What an odd night. Then again, when Elton John was announced as Saturday Night Live's musical guest and host, perhaps an "odd night" should have been expected. But not quite like this.
Last night's episode was hardly the worst or best of anything we've seen from SNL this season, but it prompted more than a little confusion for viewers. For instance, why so many cameos? With Tom Hanks (who appeared in three sketches and introduced John as the musical act, so "cameo" is a stretch in his case), Jake Gyllenhaal, the Knicks' recently acquired star forward Carmelo Anthony all stopping by Studio 8H, were producers worried about John's ability to host? Was Hanks needed for backup? Ultimately, John had less to do with last night's problems than the one-note writing during the second half of the show -- a show, oddly, that featured a season-low nine sketches (including the monologue and "Update"). What happened? To the Scorecard!
Sketch of the Night
"Knights of the Realm" (John, Hanks, Hader, Brittain, Samberg, Armisen, Killam, Moynihan, Wiig): The opening to this sketch -- something called "Fancy a Jar, Do ya?" followed by Paul Brittain breaking in as a BBC anchor -- was almost better than the actual premise. Anyway, if nothing else, I've always wondered what would happen if modern-day knights had to defend Britain from a dragon. Also, this sketch had Elton John's best delivery of the night in reference to Bono's Spider-Man musical, and who knew Tom Hanks could do such a great Michael Caine impression?
Score: 8.5
The Good
"ESPN Classic: Ladies Shot Put" (Sudeikis, Forte, Hanks, Wiig, Anthony): It's so nice to see Will Forte back on SNL. His presence has been missed this season, and just having him return for one sketch seemed to inject some adrenaline into Sudeikis, too. Even with Hanks involved, this wasn't the best Twinkle and Stink, but it was just nice to see hapless sports commentators onscreen one more time (with a guest spot by Anthony in drag, because why not?).
Score: 8.0
"Laser Cats, the Musical" (Samberg, Hader, Hanks, Michaels, Anthony, Armisen, John, Wilson the Volleyball): I go back and forth on Laser Cats. I mean, I get it -- it's supposed to be bad -- but occasionally the formula just feels tired. This time around, Hanks's presence and hyperactive charm pushed this one into the realm of the enjoyable. Best line: Hanks asking, "What do I love?" and Lorne Michaels responding, "World War II?"
Score: 7.0
"Weekend Update" (Meyers, Armisen, Gyllenhaal, Samberg, Thompson): Certainly not the best update for Meyers or Thompson's Bronx Zoo snake-keeper who lost the zoo's runaway cobra (a segment completely changed at the last minute after the cobra was found on Thursday). Regardless, Armisen's Qaddafi segment was more politically charged than the normal "world leader" segments, bringing out the best in Armisen in the process. Also, Samberg's Nic Cage was great even though it left Jake Gyllenhaal with very little to do.
Score: 6.5
"Elton John Monologue" (John): Look, I know, this wasn't particularly great, but something has to be said for John's spirit. He appeared to enjoy himself, which seemed in turn to lead to his otherwise average delivery getting a decent reaction. Come on: When he sang five seconds of "Your Song" and announced that just put his son through college? That was pretty funny. Or what about his joke about his son rejecting the breast, taking after both of his fathers? Of course, this was all before anyone knew the writers would make John's sexual orientation the overriding theme of the evening.
Score: 6.0
The Bad
"The Old West" (John, Sudeikis, Ensemble) If nothing else, "The Old West" gets credit for (A) being weird and (B) actually having an ending -- which is rare. Elton John shows up in an Old West town on his unicorn and makes innuendos about being gay. That's it. That's the premise. I know that SNL doesn't get a slew of openly gay hosts, but this just seems a bit lazy.
Score: 5.0
"Elton John Visits the Queen" (John, Hader, Pedrad, Samberg): Yes, behind closed doors, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip speak in cockney accents and play punk rock. They would also like Elton John to play punk rock at the royal wedding. Regrettably, the play on how often John performs for the royal family (and writes songs about them) wasn't the main gist of the sketch.
Score: 4.5
"The Silver Screen" (Killam, John, Pedrad): I've grown accustomed to liking pretty much everything that Taran Killam gets a chance to do on SNL. This one, though? When the main joke is that two male humans (in this case a gay film-critic couple) kiss over and over, more passionately each time? Hasn't this premise kind of been done to death in "Kissing Family," and even later on this same evening with "The Old West"? That said, John's infectious happiness every time he (briefly) broke into song saved this from being at the bottom of the list. And, hey, Sucker Punch jokes will always be fun.
Score: 4.0
The Ugly
"Lawrence Welk Cold Open" (John, Wiig, Armisen, Elliott, Pedrad, Bayer): Wiig's recurring Lawrence Welk, Finge
r Lake singer with issues, Dooneesee, sings with John's "confirmed bachelor" Francis Lynn March. True story: On Saturday, I was flipping through stations and actually came across a rerun of the actual Lawrence Welk Show. In its own, unintentional, stand-alone way, that was much funnier than this sketch.
Score: 2.5
Average Score For This Show: 5.77
Weekly Host Scorecard:
· Russell Brand 6.35
· Jeff Bridges 6.21
· Amy Poehler 6.04
· Anne Hathaway 6.00
· Emma Stone 5.88
· Gwyneth Paltrow 5.88
· Zach Galifianakis 5.86
· Jon Hamm 5.86
· Paul Rudd 5.83
· Robert De Niro 5.83
· Jim Carrey 5.80
· Jesse Eisenberg 5.79
· Bryan Cranston 5.79
· Elton John 5.77
· Dana Carvey 5.75
· Miley Cyrus 5.54
· Jane Lynch 5.31
· Scarlett Johansson 4.69
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