Amy Adams/One Direction (12.20.2014)

Okay, here’s my review. This has to be the most frustrating SNL episode of this season, but we have seen worse. For a Christmas episode especially, it was very inconsistent. This show started off showing some flickering promise here and there, but it started to take a serious nosedive right in the middle of Update. Amy Adams was completely overshadowed as a host by the frequently returning cast members as well as the musical guests, of course (but I guess this is to be expected whenever they still inexplicably book One Direction). It somehow managed to make last years’ big Christmas show with Fallon and Timberlake look less dreary and depressing. Anyway, let’s get on with it.

A Very Somber Xmas With Sam Smith/Message From Dr. Evil - This cold open was possibly the best one this season. Seeing Taran's Sam Smith again was a nice touch. Using Mike Meyers as Dr. Evil was a clever way for SNL to comment on the Sony hacking scandal. Meyers performance was a real return to form for him and his laserdisc joke and jabs at Franco/Walkman/The Love Guru were great but his GOP joke could be seen from two miles away. B+

Monologue – This started out charming until Kristen Wiig came in and bought it to a screeching halt. D-

Asian American Doll - This was another commercial mostly done in a similar vein to "The Dudleys" from Woody Harrelsons's show but lacking most of the bite of that one. It could've benefitted from being shortened a little. The chef/dog bit at the end was a true highlight. C-

Tenderfield Christmas 2014 – This was funnier than I expected it to be. I liked how such a seemingly innocuous premise took so many dark turns. The highlights were the description of the Today show interview, the Iron Man 4/HPV ad bit, Kyle thinking he was a dog and Kate being a sociopath. Kenan's part was fine even if it seemed a little tacked on. B+

Serial Christmas - This was a clever bit of parody. However, I'm sure it would be much funnier had I actually listened to the Serial podcast (and I honestly can’t decide whether or not this parody made me want check it out but some light YouTube/Google browsing indicates no evidence that it is a video podcast as SNL seems to suggest so I really don't know what the visuals here are based off of). My only familiarity with it comes from jokes about it on Twitter, Sarah Koenig's Colbert interview and Tom Scharpling talking about it on the return of "The Best Show on WMFU" (which from what I’ve heard is a little too dry for me). I can't really vouch for the verisimilitude of this but it looked like a labored yet well-constructed parody. I liked the courtroom artists' depictions of Aidy and Jay, Cecily and Kate building a sleigh, and Kyle as Kris Kringle (did anyone else think he slightly resembled Samberg in that hair and makeup?). I can't judge the accuracy of Cecily's Koening impression but she had the rhythms of a typical NPR host down pat. B-

Girlfriends Talk Show VII - I have to give SNL credit for holding off on this until now this whole season. I guess I should've expected it with Adams as host. I feel like her role was kind of wasted here but if 1D had to cameo in a sketch, this would be the safest one for them to appear in. They were pretty stiff and awkward here. Cecily was just kinda there, but as usual her “boyfriend” rant was the most interesting contribution. Aidy's performance was a strong and interesting choice. D+

Office Christmas Party – As much as this seemed heavily stylized after the Lonely Island, this was very fun. Jay and Pete carried this well. Leslie’s role seemed pretty awkward and Amy, Aidy, Beck/Kyle and Taran were funny in their roles. I also liked the increasingly wild and destructive tone it took toward the end. B-

Update started out fairly strong despite a couple of things weighing it down toward the end. Che was on another roll (especially with his Korea rants) and Jost even got a few good jokes in. Bobby's Kim Jong-Un commentary was possibly my favorite thing he has done on SNL all season. Kenan's commentary was nothing we haven't seen from him before. Garth and Kat was only worth sitting through to hear Che interact with them. C+

A Very Cuban Christmas - This special was something I don't quite know what to make of. I can't tell if it was poorly rushed together on purpose or if that was the "joke" behind it. Still, it felt like a premise that didn't quite reach its full potential. Taran's Pitbull was funny, while not particularly accurate. Cecily kinda went in and out with her Gloria Estefan and her timing seemed way off. Pete as Elian Gonzales was good stunt casting and Kate's Diana Nyad was the real highlight. We could've done without Kyle and Amy doing Scarface and Bobby doing Hurley, though. Kenan's Cuba Gooding Jr. was serviceable here seeing as Jay was being used well as Obama. Fred and Beck as the Castros were appropriate here. For once, a Fred cameo was actually welcome and relevant in a sketch. C-

A Magical Christmas - This sketch seemed like another premise with wasted potential. Every performer in this sketch tried their damndest despite sailing on weak material here. The raccoon ending was endearing at least. This seems like another Anderlette collabo to me. D-

Whiskers R’ We II - This retread isn't unwelcome at all. It was charming and unique enough the first time. I liked the string of British short hair/Sex And The City/Cat Stevens/textbook narcissist/alien gags at the beginning. I still have to wonder how much of this sketch was recycled from the edition of this sketch that was cut from Sarah Silverman’s dress rehearsal in October. C+

Now, for my updated rankings for this season so far…

1. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar

2. Martin Freeman/Charli XCX

3. Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea

4. James Franco/Nicki Minaj

5. Bill Hader/Hozier

6. Cameron Diaz/Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

7. Amy Adams/One Direction

8. Chris Pratt/Ariana Grande

9. Sarah Silverman/Maroon 5

10. Chris Rock/Prince

Well, that was largely disappointing but there was some fun to be had in this episode if you were willing to look hard enough for it. Kevin Hart will be SNL’s first host of 2015. I like his acting more than I do his standup and his 2013 stint as host was rather fun, so I guess I could look forward to this one. I’m curious as to who the first musical guest will be (and when they will be announced). Happy holidays! See you in 2015! Until then, I would invite any Scharpling and Wurster/Best Show WMFU fans to discuss their appeal with me since I shared my views on them earlier in this review.

Martin Freeman/Charli XCX (12.13.14)

Okay, here’s my review. This show was rather quiet in most spots yet still thoroughly enjoyable. It is definitely in the top five of this season so far. Only two things stood out as being really bad among a string of mostly original writing and non-recurring premises. Martin Freeman proved a pleasant and capable host, if not a little underused. I wouldn’t mind seeing him return. I would just hope the writers knew how to play to his strengths a little more. Anyway, let’s get to it.

Charlie Rose - The Torture report was a nice topic for the cold open. Bobby and Kyle performed well in it. The jabs at Time Warner/see cashier/autocorrect were all right. Taran's Charlie Rose was pretty weak. Even though this felt like it was missing something, it was a better cold open than last week. C+

Monologue - Freeman delivered a charming monologue. I did like the self-deprecating tone to it. I have a good feeling about him as a host. Kate’s' Maggie Smith and Taran's throaty Alan Rickman were also welcome additions. B+

Sump'n Claus - This turned out to be more entertaining (and longer) than it had any right to be. I did like how Kenan turned in a rather subdued performance here and Cecily and Sasheer served the sketch well as backup singers. C-

Wedding Objections - This sketch was very fun. I did like how there were several different elements to it that built up and paid off at the end. Taran, Kate, Cecily, Aidy, Leslie and Martin were very funny in it. I especially like Taran’s “shattered penis/Jenga tower” lines. Also, did anyone else think Freeman resembled Martin Short in that wig? B+

The Office: Middle Earth – This was a fun taped piece. It did capture the aesthetic of the Office better than it did the Tolkien films. Taran was great as Gollum (much better than Kattan used to be) but Bobby did a rather weak Gandalf Gervais. He had Gervais's David Brent movements and facial expressions down pat and did a convincing accent but the voice was a little off. Kate did well in this, too. Also, who was that in the orc makeup. This was a clever way for the SNL writers to combine the two things American audiences will most easily recognize Martin Freeman from, but I can't help but think how it might have been improved if this sketch was done when Sudekis was still in the cast and he had played the Gervais role instead of Bobby. B+

Right Side Of The Bed – This sketch was possibly the worst segment of the night. It could've been better had the shifted more focus to Aidy's character. Martin's awkwardness was the best part of this sketch. Kate as Keith Urban was worth a chuckle. Otherwise, Cecily and Taran were trying too hard and this just SCREAMED "An Anderson/Sublette Joint". Did anyone else get flashbacks to that “Pageant Talk” sketch from the Zach Galifinakis 09-10 episode w/Slate, Hader and Wiig? I’ll bet they wrote THAT one, too! Also, what does it say about me that I saw some resemblance to “Chrisley Knows Best” without ever actually watching that show? C-

Christmas Mass Spectacular - This seemed a little dated and unfocused, but it was funny. Beck, Kyle, Jay and Kate were great in it. It did seem like it didn’t know what it was satirizing or who it wanted it’s audience to be, but I liked it nonetheless. I just think this was an odd outlet for Good Neighbors ‘90s slacker humor. C+

Update was a little inconsistent, but strong. Che had a long string of great jokes and even Jost got in a couple of good jabs. The commentaries were what weighed this down a bit, though. It was nice of them to give Sasheer a chance to be herself on Update. Her commentary was funny even if it took a while to get going and emoji narrative humor has kind of been done before. Che really added sommething to it. Cecily's "one dimensional female character in a male driven comedy" seems like something she had a hand in writing but it also seemed a little unfocused and meandering. It was different at least, but it didn't seem like a fully thought out idea. Jacob the Bar Mitvah Boy has really run its course and Che's interaction w/Vanessa was pretty much a carbon copy of Seth's script but at least Che managed to make it endearing. B-

Heinz Assembly Line - This sketch didn't seem to go anywhere, but it was still enjoyable. I was just expecting more from seeing an assembly line set with a Caution sign being put up during the commercial, I guess. Taran and Martin did the best they could with the material. The "blue light" ending was worth a chuckle. C+

Holiday Gig - This sketch seems like the most one note thing that has aired this season so far. It's a little interesting how Kenan's voice seemed to change at least twice through this sketch. Taran's brief appearance was worth a chuckle. D+

Waterbeds Are The Best - This was a decent piece to go out on. Aidy clearly gave it her all as did Martin. Taran and Jay's brief appearances were funny, too. I chuckled at the mattress with her face on it, but the joke of plastering Aidy's giant face everywhere got kinda old. For some reason, it felt like something that has been cut from several previous dress rehearsals. Martins’ accent was an interesting choice. Did he remind anyone else of Buck Henry in this sketch? B-

Here are my updated rankings for this season…

1. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar
2. Martin Freeman/Charli XCX
3. James Franco/Nicki Minaj
4. Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea
5. Bill Hader/Hozier
6. Cameron Diaz/Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
7. Chris Pratt/Arianna Grande
8. Sarah Silverman/Maroon 5
9. Chris Rock/Prince

Next week, Amy Adams returns to host with One Direction as the musical guest. So far, I think this show has the potential to go either way. Amy Adams has the potential to really deliver as a host. Let’s hope the writing continues on the upswing its’ been on this month. See you then!

James Franco/Nicki Minaj (12.6.2014)

Okay, here’s my review. Good or bad, this episode delivered exactly what I was expecting given the lineup. It started off pretty slow but picked up some steam after Update. Franco gelled well with this cast and seems to have improved somewhat form his last two hosting stints (at least in terms of not squinting and spitting as much). Even the well placed Nicki Minaj sketch cameos worked (well, they better than her performances anyway) and I honestly enjoyed this episode more than the Diaz one two weeks ago even though they were both on the same level of inconsistency. Anyway, here we go.

Politics Nation - This isn't even a good cold open let alone a good way for SNL to address the Eric Garner story. Bobby was all right, but not even he could save it. D-

Monologue - I'd say it wasn't as good as his '08 college monologue w/Sudekis but better than his '09 Christmas monologue. Addressing the Sony hack was clever at least. The Rogen cameo was totally expected as was his using his physique to get laughs, but he breathed some life into this monologue. C-

Peter Pan Live - This parody worked on the whole. I never expected them to make Aidy's "Tonkerbell" recurring but using her to comment on the Peter Pan performance was clever on the writers' part. She and Cecily were the strongest parts of this sketch. Franco's Walken was pretty weak but I do appreciate his effort. Still, I would've preferred Kilam or another cast member doing their take on Walken and this sketch was much better than the Sound Of Music parody from the Paul Rudd episode last year. C+

Star Wars Trailer – This trailer was pretty weak. Taran, Leslie and Bobby were okay in it but the "elderly heroes returning for a sequel" comedy trope is beyond tired by now and wasn't even that relevant to the trailer it was supposedly parodying. D+

MTV’s Jingle Ballerz - The Hip-hop nativity was pretty inconsistent, but one of the more entertaining live pieces of the night. Pete was funny and seeing Taran's Eminem, Kate's Beiber and Jay's Kanye again was nice. Sasheer's Rhianna was way off and Franco's Riff Raff added nothing. Kenan's Rick Ross was okay. Nicki Minaj actually did a passable Beyonce. Her singing was off but she got Beyonce’s general speaking voice down. At least it was nice to see a different portrayal of Beyonce than Maya Rudolph's. C+

Mike O'Brien: Grow-A-Guy - This film was one of the stronger pieces of the night. It was great to see that level of surreal humor on SNL again. Mike, Beck, James and Pete turned in fine performances here. B-

Magic Bridge - This was pretty awkward. It was another showcase for Cecily to do an odd accent. In fact, her character sounded just like a cross between Molly Shannon and Amy Poehler's character from the Appalachain Emergency room sketches. Kyle and Aidy were just kinda there. D-

Update was pretty strong tonight. Che delivered some fine joke and even Jost is starting to show some personality. It seems like the only thing that didn't land with the audience was the opening grand jury commentaries. While they may not have gotten enough laughs, they were thoughtful commentaries and I did like how they broke up the usual Update format. Seeing Leslie Jones again was great but again, her previous commentaries were better. This one was allright, but seemed a little awkward. The only thing that felt out of place was bringing Anthony Crispino out of mothballs. I thought it would be worth seeing how Che would react to him but he just kind of phoned it in there. I did like the Drew Carey/Bing Crosby jokes though. Nicki Minaj pretty much just played Kim Kardashian as herself but the bit about the nude photos being placed against different backgrounds was clever enough. B-

Brain Space - This sketch worked pretty well. Franco didn't really need to shout all his lines, though. Having Nicki do the first two verses of Anaconda was a clever way to sneak that song onto the show without having to devote an entire MG slot to that ridiculous song (although her actual second performance still came off pretty awkward, though). All the brief walk ons by the cast were good, too. I especially liked Beck and Bobby in this. B+

Kid Mayor – This sketch was pretty funny in its mild immaturity. Even though Franco could have dialed it back, this was the one sketch where his shouting all his lines actually worked. B-

Sunseeker Yachts - I have to hand it to SNL for holding off on bringing back the former porn models until this point in the season. I did like Rogen and Franco's performances in this as well as the sit/stand on it and pull out lines. C+

Here are my updated rankings for this season…

1. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar

2. Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea

3. Bill Hader/Hozier

4. James Franco/Nicki Minaj

5. Cameron Diaz/Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

6. Chris Pratt/Ariana Grande

7. Sarah Silverman/Maroon 5

8. Chris Rock/Prince

Next week, Martin Freeman hosts with musical guest Charli XCX. Anyway you look at it, this has to be the most promising SNL lineup this month. See you then!