Melissa McCarthy/Kanye West (2.13.2016)

Okay, here’s my review. This episode was mostly a pleasant surprised considering how low my expectations were considering who was hosting. I think the strong writing streak this season has been on has helped. The show in its current state seemed to know how to better play to Melissa McCarthys’ strengths as a performer rather than expose her weaknesses. She didn’t seem to be willing to or allowed to go as broad or as hammy as she was previously. Again, the writing wasn’t terrible (and it hasn’t been for most of the season) but her performances this week didn’t seem to be an effort to hide it if it was. Other than that, this show was pretty unremarkable but not in a bad way. Anyway, let’s get to it.

Hilary Can’t Make You Love Her - That cold open seriously lacked structure and seemed like it was going on forever. The only real laughs I got was Darrells' requisite Bubba cameo. Becks' Jeb was just okay. Kudos to Kate for performing the hell out of this. This reminded me too much of the cold open from the Louis CK finale last year. It seemed like something that would be better on paper than in execution. It seems more suited for some comic live tweeting a debate than a fully fleshed out sketch. C+

Monologue - This got off to a rather slow start but Kenan came right in and saved it. He was the only laugh I got out of this. C+

The Day Beyonce Turned Black - This was the best taped piece of the night so far. It was well written topical satire and Beck/Bobby, Leslie and Jay got a lot of laughs. B+

Cul-De-Sac Test Screening - This sketch seemed like a thinly veiled rewrite of the Hidden Valley Ranch sketch from Melissa first outing but she performed it well and I have to say this might be my favorite thing Melissa has ever done on SNL. I especially liked her ripping Petes shirt off and Leslies' reaction to her pushing herself. C+

Family Movie Night - This sketch was the best live sketch of the night. All of Pete and Bobbys' lines cracked me up. It reminded me of Petes' stand up quite a bit. A-

Update was really fun tonight. The only thing I didn't really like was Josts' bit on Ted Cruz but all the debates/Beyonce outrage stuff was great. Vanessa still does a great Jennifer Aniston but this Update bit seemed to go nowhere. I did like all the establishing shots and Ches' "no black people on Friends" joke. As a Colorado native, it was fun seeing Von Miller cameo even though he kinda stumbled over his lines and the bit felt too short and repetitive. It feels a little soon to bring Leslie back to the update desk but I did like this better than her Leo/Revenant commentary especially the "dirty talk” line. B-

Pickup Artist - I liked this sketch and Melissa brutally putting down Kyle and Kenan while Leslie struggled not to break was hilarious but I still feel like something about the sketch was a misfire. The premise of a female pickup artist seemed like it was going to be a premise all its own. I'm not sure why they needed to add on the extra layer of Melissa being awkward but hey, it worked. B-

Kyle vs Kanye – This short film was also quite good (I might have spoken too soon about the best filmed piece of the night). I did like Kyle describing SNL as being the main hardship he has had to face during his "rap career." His back and forth with Beck was good and Kanye was a good sport to be in this. Still, his appearance in this piece, while not bad, still bugged the hell out of me. While "I Miss The Old Kanye" wasn't bad and fit the in perfectly with the bit, I still have a hard time separating the asshole artist from his asshole art. B-

Bus - This sketch was pretty one note but god bless Leslie, Taran, Beck and Melissa for trying. I did like the Speed twist ending though. C-

Whiskers R We IV – This was something I didn't expect them to recur but probably should've seeing as how she was a perfect foil to Kate here. I did like the Twitter box/Tabitha/condoms/Mrs. Doubtfire lines. C+

Now, my updated rankings for this season…

1. Larry David/The 1975

2. Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato

3. Elizabeth Banks/Disclosure with Lorde & Sam Smith

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

5. Ryan Gosling/Leon Bridges

6. Melissa McCarthy/Kanye West

7. Chris Hemsworth/Chance The Rapper

8. Adam Driver/Chris Stapleton

9. Donald Trump/Sia

10. Miley Cyrus

11. Matthew McConaughey/Adele

12. Ronda Rousey/Selena Gomez

13. Amy Schumer/The Weeknd

Well, that was that. Next month, Jonah Hill returns to host for his fourth time. He is truly an odd choice as he seems to not have anything to promote and doesn’t leave much of an impression as a host. Actually, it’s a little more strange that he is hosting for his fourth time rather than hosting in March 2016. Oh well. I would expect that show to be on the exact same level of quality as this one. See you then.

Larry David/The 1975 (2.6.2016)

Okay, here’s me review. This is, hands down, the strongest show of the season. Larry David pretty much delivered exactly what we expected from him as host and the writers knew exactly how to play to his strengths. He was the second host who bought the best out of the cast and inspired everyone to put on the best show they could. Anyway, lets’ get to it.

A Message From Ted Cruz - Tarans' Ted Cruz had improved a bit but Kates' appearance as his daughter and the Far Side jab were the two real highlights. I did like the angle of Cruz admitting to his many, MANY faults. He also seemed to be channeling Bill Haders’ Shepard Smith there toward the end. Otherwise, it was a little too reminiscent of those Sudekis/Romney cold opens from early 2012. C-

Monologue – This was of the best in a long time. They were smart to let Larry just walk out on stage and be himself. I especially liked the "poor schmuck/rich pick" and dating/great show/broken masturbation record routines. A-

FBI Simulator - This quickly proved itself to be more than a Merryville Toole retread. The cast members who played the decoys all had the right physicality for it and Larry and his radical '80s personal clearly walked away with this. Kenan had great baffled reactions to him as well. This was definitely the best live piece of the night. A-

Bern Your Enthusiasm - This was definitely the best taped piece of this season so far and a brilliant way to give the audience everything they wanted with Larry hosting. I would put this right up there with "Lincoln from Louis CKs' show. The cast all did great impersonations (especially Cecily and Jay although I can't say I've watched enough "Curb" to recognize who Taran was playing) and they did a great job capturing the look and feel of the real show. A+

Steam Ship – This sketch was a simple premise that reminded me of something they would've done in the late '90s but Larry made it funny and this was a pretty creative way to sneak in the real Bernie and have him poke fun at himself. B+

Totinos/X-Files Promo - I'm really glad this year's Totinos' ad parody took a much darker more surreal turn and wasn't a carbon copy of last year's version. B-

Update was a little uneven but still really solid. I enjoyed Colins' sheer delight in the awkward GOP debate open. There was a string of great jokes after the first commentary and this was the best interaction we've seen between them so far. Speaking of the commentaries, Kates was odd. The only thing I really liked was her goofy Philly/Pittsburgh accent. I mean glad they finally gave Jon an update spot all too himself (finally) and while his bit didn't totally work and the SNL audience still doesn't get a sense of who Jon really is, I do appreciate the risks they took in putting something this different on the air. The Zoolander cameo was quite unexpected but Stiller and Wilson turned out to be funnier than they had any right to be. I did like the OJ/Hillary and Kims/Bernie/Trump jabs. B-

Songwriting Class - This sketch was definitely the weakest thing of the night so far. This must've been an Anderlette joint. Larry was OK in it but overall it seemed like a waste of his talents. C-

Ebony and Ivory - This Super Bowl number was pretty fun. The new lyrics were great and Taran did a fine job as Peyton (although I would've liked to have seen how Beck would've handled that impression but his and Bobby cop walk on at the end was a nice touch). C+

Sheila Sovage V- This was a strange sketch to bring back but Larry fit into it perfectly and they clearly went a while without doing it and the show has been pretty light on recurring material up to this point. I did also like Kenans’ use of crime tape and face blinds. B-

Now, for my updated rankings for this season…

1. Larry David/The 1975

2. Tracy Morgan/Demi Lovato

3. Elizabeth Banks/Disclosure with Lorde & Sam Smith

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

5. Ryan Gosling/Leon Bridges

6. Chris Hemsworth/Chance The Rapper

7. Adam Driver/Chris Stapleton

8. Donald Trump/Sia

9. Miley Cyrus

10. Matthew McConaughey/Adele

11. Ronda Rousey/Selena Gomez

12. Amy Schumer/The Weeknd

Well, that was a helluva lot of fun. Next week, Melissa McCarthy returns for her fourth time with Kanye West as musical guest. Well, I don’t know what else I can say about this booking other than is just SCREAMS “sweeps month” to me. See you then!