SNL Review

[bob_barron 0]

SNL Review- LeBron James/Kanye West

 

Mailbag!!!!!!-

[email protected] writes-

 

 

Hey Bob-

 

I hope you had a nice summer. I think you may have overlooked one of my

mailbag contributions from the end of last season.

 

My question to you at the time was about emo kids. I mean, what does

the stereotypical emo kid look like? What is their usual behaviour? And

why should they be so hated? And why would you think that some emo kid

would be responsible for something like the Virginia Tech tragedy.

 

Plus, did WWE ever comment on the Virginia Tech massacre during their

programming?

 

Sorry to dig up old news, Bob.

 

Later,

 

Ken

 

I don’t know many emo people at all, but they just look emo you know. Looking glum, long hair, like they’ve given up. Always whining about how life is unfair. That sort of thing. And they should be hated for just being whiny ass bitches.

 

Regarding your second question- Had Chris Benoit sent a videotape to NBC, he would’ve stolen the kids gimmick.

 

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

 

Cold Opening

Cast- Darrell Hammond, Amy Poehler

Thoughts- SNL, the show where Lorne Michaels will never ever fire you. I knew I should’ve majored in being a cast member while at university. Provided that your name is not Rob Riggle, it’s a ridiculously stable job. I enjoyed this skit, SNL usually doesn’t miss when it comes to the Clintons. The conundrum they got themselves into regarding Barack Obama would’ve been funnier, had Barack not faded so fast that even Howard Dean was like: Damn dude. Hillary being a total bitch is always good stuff, and the line about John Edwards made the show. ***1/2

 

Monologue

Cast- LeBron James

Thoughts- Fun fact: Before SNL started, I was watching the scene in the Nutty Professor where he brings Jada to dinner with his family. Still holds up. I liked LeBron’s line to non-basketball fans about sweeping the Spurs. This crowd sure did die off when we met the LeBrons. It was alright, but leave it to a Nike commercial. **

 

Angry Dog

Cast- Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen

Thoughts- This started out awesome, and there’s something about Will Forte shilling a Michael Vick product that made me laugh. The dog becoming super psycho at the end was more upsetting than funny, but the thought was there. **1/2

 

Penelope

Cast- James, Armisen, Wiig, Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Hader

Thoughts- It’s odd- Kristen played something like similar to Knocked Up and was hilarious but Penelope is the black hole of suck on SNL. She has a lot of strengths, and should ditch this one. It’s getting to be Bronx Beat bad. ½*

 

High School Musical 3

Cast- James, Andy Samberg, Armisen, Kenan Thompson, Jason Sudeikis, Forte, Rudolph

Thoughts- First of all, had Oleysa Rulin cameoed, this skit would’ve been given ***** and I would’ve spoken about it in the same vein as last year’s Sir Paul-Steve Martin skit. I am not joking. Andy and Maya portraying Troy and Gabriella is like the time they had Maya do Charlotte York- a sick joke, if nothing else. And Vanessa Hudgens just goes by that though, no Anne. She dropped the Anne to sound more adult, only to realise that all she had to do was show her pussy to the world and it accomplished the same task.

 

That sad, I did like this and I enjoyed seeing one of my favourite movies spoofed on SNL. Fred as Chad rocked though. And the fact that we got to see Hudgens naked and she’s still going to be in HSM 3 is just the best news all around. ***

 

SNL Digital Short

Cast- Jake Gyllenhaal, Adam Levine, Samberg, Armisen

Thoughts- Well that’s quite the random cameo. And wow, that Columbia president is the rudest host ever. The Digital Shorts continue to be funny. I felt this started off a bit slowly, but the lyrics got better as the song went along, and Adam Levine’s cameo just ruled it. ***

 

NBA Read to Achieve

Cast- James, Hader, Sudeikis

Thoughts- This almost makes up for bringing back Penelope. Almost. Jeff is awesome, and they should make this recurring. It works so well. LeBron getting more pissed was very funny, as was Jason’s constant mockery about his basketball prowess. I thought the ending with the basketball game was really weak, but this was a fun skit. If you go the basketball route, I have Jeff call a foul on LeBron to try to invalidate his basket. ***3/4

 

Lyle Kane Show

Cast- James, Forte, Hader

Thoughts- Fun fact #2: I actually saw the Brothers Solomon. In theatres. Paid money for it. If after reading that, all my opinions are immediately invalidated, I totally understand. If it makes you feel better knowing that I thought it was terrible, well that’s a start. Chrissy from Growing Pains was in it, which is awesome if nothing else. Oh yea, Will Forte being bizarre speaking in a weird voice. This isn’t a skit you do with an athlete, and LeBron couldn’t pull it off. The BJ line and Forte saying Black ET were both really funny, but I felt this could’ve been better. **1/4

 

Kanye West “Stronger and The Good Life”

Thoughts- I love that they had a orchestra full of people when it wasn’t really necessary. It’s just Kanye being Kanye. I love Stronger, and again was baffled why Kanye has to get his two songs in. Just play one. It’s such an awkward transition and the Good Life is not on Stronger’s level and came off as flat. Stronger is awesome though, and good job on kicking 50’s ass. ***1/2

 

Weekend Update

Cast- Seth Meyers, Poehler, Thompson, Rudolph, Armisen

Thoughts- Yay, another season of mean Seth jokes. Hopefully it’s also another season of REALLY mean Seth jokes that only I laugh at. Like the Rudy Guiliani one. I thought joke-wise this was a very good Update. Amy had a few clunkers and not every one of Seth’s jokes worked, but I was laughing a lot. I felt the commentaries were a little weak. Kenan’s OJ wasn’t as funny as it should’ve been, and I didn’t think we needed Fred double dipping as the Iranian president. I enjoyed this Weekend Update, and I hope Seth and Amy can start hitting **** on a regular basis. ***1/2

 

Solid Gold

Cast- James, Thompson, Rudolph, Wiig, Poehler, Forte

Thoughts- Time for this show to become forgettable! If you’re going to mock Solid Gold, at least mock Andy Gibb or something. The group dancing to We Built This City cracked me up, but the rest was just bad. ¾*

 

TV Funhouse

Thoughts- Hey! The Ambiguously Gay Duo are back! Steve Carell does an amazing job of disguising his voice. Watching it now, it’s obvious that Ace is Stephen Colbert, but I wasn’t completely positive it was Carell until the credits. It was good to see the AGD back, especially after Smigel slumped through last season. I question putting this so late in the show, this really should’ve been done after Read to Achieve. While not at the level of classic AGDs, this had a lot of great jokes, and I loved the charades game. Welcome back Smigel, lets put last season behind us. ***1/2

 

106th and Park

Cast- Lorne Michaels, James, West, Rudolph, Thompson, Poehler, Forte, Sudeikis

Thoughts- You knew you have an all black lineup when there’s not one but two BET skits. This must be Kenan’s dream week ever since they axed Finesse. I think this had a funny concept but went on too long. Kanye at the Kids Choice Awards- funny. Kanye bitching about not getting a pumpkin….not so much. I do give Kanye kudos for doing a skit though, it’s always fun seeing the musical guest get involved. **1/4

 

Kanye West “Champion”

Thoughts- Enough with the violinists! I liked seeing up there just rapping, and I’m always impressed how people can talk that much without taking a breath. And he admitted that he messed up, so hooray humility. Not as good as Stronger, but good enough. ***

 

Great Moments in Guidance Counsellor History

Cast- James, Sudeikis, Forte

Thoughts- Good concept, but I felt this came off way too flat. The exchanges between Sudeikis and LeBron weren’t funny at all, but I love Sudeikis bitching out Forte. Decent for a last skit. **

 

 

The Bottom Line- Avg. skit was **.62 making this a thumbs up show, and the best season premiere since Jack Black in 2003. LeBron did nothing, but the cast and writers did an excellent job of working around him, and he had help from having a really good musical guest. This is probably the best athlete show since I started reviewing, so even though he doesn’t have a ring, he can take solace in that. A fun way to kick off the season, and I’m really looking forward to seeing Seth Rogen host.

 

Thumbs Up

 

[Black Lushus 0]

no surprise, Bob and I disagree on something...Solid Gold 80s was great!

[strummer 0]

Bob, Maya's back.

 

Why?

 

Lebron's BJ line was the highlight of the show

[King Kamala 0]

no surprise, Bob and I disagree on something...Solid Gold 80s was great!

 

 

I really liked The Solid Gold skit as well. Probably my 2nd favorite part of the night behind The Digital Short.

[ZGangsta 0]

I enjoyed seeing one of my favourite movies spoofed on SNL.

Good God man.

 

I thought the Kanye West rushing the stage at awards sketch was amazing.

[Mik 0]

Look at this pumpkin. It's got champagne in it.

 

I loved this episode. The cape entrance and exit in Solid Gold had me laughing. I love Mike Underballs and Jeff, the Michael Vick ad was great, and the Digital Short was really good.

 

Good start to the season. I'm looking forward to Seth Rogen.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

I loved Kanye's "I've been doing this for too long!" when he bumrushed the county fair's pumpkin award.

[Brett Favre 0]

I loved Kanye's "I've been doing this for too long!" when he bumrushed the county fair's pumpkin award.

 

Lol.

 

"Hell no."

 

Solid Gold was pretty funny too.

[Hank Kingsley 0]

Hi thurrrrrrrrrr. Lyle Kane was amazing. Digital short and Solid Gold were my favorites, too. "I like to make vests!" And that was definitely LeBron's best skit, because he only had one line.

 

And I laughed at Weekend Update more than I have in a long time. Seth was on fire.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

Kanye's skit was hysterical. I thought the jokes on Weekend Update were funny, but the Iranian president thing fell really flat. Solid Gold was kind of funny. Guidance Counselor thing was sort of ok, but LeBron James really sucked.

[Craig Th 0]

Rogen is hosting next week?

 

I am so there.

[Chazz 0]

I noticed this was the second consecutive season that they didn't add anyone new to the cast. Is SNL on a hiring freeze, or is Lorne just happy with the cast he has?

[King Kamala 0]

I noticed this was the second consecutive season that they didn't add anyone new to the cast. Is SNL on a hiring freeze, or is Lorne just happy with the cast he has?

 

Think it's a combination of both but it probably leans more towards the former. You'd probably have to go way back to find two seasons in a row where they didn't add anybody.

[Black Lushus 0]

the cast is okay...it's the writing that needs some work.

[Ripper 0]

I need there to be a black sketch comedy show that can truely capture the comedy which is 106 and Park.

 

Its like TRL only TRL knows that it is corny and screaming girls screaming after whatever popstar and they know not to take themselves too seriously. 106 and Park is TRL if they thought they were the coolest thing going. EVER. The host are terrible and the crowd is full of complete idiots.

 

But I just get the feeling that all the jokes would be lost on the SNL audience.

[Black Lushus 0]

I think that's why Solid Gold kinda fell flat with some of the audience and maybe even Bob (not that I'm speaking for him or anything)...if you grew up watching garbage like that like I did, you'd see how hilarious it is. Hell, the original Solid Gold doesn't need a comedy sketch, just go back and watch YouTube.