Who Scored Big in Week 13 of SNL's Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time-Player Relevancy Poll?
There is a definite trend this season on Saturday Night Live: Anytime the younger cast members have a good week (as they did during the Gwyneth Paltrow-hosted show), they're usually nowhere to be found during the next show. Save for Jay Pharoah, no featured player made much of an impact on an episode dominated by veterans. But how did the rest of the cast rank? To the Relevancy Poll!
The NRFPTP Relevancy Poll is driven by a proprietary algorithm involving such factors as quality airtime. If your results differ, let's hear about it in the comments.
1. Andy Samberg (Last Week: 2)
Was Samberg in every sketch Saturday night? Well, no, but it did start to feel that way at times. Samberg was part of the most talked about event of the evening, Mark Zuckerberg's walk-on, and even got to debut his new (but predictable) Lonely Island song. Also, "El Shrinko."
2. Kenan Thompson (Last Week: 6)
It's nice to see Kenan have a nice week -- without the benefit of "What's Up With That?" -- with leading rolls in "Spa Talk," "Mr. Wizard" and "Bride of Blackenstein" and an appearance as Tyler Perry on "Update."
Hey, imagine that: A new episode of SNL aired, and Hader had a good week. What are the odds?
4. Kristen Wiig (Last Week: 7)
Wiig got the cold open all to herself and introduced a new character (for better or worse) during "Spa Talk."
Finally! Pharoah stars in a sketch where he's not doing an impression of a celebrity or an impression of his old high school principal.
6. Seth Meyers (Last Week: 1) Meyers, himself, was pretty great on this week's "Update." The "Update" segments, though, lacked.
7. Abby Elliott (Last Week: 14)
Every week Elliott is not in the last position, I feel a sense of relief. No Earth-shattering lead parts for her, but she was pretty much everywhere. Or at least in comparison to prior weeks, it sure felt like she was everywhere.
8. Jason Sudeikis (Last Week: 8) The curious case of Jason Sudeikis: Once again has a couple of big roles in "Don't Forget the Lyrics" and "Herb Welch" but they are both the straight man parts and, really, not really anywhere near the upper echelon of memorable Sudeikis moments that we pretty much never see any longer.
9. Nasim Pedrad (Last Week: 11) Good airtime for Pedrad as a horny, science-loving student in the Mr. Wizard sketch but then almost disappeared (other than a couple quick supporting roles) for the rest of the night.
10. Fred Armisen (Last Week: 9) It was pretty much Hosni Mubarak and out for Armisen.
11. Paul Brittain (Last Week: 5)
Limited to a couple of supporting roles, but, seriously, what a great mustache in the "Estro-maxx" commercial (was that 'Sex" Ed?).
12. Bobby Moynihan (Last Week: 10) Other than a supporting role in "Spa Talk" and a brief appearance in "Estro-maxx," a quiet night for Moynihan.
13. Vanessa Bayer (Last Week: 13)
Only small supporting roles this week for Bayer, but it should be noted (so I will) that Bayer is really good at making the best of those small supporting roles.
14. Taran Killam (Last Week: 3) Killam used to own this spot to start the season. Since then, he's become one of the most unique voices on the show. An off week, but considering the run he's had over the last few shows, this one show setback means nothing.
Follow Mike Ryan on Twitter
Follow Movieline on Twitter
Comments
Jay Pharaoh was doing an impression of Bootsy Collins.
I don't know, Sudekis as Mark McGrath's line "Hey, it's VH1, it's two in the afternoon, It's ALL happening!!" was the line of the night for me.
The new cast and the old do not mesh, and that's not necessarily a sign the old ones should go.
I agree 100 percent. I've been thinking the same thing.
Samberg's rank is overinflated. He did Zuck on autopilot, so he lucked out, and "El Shrinko" was a bad high school skit, not worthy of the Jean Doumanian era.
Honestly? Move Samberg below Haden, and for this week only, the host and musical guest should get kudos for carrying the show. Jesse was a trooper, put him at the top, and place Nicki Minaj in the #2 spot. The Bride of Frankenstein sketch wouldn't have existed without her, and she really delivered to make it much more than a one-joke skit.
I approve of Armisen's ranking. It's to the point where I actually grimace when he appears.