Okay, here's my review. This turned out to be probably the second or third best show so far in the 2014 half of the season. Jim Parsons turned out to be a capable yet fairly predictable and forgettable host. He started out a little slow but he picked up some steam toward the middle of the show. I'm also glad the newer cast got some more substantial airtime this week but I would've liekd to see more of Kyle and Noel soon. Let's do this.
Ellen II - This cold open felt too much like a carbon copy of the Ellen sketch from Anne Hathaway's last episode. The hidden camera prank part w/Jay as the Captain Phillips actor was a highlight. I haven't seen that much of Johnny Weir in terms of live footage, but I'm positive he doesn't talk EXACTLY like Sheldon Cooper. This doesn't bode well for our host. Still, I did the the "dad was a Christmas ornament" and "Tara Lipinski is in my coat pocket" jokes were okay. C-
Monologue - This was pretty cringeworthy in terms of Jims' one liners and how he stumbled over delivering them. For once, the song and dance actually SAVED it. The premise behind the song and the performances from Jay, Bobby, Kate and Taran were all fine. C+
Peter Pan - This sketch seemed like the thinnest premise ever, but Aidy as "Tonkerbell" really saved it with her delivery. Bobby as the mouse was also funny and John does a great English accent, but Jim Parsons is the worst possible actor for the role of Peter Pan. B-
Bird Bible - This is possibly the most boring and pointless sketch SNL has aired in thirty years. Still, the most positive thing I can say about it much it felt like a throwback to the '90s Jack Handey/Delicious Dish era. F.
The Killer Files - This sketch was an improvement. Kudos to Beck Bennett finally getting the chance to be used as a utility man. The Dance Floor Killer turned out to be Jims least Sheldon-like role in the show so far (and the role that best suits him oddly enough). Did he remind anyone else of Hader as JonBenet's killer John Mark Karr or the "Truckee River Killer" from Reno 911? B-
12 Years A Slave Auditions - This was probably the best segment of the night taped or otherwise. Jay and Bobby were brilliant in it. Kudos to the writers for finally giving Brooks and Mike their most comfortable roles on the show so far. A-
Now we come to the moment everyone's been waiting for...Weekend Update, which in some ways was pleasantly surprising. Whoever kept saying Colin Jost seems to similar to Seth was DEAD...ON. I mean, Jesus, their voices are identical. Hell, I'd even say Jost both resembles AND sounds like the product of a three-way between Seth Meyers, John Mulaney and Kermit the Frog. Still, his delivery is a lot more bearable than Seth's. He actually made me chuckle at those Jeter/Paula Deen lines. Colin doesn't show much of an ability to save a lame joke as much as he shows a cometency at not ruining a joke by trying too hard or haphazardly rushing and shouting his way through it, which is preetty much 99% of what Seth did as an anchor. Cecily also continues to be a pleasant addition to Update as well. Although I saw the punchline to that Joe Biden/Yakety Sax joke coming a mile away, I liked her little dance to it. I also liked her delivery on the driving dogs/vaginal douche jokes. The Shaq/Barkley segment also felt like too much of a retread, but I liked how they played up Shaq's exasperation at Shaq's soft spoken cluelessness. Jebadiah Atkinson was a welcome addition to Update and I do like how they spaced out his appearances more this time. I especially liked the Woody Allen and Forrest Gump jabs. Overall, Update appears to be taking baby steps. In the right direction. Also, before I forget to bring this up, I know they've changed up Update anchors midseason before but is this the first time in SNL history where the Update titles (well, when Update HAD titles) have changed mid season? Both the titles and AND theme song are now different. I don't remember any other time where this happened. C+
Murder Mystery Party - This sketch was okay. It felt a little repetitive, but it had some decent writing and premises behind it and made nice use of the cast. Jim Parsons was all right, but I couldn't help but imagine how this sketch might have been different with any other host. He was just portraying an exasperated Sheldon here. C+
Spotlightz Camp II - This sketch obviously felt too similar to the sketch from the Lady Gaga and Scarlett Johansen episodes but less funny, but I did like the Wolf of Wall Street/Her/Capt. Phillips bits. C+
Elevator Ride - This sketch felt just like they wrote the dialogue and performances a certain way to hide a really cheap premise. The most positive thing I can say about it is that Mike O'Brien really performed it as competently as he could've. D+
Old West Surprise Birthday - This sketch felt like it had one of the more creative premises behind it, but something felt missing in terms of performance. Still, kudos to them for using Beck and Brooks in substantial roles they were able to pull off well again. C+
Well, that show turned out to be a pleasant surprise in some ways. Next week, Lena Dunham hosts. I honestly don't know what to expect from her in terms of performances but let's hope the writing doesn't just take a nosedive.
Now, to update my rankings for this season...
1. Kerry Washington/Eminem
2. Miley Cyrus
3. Lady Gaga
4. Bruce Willis/Katy Perry
5. Tina Fey/Arcade Fire
6. Paul Rudd/One Direction
7. Drake
8. Jim Parsons/Beck
9. Josh Hutcherson/HAIM
10. Jimmy Fallon/Justin Timberlake
11. Melissa McCarthy/Imagine Dragons
12. John Goodman/Kings Of Leon
13. Edward Norton/Janelle Monae
See you soon!
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