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.
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