SNL Scorecard: Third Time is Almost the Charm For Host Jon Hamm
The Bad
"Audition" (Sudeikis, Wiig, Hamm): Kristen Wiig is auditioning for a role and lists her limits for all of the things she will do for the part -- including "show my bush" and "eat a small bowl of bird waste." Basically it's just Kristen Wiig playing another one of her characters who never seem to shut up. Then, a twist! Jon Hamm shows up to tell explain that Wiig is the same actress that yells "Toby!" at the dog who scoots his butt across the rug in a Stanley Steamer commercial. Strange, a sketch that actually has an ending for once but, alas, no beginning.
Score: 5.5
"Weekend Update" (Myers, Armisen, Wiig, Hader): An unbelievably forgettable "Update" considering it's the last one before an election, with really nothing of note from Meyers. Sure, Hader's James Carville impression is always great but there were really no specifics, just a riff on how the Tea Party will eventually lose its steam, just like any other political fad. The saving grace was "Garth and Kat." I am, admittedly, fascinated with this sketch. I'm pretty sure this is what comes as close as possible on SNL to pure improv as Armisen takes the lead in the non-sequitur type lyrics while Wiig tries to sing along -- which results in both breaking at least three times.
Score: 5
"Joe Biden Cold Open" (Sudeikis): Again, like last week, this is the best anyone could come up with for a cold open? Look, I love Sudeikis as Biden, but where's the hard-hitting satire three days before a midterm election?
Score: 4.5
"American America" I'm going to be honest, I have no idea what this was or what it was trying to be. I get it, it's the last sketch (if you can call it that) of the night and those are usually weird. My best guess? This little cartoon of David Spade as a dog in a purse, commenting on starlets and their outfits, could have been run during any episode as filler. Every SNL is always a race to the finish to fit in the last sketch of the night. Rihanna's last song ended at 12:55. Not enough time for a full sketch after commercials but too much time to go straight into "good nights." So what do we get? A two-minute cartoon of David Spade as a dog. I'd rather see "Bear City."
Score: 3.0
The Ugly
"Darlique & Barney" (Hamm, Wiig): I never understand sketches like this. I have to assume they are funny in the pitch meetings and during the read-throughs; I just have no idea how they get to air. Hamm and Wiig play a married couple in a lounge act, bickering through melodies such as the Kit Kat bar jingle. What's frustrating is that it has the appearance of going somewhere funny, but never does. Then again, if this is the worst a Jon Hamm-hosted episode has to offer, that's a good sign for Jon Hamm-hosted episodes.
Score: 2.0
Average Score For This Show: 5.86
Weekly Host Scorecard:
· Amy Poehler 6.04
· Emma Stone 5.88
· Jon Hamm 5.86
· Bryan Cranston 5.79
· Jane Lynch 5.31
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Comments
This was the most I've enjoyed an episode all season. The material may not have been the strongest but I laughed out loud numerous times during the airing. And, on a Saturday night, that's all I'm asking for.
I thought this ep was far better than last week's with Emma Stone(i felt so bad for her) but they need NEW writers...
There were some really great sketches last week late in the episode. Hamm is the best pure host so far this season -- he was front and center while other hosts played bit parts and supporting roles.
If you're gonna sequel-ize a digital short you need to reimagine it (like they masterfully did with Mother Lover). RONNIE & CLYDE is a clever concept but it was almost beat-for-beat the same music as the original SHY RAH-NAY. Fail. ...and the BACK TO THE FUTURE auditions don't hold a candle to the STAR WARS ones of '97. The key to that one's success was that ALL the impressions were solid - and they actually utilized a host that could pull many of them off. Maybe they should stay away from that bit until Kevin Pollack hosts again. Pacino - great. Alda - great. Murphy - great. Herman - great. But guess what, they're all cast members. They're supposed to be able to do that... Showcase the host more and really throw the audience for a loop.
The 'I Didn't Ask For This' sketch was my favorite so far this season. I was wondering when Bobby was going to have the lead in a sketch and man did he deliver. I could watch 'Fat Guy Get's Owned' a million times.
The host from 97 that you're thinking of was Kevin Spacey.
I could have done without Kinnison and Pee Wee in the Back to the Future screen tests. Impersonations of those two have been beaten into the ground for 25 years. They didn't really add anything to the bit. "I know you are, but what am I!?" Seriously?
Kenan made me very, very happy this past weekend for two reasons: (1) His asides to his dead wife in "Highway Cops" were hilarious. (2) I think this was the first time he's been allowed to do Cosby since the Fat Albert movie! Granted, it was a bit rusty, but now that the gag order is apparently lifted, I'm looking forward to seeing him re-discover what was once his signature impression.
SNL needs to be scrapped. Most of the cast and writers should be fired. The show is just a glorified high school improv group with sketches that only crack up the cast and a few viewers that can appreciate that SNL manages to keep from being edgy enough to offend or test any boundaries. Any attempts at edge results in what amounts to fart jokes or elementary school dirty words.
Can you imagine college students and twenty somethingers quoting lines from the show or getting together to watch the show now? There was a time when that was the case and you don't have to go back to the days of the original '70s cast to find it. SNL has become the establishment that others rail against; it's an establishment that exists solely on it's storied "hallowed" past.
Sedeikis and Wiig are one note, one trick ponies. SNL was lazy and didn't seek out a decent Obama impersonator Sedikis's impersonation is as bad as Chevy Chase's Ford's impression and we all know that the only thing funny about that was his prat fall (same vein as farts and dirty words).
Lord help SNL if another major network develops decent counter programming.
I forgot to mention that 30 Rock, which is pretty much a spin off of SNL, is fantastic. I could watch 30 Rock for an hour and a half and laugh all the way through.
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