"Law and Order Acting Workshop" - Did what it said on the tin. Fred Armisen as a Sam Waterston impersonator thinking he's Sam Waterston due to a mental disorder stole the sketch.
"Wheelchair Date" - Anyone with a disability can relate to this sketch, even though the previous sketch did deal with a mental disorder. That must have offended all the Sam Waterston impersonators that think they are Sam Waterston. Bad move, NBC!
Two party hosts try to hook up their wheelchair-bound friends, the hosts being absolutely horrible in their attempts at political correctness. There was some overacting here, but it helped the sketch somewhat. Maya Rudolph shouting "HOW DO YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM" was the best part of the sketch due to its delivery, being blurted out randomly.
I'm surprised this sketch was shoved into the bottom half of this week's SNL. Was the "restaurant patrons on drugs" sketch that much better by comparison?
The Shins MG Segment #2 - Not as good as the first song. Didn't seem like much of anything, honestly. In short, typical indie rock.
Kaplan, Leibowitz & Dolemite - That is a good premise for a lawyer sketch, much better than the "Stanfield and Partlow, Cat Lawyers" sketch from the Annette Bening episode. Too bad the sketch was shorter than the opening credits. Also, the sketch would have been funnier had Dolemite himself actually been the lawyer - as if it's hard to get Rudy Ray Moore to cameo. Sort of a wasted premise, this sketch, but Kenan Thompson's lines as the grandson of Dolemite were decent.
One other thing before I piss off into the sunset: wouldn't a band like AFI make more sense as a musical guest for somebody like Adam Sandler? Why saddle Jeremy Piven with those guys? Doesn't he deserve better? I can't see the Piven fanbase and the AFI fanbase meshing well with each other. Then again, I hate AFI.
Also, ten bucks says Piven's going to reference his roles in the late-1990s ABC series Cupid and/or Ellen. That seems like a smart bet.
Article comments
1 - Lono
Monologue:
I loved it. It was cool of Gylenhaul to immediately address the elephant in the room... the whole gay thing. I thought he handled it beautifully, by doing the gayest possible bit - a broadway tune in drag. I respect the dude for having the security to prove he isn't gay by referencing his gay movie with a super gay drag scene. I think it was clever because it wasn't the obvious choice.
Lasercats:
Lasercats rules because it is the stupidest thing on the planet. It is even more sophmoric than the Sandler and Breur years. That is what is cool about it. They never pretend for a second that it is good theatre. They take pains to make the special effects insulting to the viewers. Great! If i want real sci-fi I will watch one of the 30 Star Wars movies. SNL's duty is to deliver stupid and silly. Well played.
The rest, as usual, was just ok. As always, the news part is the high point. I was kind of disappointed by the Shins. Though I enjoy their music, that was the most boring performance I have ever seen. I think maybe Beck set a new standard of excellence so high it may not be achieved again for years.
Anyhow, those are my two cents. As always, I watched the show off the DVR on about a 30 minute delay. the purpose is to be able to fast forward through painfully bad skits... like 'Stock Footage Awards'. Funny premise, and the first 60 seconds were clever. After that... it just dragged.
If you ever need a night off from watching SNL, drop me a line. I never ever miss it. Generally, I am only really dazzled about once a show... but those moments are priceless to me.
2 - chantal stone
damn...i'm sorry i missed it
3 - Baronius
I flipped past it twice: they were making fun of Donald Trump and Whitney Houston. I can't imagine anything further from the cutting edge.
4 - Bullopololpopl
I LOVE AFI! someone with no music taste at all would hate afi. you should be shot!
lots of love, Bullopololpopl
5 - sahara
Jake Gyllenhall was BRILLIANT