SNL Review

[bob_barron 0]

SNL Review- Scarlett Johansson/Death Cab for Cutie

 

Sorry this is late, but I had to cover an OHL game.

 

Sports Report-

 

Leafs- They really miss McCabe. After the first period, they had a really piss-poor effort against Phoenix. Losing to Calgary and Vancouver is whatever, but blowing a 3-goal lead against Phoenix at home, is inexcusable. Come back soon McCabe!

 

Canucks- I was all set to go off on my Alex Auld sucks rant, but tonight’s game was awesome. Good to see Bertuzzi finally breaking out and having a kick-ass game, and Anson Carter has been really great this year. The Northwest division is going to be a dog-fight, hopefully tonight’s game will be a momentum changer.

 

Nets- I was all set to gush over the Nets awesome 10 game winning, but they’re starting to give those games back with a 3-game losing streak, including two embarrassing road losses. They obviously miss R-Jeff, and hopefully he’ll come back soon.

 

Mailbag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-

 

Tan McCartin writes-

 

I was wondering if I could get a transcript of the Skit that Jessica and Nick did on SNL and/or get a copy of it on DVD or VHS? Is that possible?

Could you please let me know! I would sure appreciate it!

thanks!

tan mccartin

[email protected]

 

A transcript is available at- http://snltranscripts.jt.org/03/03jcantador.phtml

 

If you want a DVD or VHS copy, try the S-N-L.com tape traders folder.

 

[email protected] writes-

 

 

Hey Bob- This is Ken Hayashi from Voy. I have just two questions for you- one political and one non-political.

 

First of all, what is your take on David Letterman’s sneak attack on Bill O’Rielly two weeks ago on the Late Show? How can you compare/contrast that debacle to Jon Stewart v. Crossfire during the 2004 Election?

 

Second of all, how do you feel about all the unexpected changes occurring in WWE over the first few weeks of 2006? Specifically, what do you think of Edge winning the WWE title from Cena, and of Angle winning the World Title after Batista vacated it? How do you think these changes will affect the road to WrestleMania 22? Who do you think will win the Royal Rumble later this month? Do you think we’ll still see HHH in RAW main event and Orton in the SD! main event at WM 22? If not, what feuds do you foresee taking shape for April 2- besides Vince v. HBK and Taker v. Boogeyman? Thanks, Bob. Later, Ken

 

I thought it was fun to watch. I felt like Letterman was game, until he revealed that he didn’t watch O’Reilly’s show and was just talking out of his ass. O’Reilly shouldn’t have started the interview with the anti-Christmas stuff, but I thought towards the end he carried himself very well. He wasn’t a dick like Stewart, but it wasn’t as funny either.

 

Edge winning is awesome, since I’m a huge Edge fan. I thought Rey eliminating Henry on SD! would’ve been so much better. Right now we don’t really know what’s taking shape, and they’re just booking out of their ass right now. Taker v. Angle at WM would be pretty cool though.

 

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

 

And now the review....

 

Cold Opening

Thoughts- This was really short, but I laughed at everything while it lasted. Pat Robertson is always a fun target, and I’m glad this didn’t drag or anything. ***

 

Monologue

Cast- Scarlett Johansson, Amy Poehler

Thoughts- Amy Poehler looked really hot here. Scarlett looked pretty good herself. And for the record, I’m off the Scarlett hate wagon after seeing Match Point. Woody Allen did a great job of making her look hot. This was okay, although, the timing was a bit off. Singing doesn’t usually work in monologues, but Amy had some really great lines here to elevate it from the usual crap. **1/2

 

Commercial

Cast- Jason Sudeikis, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader

Thoughts- When featured players attack! This commercial reminded me of Colon Blow, but unlike Colon Blow, I didn’t really find it to be that funny. This is one of those things where once you get the joke, and you don’t like it, you’re kind of screwed. *

 

Deephouse Dish

Cast- Johansson, Rachel Dratch, Kenan Thompson, Poehler, Chris Parnell

Thoughts- I remember them doing this before, and it wasn’t that good. This was no different. Kenan was funny here, and Scarlett singing the Don’t Cha ripoff was okay, but this is a character that never should have been introduced in the first place, let alone become recurring. *1/2

 

Smorgisboard

Cast- Johansson, Seth Meyers, Hader

Thoughts- This was pretty odd. I didn’t not like it, but I didn’t like it either, although I appreciated what they were trying to do. I know that’s complicated, but I had to find a way to explain why I gave it **3/4. As much as I like Seth, I thought Will Forte would’ve done a better job here. While much of the skit didn’t work, Seth wishing for Hader’s death and the story of Hader going into a coma were pretty hilarious. Instead of being really funny, the skit came off as just weird for the sake of weird too many times. **3/4

 

Smigel

Thoughts- While I enjoy Smigel’s tributes to Hanna Barbara, this one didn’t click. I loved the Mel Blanc imitation with the guy yelling at Darwin like Mr. Spacely, but the rest was pretty tame for a Smigel cartoon. I expected something offensive and envelope pushing and instead got something well pretty lame. I liked Christmastime for the Jews, and I assume he was behind the cold, so he’s allowed a clunker. **

 

Chandeliers

Cast- Johansson, Armisen, Dratch, Thompson, Sudeikis

Thoughts- This was a nice little skit. I’ve always been a chandelier fan, and it was nice to see it spotlighted on SNL. Fred was hilarious here, and I liked his accent. The highlight for me was Johansson plugging everything in the monotone manner with the accent of hers. ***

 

Duluth Live

Cast- Johansson, Will Forte, Horatio Sanz, Poehler, Armisen, Dratch, Finesse Mitchell, Sudeikis, Samberg, Hader, Wiig

Thoughts- Will Forte does it again. Unlike last time where I gave you Forte’s spelling of business, I will not be providing lyrics for the Duluth Live. I’m glad we got another bizarre Forte skit, and this was very funny. My big complaint was that I thought they cut to way too may reaction shots of Poehler and Sudeikis. I mean we get it, they’re getting bored with this, no need to show it 9 million times. Samberg’s guitar solo was really funny and I enjoyed Armisen on the drums. This was a bit long, but was very funny. ***1/2

 

Death Cab for Cutie

Thoughts- I had never really heard of Death Cab for Cutie before, and they didn’t really impress me here. This was alright but too boring. **1/4

 

Weekend Update

Cast- Tina Fey, Poehler, Parnell, Dratch, Samberg

Thoughts- SNL needs to realise that just because he had one hilarious skit, that doesn’t make Andy Samberg funny. His commentary was really bad. Even though I didn’t think I would like it, I thought the bit about Alito’s confirmation hearing was funny at times. Tina and Amy seemed to better at the jokes then usual. I laughed more then I usually do at their jokes, which is a positive I guess. Samberg’s commentary killed any chance of this being ***+ though. **3/4

 

My Sweet 16

Cast- Johansson, Parnell, Dratch, Poehler, Wiig

Thoughts- I never thought I’d hear a Hilary Duff song on SNL but SNL manages to surprise me. Even though it was her worst song off Metamorphosis, any Hilary is better then no Hilary. This was really awesome, and Johansson was hilarious. I loved the interplay between Johansson and Poehler, especially Amy’s comments to the camera. The Arch line was killer. The skit’s momentum died off a smidge at the actual party, but Johansson telling her parents to wait in the car and flipping off over getting the Go-Gos instead of Hilary and Haylie was funny stuff. Haylie Duff is horrible, but then again so is the Go-Go’s version of Our Lips Are Sealed, so her party was doomed to fail. Parnell was funny as always as the beleaguered dad. ****1/4

 

Buying a Ring

Cast- Johansson, Mitchell, Sudeikis

Thoughts- Given Scarlett’s connection to Woody Allen, this skit reminded me a great deal of the scene in Everybody Says I Love You where Edward Norton goes to buy a ring for Skylar and then ends up singing My Baby Just Cares For Me. What an awesome movie. Anyway, Sudeikis was awesome here. He’s really done well since getting an on-air role and I don’t mind that he’s taking a lot of Seth’s roles. Some really good lines from Sudeikis including talking about the 16 year old him and his balls. Johansson was fine as the straight woman, and Sudeikis attempting to getaway with the ring was a good ending. ***1/2

 

Scientists

Cast- Johansson, Meyers, Sanz, Samberg

Thoughts- Another good little skit in a series of them tonight. Concieveably, if Seth was fast asleep, they could move him out of the way and Horatio and Scarlett could just have sex that way, assuming Scarlett’s orgasm wouldn’t be that loud and she could keep her mouth shut. The guitar thing, Seth does have a legit gripe about, but then again we don’t really know the inner workings of the boat. I know I nitpicked the spelling bee skit last time and got the mnemonic thing wrong, but hopefully this time I didn’t make any screw-ups. Of course the Andy Samberg bit at the end is totally absurd, but who cares, since it wasn’t funny anyway. This was funny and Horatio actually made me laugh, so yay for that. Seth was good as always, and Johansson was funny once again. ***1/4

 

Death Cab for Cutie

Thoughts- This was a little better then the first song, although not by much. At least week we get the Strokes, who should be high energy if nothing else. Sorry Death Cab, you didn’t impress me. **1/2

 

Tina Fey Should Be Shot

Cast- Johansson, Fey, Dratch

Thoughts- I can almost by that they were riffing on the Chuck Norris facts stuff, but I won’t. This was such a pathetic rip-off of Bill Brasky that Bill Brasky is rolling over in his grave. To Bill Brasky! I’d say I wish Tina would quit, but she should’ve quit in 2004. DUD

 

The Bottom Line- Avg. skit was **.51 making this a thumbs up show. The last time there were three consecutive thumbs up shows was Liam-Luke and Colin. This show had a lot of good little skits. Nothing too spectacular (aside from the Sweet 16 skit) and nothing that was bad except for the last skit. It was a good solid show that I didn’t mind watching. Johansson stumbled a few times but overall she was a very funny host, and helped add to a lot of the skits. Aside from the overusage of Samberg, there really was nothing to complain about with this episode. Don’t really have any expectations for next week, but hopefully SNL can keep the momentum going.

 

Thumbs Up

[Guest JMA]

I need to start recording SNL with DVR. It's been a while since I've watched a live episode.

[strummer 0]

Amy looked really really hot with the new tan. Anyone who saw Will Arnett on Conan knows why

[Hoff 0]

I thought Johannsen was horrible. Very wooden. Maybe it was just me.

[bob_barron 0]

Wow, usually I'm the one hating on her. While she was a bit nervous, I thought she was a good host and added to the skits, in particular, the sweet 16 skit

[Mole 0]

I was about to say. I thought bob HATEDDDD Scarlett.

[bob_barron 0]

Match Point changed it all, what a fantastic movie and a great performance.

 

And I don't know what Woody Allen did, but he made her look amazing.

[Art Sandusky 0]

He didn't do anything, you've just been lacking your eyes apparently.

[bob_barron 0]

I hated her in the other movies I saw her in, and never thought she was that attractive. Match Point changed all that