Who Scored Big in Week 17 of SNL's Relevancy Poll?
This week was the most difficult Saturday Night Live relevancy poll of the season to tabulate. No one cast member dominated the airtime, and with few exceptions, the cast was spread pretty thin throughout the evening. Put it this way: At one point I was thinking, Wow, Abby Elliott is getting a lot of play this week; it sure will be nice to see her finally near the top of the poll. But that faded as it became clear that pretty much everyone got a significant amount of play this week.
But first! Before we get to the poll, let's add an epilogue to yesterday's Scorecard. Late yesterday, footage of Zach Galifianakis getting his head shaved -- the aftermath of which we saw during the good nights -- for a non-existent "Mr. T" sketch hit Hulu. While he gets his head shaved, Galifianakis drones on about how he just loves Mr. T sketches -- whatever those are. My question: Why didn't this air during the live show? The guy got his hair cut like Mr. T... right there, while a live show was in progress! Really? This couldn't have been aired? Aside from the monologue, this just may have been the funniest thing to happen during the show. Alas, nobody saw it.
1. Kenan Thompson (Last Week: 3)
Big night for Kenan. Led off the cold open, was a main component of "Comedy Tour," scored one of his "Scared Straight" sketches and showed up as Whoopi on "The Talk."
2. Kristen Wiig (Last Week: 10)
Quietly, a very good night for Kristen Wiig. She was everywhere, but did so without the use of her recurring characters. Solid job as Julie Taymor, Julie Chen and as moms in the "Noodles" and "Corn Syrup" sketches. Best moment of the night for Wiig was as Melissa Leo still delivering her acceptance speech.
3. Nasim Pedrad (Last Week: 9) A very solid night for Pedrad, too -- and it's been awhile. Pedrad's somewhat buried "Corn Syrup Commercial" was solid, she plays a kid (actually, it's been a while since she's done that, too) in "Noodles," a reporter in the cold open, Sharon Osbourne and a bit part in "Titanic."
4. Bobby Moynihan (Last Week: 11) Moynihan killed in "Comedy Tour" -- "Slappy.... Pappy!" -- and just may have been the best part about "Noodles." Also had bit parts in "Titanic" and "Scared Straight" and was the punchline in "Corn Syrup Commercial."
5. Bill Hader (Last Week: 5)
Another quiet(er) week for Hader that what we've been used to this season. Then again, it's still Bill Hader -- which means he was everwhere: Charlie Sheen, Steven Tyler, "Teenager not being scared straight," and a bit part in "Titanic" and "Celebrity Scoop."
6. Abby Elliott (Last Week: 12)
Comparatively speaking, this might have been the best night of the year for Elliott. True, she flubbed her lines as Leah Remini -- but she still did a great Remini! If, you know, that's a thing people judge? Anyway, in addition to "The Talk," Elliott had Fur Coat Rhonda, plays one of the kids in "Noodles" and has a bit role in "Titanic."
7. Andy Samberg (Last Week: 4) Interesting that Samberg didn't even appear in his own Digital Short this week, letting Galifianakis take the reigns alone. Also had a brief appearance as Dick Vitale in the cold open, as Liam on "Update," Chip "So Yeah I'm Single" Fenney and played his regular role as "Teenager not being scared straight."
8. Paul Brittain (Last Week: 14)
Brittain didn't have a whole lot to do this week, but, the one thing he did was fairly glorious in the form of Goran "Funky Boy" Bogdan in "Comedy Tour."
9. Fred Armisen (Last Week: 7) Finally, Armisen addressed the the spelling of Muammar Gaddafi/Qaddafi/Kadafi's name in the cold open. Armisen also appeared in "Comedy Tour" as the "Insert Joke Here" comic and was the host of "Celebrity Scoop."
10. Seth Meyers (Last Week: 6) Not the best week for Meyers on "Update," which most likely had a lot to do with the specter of depressing world news. He was boosted, however, by a very rare (these days, anyway) sketch appearance as Boston Powers in "Comedy Tour."
11. Vanessa Bayer (Last Week: 1)
For most of the evening Bayer was regulated to a brief part as the "news flash" comic in the "Comedy Tour" sketch and a second fiddle role in "Titanic." Her role of substance was as Sara Gilbert in "The Talk."
12. Jason Sudeikis (Last Week: 8) Sudeikis had the biggest part in the cold open along with Kenan, then -- other than a brief appearance in the pre-filmed "Comedy Tour" -- pretty much disappeared for the rest of the evening.
13. Taran Killam (Last Week: 2) After a pretty great run, Killam was one of the few casualties on Saturday. Pretty much only seen as Barry the Plumbing Gentleman in the "Comedy Tour" sketch.
14. Jay Pharoah (Last Week: 13)
Oh, Jay Pharoah... On a week everyone was getting into the action, his only appearance was as Dr. Velociraptor in "Comedy Tour."
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Comments
"The pyramids were built by the Wayans' brothers"
That had me on the floor.
I'd (sadly) bump Paul down to 12th or so, but the rest is reasonable. A tough week to grade, like you say. Happy to see Nasim and Abby finally both have good weeks. And for Kristen to have a good week without resorting to spastic ninny mode. Her Julie Chen had me on the floor.
Bump jason sudeikis up.. did you forget he was in the scared straight sketch as his recurring cop character...
so that is a total of 3 characters that he got to be... It felt like he had more but that be just because i was rewatching reruns of him as Floyd on 30 Rock
WOW...this episode just clarified why Abby Elliot is one of the worst castmembers EVER!
I mean "The Talk" sketch was already awkwardly not funny due to Abby's unfunny quips but then she totally drops the ball and screwed up her lines!!
Watch it over and you can see her come unravel after her jokes don't go over with the crowd and she botches her lines...my question is what memorable character...what memorable moment...matter fact what funny joke has she ever even said!?...WHAT..Meryll Streep iceskating?...her godawful Katy Perry...or how bout Khloe Kardashian...UNREAL
Abby and Nasim had really good weeks this week. Love Abby's Leah Remini and Kristen's Julie Chen. Leah: "We are not like the friggin' view! I mean hello!" Julie: "Hello." hahaha. Love that. I also liked the Corn Syrup Producers of America sketch. I wish the show was on more consistently though. I wish they wouldn't take like 2 week breaks. I understand the cast and crew needs it but i just hate waiting!
Umm okay...How about her Angelina Jolie, Anna Faris, Christina Aguilera, Joan Cusack, Ke$ha, Rachel Maddow, Sally Field, Sarah McLachlan, Brooke Hogan, her Les Juenes de Paris sketch, Diedra Wurtz character etc. Can't you just try to enjoy every castmember. I could say how much I dislike Jay Pharoah and how much Kristen is overused, but I just try to be encouraging and enjoy the whole cast. You're just being a critical jerk.
I agree with Fabe, you're moronic. You know what, every castmember messes up their lines at some point. They're not perfect. And Abby is hilarious. I don't know why this episode made you think that she was the worst castmate ever. What did she even do wrong. It's not like tripping over your lines makes you unfunny? I think you are unhinged.
I mean I agree with Lindsay (but also Fabe).
I think Abby had a great night, but I think her best night was either the Miley Cyrus, Dana Carvey, or Jeff Bridges episode.
a) I'm entitled to my own opinion
b) Why are you guys acting like Abby is your daughter or best friend and protecting her like your life's on the line! paha RELAX GUYS!
OK, maybe shes not the worst cast member EVER but she's BY FAR the worst cast member of the last 3 years...I remember when she became a full time cast member I WAS IN SHOCK because I've heard she's a great writer and Lorne really wants to give her more face time but some people have that "it" factor and some people dont.
Abby Elliot comes off as corney, trying too hard, and uncomfortable in her own skin..I'm seriously trying to remember ONE funny moment from her and I can't!
TRUTH HURTS!
When Moynihan came bounding down the stairs in the masturbating dog sketch, I could have sworn it was Chris Farley!
Interesting, someone (I guess you) wrote the exact same comment over at the AV Club's review of the episode. You must really hate her or just have too much free time on your hand.
I really don't get your problem with the head shaving joke. Showing Zach getting his head shaved during the show would have ruined the sudden punchline imho.
Well I like her. I think she could be great if given the chance. I just think we should be supportive of all the castmembers. btw where did you hear that thing about Lorne talking about Abby 'cause i'd like to read that interview. I love everything SNL so...?
I'm beginning to think, what with George Osborne saying he welcomes his handling of the UK economy being overseen by the IMF, and Gordon Brown widely rumoured as being the IMF's new head, the New Wold Order so widely spoken of by conspiracy theorists is real and is almost upon us! This is genuinely scary!