone while it was playing. I mean hey, when else besides Seth’s Update am I going to get the best chance to do so without missing anything good, huh? C-

A Sorry Lot We Are - The BBC sketch was also very funny in a very Python-esque way. Hader, Armisen and Bryant turned in particularly strong performances and it was good to see them finally write something playing toward Craig's strengths. B+

Loving Couple - I've literally never hated any sketch more this one, but I did like Hader's facial expression after he bought out the drinks and the line at the end about how they were going to talk about books and politics. F+

Why the hell did they rerun that Undecided Voter sketch so soon? Did the show run long and something had to get cut. 

Well, upon further review this felt like an episode that may have spread itself too thin. Next week Christina Applegate returns. I have higher expectations for her than who will be following her. See ya!