SNL Review

[bob_barron 0]

SNL Review- Ashton Kutcher/Gwen Stefani

 

SNL Moment #6:

 

6. If Boston rooted for gravity we’d all be floating 3 inches off the ground

 

After SNL’s first three episodes, Seth Meyers was indistinguishable from the other new white cast member, Jeff Richards. Neither had done anything that really stood out and I frequently got them confused. That all changed with the John Goodman show in November 2001. Seth got off to a good start with a hilarious home pregnancy commercial involving him and Amy Poehler but it was a commentary about his beloved Boston Red Sox that solidified Seth as a true player on SNL and as the king of Update commentaries.

 

THE MOMENT:

 

Jimmy Fallon brings up the Yankees loss to Arizona in Game 6 and tells us Seth Meyers has a commentary about it. Seth is wearing red (how symbolic) and begins to spew one of the greatest baseball rants I’ve ever heard.

 

Seth brings up a list of reasons that the Yankees might lose tomorrow, all of which make sense. Then Seth brings up the real reason- it’s because Red Sox fans are rooting for the Yankees. Seth brings up that Sox fans negative energy has led to about 65 World Championships and he gets another great line:

 

Seth: People were holding up signs that said, "Boston Loves New York". And you started losing. Coincidence? No!

 

The way Seth delivers that line is awesome. Seth then brings up the immortal gravity line above and everyone is really starting to get into this. Here’s a Red Sox fan pouring his heart out on TV. Seth continues to hit on all cylinders here, bringing up that Donald Rumsfeld is in Boston convincing eight guys named Murph to root FOR the Taliban.

 

Seth then compares the Boston-NY relationship post 9/11 to those Tom and Jerry cartoons where they were friends- and it sucked. Seth then says the Yankees deserve the World Series (well the city of New York) and he goes off on a rant that summed everything I feel about the Yankees so Seth can get them to win. (I personally wanted the Yankees to lose but whatever)

 

Paul O'Neill, you're a whining crybaby. Chuck Knoblauch, you're a glorified Oompa-Loompa. Roger Clemens, I would give every penny I have to whack your 39-year-old groin with a Fungo Bat.

 

That Clemens line pretty much makes this a legendary commentary right there.

 

Before he gets lynched on 168th St., Seth reminds the crowd he’s only saying this so they will win. Seth ends his commentary to massive applause. Jimmy seems really impressed and he knows what we’ve witnessed. He claps hard and even tells Seth he did a good job.

 

In one Weekend Update, where a poor Red Sox fan let out all his frustrations- an SNL castmember’s star was born.

 

Sports Report-

 

Nets- Don’t look know but the Nets are starting to get hot. They’ve won 4 out of their last 5 and are closing in on a playoff spot. Carter has been playing much smarter basketball recently and he’s really helping the team. They have a big home at home against Indiana coming up- those are the two biggest games of the year.

 

Mailbag!!!!!-

 

hayashikm@ optonline.net writes-

 

Hey Bob,

 

This is Ken Hayashi from Voy again. Since this is the last SNL before

WM 21, I was wondering if you could give your predictions for the show

on April 3. I'm sure the card will be finalized by next week or so.

Anyway, here are my WM 21 picks and a few reasons behind my picks:

 

HHH v. Batista- Batista (at least I hope so)

JBL v. Cena- Cena (no brainer)

Angle v. HBK- I seriously cannot decide

Orton v. Taker- Taker goes 13-0

Eddy v. Rey Rey- Eddy (Rey Rey doesn't win singles matches outside the

Cruiser division)

Six-Pack Ladder Match- Edge (I bet a heel will win this, and Edge is

one of the bigger RAW heels now)

Trish v. Christy- whatever

Big Show v. Akebono- don't care

 

So, Bob, what are your WM 21 picks, and what led you to make those

picks?

 

Later,

 

Ken

 

Triple H v. Batista: Batista is probably going over here- unless they want to badly botch this Wrestlemania.

 

JBL v. John Cena- Cena should probably go over but I wonder if they’d do two babyface world title changes on the same show. It’d be nice to see JBL lose though.

 

HBK v. Angle- There’s no reason for Angle to go over here since he’s basically a walking cripple. It will be an even match but HBK will take it.

 

Orton v. Taker- No way in hell they let Orton end the Deadman’s streak.

 

Eddy v. Rey- This one could go either way but given how over he is in Los Angeles- I think Eddy will go over. Should be an even match.

 

Six Pack Ladder Match- I think it’s going to be Edge or Christian. Christian’s been jobbing a ton lately so I could see them winning for the swerve- but then no one will take him seriously for the World Title shot. I guess they’re not punishing Edge for banging Lita so I could see him winning and then somehow getting screwed.

 

Trish v. Christy- Trish will retain with some chicanery.

 

Big Show v. Akebono- I don’t see WWE having Show job to an outsider.

 

Wanna be in the mailbag????? Email me at [email protected]

 

And now the review…

 

Cold Opening

Cast- Darrell Hammond, Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell, Will Forte, Rob Riggle, Kenan Thompson

Thoughts- If anything can help get this show out of a slump- it’s Hardball. Interesting that instead of attacking the usual assortment of political figures- they went after baseball players. Horatio’s Jose Canseco was horrible and not a good way to start this off. I really enjoyed the other two impressions though. Riggle did a fine job as McGwire and I thought the mocking of Sosa was right-on and funny as well. It just seemed like everytime they jumped back to Canseco the skit kind of died. It had a very nice recovery by having Will bust out the Zell Miller. I’m glad it wasn’t wasted like it was in the Topher episode- his racist rant at the end was great. This was the usual great Hardball with a bit too many dead spots to truly make it a classic. ***3/4

 

Monlogue

Cast- Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher

Thoughts- It took a bit too long for Ashton to get to the point of his monologue but it was very funny seeing Demi Moore in old lady makeup. I wonder how long it took to put on. Ashton and Demi were funny together but I felt this wasn’t as funny as it could’ve or should’ve been. Like Hardball in the beginning this seemed to die off at some points. I thought it had a hilarious premise and Demi was great- it just wasn’t as well written as it should’ve been. Sort of the theme for this 4 week (possibly 5?) debacle we’ve seen. **3/4

 

Me-Harmony

Cast- Rudolph, Sanz, Forte, Seth Meyers, Thompson, Riggle

Thoughts- I don’t really know exactly what they were spoofing. I think they just used this as another excuse to get Kenan Thompson in woman’s clothing since Kenan in drag is always funny. Other then that this was pretty pedestrian stuff- seeing the other castmembers in drag really wasn’t that funny. I did laugh at the two gay Seths though. **3/4

 

Oprah

Cast- Kutcher, Hammond, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Poehler

Thoughts- Maya’s Oprah is not funny and adds nothing to the show- kind of like Maya herself. I don’t know why SNL has been putting these really horrible skits as the “first” skit on the show. It gets the show off to a really bad start and just kills a lot of momentum that the show is trying to build up. Amy was really annoying as the person in the audience freaking out. Maybe this was funny the last time they did that- but that time was so over the top that it almost worked. This was Amy making funny faces and annoying the piss out of me. Hammond’s Travolta is actually really good and I’d like to see them try and get it on the show some more. Sadly he really had nothing to work with except for the line about the woman’s house burning down. Ashton’s Julia Roberts sucked and kinda ended the skit on a downer note. I really liked Hammond’s Travolta so I’ll be nice and say: *1/2

 

Water Cooler

Cast- Kutcher, Poehler, Dratch, Sanz, Parnell, Finesse Mitchell

Thoughts- This is one of those DOA skits where it seems like the skit just has no chance from the beginning. I’ll give Ashton some credit here- he tried really hard to make this work but it’s like anytime facing Memphis recently- it’s going to be an uphill battle. I thought some of lines (about it being a fad in Denver) were so over the top they were funny but it just didn’t work. I really liked the mini-bit with Finesse and I will once again give everyone credit for almost making this work but in the end it just wasn’t going to happen. *3/4

 

Federline

Cast- Kutcher

Thoughts- You know I was kind of disappointed when Ashton came out wearing pants in the monologue but luckily we did get our dose of Ashton in his underwear, and once again it was hilarious. Ashton as Kevin Federline kind of reminded me his character in Cheaper by the Dozen- the movie that Ashton pretty much owned. He had some really good lines here and this was really funny. ***1/2

 

Gays in Space

Cast- Kutcher, Rudolph, Parnell, Armisen Meyers, Thompson, Riggle

Thoughts- They bring THIS skit back? Seriously? This skit appeals to the absolute lowest common denominator. I mean LOL 5TH GRADE GAY STEREOTYPES GO SNL! This skit offends me as a viewer because SNL can and has done so much better. Doing this once because of timing issues or you have no ideas, I can kind of respect that, but bringing this back as a recurring character? This might fly at the sketch show with Kelsey Grammer but come on- surely Saturday Night Live can think of something a lot better then this. In spite of my rant against Gays in Space, I did laugh a couple times but please never bring this back. I never found TRIO to be that gay though. Sure they show some weird stuff but Late Night with David Letterman, U2 concerts and specials on the N-word never screamed homo to me. Bravo is much more gay. And The Game Show Network does have some homosexual tendencies. Boomerang is pretty straight except for Snagglepuss and Huckleberry Hound and Hokie Wolf when you really think about it. Anyway- this was pretty bad and really needs to be put out to pasture. *

 

Gwen Stefani w/ Eve ‘Rich Girl’

Thoughts- Of all the songs to sample- Gwen Stefani chose Fiddler on the freaking Roof. I mean if you’re going to sample from Fiddler on the Roof at least sample the Matchmaker song. That song is pretty badass. I could mention I met Hilary at the Fiddler of the Roof building but instead I should make fun of Eve and Gwen Stefani for both once again showing skin when there’s really nothing to show. I mean really- both girls make Mandy Moore look not that flat by comparison. I know I’ve made fun of Gwen Stefani’s flat chest before but she never seems to learn. If Lindsay Lohan wore outfits like that when she sang it’d be cool- but since it’s Gwen- not so much. And Lindsay was in the audience tonight- so I wonder what she was thinking. Oh and sampling Fiddler on the Roof is just not going to get you any good points from me. *1/4

 

Weekend Update

Cast- Kutcher, Tina Fey, Poehler, Parnell, Thompson

Thoughts- I feel weird saying this but I didn’t think Amy was that horrible tonight. She had some good jokes and managed to not screw all of them up. So kudos to Amy for not being on my bad list. Tina on the other hand- it’s time to hang it up. She was awful tonight- it was embarrassing to watch- and I think she knew it. The opening bit with Blake was a bad Daily Show rip-off but that’s expected with these girls. Like I said Amy rebounded and may have had her best Update ever. Once again the commentaries totally saved and helped Update. Kenan’s commentary was awesome. They got the music down right and the whole bit with Kenan and Ashton was the funniest part of the whole show. Kenan is turning into Seth with these good Update performances. The go back to Africa line was gold. I had been hard on Parnell’s raps before since if you’ve heard them once, then you’ve heard them many times. His raps had never been as flagrantly homosexual as this one. The part about him showering with Ashton (but not being gay) was so disgusting that I couldn’t help but laugh really hard at it. So thanks to some great commentaries and an okay performance by Amy- I have to say this was one of the better Updates of the season. ***

 

Church

Cast- Kutcher, Rudolph, Thompson, Mitchell

Thoughts- Praise the Lord! Imitating a black preacher has always been one of my favourite bits to do so I was intrigued seeing SNL try this out. Kenan was awesome as the Deacon and I thought the bit with Ashton reading the passage about slavery was funny. The skit kind of lost it in the middle but Ashton jumping out of the window, the bit about collection and Kenan as a whole helped this skit from losing track. Good stuff even though I think it could’ve been a lot better. ***

 

Action 13 News

Cast- Kutcher, Poehler, Meyers, Sanz

Thoughts- SNL may be in a 5-week slump with no end in sight but does Seth Meyers stop bringing the awesomeness? Of course not. Seth was channelling the spirit of Dave Clinger with his dickishness was awesome as was Ashton’s monotone newsman delivery. And does Seth make a good point about weathermen getting unfairly crapped on so kudos for him for also making a political statement within this skit. The skit started to lose control with Ashton chasing Seth around the studio (As it seems like the laughs were more off-camera then on) and it was headed for Tom Green territory once we got the monkey playing hockey. Seth stopping to talk to Amy only to get JACKED UP! by Ashton was AWESOME and totally redeemed a skit careening out of control. I really don’t know what to think of this but it was better then a Tom Greenish skit so we’ll say: ***1/4. Could this show be pulling a Barrymore?

 

Gwen Stefani

Thoughts- You think when Gwen Stefani told No Doubt about some of her ideas for her solo album they were like “Yea- go ahead Gwen. We don’t mind not being involved with this at all.” A marching band is the perfect way to make sure I don’t fall asleep at 12:50 but with those Asian girls and the band and the craziness I can’t really say I liked it either. I’ll give Gwen some points for effort but that’s it. **1/4

 

March Madness Castration Thing

Cast- Poehler, Forte

Thoughts- When I saw that Will Forte was in the last skit I got excited but this was pretty lame. I had a couple of laughs but this never really got going and it was another DOA skit. *1/2

 

The Bottom Line- The avg. skit was **.4 making this yet another thumbs in the middle show. It’s been 5 episodes in a row that SNL has not been able to produce a good show and I’m beyond frustrated. The first half was horrible and I question how some of these skits made it to air. They tried to rebound with some quality skits after a surprisingly good Update but it was just too little too late. Ashton’s a funny guy so once again they wasted another good host thanks to horrible writing. They have Cameron Diaz coming up- the last two times she hosted were both funny so I’m once again somewhat hopeful maybe they can make something happen here. It’s been 5 not good shows in a row- now someone up there has to badly get their shit together- cause it’s getting to be tiring watching and writing about such uninspired episodes.

 

Thumbs in the Middle

[Mik 0]

You know I was kind of disappointed when Ashton came out wearing pants in the monologue but luckily we did get our dose of Ashton in his underwear.

?????

 

I thought the show wasn't very good last night, this season has been a bit rough. I think Seth is the only castmember I really like anymore.

 

And how could you give *** to the Black church sketch? It didn't have a punchline! He jumped out the window and that was kinda it... no ending or anything. Just an awful skit.

[bob_barron 0]

The first time Ashton hosted- in his monologue he came out forgetting to have put on pants- it was really funny.

 

The black church skit had a bunch of funny lines and Kenan was great- plus I did laugh pretty hard when he jumped out the window.

[Mecha Mummy 0]

I only saw the black church skit, which I didn't think was particularly funny, and the Action 13 News skit, which I DID think was funny, mostly because of Seth (whose delivery REALLY reminded me of Steve Carrell, and that is a good thing).

[bob_barron 0]

Well 0-2 on black church- It had enough good elements that I liked it but I know it could've brought more awesome.

 

Apparently in the news skit Seth and Ashton were chasing each other all around the studio which is why it got so much off camera laughter. Also it was inspired by an improv bit Amy and Seth did last week.

 

Seth owns- this show would be ridiciously fucked without him

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Me-Harmony

Cast- Rudolph, Sanz, Forte, Seth Meyers, Thompson, Riggle

Thoughts- I don’t really know exactly what they were spoofing. I think they just used this as another excuse to get Kenan Thompson in woman’s clothing since Kenan in drag is always funny. Other then that this was pretty pedestrian stuff- seeing the other castmembers in drag really wasn’t that funny. I did laugh at the two gay Seths though. **3/4

Ever seen those commercials for E-Harmony.com with the old guy that founded the site spewing facts about how people who meet each other on his site get married more than any other site due to his patented personality matrix or whatever its called..?

[bob_barron 0]

I know what they were spoofing now- that was just a c-n-p from my Bateman review

[JST 0]

You want to see Ashton Kutcher in his underwear. You bother me.

 

On the plus side, I caught a brief clip of the church skit, and was surprised to see Sweet Tree (or is he Morgan?) of Conan fame as a choir singer.

[bob_barron 0]

You want to see Ashton Kutcher in his underwear. You bother me.

It was a funny monologue!!

[Guest Shadow]

More disturbing; he wants to see fugly Lohan in that outfit.

[starvenger 0]

Thought Gays in Space was funny even though it was pretty stereotypical.

 

Watercooler - When Horation Sanz is not the worst thing about the sketch, there's a serious problem. The worst thing about the sketch was that it was totally predictable, didn't seem to have a real point and it dragged on and on.

 

Gwen Stefani - yes she's flat chested but she's still cute. And I'd ever noticed this before, but her legs aren't that bad, either. Overall though, No Doubt > Gwen Stefani solo project.

[Vyce 0]

I don't care how flat-chested Gwen Stefani is.

 

I would do awful, awful sexually deviant things to her.

 

And maybe if you're good, I'd even let you watch.

[starvenger 0]

I don't care how flat-chested Gwen Stefani is.

 

I would do awful, awful sexually deviant things to her.

Can't say I blame you.