SNL Scorecard: Miley Cyrus' Show Was Not 'Pretty Cool'
Anytime Saturday Night Live brings on a "young, hip" entertainer, they have a history of dumbing down their material for the mass audience -- which is exactly what happened last night with host Miley Cyrus. It's obvious that there's a concerted effort to appeal to the 16-year-old out there who has never watched SNL before, but was watching last night because Cyrus was hosting -- a Cyrus, I should add, who came off a bit smug at times (her monologue is a good example) and seemed to never really win over the studio audience.
Actually, in some ways it's hard to blame SNL; any show that's been on this long has to cultivate future viewers. Unfortunately, it leaves us, the people who watch every week, with a fairly uninspired show that was more interested in headlines -- "Hey, Miley Cyrus played Justin Bieber! Isn't that wonderful!" -- than decent sketch comedy. Put it this way: I suspect that people who don't really pay attention to SNL, really liked last night's SNL. On to the pretty ugly scorecard...
Sketch of the Night
"Les Jeunes de Paris" (Killam, Pedrad, Cyrus): Frankly, the only thing about last night's episode that made me happy was the fact the "Les Jeunes de Paris" has now officially become a recurring sketch. Perhaps this was also Cyrus's best sketch because she wasn't allowed to speak English. Also: Taran Killam is slowly becoming the star of SNL.
Score: 8.0
The Good
"Weekend Update" (Meyers, Sudeikis, Moynihan): Admittedly, I'm not really sure if this week's "Update" was really that good or just a reprieve from everything else going on around it. Moynihan's Anthony Crispino and Sudeikis' Devil characters are always welcome sights. Meyers' "Winner/Losers" commentary on the Charlie Sheen situation was light-years better than the cold open that already seemed dated (we'll get to that).
Score: 7.5
"Beastly" (Samberg, Cyrus, Pedrad, Brittain): "Did you vote for me because just because I'm the rich, popular, good looking guy? Hell yeah!" Samberg has now portrayed both Sir Ben Kingsley and now Gene Hackman during fake movie trailers during this season of SNL. This time, a handsome man is cursed to a life of looking beastly -- which looks an awful lot like Justin Beiber's roommate from a couple of episodes ago. Also, a Rango reference!
Score: 7.0
"Disney Channel Acting School" (Cyrus, Thompson, Ensemble): This one started off fairly weak but gained momentum as it went along. Placing it into the "good" category was the "mastering of classic Disney Channel moves": "Eating then freezing," "reacting to stinky feet," "spying in a doorway" and "entering on a scooter."
Score: 6.5
"TCM Classics: The Sound of Music" (Armisen, Sudeikis, Ensemble) Not anywhere near as good as Armisen's first entry into this now recurring sketch, The Wizard of Oz. Look, there's an interesting idea here -- placing an oddball into the Von Trapp family -- but ultimately all this sketch comes down to is, "Hey, I'm Hispanic and I speak in a Hispanic accent. Hilarious, right?" In fairness, Armisen was really into this sketch (which isn't on Hulu) -- he even made the Nazis laugh.
Score: 6.0
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Comments
Actually, I think you have become out of touch with this show and it's humor. I have been watching since the beginning and I found this show the best so far this season. And from the comments I am seeing online, other sites and people agree.
I disagree. Well, I agree on the overall position of the sketches, except for the MCS sketch, which I would put in the low end of the good pile, and I would put the SoM sketch in the middle of the bad and put the Blackeyed Peas sketch in the ugly. I think it was a pretty good episode. Certainly not the best of the season, but somewhere between Poehler and Rudd. It was bogged down by bad episodes in the beginning of the show, but, overall, I was happy with it.
The only thing that stands out, but not in a good way, is the monologue song, which she played not for laughs but in an attempt to correct the official record on her.
And, she does a great Bieber, but I think that's more a function of Bieber and not Miley.
Wow, is comedy subjective. I have to disagree too, though, since this was one of the few SNLs that made me laugh out loud.
The Disney Acting School was terrific, (it's funny because it's true!). Thompson was in his element.
I think you also underrated the Black Eyed Peas segment, a funny premise of the two "lesser-known" Peas vying for attention, with nice touches like their opening song of sporadic backup lyrics, just like they're used to.
Armisen's TCM sketch was no classic but he nailed it, playing it like the "ethnic" comedians spotlighted in the '60s and '70s with a now tired schtick of poverty and stereotypical relatives.
And Bill Hader might not do the best Charlie Sheen but he always gets the psychology of his characters, he's the best SNL talent in years.
And I love Moynihan, but Crispino is not his best. As for Miley, I'm no fan but the kid brought enthusiasm, and I appreciate her risk of insulting her Disney overlords and fellow brand Bieber. Funny, her singing voice is more like a Disney character than a person, she'll probably do well in animation as she gets older.
In all, a better show than you give credit for!
The best part of the show was seeing how much potential Taran has. It's a breath of fresh air. The rest of the show was awkward only made worse by the audience's lack of enthusiasm regarding Miley.
I only watch SNL sporadically these days (i.e., random Saturday nights when I am home early) but have to agree with you on this one - an hour and a half of not funny. I thought you were actually being a little generous with your ratings.
In full disclosure, I liked the Jeff Bridges episode, so clearly whatever drugs you are taking I am on the same dosage.
Lots of Coke Zero!
I found it ironic that this generally lousy episode came at the very end of a week that started with another highly watched show making the mistake of "going young."
One thing the writer here left out: Am I the only person who cringed during "The Miley Cyrus Show" because of its portrayal of Billy Ray as a pandering, obsequious doofus? I mean, come on, Miley ... THAT'S YOUR DAD! (And it even came after the skit about the Disney Channel acting school, which mocked that channel's insistence on portraying all parents as morons.)
Final note: Sorry, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that Miley Cyrus is not objectively attractive or particularly gifted. I'm afraid she is going to continue down a more radical path (and I don't mean artistically adventurous) in order to stay in the public eye.
I agree with you. While Cyrus can't act worth a lick, there were some very funny moments and sketches on the show. Cyrus playing Bieber not willing to say "Pretty cool" when she just said it 1/2 and hour ago is part of what made it funny. Plus she got his lame, I'm-trying-too-hard-to-be-cool moves down. Her verbalizing what must he in his head ("wink, cocky head nod.") was completely on point. Hader's Charlie Sheen was no better or worse than Jimmy Fallon's. The monologue did suck because Cyrus isn't very good (although her voice is, as always great). Weekend update was funny and Sudakis' Devil bit was great. The best part was that Kristin Wiig hardly appeared in the first 1/2 of the show. I think she needs to take a step back and create some new characters that are not just retreads of what she's already done. Or just bring back the Target lady. We haven't seen her for a long time and her strange accent and Miley Cyrus's southern/odd glottal-stop accent would have played off each other nicely.
I have a daughter her age but Id still like to make her squeel like a...nevermind.
Miley had a chip on her shoulder and zero comedic timing.
I thought this was one of the better episodes of the past few years. Seriously! Hader did a great Sheen and though beaten into the ground, they had to touch on that subject. I found that black Eyed Peas sketch very enjoyable. I want to be on the cover of Vaguely Asian magazine and I'm not even vaguely Asian. And despite your problem with the whole concept, how do they not do the Miley Cyrus Show sketch? Throw a bigger mullet on Sudekis makes it all worth it. As far as Cyrus, she's better than a lot of hosts they've had in recent times.
Are the people saying it was the best episode of the season just Hannah Montana fans or something? I thought this episode was pretty lousy, and Miley was laughingly bad at times, especially in the monologue. It was pretty clear the audience was only there more to see The Strokes and not the host.
The monologue was a complete turn-off. "Sorry I'm not perfect!"
You don't have to be perfect, but don't be stupid enough to smoke weed in a room full of people with camera phones, don't act like a complete idiot anytime someone puts a camera in your face (tongue-wagging), and don't publicize your puberty by wearing every skanky dress you can find.
I don't understand who wrote this.Last week he said Russell Brand was the best of the season so far (which is named worst by viewers who tuned in) and now he says this is episode was one of the worst this season (which is named best by viewers who tuned in).
I want to say this episode is one of the best this season.It made me LOL a lot!
I don't think this ep is well-represented as being the sum of the skits. I generally agree with how you ranked this out, so here are a few of my observations that would explain why this ep left me more entertained than the overall rating would show.
1. The Sheen piece was not bad from the perspective of someone who is mildly following the situation. The material probably didn't resonate if you are following everything through the week, but a majority of people just aren't completely up on it, and the bit resonated well-enough.
2. Cyrus was much better than expected. There is something to be said for someone overacheiving, even if you expected a complete, pandering groaner of an episode. We all know she isn't a strong talent on the big scene, that has sort of been the point all along with her. That's a hard line to go up against, and with that given, she showed a decent take of self-awareness. If she doesn't have the best comedic chops, she at least embraces the situation instead of smiling it off or freezing up and "being a good sport". The kid did well, and wasn't above screwing around with lame premises, like being J.Beebs. The 'middle finger' line, reacting to the swagger coach... she dished out a pretty good roast there.
3. Cyrus seemed to commit to the opportunity. How many hosts give a half-hearted effort or never really seem to get on track with the flow of the show and end up written out? She got into the mix and utilized pretty much all of the SNL players. It ended up being very well-balanced in terms of everyone having an opportunity to get out there, and they weren't leaning on any one sketch to win the show. Miley came across to me as a fluent team player, engaged with the whole process instead of giving off a "what do you want me to do?" vibe. The show had a no-crutch momentum where there was a high tally of combined hits and misses. I'll take that any week over the drag-out sketches that don't have direction. I didn't get the sense that anything went too long, or flat out missed the mark. It was a good showcase episode for me with some good re-watch material.
I don't think it was a function of what was around it: I enjoyed the show considerably more than you did and I thought Weekend Update was terrific, probably best of the night.
For me, Update, TCM, and Disney Channel acting were the best. Most of the rest were amusing if not laugh out loud hilarious.
And Les Jeunes de Paris was terrible. That sketch makes no damn sense.
Agree: "Las Jeunes de Paris" (insanely awesome), "Weekend Update" (great contributors), "Beastly" (heavy lampshading), "Disney Acting School" (Kenan), "TCM Essentials" (clever, but it dragged), "Cruise Ship" (boring & way too long), "Rockabilly Cream" (bad pacing), Monologue (smug & dumb)
Disagree:
"Duh! Winning!" actually got me a few times with the Tiger Blood gag & the first 2 guests.
"Our Time" was EXCELLENT. It was all the little things that added up to make this one fly--Kenan & Andy only singing the backup part of the music, Kenan attempting to pronounce "Apldeap", Taboo's name origin, Taboo's ethnic origin, Taboo's magazine cover,...& seeing Elliot grind-dance in a tight dress.
"Gurney Month" won me over with a great buildup of corpse jokes followed by the surprisingly unexpected Birney-on-a-gurney pun.
"Miley Cyrus Show" would have been more welcome if Bayer hadn't burned it out with overuse by now, but I actually liked the gags written for Bieber even if Cyrus couldn't really pull it off.
Overall: Cyrus wasn't the trainwreck I thought she'd be, but dear lord that girl has NO charisma. And did she have to sing in almost every sketch?
I was also wondering why Killam didn't get more lines in "Disney School", since like Kenan, he spent some time in the trenches at Nickelodeon too.
Tsk, c'mon Mike Ryan and "Team." Goddard purists should not presume to critique a second "Les jeunes de Paris" with such a "dada conceit!" For the audience laity who weren't giant French cinema majors it's finger poppin good! Besides it gives new cast member Taran Killam a chance to shine and ya gotta admit he shines in the physical tradition of a Will Ferrell here. Where are most of us going to be introduced to Rachid Taha? What kind of diverse radio do you think we have out here in Kansas and Arizona? Name another piece with high energy besides the perennial "What up with That?" You know for most of us it was not only funny and fresh but bleedin' EDUCATIONAL!
I guess I'm agreeing here. I commented on the wrong page. In my defense I'm home with the flu.
Blogging is a great way for you to communicate with other people who have the same interests as you.
You guys are hopelessly out of touch. You don't even mention the funniest parts or the inside jokes. Why are you guys the people who decide if SNL is funny? Do not get.
This critique fails for the very reason it openly admits to. The writer is not really plugged into young people's pop culture. So he just doesn't get how funny Miley is when she is portraying people like Bieber or Fergie. Those impressions were spot on. The Bieber people said it was scary accurate. But we already knew that. We already knew that Miley has worked with Fergie, and knows her well enough to do and excellent, funny impression of her. Go Miley!