Not surprisingly, with Paul Brittain and Taran Killam scoring so much airtime in the latest Saturday Night Live, there were some notable shakeups in this week's Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time-Player Relevancy Poll. Of course, one break-out sketch doesn't guarantee the top spot for anybody, but it is safe to say that these two are no longer bottom-dwelling newcomers. Honestly? If "Sex Ed Vincent" and "Les Jeunes de Paris" are any indication of what these two have to offer, then please, Lorne Michaels, spare us from having to sit through another Kristen Wiig vanity sketch.
The Relevancy Poll is driven by a proprietary algorithm involving such factors as quality airtime, cultural buzz and maybe even a little giddyness over something insanely unique (hello, "Les Jeunes de Paris"). Movieline will gauge the chatter following each new episode and, based on that, create each week's NRFPTP Relevancy Poll. If your results differ, let's hear about it.
Hader makes his first appearance in the No. 1 slot. Fueled by his one-two punch of Peter DeSantos, the parent-frightening reporter, and Stefon -- a character so funny that even Hader can't keep a straight face.
Sudeikis was fortunate to look enough like Brett Favre to land the role for the Wrangler Jeans commercial parody. I've described Sudeikis in the past as the quarterback of the SNL players, last Saturday he actually played a quarterback... well, a quarterback with his penis hanging out.
Five words: The Rent is Too Damn High.
You know what? Kristen Wiig is funny, she really is. She's great at stealing scenes in feature films. But I don't understand why so many of her sketches just consist of her mugging for the camera. She's consistently one of the most relevant members of the SNL cast, just not always for the right reasons.
Best line this week: "A new report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that the number of cases of diabetics in the U.S. will double and possibly even triple by 2050 -- which can't be too surprising to a country that uses fried chicken as bread." Runner-up: "Entomologists in the New York City area have noticed an increasing number of the brown marmorated stink bug which lets off a foul odor when disturbed or threatened. Just what New York needs: More things that do that."
Samberg's "I Broke My Arm" Digital Short is still bugging me. I hated it at first, then I loved it when she has to use the digital voice in order to speak, then the dancing jelly lost me again. There was something here but Samberg's tendency to go for weird ruined this one.
This is the lowest Armisen has been on the poll. I know very few people will agree with me, but I'd like to see Armisen reprise his sparkling apple juice-sending character very soon. And, please, for the good of the country, I wish he would let Pharoah have Obama. In the time that's now cleared up, Armisen could bring us a desperately long-overdue Nicholas Fehn or Frondi.
Again, yeah, she's taken the "overconfident male/female nerd teenager" one step too far. It's starting to appear one-trick-ponyish, and Pedrad is anything but that. So I do hope she scales back on these types of characters.
Moynihan, as always, does so much with his background characters. His reaction to Brett Favre's penis was a highlight of the show. Moynihan is certainly not in the Abby Elliott range of losing any sense of relevancy on the show, and his dedication to nailing what he's given is notable as a teen player. But, yes, he does need to find a way to get himself into more starring situations. Suggestion: Ass Dan.
Not much for Pharoah to do this week except to be one of two cast members to have their penises blurred out and to give the look of death toward Armisen's Obama.
Bayer had some screentime, but only in supporting roles. Also, for the first time, was overshadowed by both Killam and Brittain.
Last week I said that Elliott needs a recurring character. At this point, she just needs any character. Saturday night she was reduced to bit background parts. The featured players can get away with multiple episodes with little airtime, but as a full-time cast member, Elliott is in desperate need of a big week.