Okay, here’s my review. This episode wasn’t a standout in
terms of season finales or anything, but it was a stand out in terms of this
season alone. I feel it was the finale that this particular season deserved. It’s
great that they let the departing cast members soak up as much of the remaining
spotlight as they could. They truly deserved it. It’s not often we get to see a
real changing of the guard at SNL where all the old vets graciously step aside
and let the up and comers take over the show, but when it happens it’s a thing
of beauty. Anyway, let’s get on with the rest of the show.
Politics Nation III – Kenans’ Al Sharpton was a poor choice
for the cold open. Still, I did like the bar graph/Frederick Douglass hair gags
and the random Denver, CO shout out. D+
Monologue – This one was good. It kind of dragged in the
middle and meandered toward the end, but it wasn't bad. Bobby's bit was good
and Garner was a good sport to show up, but it reminded me too much of when
Paltrow showed up during his 2000 monologue for support. I did like the cue card
gag, though. C+
Bengo F@#k Yourself -
This was a decent sketch. The premise seemed better on paper, but they executed
it competently and thankfully didn't drag it on too long. Armisen was fine and
I liked the brief Boston Teens callback, although his "pahk tha cah in
hahvahd yahd" bid did get old after a while. I applaud Ben for poking fun
at himself with the Gigli line which he delivered well, but the audience
applause kind of ruined it for me. They made it feel too much like the “Britney/he
hit it” line from Timberlake’s ’09 Ellis island sketch. Plus, he already did it
in the "Frondi" sketch nine years ago...so I guess it's time to leave
the past in the past. B-
Xanax For Gay Summer Weddings – This ad seemed like a
premise that showed more how out of touch the SNL writers are than anything
(hell, the last time I was invited to a gay wedding was...never. Gay people seem
to hate me for some reason. What? Is it the way I dress? I don't even get
invited to straight wedding, but I digress) but it was saved by execution.
Bill, Bobby and Cecily had some great lines comparing the extreme lavishness of
gay weddings with the relative squalor and despair of straight weddings.
Overall, I've never seen SNL do a sketch that made me laugh and feel
incidentally worse about myself all at the same time. Bravo, SNL. Bravo. B+
1930 New York - The '30s sketch was good, but not too great.
Affleck does a great Jimmy Stewart whether he meant to or not. Hader was great
in this sketch and I liked how it was full of unexpected gags. McKinnon's line
"I'm 40" was also great. I like how they're pretty much putting Hader
in everything so far. What a way for him to go out. B-
New Beginnings – A Christian “pray the gay away” camp sketch
seemed like something that the show would have been better off doing in 2006-07
at the height of its timeliness, but they pulled it off well nonetheless. Taran
and Bobby's bits were well done and although Affleck had some good lines which
he delivered well, he seemed to just kind of walked through it. The Outsiders
and Hot Dog eating bits were great even if I kind of saw them coming a mile
away. B+
Black Skinhead - Boy, Kanye sure keeps outdoing himself in
terms of stage ridiculousness doesn't he? Also, Affleck seemed a little weepy
when introducing him. He must be a fan, but could he have been a little drunk?
Update was a real highlight of the show for once. Seth
sounds better from last week, but still a little hoarse. I did like his
kangaroo joke. I didn't think we needed to see "Really" again, but I
will say Amy was almost unrecognizable due to her new hairstyle and the fact
that she was sitting on Seth's left rather than his right for once. The segment
itself was a little better than previous ones. I'm so glad they gave Stefon the
elaborate finale that he deserved. I was literally on the verge of tears during
the wedding. I liked how they treated it like a big story arc that they needed
to tie altogether. It was a great way to keep Update short AND send off one of
Bill's most beloved characters. A+
Greg’s Funeral - This looked like it was gonna be another
one of those multiple speakers interrupting Jason type sketch at first, but I
soon noticed they were missing too many cast members (Wiig, Forte) to do that.
This sketch turned out to be something better than those...better and more
creative. It seemed to be the only sketch that Affleck really gave his all to.
Tim, Taran and Jay had the best bits. A-
Herman’s Hand Bags - I liked Vanessa and Cecily's ex porn
stars the first two times, but I don't think we needed to see them a third
time. They had some good lines like "steep boner" and “glass ceilings”
but other than that, it felt like too much of the same. Affleck wasn't as good
of a foil as Timberlake or even Foxx, but he made me laugh right at the end. C+
Kanye West Performance II - Wow, I didn't think it was
possible but Kanye's second performance was somehow worse…and no, I don’t feel inclined
to differentiate these two performances by song title.
Shawna’s Engagement - This sketch seemed pretty one note,
but Hader, Affleck, Kilam and Moynihan pulled it off brilliantly in the way
that only they could. B+
Ian Rubbish and the Bizarros -This performance seems like an
odd choice for a Fred/Bill/Jason sendoff especially since this would only be
these characters second appearances, but it’s a nice and pleasant one
nonetheless. I didn't know Bill and Jason were that musically inclined. It was
nice that the rest of the guests were there to support him, but is it bad that
I recognized all but three of them? Anyway, this was a dignified send off by even
Fred's usual standards. B+
Well, it’s been quite a season. I’m already looking forward
to the next one just to see how the show will deal with all the changes in the cast.
Over the summer, I’d like to start reviewing the 88-89 season. I’m just having
some trouble downloading the Steve Martin, Matthew Modine and Kevin Kline
episodes from that season. As soon as I can get those in order, I’ll start. For
now, I’ll leave you with my rankings for the night.
1. Weekend Update
2. Greg’s Funeral
3. Shawna’s Engagement
4. Ian Rubbish and the Bizarros
5. Xanax From Gay Summer Weddings
6. 1930s New York
7. New Beginnings
8. Monologue
9. Politics Nation
10. Kanye Performances
…and now, for my final rankings of the season. This would be
best to worst followed by good, bad, meh and just disappointing.
1. Justin Timberlake
2. Martin Short/Paul McCartney
3. Seth MacFarlane/Frank Ocean
4. Louis CK/fun.
5. Zach Galifinakis/Of Monsters And Men
6. Ben Affleck/Kanye West
7. Anne Hathaway/Rhianna
8. Christina Applegate/Passion Pit
9. Christoph Waltz/Alabama Shakes
10. Kevin Hart/Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
11. Bruno Mars
12. Daniel Craig/Muse
13. Jaime Foxx/Ne-Yo
14. Jennifer Lawrence/The Lumineers
15. Joseph Gordon-Levitt/Mumford and Sons
16. Kristen Wiig/Vampire Weekend
17. Vince Vaughn/Miguel
18. Justin Bieber
19. Adam Levine/Kendrick Lamar
20. Melissa McCarthy/Phoenix
21. Jeremy Renner/Maroon 5
Good: MacFarlane/Ocean, CK/Fun, Short/McCartney, Timberlake,
Galifinakis/Monsters, Affleck/West
Meh: Gordon-Levitt/Mumford & Sons, Applegate/Passion
Pit, Mars, Hathaway/Rhianna, Foxx/Ne-Yo, Lawrence/Lumineers, Levine/Lamar,
Hart/Macklemore & Lewis,
Bad: Renner/Maroon 5, Beiber, McCarthy/Phoenix, Vaughn/Miguel,
Wiig/Weekend
Just Disappointing: Craig/Muse
See you next season!
No comments:
Post a Comment