Season 36, Episode 19
Will the British curse continue?
There’s a lot of reason to be worried about tonight’s episode. Much like Elton John, Helen Mirren is British and generally viewed as an upright and proper woman. However, she did star in RED, so maybe it will all even out. (Note: I have not seen RED.) Let’s find out:
Government Shutdown (Cold Open) – I’ll the show give credit for being able to produce a sketch about events that only took place last night. But I take away a whole lot of credit for giving us a sketch so lifeless.
Monologue – Admittedly, Helen Mirren spending her 4 minutes talking about she isn’t as uptight as one might think isn’t the most original idea. However, I found the song to be quite bouncy, and actually kind of humorous, so I’m giving this one a pass. Plus, if Mirren is game for something like this, what else will the show come up with?
What was with that weird extended splash screen in the middle of the commercial brake? Fail. I ended up missing the first few seconds of the next sketch. Stupid networks affiliates.
Mort Feingold, Accountant for the Stars – Once I again, I shake my head at the show trotting out a bunch of celebrity impressions together and calling it a sketch. (Plus, Paul Brittan had two parts in this sketch, which just seem lazy to me. What, they don’t have another actor who can act like Johnny Depp?) However, we did get the welcome returns of Pharoh’s Will Smith impression, and Brittan’s James Franco, so I can entirely hate it.
Helen Mirren Titties (Digital Short) – An exercise in surrealism, but one that was very funny. Technically it was a one-note joke, but they went extremely random will all of the clips they compiled together, so that the surprise kept the jokes coming. Plus Kristen Wiig just straight up throwing herself into Mirren’s rack was hilarious.
Fox & Friends – SNL really needs to stay out of The Daily Show’s territory. While there were some laughs here, it just felt like the show was recycling jokes that went stale months ago. Generally the show just sticks to one politically-minded sketch; here’s why.
Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein – Once again, Armisen plays a vaguely Jewish buzzkill. Not only was the joke predictable, but it was the same joke over and over. Just terrible.
Weekend Update – A welcome return for Hader’s James Carville...However, WU took a step down with Flight Attendant Shelly Lane, as it was just another of Wiig’s airhead characters. It was still partially funny, but not funny enough… While Jean K John, French Def Jam comedian, is funny in concept, it’s also the kind of anti-comedy that doesn’t play all that well in the live format.
The Best of Both World With Hugh Jackman – A decidedly weird sketch that picked up some steam as it went along. The was something about seeing Hugh Jackman, Gerard Butler (I didn’t know he was in Phantom of the Opera), Ice Cube (since when is Barbershop considered a family movie?), and a badass Julie Andrews that just got to me, especially when she speared the intern and then Ice Cube got in on the snuffing action.
Crunk-Ass Easter Festival – I remember this type of commercial (or at least one of them) from the Taylor Swift show last year. Yet I found this one to be much more effective. Much like with earlier Digital Short, if worked because it piled on the surrealism in a fast and furious manner. The best part: DJ George Castanza.
The Roosevelts – Ummm, the fuck did I just watch? Maybe it’s because I’m a history student…no, no it’s not. Jokes about extreme historical inaccuracies are NEVER funny. On the upside, Eleanor Roosevelt making out with Marylyn Monroe was …something.
Perspectives Photo Studios – While basing a joke around men sending pictures of their wangs is a bit old, there were some good jokes here, like the puppet legs and the group shots, or Seth Meyers appearing as himself. Yet another sketch that got funnier as it moved along, which each joke getting pushed up just half a notch.
Bongo’s Clown Room – Between weird strippers, the announcer trying to say “good bye,” and other weird comments, it felt like this sketch was stretching itself in all sort of directions, none of which were funny.
Goodnights - Way to almost forget the Foo Fighters’ name, Helen. It’s not like you’ve already had to say their name twice tonight or anything.
While I wouldn’t call it a banner episode for the show, it was a least a little bit funnier than last week’s. And while this episode also dabbled in some weirdness/surrealism, it was thankfully a bit more subdued (and thankfully, all of it was intentional). SNL can do surrealism – as of late, those have been the more reliable kinds of jokes – it just needs to find the level of absurdity that it can get away with.
Best Sketch – Crunk-Ass Easter Festival
Worst Sketch – (tie) Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein/Bongo’s Clown Room
What did everybody else think?
Additional Thoughts:
“But then, he’s always unhappy>”
“While others are unhappy that the show is still on the air”
“I’m more biscuits and D-cups.”
“Have you ever seen Caligula? I’m in the orgy scene.”
“The Kardashian’s are in the black!” “Usually it’s the other way around.”
“I made them into the dream spider.”
“Helen Mirren may be 65, but her titties exist in a place beyond space and time.”
Maybe it is too much to ask, but it would be kind of nice if NBC could name-check Community along with The Office when advertising for the Paul Riser Show.
“So kinda the way I pay my cable bill.”
“ If the Republican party is Lou Bega, abortion is their ‘Mambo No. 5.’”
“Being naked is not necessary, but I prefer it.”
“Like a Republican Kung-Fu Panda.”
“…that’s how we pass health care.”
“James, I want to ask you a question.” “Yes, I killed a man.”
“They were complainers.”
“But on the other hand, airline miles.”
“It’s guys like that who give Catholic priests a slightly better name.”
“TWO SIDES!”
“Like an Easter Egg hunt for all you dumb-ass kids.”
“You’re welcome, Martha Stewart.”
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