Tina Fey & Amy Poehler/Bruce Springstien & E Street Band (12.19.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. This episode was a lot of fun, inconsistencies and all, and was certainly the least disappointing Christmas episode in at least three years. Aside from most of the cameos we were predicting, this episode delivered exactly what it promised in a way consistent with the quality of the rest of this current season. Tina and Amy really carried the show as hosts and they both sweetly bought back many fond memories of what we liked about them as cast members and why they were so beloved during their time on the show. The cast is still uneven in terms of airtime but that’s okay as we pretty much expected Tina and Amy to dominate the show with their combined force. Having Springsteen perform Santas' Coming To Town was a great and fun way to close the show. Anyway, let’s get into it.

CNN GOP Debate - This cold open was great. Through sheer dumb luck, Jons' failed Anderson Cooper turned out to be a serviceable Wolf Blitzer. Good to see Darrells' Trump back in the spotlight as well as Becks' very animated Jeb Bush. Their back and forth was great. Tarans' Ted Cruz is still pretty underwhelming but he had some good lines about being the most hateable human being ever. Bobby and Jay hit it out of the park with their Carson and Christie. Pete as Marco Rubio was serviceable casting. His impression wasn’t quite there but he made up for it by delivering several funny lines. The only real dud here was Cecilys' Carly Fiorina when Kate could easily do better there. Kyle as Rand Paul was funny being briefly confused with an audience member. The only other thing that really disappointed me was casting Jost as Kasich with no lines rather than placing Chris Parnell in this role. B+

Monologue - This was just okay. It felt more like unused Golden Globe banter than a true SNL monologue. For once, a music number was enjoyable here as much as they ran it into the ground. C+

Ghost of Hillary Past And Present – This sketch was an instant classic and with Tinas' Palin shoehorned in was just the icing on the cake. The ladies played very well off each other and almost every line was pure gold. I also liked the dance party at the end. A+

Meet Your Second Wife – This game show was one of their more ambitious and dark game show sketches in recent memory. Only Tina and Amy could make this premise work as well as it did. Taran, Kenan, and Bobby did great reacting in horror at being confronted with children and Vanessa, Aidy and Leslie did a great job at reacting with a mix of disgust and bewilderment. Kudos to Bobby as well for playing off the huge technical error at the beginning like a pro. B-

Hoverboard - This ad was very funny. The sheer unfiltered cheesiness of Kyle and Pete reacting to minor catastrophes really made this for me. B+

Movie Set - I can't believe they bought back that acting coach sketch from Chris Hemsworths' first episode (and only one week after he inexplicably hosted again) but this was another instance where Amy and Tina are the only people who could make this watchable. C-

Update is still going strong. Even if this was a little inconsistent, I loved the slams at the GOP candidates as well as Maher and O'Reilly. Jays Kwanzaa mini rant was the funniest part of Update. While I appreciate Jost going after Martin Shkreli, his jokes fell a little flat there. Kates' mom character seemed to be another derivative go-nowhere bit, but her and Josh managed to somewhat salvage it with their breaking. It was very gracious of them to let Tina and Amy read the last two Update jokes of 2015. They both reminded of what SNL fans actually LIKED about them as Update anchors. B-

Chad And Mrs. Douglas Show DVD - This sketch worked well live even if Mayas' bit got it off to an obnoxious start and needed some serious editing but Amy, Tina and especially Kenan really saved it. Kenan Cosby really cracked me up here as did Taran and Vanessa odd interactions. C+

Dope Squad - This short was also quite fun. It was a dead on Bad Blood parody (albeit months too late but still FAR better than the original). Schumers' cameo was funny even if it was a bit too long and Aidy played quite well off them. C+

Bronx Beat IX - It's quite odd seeing this as the very last sketch of the night, but Tinas' Philly accent automatically made this the best Bronx Beat ever. I cracked up at her describing the absurd violence going on in her city. B-

Now, for my update rankings for the season…

1. Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato

2. Elizabeth Banks/Disclosure with Lorde & Sam Smith

3. Tina Fey & Amy Poehler/Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

4. Ryan Gosling/Leon Bridges

5. Chris Hemsworth/Chance The Rapper

6. Donald Trump/Sia

7. Miley Cyrus

8. Matthew McConaughey/Adele

9. Amy Schumer/The Weeknd

Well, that was a fine way to end a year and bring this season to an intermission. Next month, Adam Driver of “Girls” and just recently “Star Wars” fame makes his hosting debut. Well, if they had to get someone hot off the Star Wars promotion train I’d rather see them get Daisy Ridley or John Boyega. Still, I can’t say I know what to expect from him comedically so he could go either way as a host at this point. Can’t wait to see who they will have booked as the first musical guest of 2015! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Chris Hemsworth/Chance The Rapper (12.12.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. While this episode was much better than Chris Hemsworths’ last episode, it was pretty much on the same level as Goslings’ show from last week in terms of quality (except less consistent but not nearly as uneven). The host seemed more likable and showcased some charisma that seemed to evade him from his first outing. While airtime was still unbalanced in terms of the cast and it was one of the rare shows that started out strong but started to crumble around Update without really picking up from there, it still maintained the continued strong effort this season has been showing us. Anyway, here it is.

A Message from Our 43^rd President – This George W Bush opening was great! I loved all the slams at the current GOP candidates (especially Trump and Jeb!). If Ferrell couldn't find it in his schedule to actually host tonight, this is an excellent way to make it up to us. B-

Monologue - This was quite fun. I liked seeing Hemsworth interact with Beck, Pete, Jost/Che and the female cast. This episode is already miles better than his first. B-

Star Wars Action Figures – This commercial was a little one note and down the beaten path but the male cast members really sold it. C+

On The Record w/Greta Van Susteren  - This sketch was better than it had any right to be. Tarans' Ted Cruz is pretty lack luster compared to the sheer dopiness of Bobbys' but thankfully Bobby was there to hit it out of the park with his Chris Christie and Jay was there to pick up all the extra slack with his Ben Carson. Plus, Kates' Greta is much stronger than Wiigs. B-

Time To Bleed - This was one of the best short films this season. I loved the surreal darkness of this and Sasheer did very well with what had to be her biggest role on SNL to date. A-

Brother 2 Brother 2…Brother - I can't believe they tried to make Brother 2 Brother recurring but this was a little better than the first one. I did like Beck as the wrestling coach, the end with Tarans' "created by/not written by" credits (given Tarans' previous experience as a child actor it wouldn't surprise me to find out he had a hand in writing this) and I did like the small blooper of Hemsworth accidentally letting the door hit him on the way in. Also, I’m quite shocked to find out that a Taran Kilam has a chest tattoo and a Chris Hemsworth doesn’t C+

Debras' Song - This definitely killed any momentum this episode may have still had as Brother 2 Brother was still progressing. If Anderlette didn't write this, I'll be genuinely surprised. Plus, while I like seeing them give Sasheer more airtime, it feels strange that this was Cecily's first appearance of the night. D+

Update did beat some life back into the show with some great Trump slams right off the bat. Che and Josh several more great jokes. As expected, Kate bought out her Angela Merkel and it was fine and they even took more jabs at Trump. Leslie Jones also returned. Her commentary was just okay and worked best as a conceptual piece but the Breaking Bad references would’ve dated it somewhat if we hadn’t known she was binge watching and live tweeting the series very recently. B-

Brunch – This sketch featuring Hemsworth in drag surprisingly worked only because the female cast did more to sell it than Chris did. While the sketch lacked some structure, I did like the ending.

Fun Pirate Ship - This sketch felt odd. I don't quite know what to make of it. It was nice to see Jon Rudnitsky finally get a lead role in a sketch, but this doesn't exactly give us a sense of who he is as a comedian or a performer. Plus, in spite of itself, it wasn't as "fun" as it appeared to be. I gotta say Kenan and Taran seemed to be the only ones not phoning in their performances.

Hunk Junction - This sketch was another odd one that I wasn't too sure about. I could kind of see where it was going after about a millisecond and it seemed like it was cut too short abruptly. Still, Kenan was all right and I liked how the guys really sold us on the sheer cheesiness of it. The funniest parts were the “racist” portion of the guys routine and the ladies confused reactions with Leslie bring the most into it out of them. C+

Now, for my updated rankings of this season…

1. Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato

2. Elizabeth Banks/Disclosure

3. Ryan Gosling/Leon Bridges

4. Chris Hemsworth/Chance The Rapper

4. Donald Trump/Sia

5. Miley Cyrus

6. Matthew McConaughey/Adele

7. Amy Schumer/The Weeknd

Well, that was certainly a pleasant surprise. Next week is the big Christmas show with Tina and Amy returning as cohosts. This is the show we have all been looking forward to the most on paper since this month’s lineup was announced and I really hope they don’t disappoint. For my review of that one, I was thinking of doing a similar kind of ranking of all the shows Tina has hosted over the years, but looking back over them on the SNL archives, they all seem to run together quality wise so it might be kind of pointless. Oh well, maybe I can actually rewatch them again on Seeso since I did sign up for that free beta test and am thinking of keeping it just to see KITH/UCB Show and Funny As Hell. See you soon!

Ryan Gosling/Leon Bridges (12.5.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. I can’t exactly pinpoint what made this such an enjoyable episode, but it was greater than the sum of its parts. Everything that sounded like it shouldn’t have worked on paper actually worked more than it had any right to. On the surface, Ryan Gosling seemed like another in a long string of recent bland, forgettable Hollywood pretty boy actor hosts but as the show went on it became more obvious that he really gelled well with the whole cast all week (well, the whole female cast, anyway) and allowed everyone to bring the best performances out of each other. I would say bringing this cast together in that way was really the only thing he contributed to this show. It was almost enough to make you forget just how unbalanced the male cast was in terms of airtime. Anyway, let’s get right to it.

A Christmas Message From Donald And Melania Trump - The cold open was pretty mediocre and Tarans’ Trump seems to be getting worse, but still better than the Trump open from the season premiere. I did like the naughty/nice list concept and the “send me your names/banged a seven Hillary Clinton” lines and how they kept this shorter than the last one. C+

Monologue – This was too long but the Mike Meyers cameo was its saving grace. I did like how Ryan tried to poke fun at himself and broke the fourth wall but he seemed visibly nervous and just a little out of his comfort zone. He didn't exactly fill me with confidence that he would be a great host and the musical number was a bit gratuitous. Still, thankfully Mike Meyers was there to inject a little charisma into it. This was definitely better than the last shows' monologue. B+

Settl - This ad was a decent premise on paper and the cast did fine with it. The date between Kyle and Leslie was good but other than that something was lacking in execution. B-

Close Encounters - This sketch was worth watching just for Kate. Her character was a little one not but the sheer strangeness of her performance made me chuckle. I didn't even mind the blatant breaking from the cast because for once it seemed like it added something to the sketch especially since it's been such a rare sight since Fallon/Sanz and Hader/Armisen left the cast. C+

Santa Baby - At first glance, this sketch was something else that ran too long and meandered with little to no structure. On second glance, I discovered that Ryan and Vanessas’ intensity and commitment really made this. Still, the payoff was satisfying enough. I like Becks' exasperated reactions as Santa as well as the "real" Santa peering in through the window was funny. B-

Birthday Party - I never expected them to rehash the dad sketch from Drakes' episode but this was much better shockingly due to several of Aidy's lines (such as the ones about bathing, ringworm and carseats) and her Farleyesque tumble over the table at the end. Again, I didn't even mind Gosling visibly breaking because it seems to be the only non-dull as dishwasher thing he had done in this whole sketch. C+

Update was good tonight. I did love most of the jokes from Jost and Che. I especially loved "ISIS Cosby" and Ches' slams at Kobe and Kylie Jenner. The commentary on gun control/defunding planned parenthood wasn’t their best rant as a duo this season but it still worked and was poignant and funny like their other rants this season regardless. Even though Cecily's commentary seemed to (consciously or not) be a straight up rip off of a Kristen Wiig piece circa 2011, I enjoyed it on a strictly male level (WAY more so than the Wiig piece she lifted this from) and I also laughed out loud at the shot of Che rocking headphones and the popsicle jar. I thought Anthony Crispino should've stayed in mothballs but for some reason, I enjoyed seeing him interact with Colin Jost and Ryan Gosling more than an overly enthusiastic Seth. I also enjoyed the “slippery Gary” line and the Charlie Sheen/Adele/Star Wars Jabs. B-

Hometown Bar - This sketch was quite oddly structured but Kyles' bar trash Emo Phillips character made me laugh (especially when he took his shirt off) and Gosling song and dance talents (no doubt left over from his Mikey Mouse Club days) really added to this sketch as they countered Kyles character well. B-

Nespresso – This ad was well pulled off. It did seem a little too strange at first until I realized that the point was to highlight the sheer strangeness of the original ad this was parodying (which I have seen just barely enough times to be familiar with) I was expecting Gosling to play Clooney, but as I should've expected, Taran pulled it off quite well (and with barely any lines I might add) and Bobbys' Debit was finally utilized to its full comedic potential here. B+

The Wiz Live: Cut For Time - I was expecting SNL to do something on The Wiz Live (which from what I've heard was shockingly good) and I have to say this was much stronger than the previous two live NBC musical parodies they did the past two Decembers. Kudos to the makeup team as it must have taken me a full minute to realize Che was the scarecrow and Pharroh was the tin man. Kenan also channeled David Alan Grier quite well but I couldn't help but wonder who else would be better in the Ray Bolger scarecrow role than Ryan Gosling. Still, it was Gosling most committed performance of the night. B-

Santa’s Workshop - I never thought they would (or should have) recurred the BDSM elves from the Louis CK finale last season but I suppose it does make more sense to do this sketch at Christmas and place it in a Santas' workshop setting. Still, Aidy and Ryan didn't add much. C-

Now, for my update rankings for this season…

1. Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato

2. Elizabeth Banks/Disclosure

3. Ryan Gosling/Leon Bridges

4. Donald Trump/Sia

5. Miley Cyrus

6. Matthew McConaughey/Adele

7. Amy Schumer/The Weeknd

Well, they really came back strong from Thanksgiving break. Next week, Chris Hemsworth returns to host and given how his episode from last season turned out, I could not be less excited. Still, this season has made some great improvements over the previous season so maybe it will turn out better. Who knows? I think it all depends more on the writing than Chris’ ability as a host. See you guys then!

Matthew McConaughey/Adele (11.21.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. This episode was consistently underwhelming. I mean, I had some pretty low expectations going in and while there were still some bright spots these shows had a pretty middle of the road feel to it. While it wasn’t outright bad, it was still pretty average for this season. The cast seemed just a little unbalanced in that Pete was barely in the show and Rudnitsky is still being used only in minor roles. I will say Adele turned in two solid performances as I can’t really think of anything else (good OR bad) to say about this episode right now. Anyway, here it is.

FOX And Friends VIII - They really need to space these out more if they're doing them multiple times a season like this. Nice to see they worked in Kates' Debbie Wasserman Schultz but she really seemed to be phoning it in. The only things that stood out here were Bobby "Happy birthday, Jesus" line and Jay's Ben Carson. It was still nice to see Leslie being used to break the format here. C-

Monologue - It was also nice to see a real monologue on SNL but while McConaughey's “Dazed And Confused” story wasn't totally uninteresting, it bordered on near Trump levels of self-indulgence. C+

Hello (Thanksgiving Miracle Edition) - This had a satisfying payoff what with the wigs and coats and nails and leaves in the end and all. I wish they had played up the family argumenta more, but that's an overdone trope on SNL as it is. B-

Blues Shack - This sketch was a little weak (especially the ending) but at least it was a little more than a band introduction sketch. C-

3D Printed Man - This sketch was the first truly funny thing of the night. McConaughey's robotic speech and movements made me chuckle as the sketch went on. B+

Star Wars Force Awakens Screen Tests - This seemed like a cheap excuse for some cameos but at least the Stone/Hamm/Boyega appearances were funny and Buble/Abrams/Ridley were good sports. As far as impressions went, Becks' Javier Bardem made me laugh as did Jays Shaq/Tucker. Bobbys' George Lucas was worth a chuckle and Rudnitskys' John Mayer was serviceable. Bobbys' Devito was a noble effort but at the same time it felt like a wasted opportunity. Leslie was a great addition to the Star Wars sketch and her cameo made for a great ending. Still, this can't really hold a candle to the classic '97 predecessor. B-

Update was probably the weakest it has been this season but that'should not Jose and Ches' fault as much it was the the commentators. Colin and Micheal played well off each other as they have been all season so far. The immigration debate started off slow but they really bought it home. The "telling jokes the other one wrote" bit was the highlight of Update. I really appreciate that they took Vanessas' child actress character into a new setting but it still was too much. I did like her HIV/Oh boy line. Kenans' David Ortiz also should not have come back either. I did like the ships/go outside lines. C+

Should I Chime In On This? - This was a solid premise on paper that could have been executed better. It had serious pacing issues and it didn't help that the audience was quiet for the first part but God bless Kenan and Mateo for trying. C+

Right Side Of The Bed III - This was only worth watching for Kates' Ed Sheeran and Taran and Cecily's horrified reactions to McConaughey's bizarre character. I don't mind so much that they bring this back since they keep changing little things about it. C+

Amtrak - This sketch took a while to get going and McConaughty r eally seemed miscast in it but I did chuckle at fake hand/bitten by a bat/nice rack lines as well as Tarans' reactions. Overall, the whole thing gave me major flashbacks to that "You Think You're Better Than Me" game show sketch from the 1994/95 finale w/David Duchovny. C-

Now, for my updated rankings for this season…

1. Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato

2. Elizabeth Banks/Disclosure

3. Donald Trump/Sia

4. Miley Cyrus

5. Matthew McConaughey/Adele

6. Amy Schumer/The Weeknd

Well, that was that. Now, we can all go back home to our families. Afterwards, Ryan Gosling and Leon Bridges will be on the show in two weeks’ time. While Gosling is certainly another big name for SNL right now and seems to be a decent actor, I really don’t know what to expect from him in terms of hosting as the only thing even resembling comedy he has done might be “Crazy Stupid Love” and even for a movie where his costars were Steve Carrell and Emma Stone (both friends of the show) that seems like a bit of a stretch. I don’t know much about Leon Bridges either, but I’ve heard good things and am cautiously optimistic based simply on the fact that the name “Leon Bridges” makes him sound like he could’ve been a musical guest in an episode hosted by Buck Henry in season one. See you then! Happy Thanksgiving!

Elizabeth Banks/Disclosure (11.14.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. This episode was a fine palette cleanser from Trump hosting in addition to other, more important world events lately. Elizabeth Banks proved to be a fine host who meshed well with the cast and the writers knew exactly when and where to user her. Her previous experience in comedies such as “Zack And Miri Make A Porno” and “Role Models” served her well here. The cast was still just as balanced as ever with the exception of Jon Rudnitsky still getting nothing but several small bit roles. Anyway, let’s get right to it.

Paris - This cold open was fitting and very tasteful. Cecily spoke beautifully.

Monologue - This was nothing to write home about. Having the host direct didn't do much to salvage another musical number but it really picked up with the star wipes and green screen treadmill. I also loved the line "more diverse dancers" and Bobby's appearance. C+

Aron's List – Pete, Bobby and Beck were pretty funny in this. It was pretty clever for what it was. Otherwise, it felt like humor SNL has done before. C+

Black Jeopardy II - I never expected them to make this recurring but this was much better than the LCK 2014 installment. Elizabeth's character really added something to this and Kenan, Jay and Sasheer were very funny in it. I especially liked the ending as well as “long ass wire” being included as a prize. C+

First Got Horny 2 U - This video was much funnier than I expected it to be. Aidy and Vanessa were great in it and Taran's brief walk on made the whole thing for me. I think shooting it in the style of a late '90s boy band video really dovetailed well with the premise. B-

High School Theater III - I'm surprised they made three high school theater productions but this was the best one. Kenan, Vanessa, Aidy and Leslie had great lines and Elizabeth was a fine addition. B-

Update was really solid tonight. Virtually all of Jost and Che's jokes landed. The Yale protest commentary really stood out even though the gun control commentary was better. Pete's commentary was great and I loved seeing Che react to Bruce Chandling as he reveals a more unsavory backstory. It feels a little soon for Kate to bring back her Russian character (possibly because it'd so similar to her CBB character) but she really sold it this time even if some of her jokes felt a little telegraphed. B+

Young Ben Carson – This was brilliant. Jay pretty much nailed the impression and the rest of the cast played well off of him. Leslie as Mrs. Carson and Kenan as Black Jesus were great additions. This pretty much proves that anyone but Kenan should be impersonating Carson. I also have to wonder if this was going to be the cold open before they heard about what happened in Paris. B-

The Bureau - This sketch was pretty well written and really deviated from how one note and repetitive of a premise I was expecting from a walk on sketch. Bobby, Jay and Elizabeth were great. I wonder if whoever wrote the New Boyfriend talk show sketch from Jane Lynch’s’ show is still on staff because they could've written this. The only thing that this sketch didn’t have going for it was the glaring technical miscues. B+

Uber For Jen - This Mike O'Brien short felt like a real long walk with a few missed opportunities but the payoff was ultimately satisfying. B-

So Ghetto  - This sketch seemed like the closest thing to an Anderlette sketch have all night but for all we know it could've been a Sublette/Che or Sublette/Tucker collaboration. It did feel like a much superior version of that intern sketch from Dakota Johnsons' episode. Elizabeth Banks and Jay Pharaoh pretty much made the whole thing for me (although it does remind me quite a bit of the Dave Chappelle's projects/ghetto bit from "Killing Them Softly"). C+

Now, for my updated rankings of this season…

1. Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato

2. Elizabeth Banks/Disclosure

3. Donald Trump/Sia

4. Miley Cyrus

5. Amy Schumer/The Weeknd

Well, that episode was certainly refreshing. Next week, Matthew McConaughey returns to host. They sure got a big name for the Thanksgiving show and his 2003 episode wasn’t terrible in spite of him but now feels like sort of an awkward time to be hosting. Then again, 2003 would’ve also been an awkward time for him to host as well. This show could go either way, really but let’s hope the writing continues on it upswing. See you then!

Donald Trump/Sia (11.7.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. Like most of you, I had my reservations about this episode but fortunately (and even watching with extreme caution as I did) this episode defied most of them. Donald Trump performed exactly as I expected him to based on his 2004 appearance and barely played any roles that were different from Donald Trump. Thankfully, he let them refrain from making the show a 90 minute campaign spot and didn’t even try to make him appear likable or fun enough to be elected president. I think it’s safe to say at this point that SNL certainly didn’t do much to change peoples’ minds about Donald Trump (certainly not mine or yours if you happen to be reading this) but we may have to see how that plays out over the coming weeks as far as media coverage goes. Anyway, let’s get right to it.

MSNBC First In The South Democratic Candidates Forum - That cold open was pretty weak compared to the bulk of the previous shows debate sketch, but it was a decent way to ease us into what was to come. I did like Cecily’s “debate no one watches” line and the tight cuts to Kenan, Jay and Leslie. I also liked seeing Kates' Hillary again but the material felt a little down the beaten path for SNL. Thank God for Larry David. As expected, he was the only truly worthwhile part of this sketch. B-

Monologue – This was exactly as self-serving as expected (including Taran's walk on and Darrell's cameo) but Aidy, and again, Larry were the true highlights. C+

White House 2018 – This sketch was utterly pointless. It felt exactly like something Trump himself would've had a large hand in writing. I didn’t really see the point of having Trumps’ daughter cameo either. The big reveal I kept waiting for was pretty weak and just let this sketch end with a dull thump. D-

Bad Girls - This music video felt like a retread of the Brave sketch from Dakota Johnsons episode and the other female centric music videos from the past two years but it sure stood out in THIS episode. Kate, Aidy, Leslie sure stood out in a piece that would've died in any other episode. C+

Live Tweeting - This sketch actually turned out pretty funny and sure picked up when Kenan, Vanessa and Leslie entered the scene. The bare premise of the restaurant scene within the sketch felt exactly like a sketch MAD TV did 11 years ago, but I’m sure I’m just splitting hairs at this point. It was decent way for Trump to poke fun at his own boorish loudmouth image but it made me a little worried that this was the hardest they would be able to go after Trump. B-

Hotline Bing – Speaking of other things MAD TV would’ve been doing years ago, Hotline Bing jokes feel pretty dated after just two weeks but as much of a very, very very watered down Bart Baker/Key Of Awesome production this looked like it was a noble effort from the SNL cast. Martin Shorts' cameo as Ed Grimley made my entire night but Trumps appearance made me cringe. Thankfully, his cameo was all too brief near the end. B-

Update was a highlight. Thankfully Jose and Che were on point even if it took them a minute to get into their groove and had some pretty good material. Leslie's commentary wasn't great but her come-ons to Jost were funnier than usual. Also, I usually don't care that much for Drunk Uncle but his appearance in this episode was definitely clever and well placed. That had to be my favorite Drunk Uncle commentary ever. B+

Laser Harp - This sketch was quite odd. I chuckled at the first laser harp appearance as well as Becks manic bass playing but overall it felt like Anderlette tried to write a too subtle criticism of Trumps campaign that didn't quite land (at least I can HOPE that's what they were going for). C-

Mr. Crocker – This sketch was funny at first just for the sheer strangeness of it all. I chuckled at Becks autotuned singing, outbursts and hastily explaining his bad deal with a record guy but Trumps appearance almost ruined it for me. B-

Toots - Why was Kenan necessary to introduce Sias' second performance with Trump? F

Donald Tramp 2016 - I was wondering if there was a point to having the two former porn stars come back but it was a bit of a long walk to a somewhat satisfying ending. I did like Bobby's delightful strange conceptual character but I don't know what it says about SNL right now that he apparently has the best Trump impression in the cast. I also liked the lines about not having visited the White House since the '90s and Donalds' line at the end may be the only thing he did tonight that I can admit I was a fan of. I'll bet this was the one sketch they would've wanted him to cameo in had he not agreed to host. Also, I'm a bit surprised he agreed to do this given his comments about not alienating Iowa voters but I guess he figured it would be so late in the show that they would be asleep by now. B-

…and now for my updated season rankings.

1. Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato

2. Donald Trump/Sia

3. Miley Cyrus

4. Amy Schumer/The Weeknd

Next week, Elizabeth Banks hosts for the first time. I would say this seems long overdue considering she has been in her share of Appatow comedies over the years but if it took the Hunger Games to get her on so be it. Hopefully, the writing doesn’t sink her but with the way this season has been going so far I wouldn’t be too worried.

Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato (10.17.15)

Okay, here’s my review. This is hands down the best show of the season at this point. It was heartwarming to see Tracy back performing as much as he can in a live show and being as hilarious as ever. The cast seemed a little unbalanced but that’s no big deal as tonight was Tracy’s big night (as well as some other pleasantly surprising cameos) and it was all about him and his support system. The writers really played to his strengths as well. Anyway, let’s get right to it.

CNN Democratic Debate - That Democratic debate sketch was probably the best debate cold open they did since the last time Baldwin hosted four years ago. He and the rest of the cast were great but Latry pretty much blew every one out of the water. The only real flaw with this sketchange was how miscast Jon Rudnitsky was as Anderson Cooper. Also, I'm surprised they didn't make any mention of Jim Webbs' grenade comment from the real debate. B+

Monologue - Tracy was great here. I'm glad he worked in some actual jokes in brief moments of sincere reflection. The staged 30 Rock flashback was also good aside from the onscreen promos. It was nice to see his former cast mates support him on live TV. A-

Family Feud IV – This sketch seemed like low hanging fruit but it was well executed and it was a lot better than the impression showcases from the last two seasons. Tracy, Sasheer, Jay, Che and Leslie really hit it out of the park and that was the best Sasheer has looked in any sketch. B+

Brian Fellows’ Safari Planet XII - Tracy gave it his all and the camel pretty much upstaged everyone before the well done multiple fantasy sequence was over. Why they thought Pete and Aidy would be good fits for this sketch I may never know. B-

Fake Cocaine/Fake Poop Spray – This was pretty funny and mildly for what it was. Thankfully, it was short and it wasn't TOO stupid. C+

Update was still strong but not as much as previous weeks. The Huckabee slam and the qualified candidates rant were great. A lot of the jokes landed. Ches' alien rant was bizarrely funny. Tinas' Playboy commentary was well written and really built to a satisfying payoff but ultimately was a little derivative of her earlier work. Once again, Kenan really killed the momentum this had going but it was a clever way to work in Woodrow as much as I would've preferred a full sketch with Demi Lovato. B-

Clockmaker Bernard - This town square sketch seemed like it would've been a good excuse for Tracy to deliver his trademark outlandish one liners, but it seemed to veer off in too many different directions. Tracy, Jon and Sasheer did perform well here. C-

The Standoff - This short seemed like it telegraphed into its main joke too early but thankfully Tracy really performed the living hell out of it and writing wise it had a real endearing quality that really saved it. B-

Cool For The Cummer/Confident/Stone Cold - I usually don't comment on the musical performances but Demi Lovato seems like the strongest musical guest so far this season. She really can sing well and hold her own against the backup band she had (as much as they added to her performance).

Yo! Where Jackie Chan At Right Now? - This seems way more like a sketch Key and Peele would've done (they seemed to be channeling Vanda vein and Mike in particular) but I liked it for its sheer strangeness. The guest segments were funny despite Jay having the only accurate impression. B-

Astronaut Jones VI - Good to see they gave us the Astronaut Jones/Demi Lovato sketch we've been clamoring for. I liked the NASA/Martian fake out but if only Tracy hadn't stumbled over his last line. Hopefully, they can put the dress version of this up online soon. B+

Now, to deliver my first ranking of this season…

1. Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato
2. Amy Schumer/The Weeknd
3. Miley Cyrus

Well, that certainly kicked season 41 into high gear. I can’t believe they are seriously going to follow that up with candidate Donald Trump next month. I actually signed the petition circulating to get him kicked off the show, so that should show you where my head is at. Anyway, see you then!

Amy Schumer/The Weeknd (10.10.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. While this was an unexpectedly divisive and uneven show, I thought Schumer held her own as a host. She should’ve taken a page out of Miley’s notebook and gave the rest of the cast more opportunities to shine. While this episode wasn’t quite as enjoyable as last week, it had pretty much the same hit to miss ratio of sketches. At this point, I feel like it’s still a little too early to definitively say which of the two shows that have aired so far this season is better than the other. You’ll see what I mean soon enough.

FOX And Friends VIII - As much as they have run Fox & Friends into the ground in the past four years, this did seem like an appropriate time to bring it back. As usual, Bobby had the best lines with Pete coming in a close second. Kate seemed to have the hackiest lines but god bless her she did her damndest to sell them and she seemed to be channeling Phil Silvers and an SCTV Era Rick Moranis (see "The Lary Siegel Show"). B+

Monologue - While I'm not particularly a big fan of Schumers' comedy, I did enjoy the monologue. I liked the Kardashian/lava lamp/antibiotics bits. Good to see more stand up on SNL these days. B+

Delta - This sketch was fun at first and felt like on of SNLs' more creative and less completely predictable sketches in a long time. I particularly like Kenans reactions and Amy and Vanessa berating Taran. While this may have dragged just a hair in some spots, I also really appreciated how this sketch wasn't too one note and how they knew exactly where to end it. C+

Hot For Teacher 8 – This felt like something that could've been better if it were shortened and filmed instead of done live. I did like Aidy's lines an Amys various interactions with Vanessa. I also couldn't help but wonder who else I would've liked to have seen in Schumer role. C-

Guns - This commercial was some of the most subtle yet incredibly pointed social satire SNL has done in recent memory. Everyone's ridiculous uses of guns were funny. B+

Update was a lot of fun tonight. Che had a lot better jokes than Jost but good to Jost is still hitting his stride. Plus, the whole gun control debate was funny. I honestly think Jay's new character feels more like something Kyle would do than Kenan. In fact is looked to me like a cross between all of Kyle characters, Urkel, Nick Nolte and Boomhauer from King of the Hill. Still, it was something I did quite know what to make of. I liked seeing Kates foreign apartment lady again. It wasn't as good as her first appearance but I did really appreciate the Boulder shout out (being a CU alum and all). The only thing I could've done without was "The Weeknd Update." B+

Fords’ Theatre - This Lincoln Reenactment sketch was the first thing I couldn't get into all night. Schumer played it far too broad but I did like what Kyle bought to the sketch. D+

Selfie Stick - This sketch had potential but didn't seem to go anywhere with it. I did like Schumers' part, though. C-

City Council - This was pretty funny although it seemed odd for this to be Cecily and Leslie's first appearances all night. Kyle seemed to be channeling Ali G and about half of Fred Armisens characters. Amy seemed to just be playing the same character from the Toddlers and Tiaras parody she did on her own sketch show. Kenan character reminded me a lot of the Delicious Dish sketch from when Dana Carey hosted in 2000. Pete was funny and he reminded me of Farley and Sandlers' performances in that Nightline/Clinton sketch from when Nick Cage hosted in 1992. B-

Baby Shower – This was the only real dud of the night. It felt way too long and way too hammy on Amy and Cecilys' parts. D-

Well, that show was more or less a watered down version of what I was expecting. Next week, Tracy Morgan returns to his old stomping grounds to show the world he is well enough to try and make us laugh again. I have no idea what to expect from this show (how serious will it be, how often will Tracy participate in sketches, will they want/need to bring someone in the Fey/Poehler/Baldwin family of cameos in as a possible backup host) but I am cautiously optimistic. See you soon!

Miley Cyrus (10.3.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. Overall, this episode was a pretty middle of the road return. It wasn't necessarily as bad as I expected but it was a lot less inconsistent than the last two season premieres. Thankfully, they scaled back somewhat on using Miley as a host and put the focus more on the cast which might have made this her strongest SNL outing yet. Anyway, let’s get right down to it.

A Message From Donald And Melania - Taran did as serviceable a Trump impression as I was expecting from him. He nailed the facial expressions and had a good handle on the voice but he could improve it over time. I'd say the biggest problem with this cold open was that it was too Cecily heavy and it didn’t quite have an ending. Still, I did like the jabs at Megyn Kelly and the “smartest guys/one strand at a time” lines. C+

Monologue – This was better than it had any right to be. I do appreciate that they took the focus off of Miley and let the cast shine. I especially thought Vanessa, Sasheer, Kate, Bobby, Kyle and Aidy were used well here. Good way to sneak in Jost, Che, and Rudnitsky as well. B+

Abilify - This ad was clever enough even if Miley felt out of place. It was a decent way for SNL to get in their jabs at the sheer volume of GOP hopefuls still inexplicably in the race but it could've been shortened. C+

Homecoming 1955 - I was hoping for some kind of Back To The Future parody upon seeing a "Homecoming 1955" banner but instead we got some I'll conceived barely thought out piece that played off Mileys post Disney/Montana image. Thankfully, this was short but it reminded me too much of those self-serving sketches Timberlake did during the height of the Hader/Samberg/Wiig era. C-

Bar Talk - The Hillary Clinton cameo was all right. She did come off like a good sport and I did like how it strayed from the formula of the typical celebrity-makes-a-cameo-and-meets-their-impersonator sketch. Plus, it showed that Kate must've worked on her Hillary over the summer to bring it closer to the real deal. Darrell's brief blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo made the whole sketch for me. Otherwise, it kinda dragged in some spots but that's not really anyones' fault. C-

Update was pretty good. They did a good job of covering people and events that were notorious over the summer. The only thing that signified any real change from last season is how Jost seemed to have better jokes than Che. I’m also quite shocked they decided to go after Bernie Sanders that hard this early in the election cycle. Kyles' bizarre pope Francis impression made me laugh despite the fact that it went absolutely nowhere. Pete and Leslie turned in strong commentaries, but Pete looked more high than Miley and comparing Trump to Sanjaya seems more like something that would be in Seth’s wheelhouse. Still, he and Leslie both turned in strong commentaries. I'm surprised they did not give Jon Rudnitsky a commentary considering his stand up background. Oh well, I'm sure he'll get one in due time but kudos to him for getting so many parts in sketches (no matter how small) on his first show. B+

The Millenials  - This was probably the worst sketch of the night. It felt too derivative of that office intern sketch from last seasons' Dakota Johnson episode. Still, I have to hand it to Kate for having the least grating character in the whole thing. The only other thing I actually liked was when Kenan and Taran said "do it" to Jons' character by the window. D+

Katz’s Deli - This was pretty lame but it was probably the hardest I've laughed at Leslie in her entire tenure on the show so far. Still, they should've ended it right before Kate's appearance and the Dutch oven bit. C-

The Squad - This was a big swing and a miss. They pretty much just put "Beygency" and "Swiftamine" in a blender and let it meander on. This was yet another piece that could've benefitted from some trimming. C-

American Voices - That late night show sketch was one of the better live sketches of the night despite the technical glitches and miscues. It felt rather odd how it bled directly into the Good Neighbor short. Did this sketch originally have an ending that was cut for time or did they mean it to go right into the Good Neighbor short? C+

Miley Wedding Tape - Speaking of which, the new Good Neighbor short was fun. I liked seeing their surreal brand of strangeness on SNL again. I didn't think they needed to make a sequel to the Miley sex tape short from her previous hosting stint but this one managed to surpass the original. I especially liked how this ended with Kyle walking in on his own funeral with an elderly Miley playing one of his beats again. B+

Well, that defied all but one major expectation. Next week, Amy Schumer hosts. While I’m not a fan of hers, she is certainly more qualified than Miley to host the show at this point. Also, while I don’t pay attention to her Comedy Central show regularly I’ll admit the some of the more viral friendly stuff I’ve seen from her this past year has been quite good and this was good timing for SNL to get her hot off of her beating them for an Emmy. Still, there’s a chance this could be a weak show so I don’t know what to expect going into the show. I view her hosting the same way I viewed Kevin Hart hosting both times he did it. See you then.

Louis C.K./Rhianna (5.16.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. This show bought the season to a close on a high note despite getting off to a choppy start. Louis CK was a very game host as expected and the writing showed signs of his positive influence. I would say this episode is the strongest contender for the best of this season. Despite a few minor flaws here and there, it was the most thoroughly enjoyable show in weeks. Anyway, let’s get to it.

Summertime For Hillary - This cold open felt pretty awkward. Kates’ Hillary could still benefit from some fine tuning. They did have something with Kate's interactions with the surfers and the kids building sandcastles. Otherwise, it could've used some serious edits. The cameo from Darrell was a welcome surprise and allowed this sketch to have a great payoff. This was a real middle of the road for this season. At times it felt like they tried to clumsily combine two separate show opens together. Still, the song provided a welcome twist on the group LFNY trope of recent seasons. C-

Monologue -This was stellar as expected. Louis bits about benign racism, his daughters fighting like Israel and Palestine and the risks he took by bringing up pedophiles were great. That was probably the biggest risk this show has taken in years. Plus, this entire set managed to be funnier and more memorable than most of his recent comedy store special. A-

The Shoemaker And The Elves - This sketch seemed like pretty cheap and derivative but Louis, Kenan and Vanessas' commitment to playing such awkward and corny roles really sold it. Plus, the left field viewer text ending was worth a chuckle. C+

Sprint Store - This sketch was brilliant. Louis and Leslie played off each other perfectly and again, it was nice to see Louis really commit to playing a character. This is a strong contender for best live segment of the show so far. A-

Wood PSA - This brief commercial was very funny. I liked how it got in, got its laughs and got right out. Beck singing and Louis with the single tear running down his face were very funny. A-

Update ended on a fairly strong note this season. The jokes really picked up after the first commentary. Speaking of which, while I think they should've gone a lot harder on Tom Brady (even though every unknown comic on Twitter beat them to the punch) I did like how they used Taran's impression of him here. He really did capture that stiff wooden vibes he and most athletes gave off when they hosted. Plus, he played off Che and Jost played expertly off of each other. Pete's Commentary was nice as well. It still wasn't up to some of his previous ones but it is nice to see that he gets to go out on. I did like his bits on Harry Potter and not knowing how he got on SNL. His Clinton/Obama bit was also great. The Riblet thing was a little gratuitous at this point in the season but I like how they kept it toned down compared to his last appearance. They did have something more with the cut jokes from dress angle. I wish they had gone more down that road. B-

Cabana - I can't believe they decided to recur Cecily's British bimbo character. Even though this was an exact carbon copy of the first one, I think Louis really added more to this than the Rock did and they really threw Sasheer a bone by giving her a small role. Plus, they kept it shorter than the last one. C+

Police Lineup – This had a weak premise but the performances by Taran, Beck and Kyle did wonders for it. This seems like it was written specifically with their acting skill sets in mind. Even Louis and his awkward stage presence worked here. My only other complaint would be that the ending with Taran felt too predictable. B-

Wood PSA II - I do like how they continued the Lumberjack as a running gag. I also like how they're giving Sassher much more to do tonight. Does this remind anyone else of the "Death By Chocolate" runner from last season? A-

Whoops! I Married A Lesbian - All I can say about the last sketch is that is that it was the only time in the show that the performances as committed as they were did more to bring down a sketch than the writing or the premise. C-

Now for my updated rankings of this season…

1. Louis C.K./Rhianna

2. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar

3. Martin Freeman/Charli XCX

4. Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea

5. James Franco/Nicki Minaj

6. J.K. Simmons/D’Angelo

7. Michael Keaton/Carly Rae Jepsen

8. Reese Witherspoon/Florence + The Machine

9. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson/George Ezra

10. Scarlett Johannson/Wiz Khalifa

11. Dakota Johnson/Alabama Shakes

12. Taraji P. Henson/Mumford And Sons

13. Bill Hader/Hozier

14. Blake Shelton

15. Kevin Hart/Sia

16. Cameron Diaz/Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

17. Amy Adams/One Direction

18. Chris Pratt/Ariana Grande

19. Sarah Silverman/Maroon 5

20. Chris Rock/Prince

21. Chris Hemsworth/Zac Brown Band

Well, there you have it. This episode sure gave a lot of SNL fans hope for season 41. See you then and have a great summer!

Reese Witherspoon/Florence + The Machine (5.9.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. While this show was rather inconsistent, it showed more signs of life than last week. Reese Witherspoon was just slightly more visible as a host this season as Amy Adams was in December, but I would say that really benefitted the show in this case. Good to see more of Beck, Kyle and Pete this week as they have been underused lately. Anyway, let’s get on with it.

Republican Leadership Conference - This has to be the second worst cold open this season. They really could’ve had something here if they hadn’t decided to give Cecily THE ONLY SPEAKING PART! Still, I liked how they included Beck, Kyle and Kate. Also, Taran’s greased up bare chest made me chuckle. D+

Monologue – Bringing out the casts’ real life mothers was something sweet and sentimental they haven’t done in at least a decade and got this episode off to a better start than that cold open did.

Beck, Kyle, Sasheer and especially Pete were the real stand outs here. I would say the same goes for the home movies portion (especially for Kyle given how he was almost unrecognizable) but I also liked seeing Aidy, Jay and Kenan’s clips. I can already tell this is going to be one of the top two monologues this season. A-

Scene In L.A. – Well, I did like Jay, Kyle and Petes’ parts in this sketch. Otherwise, it was pretty Juvenile and a rather dated and tired concept for SNL in 2015. D+

Picture Perfect - This seemed like an ambitious sketch that wasn’t executed to its full potential. Taran, Kenan and Bobby all performed well in it. I'd say they could've taken this further bur that's probably the furthest they could've taken this premise on network TV and within the bounds of good taste. Thankfully, they didn't try and drag it out too long. B-

Mr. Westerberg  - This was pretty one note but Beck, Bobby and Pete were funny in it and this being a short film really behooved it in terms of execution. Plus, it's nice to see Beck front and center in something. C+

Update was pretty inconsistent. Che seemed like he was really phoning it in but Just had a couple of good ones with his May whether and Hamburg large jokes (as much as he was channeling Seth there) Leslie commentary was okay. This one wasn't quite as good as her previous ones but at least she tried something different with that letter thing. Cecily's party girl continued the Update trope of hosts impersonating characters alongside the cast members who play them but this was the first time I genuinely enjoyed seeing it. Reese fit the mold pretty well here and helped Cecily break the format of this character just a bit. Thankfully, they also kept this short. Kenans old man character wasn't exactly a welcome return either but he did have some good lines about throwing tomatoes and batteris at his graduation and locking up his classmates. C+

High School Theater II – This sketch was something I Never expected to return either but I have to say Reese Witherspoon is more believable than Cameron Diaz was. Plus, Leslie was a welcome addition to this and Bobby played well off her and the "we were black" vignette was funny. B-

Southern Ladies – This was more genuinely funny than it had any right to be. Reeses story about her demonic ally possessed husband and Cecily's sperm prank were funny. Plus, it was nice to see Leslie playing someone other than herself for once. The only thing that bugged me about that one was that the ending made it seem like a ripoff of those singing memories sketches with Hader, Sudekis and Forte. B+

Water Slide – Much like the sketch that preceded it, this sketch was funny to me due to its sheer outlandishness. Bobby, Kenan and even Reese had plenty of good lines and performances. Kudos to Beck and Kyle for getting to be the leads in their own live sketch after getting shut out of the show lately. B-

Whiskers R We III - I did like how their descriptions of each cat got more outlandish (one was a set offender and one was a cult leader). Plus, Reese Witherspoon saying "little jag off" made me laugh. C+

Now, for my updated rankings of this season…

1. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar

2. Martin Freeman/Charli XCX

3. Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea

4. James Franco/Nicki Minaj

5. J.K. Simmons/D’Angelo

6. Michael Keaton/Carly Rae Jepsen

7. Reese Witherspoon/Florence + The Machine

8. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson/George Ezra

9. Scarlett Johannson/Wiz Khalifa

10. Dakota Johnson/Alabama Shakes

11. Taraji P. Henson/Mumford And Sons

12. Bill Hader/Hozier

13. Blake Shelton

14. Kevin Hart/Sia

15. Cameron Diaz/Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

16. Amy Adams/One Direction

17. Chris Pratt/Ariana Grande

18. Sarah Silverman/Maroon 5

19. Chris Rock/Prince

20. Chris Hemsworth/Zac Brown Band

Well, that was certainly better than I was expecting. The writing is taking some baby steps in the right direction. Next week, Louis CK returns to host the finale and I sure am looking forward to the monologue the most of all. See you then

Scarlett Johannson/Wiz Khalifa (5.2.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. Whether you look at this show from the standards of just this season or all of this hosts’ previous episodes, this show was pretty middle of the road and forgettable. Still, given my lowered expectations for this one, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised in some spots. Anyway, here it is.

Maywheather vs Pacquiao - This cold open was one of the better ones this season. Aidy as Manny was clever stunt casting and Higgins voice over was funny. Glad they found a way to work in Kate's Justin Beiber. Even Kenan had a few good lines As the ref. I did like the ending with Kenan and Jay bailing on the sketch to watch the fight in Wiz Khalifa's dressing room. C+

Monologue - That fourth straight musologue from Scarlet (which is coincidentally also the fourth straight musologue in a row at this point in the season) was actually her funniest one thanks mostly to Kenan and Taran. They also kept it from being completely self-serving for Scarlett, too. C-

Right Side Of The Bed II - I never expected them to ever recurring that Taran and Cecily Atlanta morning show sketch from the Martin Freeman episode but this one was much better than it had any right to be. Scarlett somehow kept Taran and Cecil from chewing up ALL of the scenery by themselves. I also liked Kates' brief appearance At the end as Holier. Coincidentally, both instances of this sketch have now ended with Kate portraying a male foreign singer now. C+

Baltimore Orioles - I also never expected them to rewrite that cut Ferguson sketch from Francos' episode for the recent unrest in Baltimore but I guess I should know SNL much better than this by now. That said, Kenan and Taran played quite well off of each other and Bobby was also very funny in his brief role as the hot dog guy. This might be the strongest live sketch of the night. B+

Black Widow: Age Of Me – This was a little weak for the obligatory “host sketch” but they did blend the tropes of both romcom trailers and Marvel trailers seamlessly enough. Beck and Jay were almost criminally underused here but I did get a kick out of Cecily’s couple of lines as the reporter, the “fire apology” and Taran playing Thor as the stereotypically gay best friend (really gave me a flashback to Patton Oswalt’s “Finest Hour”). Other than that, I thought the basic underlying premise of Marvel not knowing how to write for female characters/audiences was a valid premise but they could’ve done much more with this premise. C-

Girlfriends Talk Show VIII – This sketch may be beyond run into the ground here. Scarletts over use of the word “ratchet” really bugged me and she really seemed disinterested and miscast here. Still, I have to say Aidy played quite well off of her as she usually does in these sketches. Honestly, I think this sketch might have gone over better if they held off on it until next week when Reese Witherspoon drops by. Also, was anyone reminded of that Super Sweet Sixteen sketch from Scarlett’s first show back in ’06? C-

Update was pretty middle of the road tonight. Jost and Che had some fairly good jokes even if none of them particularly stood out more than the mention of the Bruce Jenner interview. The commentaries were all pretty forgettable Kates’ Ruth Bader Ginsberg is a little stale by this point but I did like her grim reaper comment toward the end. The Game Of Thrones couple was something new at least but nothing really stood out there. Bobby’s British accent really reminded me of his performance in the office hobbit sort film also from Martin Freeman’s episode in December. Kenan and Jay as Shaq and Barkley were probably the strongest of the bunch. I did like the “Puerto Rican hickey” line and their constant back and forth insults to each other. B-

Museum Visit – This was probably the weakest most one note sketch of the night sketch of the night. Still, it was worth it just for Taran’s unintentional Mike Meyers impression (the hair and the movements specifically)  and his reaction to Kenans’ “wildin’”. Speaking of which, is it just me or is “FourFiveSeconds” not a big enough hit for SNL to reference right now? Seriously, how could the people involved in that song make something so bland and forgettable? Oh well, I guess time will tell. D+

Blazer – Although this felt like a long buildup to no payoff, I did like the frenetic wacky violence in this as well as the mislead at the end. Seeing Taran bound far out of his way to punch only black criminals was worth a chuckle. Was anyone else reminded of the “People Getting Punched Before Eating” digital short from 2007? C+

Virgin Airlines – While the acting, timing and physicality in this sketch seemed a little off, this was silly and fun as it also got more and more frenetic and physical. Somehow, Vanessa playing a robot seemed appropriate as well as Scarlett now that I think about it. After all, this sketch did remind me of her role in “Her.” C+

Jingle Writers – This sketch felt far too derivative of that hip hop/flute amp sketch from Lena Dunhams’ show, the new NBC new open sketch from Brian Williams episode and the much superior “Fly High Duluth” sketch from Scarlett’s ’06 episode coincidentally. It just felt really dull and uninspired. C-

Now, for my updated rankings of this season…

1. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar

2. Martin Freeman/Charli XCX

3. Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea

4. James Franco/Nicki Minaj

5. J.K. Simmons/D’Angelo

6. Michael Keaton/Carly Rae Jepsen

7. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson/George Ezra

8. Scarlett Johannson/Wiz Khalifa

9. Dakota Johnson/Alabama Shakes

10. Taraji P. Henson/Mumford And Sons

11. Bill Hader/Hozier

12. Blake Shelton

13. Kevin Hart/Sia

14. Cameron Diaz/Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

15. Amy Adams/One Direction

16. Chris Pratt/Ariana Grande

17. Sarah Silverman/Maroon 5

18. Chris Rock/Prince

19. Chris Hemsworth/Zac Brown Band

Well, that was that. Next week, Reese Witherspoon returns to host after a 14 year hiatus. I don’t have as many expectations set as I did for this week given that she has only hosted once previously. Still, she seemed less of a bad host than a host who was strikingly out of place on SNL which was forgivable at the time for obvious reasons. Anyway, see you then. 

Taraji P Henson/Mumford And Sons (4.11.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. This was one of the more frustrating episodes of this season. The writing got more reliant on recurring premises and the rest of the show became more reliant on filmed sketches. The show was taking two steps in the right directions the past two weeks but ended up taking three steps back tonight. Taraji P Henson was a promising host but she was just as underutilized as ever and even when she was used could come off as a little overbearing at times. Anyway, here it is.

Hillary’s Big Announcement – This cold open was pretty solid. Kate's Hillary has noticeably improved from last month. It still seems like they are taking some time to find an angle on her inevitable presidential run, though. Some of it felt like material they would've written For Sudekis as Romney, though. Good to see Hammond bring his Slick Willie out of mothballs although it still remains unclear as to whether he prerecords his announcements or not. B+

Monologue – This could've been so much better. I do appreciate the level of sheer commitment and enthusiasm she is bringing to the show but something was seriously lacking from this number. Plus, the fact that this is the third straight musical monologue in three weeks is quite troubling. Thankfully, the cast was able to save this one. C-

Depends Legends – This ad is certainly different. It's definitely the most tolerable fecal based ad I've ever seen on SNL. I'm not surprised this was cut from dress last week but I am surprised that they thought it was worth bringing back. C-

Teacher On Trial – This felt very derivative and played out but Pete's natural charisma carried this. His long list of nicknames made the whole sketch for me. Other than that, it's a little eerie how similar this is to a fan written sketch that was posted on the S-N-L.com forum. C+

Home Sequels – This ad was decent for just another cheap impression showcase. Taran's Jim Parsons was very funny and accurate and Taraji's Nicki Minaj was much better than Sasheers'. Good to see they found a way to work in Pete as one half of Die Antwoord. Jay's Kendrick Lamar was all right. It was the only other impression we haven't seen before. This is probably gonna hold up very poorly if Home turns out to be a flop. C+

QVC – This sketch has to be the biggest waste of Kate McKinnon ever. Speaking of which, did anyone get a serious Molly Shannon vibe from her? Also, why couldn't they just admit she was supposed to be playing Lisa Minelli in this? Anyway, this pretty much SCREAMS Anderlette to me. D+

John Singletons’ Game Of Thrones – This seemed like a real misfire to me. Maybe I'm just not familiar enough with Singletons' movies to get this but it barely seemed like it knew what it wanted to parody. It even made the QVC sketch look Focused. Still, I do appreciate them using Che in another sketch and Kenans attempt at Ice Cube. I am surprised the real Jon Snow got zero applause. I will admit, though, that it was a little better upon a second viewing. C-

Update was pretty inconsistent tonight. The jokes started out weak (I could see Josts' Hillary/Game Of Thrones punchline coming from two towns over) but they picked up after Kate's commentary. For some reason, Josts' grilled cheese/What? Magazine/7-11 joke mades me laugh as did Che's white people rioting joke. Speaking of Kate, that Italian lady of hers was a character that didn't need to come back but I did like the gargoyle bit. Jacob may not have needed to come back wither but Billy Crystal's cameo was certainly interesting. Namely, it was interesting in that it was the first time in 30 years Billy Crystal has been on SNL (outside of an anniversary special) and he came back to do some stealth plugging for a lame FX show. Still, for all the shit we give Crystal on this board, I found his cameo corny yet oddly endearing. I did like how he was able to mimic Vanessa rhythms and enthusiasm as well as the Fernando callback. However, when a cameo from Billy Crystal is a highpoint of an SNL episode in 2015 something may have gone horribly wrong. B+

Hollywood Game Night II – This was another sketch that was better the first time it was done. I did like the return of Beck's Nick Offerman and Taran's Vin Diesel (even if he just did it two weeks ago). Taraji's Wanda Sykes was a little dodgy and Jay's Common sounded more like his Drake. Still, I did like Kate's Jane Lynch, Aidy's Winona and Cecily's Marion Cotillard. C-

Dancing With Janelle II – This was surprisingly much better than the first installment. Mostly, because it was shorter and more succinct and Taraji and Kyle were far more committed to it than Chris Rock was. B+

Cinema Classics III – This latest Resse De’What sketch was probably the strongest one of these sketches in recent memory. I gotta hand it to SNL for attempting some kind of racial commentary and keeping this sketch quick, sharp and right to the point. Bobby’s out of nowhere drag appearance made me laugh. Thankfully, they went a different route than making THAT the sole focus of the sketch. My only real complaint here would be how they apparently felt the need to distance themselves from the source material they were parodying and how this was the second sketch of the night to do so. Still, Taran did a decent Tom Hanks whether he was supposed to or not. If I was wrong and THIS turned out to be tonight’s Anderlette sketch, than it was surprisingly good, even for their standards. C+

Cookie On Sesame Street - This Sesame Street/Empire mash up seemed like a half thought out premise but Taraji and the other performers really made the most of it. This seems like the type of thing Kelly and Schneider would have written. C+

Connectatron - This sketch had an overly long setup to too quick of a joke and seemed too close to a Key and Peele sketch for me to get into. Plus, it was the third or fourth sketch of the night to follow a certain trend. D+

Now, for my updated rankings…

1. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar

2. Martin Freeman/Charli XCX

3. Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea

4. James Franco/Nicki Minaj

5. J.K. Simmons/D’Angelo

6. Michael Keaton/Carly Rae Jepsen

7. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson/George Ezra

8. Dakota Johnson/Alabama Shakes

9. Taraji P. Henson/Mumford And Sons

10. Bill Hader/Hozier

11. Blake Shelton

12. Kevin Hart/Sia

13. Cameron Diaz/Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

14. Amy Adams/One Direction

15. Chris Pratt/Ariana Grande

16. Sarah Silverman/Maroon 5

17. Chris Rock/Prince

18. Chris Hemsworth/Zac Brown Band

Well, that was that. Next week, Scarlett Johansson returns to host. Given how this show as well as ScarJo’s previous three outings have turned out, it might just take a miracle for SNL to end it’s 40^th season on a high note at this point. See you soon!

Michael Keaton/Carly Ray Jepsen (4.4.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. This show had pretty much the exact same vibe as last weeks’ episode but with just a little more effort put into it. Michael Keaton proved to be a game host and delivered in every sketch despite this being his second most underutilized outing as host. They did keep the recurring material to a minimum and that’s always a good sign. Anyway, here it is.

Road To The Final Four – This wasn’t a terribly strong cold open but it had some clever writing behind it and I'm pleased to see SNL tackle the student athlete issue. Kenan and Jay made the most of their small roles. Bobby made this entire sketch for me. C+

Monologue - It troubles me to see SNL do two singing monologs two weeks in a row but this one was a lot more fun than last weeks’ song-and-song-and-dance number with The Rock. This was mostly thanks to Taran, Bobby and Jay. Kudos to the wardrobe team for getting him through three costume changes in two sketches. I also loved the doctored backstage footage (Taran does a surprisingly good Catherine O’Hara) and the puppet of the Beetle juice shrunken head guy. B-

CNN Newsroom – This sketch was pretty funny. It kind of reminded me of what I read about that original cold open that got scrapped from Louis CK's dress rehearsal last year but thankfully it took on a different angle. I liked the puppet reenactment (was anyone else reminded of Crank Yankees or Spitting Image?) and the Money For Nothing animation (I have to give them props for beating me to that joke in this review). Also, the interpretive dance number with Keaton, Kenan and Aidy really made the sketch for me. Jay’s autotuned Don Lemon was also pretty funny. Kudos to whoever wrote this for managing to make Cecily that funny and likable. C+

A Mike O'Brien Film: Prom Queen - This is something I didn't know quite what to make of. It reminded me of a less homoerotic and way way WAY more watered down version of Adam McKay's Short Film "The Heat Is On" from the 99/00 Alan Cumming/JLo episode. Then, I liked  O'Briens’ brief back and forth with Davidson when he told him he “needed to graduate” and how he played subtly off all the tropes of "She's All That" and other 20th century teen films of that ilk. Then, I noticed how Keatons’ lack of real commitment to the whole thing was funny and that they knew exactly where to end this. C-

Easter Hotline – This really made the most out of a thin premise. Cecily was just okay but the rest of the cast and Keaton all really pulled their collective weight. Also, this is the best Sasheer has looked in any sketch. She played well off Leslie and they worked her into this sketch quite well. B-

Wallace Advertising - I will say that the sheer unapologetic obnoxiousness of Keatons' suggestions were really funny. I liked how that one had a rather unpredictable feel to it. Not a lot of hosts could add something to this kind of sketch like he did. C+

Church Of Neurotology – This was one of the more biting pieces of social satire SNL has done in years. All the captions made this sketch for me. I also liked how they worked Colin Jost into this film. B+

Update was very strong and well-paced tonight. There weren't a ton of jokes but all the ones that were there landed (even if Josts’ Israel/Lethal Weapon rant felt a little more like something Seth would do just as he was starting to step out of Seth’s shadow). Pete Davidsons Walking Dead commentary was very funny. He had a great back and forth with Colin and the Norman Reedus cameo was icing on the cake. Good to see Taran is just as animated playing Jebidiah Atkinson as he was last season. I liked how subtle their self deprecation was. Also, was anyone else reminded of that “Comedy Killers” sketch from Roseannes’ 90-91 episode when his Archduke Franz Ferdinand joke got total silence? B+

Smart House - All I can say about this sketch is that while I find the Southern accents are quite gratuitous for my liking I do appreciate the sheer sci-fi tech induced weirdness of it. For a Cecily accent showcase, it thankfully didn't feel like the most Anderlettey Anderlette sketch I’ve ever seen and Beck, Kyle, Kate and Vanessa reactions really made it for me. Keaton turned in an interesting performance as well. C-

Easter Candy - As soon as I saw Keaton pull out that Easter basket and sit down, I knew exactly where this was headed. The only things that separated this from the sketches like this from the Edward Norton and Steve Buscemi 2011 episodes were the length and Keatons' commitment to playing a creepy character (despite the later reveal that he was apparently playing himself). Kate was a welcome addition to this sketch. B+

Now, for my updated rankings of this season…

1. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar

2. Martin Freeman/Charli XCX

3. Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea

4. James Franco/Nicki Minaj

5. J.K. Simmons/D’Angelo

6. Michael Keaton/Carly Rae Jepsen

7. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson/George Ezra

8. Dakota Johnson/Alabama Shakes

9. Bill Hader/Hozier

10. Blake Shelton

11. Kevin Hart/Sia

12. Cameron Diaz/Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

13. Amy Adams/One Direction

14. Chris Pratt/Ariana Grande

15. Sarah Silverman/Maroon 5

16. Chris Rock/Prince

17. Chris Hemsworth/Zac Brown Band

Well, that was just as much fun as I was expecting. Taraji P. Henson hosts next week. I haven’t seem much of Empire or Hustle and Flow so I don’t quite have a sense of how she will do as a host yet. Still, I have a feeling it could be a refreshing change of pace for this season. See you then!

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson/George Ezra (3.28.2015)

Okay, here’s my review. This episode was pretty middle of the road of this season, but it was certainly a breath of fresh air from the last two episodes with Johnson and Hemsworth. The Rock certainly delivered as a host again. He still is a talented comedic performer with a strong presence that almost makes up for the continually uninspired writing this season. He also manages to bring out the best in the current cast as talented performers as they are. As far as musical guests go, I have to say George Ezra does have quite a similar voice to Ray Lamontange who was the MG during The Rocks' previous show in '09. They both seem like MGs that he specifically requested. He must have a real specific taste in music. Anyway, here it goes.

The Rock Obama III - I don't think anyone DIDN'T expect SNL to bring this out of mothballs but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how they were able to make it seem as fresh, topical and relevant as it did six years ago although Dwayne’s impression seems to be slipping a bit. Taran and Bobby played well off each other although since they have both now played Ted Cruz I have to wonder what they're gonna do with the election material over the next couple of seasons. The only real weak points in this sketch were how bad Kyle and Becks' fake limbs looked and how Sasheer and Leslie has such small parts were as clever of twists as they were. B-

Monologue - This was more enjoyable than it had any right to be. Dwaynes "franchise Viagra" lines were funny as well as his jabs at Smurfs/Theory Of Everything. All in all, The Rock and the girls had the charisma to make such a sliver of premise watchable. B-

Pep Boys - This was funny. Beck, Taran, Bobby and Andy all had great lines and Kate and Sasheer played off them well but Starbucks canceling their race discussion campaign kind of removes some topicality from it. C+

WWE Promo Shoot - This sketch felt like a derivative premise but Dwayne wrestling background helped him pull this off and Bobby played off him well. I did like the Family Guy porn and intricate catfish bits. B-

Bambi Remake - This felt like the first bit of clever writing all night. The makeup team really deserves some kudos. Jay, Dwayne and Taran performed really well here. B-

Dinner Date – This felt like a sketch premise that has been done before but The Rock turned in a funny performance and it was nice to see Cecily try a different type of accent for once. Also, The Rock’s character reminded me a bit of the character he played in his “Goombahs” sketch from his first show. C+

Escape From Jungle Island - This sketch seems like the most physically and scatalogically daring sketch SNL has done in years. It felt like a sketch that could've been cut from the dress rehearsal of The Rocks 99-00 show. In fact, it reminded me a lot of the “Today’s Lady” sketch from that show. As far as who could’ve wrote this, I also detect some traces of Anderlette but based on his Update commentaries from the Pratt/Rock episodes last fall it seems more to me like something Pete Davidson had a hand in writing. It seemed pretty one note but they kept it from going on too long at least. Again, Kate was an interesting casting choice. Speaking of which, did anyone else get some serious Ace and Gary flashbacks watching this? C+

Brogaine - This almost seemed like a premise that was beneath SNL but the Good Neighbor style of comedy really added something of value to it. Even Kenan and Sasheer gave us some laughs and I liked the OU/SAE racist chant jab. B-

Update was really strong tonight. A bunch of the jokes were really solid. Che's Ted Cruz jab was great as relatively toothless as it seemed. Josts' rant on The Jinx has to be the most animated we've seen him on SNL. Kates' Russian commentary was fun even if I saw some of the jokes coming from two towns over. Hell, I’m surprised she didn’t make a joke about how they just got Eminems’ “My Name Is” in Russia. Also, was anyone else reminded of Pete Holmes during the “Well Played, Devil” line? Still, I did like the Etta James/Hunger Games Jokes. They built up a lot of momentum until Kenan bough it all to a screeching halt. B-

Cooking With Paul - This was something a little different for Kenan. He played well off The Rock and even though they relied on that Internet gag a bit much I do like how they just got in, got its laughs and got right out. B-

Improv Team - I really enjoyed this. Kate as Robert Durst was clever stunt casting and I liked Cecily's part as well. What made me appreciate this sketch is how accurate it was to all the improve shows I have seen in college right down to the entrances and audience interview shtick. I also appreciate how they ended this sketch at just the right moment as well. B-

Interrogation - This sketch seemed like it's took a while to build to something. There wasn’t much more to it than The Rock playing against his tough guy/action star persona. Still, he may be the only host who can really pull it off. Also, it felt like Vanessa’s first appearance of the night although upon further examination, it was her third. Perhaps they’re phasing her out? C+

Kyles’ street interview was a good choice to cap off this episode. The reactions from all the kids really made this one for me. B+

Now, for my updated rankings of this season…

1. Woody Harrelson/Kendrick Lamar

2. Martin Freeman/Charli XCX

3. Jim Carrey/Iggy Azalea

4. James Franco/Nicki Minaj

5. J.K. Simmons/D’Angelo

6. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson/George Ezra

7. Dakota Johnson/Alabama Shakes

8. Bill Hader/Hozier

9. Blake Shelton

10. Kevin Hart/Sia

11. Cameron Diaz/Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars

12. Amy Adams/One Direction

13. Chris Pratt/Ariana Grande

14. Sarah Silverman/Maroon 5

15. Chris Rock/Prince

16. Chris Hemsworth/Zac Brown Band

Well, that show was certainly a pleasant surprise at this point in the season. Next week, Michael Keaton returns to host and I sure hope he is still more of a host in the same vein as The Rock or Woody Harrelson or even Martin Freeman. See you soon!