Kristen Wiig/The xx (11.19.2016)

Okay, here’s my review. While this episode WAS a considerable letdown from last week with Chappelle, it wasn’t quite as big a letdown as we were expecting. This was, by far, the most uneven show of the season thus far but only the second worst. By and large, this was comparatively better than Wiigs’ previous hosting stint from three-and-a-half years ago (which was surprisingly more recurring character heavy than this one). Two things this show did have going for it were a different cast and writing staff from that time and a few unexpected cameos from much beloved figures to at least front load the show with (however brief and underutilized they were). Plus, pretty much the entire cast got some airtime (even if the senior established players got more). Quality wise, this show started out fairly strong with some degree of promise but then started to sputter too soon and almost completely spun out well before the end. Let me show you what I mean…

Donald Trump Prepares - This cold open, if nothing else, does show us how nicely they bounced back from the election. Baldwin had good lines as Trump and Kate played off him brilliantly. Mikey didn't add much but Bobby and Beck each had great material. Nice to see how seamlessly they worked in some Hamilton material at the last minute. It was nice to see Sudekis as Romney again and he got his laughs and got out but that felt like a real wasted opportunity for him. Also, the bit with Googling Isis felt down the beaten path. C+

Monologue – This got off to a slow start but really picked up once they started working the entire cast (and some writers apparently) into the mix. The cameos from Steve Martin and Will Forte were also a welcome addition (at least they got more to do than Sudekis). C+

The Bubble - This was well written and executed but didn't feel entirely original. Still, it did a fine job of poking fun at the deep cultural divide and borderline ideological hypocrisy in this country that really decided this election. B-

Secret Word - This was the first truly unwelcome addition of the night. Kenan as the host was worth a few chuckles and I like that they tried to work in some backstory to Hader's character (along with a voice mail from the man himself). Thankfully, that's all they relegated his role to because if they did get him to travel to NY just for this, THAT would be the biggest waste of all. Cecily played a role well suited for her. Unsurprisingly, she played it way too big but she did look damn good doing so. The rest of this was just a carbon copy but at least they knew when to end it. D+

Anderson Cooper 360 - This had some shades of 04-05/09-10 Era writing to it but at least it built up to a worthwhile payoff and was well performed. It was also a decent jab at CNNs' reporting and the way they worked in the Westworld reference was clever. B-

Target - This was another clever piece that seemed to be well suited to Cecily and Aidys’ acting ranges and written from a fresh-for-SNL angle. I appreciated how they managed to wring some more topical humor from a rather unlikely place. It did remind me a lot of the Hometown Thanksgiving tourism ad from the Jeremy Renner 2012 episode but that was written in a COMPLETELY different time. B-

QVC Auditions – This piece was something I didn't quite know what to make of. It showcased the typical hammy Wiig/Cecily performances I don't typically care for but it seemed to go in different directions and build to something unexpected. It was more about the journey than the destination, regardless of how pointless the journey was. Plus, Wiig and Cecily seemed to have a lot of fun playing off each other as evidenced by how Wiig looked like she was going to break. C-

Update was pretty uneven as Jost, Che and Pete got in some great material on Breitbart (hey, someone in mainstream comedy has to take them down), the Trump transition and Pence/Hamilton gate but none of their individual short form jokes worked at all and Willie just buried whatever momentum this Update may have still had. B-

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade – This sketch was kinda lacking. They split too much of the focus between Mikey, Wiig and Bobby as baloons and Beck and Cecily bickering as a couple. Bobby as Pennywise and the Kristen Chenowith doll gag were funny but this sketch really failed to go anywhere. D+

Whiskers R We V - This is definitely something I shouldn't have been surprised they bought back with Wiig. Her mouthpiece in this sketch reminded me of her Clearbrite sketch from the 2008 Tim McGraw episode. Other than that and Bobby's walk on, nothing stood out to me. D+

Surprised Sue V - The only things that surprised me about Surprise Sue was that it was the final sketch of the night and that she really went from 0 to 60 in no time flat. D-

Now, for my updated rankings of this season...

1. Dave Chappelle/A Tribe Called Quest
2. Tom Hanks/Lady Gaga
3. Lin Manuel Miranda/Twenty One Pilots
4. Margot Robbie/The Weeknd
5. Emily Blunt/Bruno Mars
6. Kristen Wiig/The xx

7. Benedict Cumberbatch/Solange

Well, that was certainly unexpected any way you look at it. In two weeks, SNL returns from Thanksgiving break with Emma Stone returning to host for her third time. I think we can all agree what a strong host she was. Even if her first two shows weren’t filled with great material, she still performed the hell out of it and I think her great love and reverence for the show played a big part in that. I believe she can helm a great third show working with this rebuilt cast and writing staff. See you in two weeks!

Dave Chappelle/A Tribe Called Quest (11.12.2016)

Okay, here’s my review. The lineup for this episode alone was enough to put this episode on a fast track to becoming the best episode of the season, but the team effort and unprecedented historical context that it found itself in put it WAY over the top! Dave Chappelle and the cast all came together to prove they and SNL still have what it takes to reach us through the power of satire. Without missing a single comedic beat, they provided much needed relief, comfort and hope for tomorrow to a deeply divided nation that is frightened over an uncertain future. Once again in our lifetime, they showed us exactly why it’s okay to laugh in these types of moments in order to help get over such fear in the face of a national tragedy. Still, I don’t want to oversell it or anything so just judge for yourself. This episode was also consistently strong both in writing and performing even when the material wasn’t explicitly topical. The cast was a little uneven in terms of airtime tonight. We saw very little of Pete, Bobby, Cecily and Sasheer (more on why that’s actually strange for once at the end). We saw absolutely NONE of Melissa and for the first time Alex Moffat manager to get more screentime than Mikey Day (although they were still mostly in smaller, non-consequential roles that show is very little of who he really is). Plus, I think we may have hit the absolute all time record for most uncensored N-bombs and GD-bombs dropped (hey, let’s make sure the rest of us don’t let them get too “normalized” now) as well as instances of the host being caught visibly smoking on camera (and inside a pot Bloomberg era New York building no less) in a single episode. Anyway, without further ado…

Hallelujah – This cold open set the most appropriate tone possible for this episode. I seriously considered whether this episode would open with something as somber as what they followed events like 9/11 and the Sandy Hook/Paris shootings with and I honestly think they made the right call here. Given the mood of the country, they eased us into the rest of the show well. The nods to Leonard Cohen (RIP) and Kates' message at the end were quite touching. (not going to assign a letter grade to this because, obviously…)

Monologue - That was the best monologue done on SNL in at least twenty years. Dave Chappelle is still a stand up legend and it's great to see he still hasn't lost his touch. The Obama and White protest bits cracked me up in particular (hell, he’s the only person to make a truly funny and worthwhile Harambe reference EVER) and I liked that he chose to end on something poignant and thoughtful. My only complaints would be that I thought the Pulse/ISIS allegiance and pussy grabbing references weren’t in the absolute best taste (okay, I chucked at the former even if it felt a little misguided to me but the latter actually happened at my old school) but rather than split hairs on those two points I will leave well enough alone. A+

Election Night - The election night sketch was extremely well done, too and had hints of that classic Chappelle's Show style to it. Most of all, it was dead on with the way it accurately captured the raw panic of white culturally liberal America and put it a perspective of real historical racism. Chris Rock's appearance was icing on the cake. B+

Chappelle’s Walking Dead Show – This was a great tip of the hat to all the old Chappelle's Show fans out there tuning into see one of their comedic idols. I appreciate how he worked in all his funniest and most memorable characters and even introduced the sketch in the same way he introduced every segment on his old show. Lil Jon seemed pointless but the Player Haters gave me a laugh and I love how they chose to work in Clayton Bigsby in reasonably good taste (although he's admittedly low hanging fruit at this point). My only real complaint was that the ending w/Tyrone Biggums was a little too outlandish and silly. A-

Update may have taken a few extra seconds to get going but Jose and Che really did a great job addressing the ideological divide that ended up REALLY deciding the outcome of this election. Plus, the VERY loose vibe really added to this (especially when Che flubbed his Mexican/Puerto Rican) joke. If there was any time that we NEEDED a long form Update, it was this week. Kate made her best appearance yet as RBG and it's especially good to see HER of all people fired up right now. B+

Jheri’s Place/Inside SNL - I didn't know where the Inside SNL piece was going when it first started out but I'm glad to see they were breaking the fourth wall. The press conference was very funny and Dave, Kenan, Aidy and Leslie had the best lines. B+

Sheila Sovage VI - I didn't expect Dave Chappelle to be a host that warranted this sketch but if anything, his delivery really sold this one. Plus, all of Kenans' reactions really made this as well (although Bleach isn't supposed to be clear, last I checked). B+

Kids Talk Trump – This short film almost seemed like a direct ripoff of something Jimmy Kimmel would do (if he hadn't already) but went for something bigger with the addition of Dave and his daughter. Overall, it's short length was it's biggest drawback. It did get its intended laughs (albeit awkwardly) but it definitely felt like they could've done more with it because it already went a couple of different places. C+

Love And Leslie – This short film was something that sure started out poignant and revealing but then took a turn for the silly when it was revealed that she is dating Kyle (who's quite jealous of Colin) and she plans to take his virginity. Overall, this worked well from a few angles and I think the segments featuring Beck, Alex, Lorne and the anonymous page really added to this. Dave's cameo at the end really made this for me. A-

Football Party – This sketch revolving (seemingly entirely) around adult breastfeeding was funny enough and ambitious for what it was but overall it stretched it's main joke too thin to the point where everything felt too telegraphed. I will say they pulled out the exact right ending for this. I'm not totally against gross out humor or anything but this just felt too awkwardly executed. Plus, whole I realize Leslie is one of the shows' biggest draws right now, it may be cause for concern when SNL has a prominent black host like Chappelle and Sasheer has only one appearance all night at the end of the show. C-

Now, for my updated rankings on this season…

1. Dave Chappelle/A Tribe Called Quest

2. Tom Hanks/Lady Gaga

3. Lin Manuel Miranda/Twenty One Pilots

4. Margot Robbie/The Weeknd

5. Emily Blunt/Bruno Mars

6. Benedict Cumberbatch/Solange

Well, that was just what America needed plus just a little more. Next week, Kristen Wiig returns for her second hosting stint just before Thanksgiving. Yeah, that may be the second most disappointing piece of news I’ve heard this week but this point in human history should be all about finding whatever silver lining we can in the things going on around us. For instance, whether you love her or hate her, there’s no denying Kristen Wiig (and a few of her costars who are still on this show currently) were given the opportunity to become strong role models and action heroes to little girls everywhere who needed to look up to them this summer. Granted, the film was a little overhyped for its degree of success and what it turned out to be…but I’m choosing to give SNL credit for showcasing her once again if for no other reason than to remind those girls that even in Donald Trumps’ America, they can still aspire to be whatever they could possibly want to. Plus, compared to how recent her previous hosting stint was to her leaving the show, this would be a more appropriate time for her to come back. Also, the cast and writing staff have been rebuilt since she last hosted and they’ve produced an above average season thus far. Let’s hope they continue that trajectory next week. Stay strong and see you then!

Benedict Cumberbatch/Solange (11.12.2016)

Okay, here’s my review. There seemed to be a number of odd factors at play going into this show that ultimately made it the weakest episode of the season thus far (and quite possibly the weakest pre-election show in years). The presence of Benedict Cumberbatch certainly was one of them, but not for the reasons you might think. Cumberbatch was a hard host to get a read on. He didn’t display any burgeoning heretofore hidden sketch comedy talents but he certainly seemed like he cared just enough to be there and do his best in sketches. At the same time he didn’t seem to be giving 100%. It’s as if his performances were purposely meant to convey a lack of confidence in the material he was given. Even if the women were excited to work with him, it didn’t come through at all! It looked like even HE realized the writers couldn’t unanimously come together on how to best use Cumberbatch’s talents in their sketches. Host related issues aside, the writers more burnt out than they did BEFORE they got to take last week off. I don’t know if they were just burnt out on the election or if they just wanted this week to be over with so they could just get to working with Chappelle (!!!) already. Plus, it seemed like Beck, Kate, Kenan, Aidy Cecily and Vanessa were the only ones even in the studio tonight. Hell, the burnout on SNL can be sensed way outside the writers’ room as it seems the show has completely dropped off the face of the earth. It’s almost like everyone on the planet forgot the show even existed because they realized that this WASN’T the week Chappelle was hosting. Anyway, let’s break it down…shall we?

Outfront With Erin Burnett - The CNN cold open didn't exactly shatter my expectations at first, but they pretty accurately captured how the media was covering this election in the final stretch ending was very sweet and therapeutic. The Twitter/possible N-word tape jabs were a little predictable but were a highlight nonetheless. The FBI/Putin/KKK kissing gags were funny even if they were really telegraphed by the second one. C+

Monologue - Benedict didn't exactly instill a ton on confidence in the audience right out of the gate regarding his hosting abilities and the premise was a little thin. However, it was a good idea for them to make Leslie the main focus. Plus, the rest of the ladies looked pretty dammed hot. C-

Kohler Koohl Toilet - I wasn't crazy about the premise of the cool toilet when South Park did it four years ago, but the performances of Benedict and Mikey paired with the Dire Straits soundtrack really made this for me. I have a feeling Che/Kanin/Robinson wrote it, though. D+

Why Is Benedict Cumberbatch Hot? - Beck Bennett's game show sketch is the funniest live piece of the night so far. He really stood out but I really appreciated Benedicts' ease at poking fun at himself along with the whole "breaking the fourth wall" vibe. B+

Office Hours - I didn't think Pete's character from the JLD pool boy short needed to be recurring but kudos the writers for fleshing the hell out of Benedicts character (and him too for acting the hell out of it) plus Mikey's character was a nice touch. C-

Surprise Bachelorette Party – This seemed like it was going to be much funnier than it actually was. It really just dragged on without an ending but the performances were strong. Also, this was quite a strange sketch for the Cubs to make their cameo in. D+

Update was largely forgettable aside from the Carvey/Murray cameos (and even they seemed to be running on fumes). Plus, this was the spot where a Cubs cameo made slightly more sense. Aside from that, Che had a few great lines about the FBI/email/male birth control stories and I did like the way Jose tied together the opening rant. C+

Gemma And Ricky - I really didn't think they needed to bring back Cecily's Gemma character for a third time. That sketch only worked with The Rock and Louis CK. Benedict Cumberbatch was just an awkward fit and Vanessa really over acted here. I will say I liked the attempt at a magic trick and the endearing semi-ending. Plus, Cecily was definitely looking right here. D+

Criminal Mastermind – This sketch was something I didn't quite know what to make of. It seemed to take a little too long to get to where it was going. On the plus side, they knew the exact right spot to end it and this was the writers' best use of Benedict Cumberbatch all night. D+

Meeting Mr. Shaw - This bird sketch was one of the strangest things I've seen on SNL in recent memory. I appreciate when SNL tries to go that far outside the box and I can kind of see what this was going for but it just didn't quite land with me. I did get a kick out of them placing the bird/mannequin in the background of the goodnights. D+

Now, for my updated rankings for this season…

1. Tom Hanks/Lady Gaga

2. Lin Manuel Miranda/Twenty One Pilots

3. Emily Blunt/Bruno Mars

4. Margot Robbie/The Weeknd

5. Benedict Cumberbatch/Solange

Well, that was more of a disappointment than I ever could’ve expected it to be. Fortunately, we have the legendary Dave Chappelle hosting next week who (blatantly misreported recent stand up gigs and all) has to be the booking I have been looking forward to seeing on this show the absolute most in recent memory. I pray that the writers don’t continue in this slump, but I’m confident that Dave will work great with them and be able to bring the same spirit, dynamic energy and good will to the show that Tom Hanks did two weeks ago (hopefully, mixed with a little more urgency and palpable danger for good measure). See you then!