SNL Review- Antonio Banderas/Mary J. Blige
Sorry this is late, but I had to get up early to do some stories for the school paper.
Sports Report-
Leafs- While I’m happy they’re playing well, it bothers me that they decided to play well NOW when the season is basically over. Had they played like this during that horrific losing streak or those two games against the Habs maybe they wouldn’t be so screwed.
Canucks- This team has had quite the roller coaster season. They won a must win game last night, and now I’m hoping other teams can help out and kick San Jose’s ass so I don’t get too big of an ulcer the final week of the season.
Nets- The winning streak had to end sometime, and I’m glad it ended before the playoffs since the Nets are quite streaky. They’ve played Miami this year, and they’ve been okay against Detroit so I’m hoping the team can go far in the playoffs.
Braves- I hate Chris Reitsma.
Mailbag!!!!!-
[email protected] writes-
Hey Bob-
This is Ken Hayashi from Voy. I was wondering what you thought about
Wrestlemania 22 last Sunday. Which matches did you think were awesome?
Which matches did you think flat-out sucked? What were your favorite
moments during the show? Do you have any disappointments in the show? Were
your expectations met?
For the first time since 2002, I didn't bother to watch 'Mania this
year. I didn't feel like going to the bar to watch a PPV when I wasn't too
thrilled about 3/2 of the card in the first place. I'll probably end up
buying it on DVD when it comes out. I don't think I missed much,
anyway.
So what did you think?
Later,
Ken
I thought Wrestlemania was a fun show. I really enjoyed a lot of the big matches, and Mickie James might be my new favourite wrestler for her counter to the Stratusfaction. Cena’s entrance was awesome, screw the haters. Foley-Edge was probably my favourite match, although I did enjoy the two title matches, Mickie v. Trish and the MITB. JBL v. Benoit was the only real disappointment of the show.
It was a good Wrestlemania, it might have even been better then last year’s, definitely the two title matches were.
Wanna be in the mailbag??? Email me at
[email protected]
And now the review...
Cold Opening
Cast- Antonio Banderas, Seth Meyers, Kenan Thompson, Jason Sudeikis
Thoughts- Poor Hardball, I guess it’s officially been put out to pasture, thus making Darrell’s importance to this show, on a scale of 1-10, a –7. This was pretty funny, per the norm for a cold opening. Banderas as Vincente Fox was a nice surprise and as usual Kenan playing a black woman is always good stuff. Solid way to begin the show, and congrats to Seth for getting the new cold slot. His LFNYISN was money too. ***1/4
Monologue
Cast- Banderas
Thoughts- Banderas as a woman….not that funny. The beginning with him talking about being deported was random and weird but then the twist with him being a woman came out of nowhere and totally didn’t work. They should’ve made Melanie Griffith drug jokes or something. *1/2
Basic Instinct 2
Cast- Amy Poehler, Will Forte
Thoughts- I actually SAW Basic Instinct 2 (press screening don’t worry) and this commercial is scary dead-on. You don’t even see Sharon Stone’s vagina, although a black guy does finger her. This was funny, although it was a bit too one-jokish. There’s a lot more stuff to mock in Basic Instinct 2 then the prospect of seeing Stone’s vagina. Trust me. **3/4
Deal…or No Deal
Cast- Banderas, Fred Armisen, Poehler, Finesse Mitchell, Horatio Sanz, Rachel Dratch, Kristin Wiig
Thoughts- This was a very funny spoof of Deal or no Deal. When that show’s appeal runs dry and NBC is even more screwed, I’ll laugh. Fred did a good Howie Mandel impression and Banderas was very funny as the confused contestant. I have to say, watching the spoof of Deal or No Deal made me understand the game more then the show. This was good stuff, and it’s always fun seeing SNL take a jab at NBC. ***1/2
This is Recurring?
Cast- Banderas, Dratch, Armisen
Thoughts- Remember this skit in the Jon Heder show, where it was one of the last of the night? Yea, I didn’t either, and I don’t get why SNL brought it back. I guess they thought that adding a Spanish guy would make it work. It didn’t, even though I did laugh at Fred’s first Espanol translation. No idea why I brought this back, even though I think they’ve exhausted all the jokes for this. Well I guess they could do one where she puts the guy on hold, and someone shows up to sing. Oh no, I just gave them an idea. *
Begos y Lagrimas
Cast- Banderas, Sanz, Armisen, Dratch, Chris Parnell, Wiig
Los pensamientos se parece como cada estación SNL hace su spoof de telenovas mexicanos. Y aspira siempre. Lo consigo, los telenovas mexicanos puedo ser un cliché del tad. El viento que soplaba la camisa de Banderas abierta era divertido, y Parnell posee siempre estos skits, pero éste se ha jugado y los facials de Kristin Wiig no eran bastantes para hacerle el trabajo. *1/2
Women’s Basketball Coaching Awards
Cast- Banderas, Dratch, Tina Fey, Poehler, Wiig
Thoughts- I thought it was funny that you know the skit was going to be over after Amy came out, because then there are no more women. This was quite the weird skit and I assume Tina wrote it. Antonio was pretty funny as the host with the stupid dance numbers, and some of the comments by the winners were funny. Not a good skit or anything, but it had its moments. **
Mary J. Blige
Thoughts- I’m not that familiar with Mary J., I really only know her performances of One with U2. Saw her when she played with them at MSG, good stuff. I had never heard this song and I have to say that it was quite good. Blige has a good voice and this was a good performance. ***1/4
Weekend Update
Cast- Chris Kattan, Fey, Poehler, Darrell Hammond, Mitchell, Forte
Thoughts- This was quite the long Update. Darrell as Dan Rather was hilarious, and his voice is so accurate that it’s scary. Fey and Poehler had some good jokes sprinkled throughout, although that Delay bit was painful. Mitchell’s bit was okay, but the graphics ruined it. Forte was a random choice to play Chad Michael Murray but I thought he performed well enough. Kattan’s cameo was really pathetic, I guess he was able to keep his nose clean for one night. ABC preferred Rodney over his pilot, which is pretty sad. The mashup of characters was pretty funny though, and I guess they had to mention the How Do You Say Ahhh Yes Show. This wasn’t great or anything, but it was better then the usual crappy Update and there were bits of inspired humour. **1/2
Zorro
Cast- Banderas, Poehler, Meyers, Sanz, Andy Samberg
Thoughts- Poor Andy Samberg. This was a good skit, and I was amazed Horatio was able to not crack up. Horatio and Banderas were both pretty funny here. They turned what could’ve been a weak skit into something quality. I felt bad for Amy, as I’m sure she wanted to mack Antonio and not Horatio. This was a solid post WU skit. ***
Karaoke
Cast- Banderas, Forte, Poehler, Dratch
Thoughts- I admit that I missed some of this skit, because the Canucks-Flames was in overtime, and I had. This started out kind of lame, but it got better as it went on with Amy constantly humping Banderas and Rachel singing more raunchy songs. Not a great skit, and I may have missed some good stuff watching hockey, but there were good performances. **3/4
Foreigners
Cast- Banderas, Parnell, Poehler, Armisen, Sanz, Sudeikis
Thoughts- Horatio must’ve thanked God that Banderas was hosting, since it gave him a lot more airtime then he usually gets. I saw Mindy Kaling’s name in the credits, and since this seemed like an Office-esque skit, so I think she might have wrote it. Given the quality of Office’s that she’s written, having her write for SNL is nothing but a positive. This was really funny and a great way to cap off all the jokes about Antonio being Spanish. I actually didn’t know Fred was legit Spanish so I learned something as well. SNL’s attempts at racial humour are usually pretty funny, and I thought the bickering over Antonio being Spanish and not Mexican, and the guys talking about taking your jobs and sleeping with your wives was good stuff. This was one of the best skits of the night, yay hating on Mexicans. ***1/2
Mary J. Blige
Thoughts- She lost me when she was talking about her altar ego named Brooke. There is only one artist who is allowed to get away with that on the SNL stage, and that’s Chris Gaines, and that’s because Chris Gaines was awesome. Shut up, he was. **1/4
Wine
Cast- Banderas, Poehler, Parnell
Thoughts- Don’t really know what this was, or why it was supposed to be funny, but I found myself laughing anyway. Oh Chris Parnell, why are you so awesome at times? I think I might have to Tom Green this, since it was pretty out there and I still don’t know what to make of it. **1/2
The Bottom Line- Avg. skit was **.52 making this a thumbs up show and ending the mini-slump SNL was in. Banderas was a good host who brought energy and seemed willing to do anything, which usually makes for good shows. No skits really stood out, as they were solid from beginning to end. A better then average Update and a good first performance helped the show by Mary J. Blige. Next week is Lohan, which I think is a horrible hosting choice, but I guess she needs another intervention. Someone call A&E and tell them to get the cameras ready. Overall this was a solid episode and I hope SNL can finish strong.
