Saturday night's Ed Helms-hosted (at least I think he hosted; good thing he's not a cast member or he'd be near the bottom of this list) installment of Saturday Night Live was probably the most top-heavy episode of the season. In other words: If a cast member appeared in this show, they were given a fairly decent amount to do. Others were not so lucky and were not heard from at all.
This show -- along with next week's season finale -- is crucial for those on the bubble for next season. (I'm looking at you Jay Pharoah, Abby Elliott and maybe Paul Brittain.) How did they do? On to the poll!
1. Fred Armisen (Last Week: 6) Here's what's telling about this weeks' SNL: The most talked about sketch of the night, "Ambiguously Gay Duo," only featured one actual cast member -- and that was Armisen dressed in a lizard costume. Additionally, Armisen had a spirited Obama in the cold open and a "Garth and Kat" segment during "Update."
2. Kristen Wiig (Last Week: 8)
"Ann-Margret" might be the funniest thing Wiig has done on SNL this entire season. You want to to know what else is funny? Bridesmaids is funny. And it made a lot of money. Wiig may not have won this poll, but she's kind of winning life this week.
3. Kenan Thompson (Last Week: 10)
I woke up this morning/ got out of bed / wonderin' where Keenan should be, stuck in my head
Oooo weee/ he's number three/ he's number three
Oooo weee/ he's number three/ he's number... I said he's nuuuuumberrrrr... threeeeee!
4. Andy Samberg (Last Week: 3) Unusually high ranking this week for Samberg when you take into account that there wasn't even a digital short this week. He had a staring role in "One Take Tony" and a supporting role in "Poker Night," but, in reality, when you look at this list, not many did much of anything this week.
5. Jason Sudeikis (Last Week: 4) Hey, a number five ranking, pretty good for Sudeikis! Then again, a supporting role in the cold open and "Poker Night" -- plus dancing around in a red track suit in "What's Up With That?" -- will land you the five spot this week.
6. Bill Hader (Last Week: 2) No joke, I originally had Hader up higher in this list because, really, by now, it's just by default. Then I started thinking, Wait, other than saying nothing as Lindsey Buckingham, what did Hader really do this week? The answer is: Not a lot. But it still seems like he did!
7. Seth Meyers (Last Week: 1) In a perfect world, Meyers would be ranked lower this week for a fairly off "Weekend Update," but, here he is in the top half for some reason.
8. Bobby Moynihan (Last Week: 13) Other than a walk-on during "One Take Tony," Moynihan's only appearance was as the usually delightful Anthony Crispino.
9. Jay Pharoah (Last Week: 12) OK, here's Jay Pharoah at number nine. All thing considered, it could have been much worse. I mean, sure, his Will Smith this week left a lot to be desired, but at least he got airtime! Things get really rocky from here on out.
10. Vanessa Bayer (Last Week: 11) Bayer had a moderate-sized part in the cold open, but then, other than as a background singer in "What's Up With That?," disappeared for the rest of the night.
11. Taran Killam (Last Week: 14) Again, like pretty much everyone, he was in the "What's Up With That" sketch. At least he had a speaking role.
12. Nasim Pedrad (Last Week: 9) At least her "Corn Syrup" commercial re-aired. Other than that, yep, "What's Up With That?" and out...
13. (tie) Paul Brittain (Last Week: 7)
See below.
13. (tie) Abby Elliott (Last Week: 5) OK, it's possible that I missed Brittain and Elliott somewhere, maybe, in "What's Up With That?" But I've scoured through a few times and, unless they were the dancing raisins (you know what, let's just go ahead and assume that they were), I didn't see either of them the entire night. Since both of them, at least, from an outsiders perspective, would be on the bubble for returning next season -- this wasn't a good show to miss. (Note to Brittain: Pitch the HELL out of a second "Sex Ed Vincent" sketch this week by somehow incorporating Timberlake.)
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