Season 37, Episode 7
Much like Charlie Day before him, Jason Segel is the kind
of actor who just seems a bit too for SNL
school, the kind of actor whose talent I fear will get subsumed to some
mediocre sketches. Luckily, Segel’s got too things going for him: One, he’s far
more mainstream than Day ever was. And two, given that he’s here to promote The Muppets, odds are they be able to
prop up at least one sketch. Well, let’s see how he did…
Cold Open – Mitt
Romney Raw & Unleashed: What poll is NBC/SNL getting basing this sketch off of? Because I know that in
certain other polls, it’s not Romney who’s leading the pack, but rather Newt
Gingrich (yes, it appears as if the GOP is circling back around with its
nominees.) Anyways, doing a sketch based on Romney is bad for exactly the
reason this sketch was done: because he’s boring. I get that the idea of the
sketch was that Romney “getting wild” isn’t exactly wild, but this is SNL, and
subtle sketches don’t really have a place on this show. They should have gone
big or gone home. (That being said, I still like Sudeikis’ Romney impression, and
his deadpan delivery did manage to get a few laughs out of me.)
Monologue: Well,
that didn’t take long. Given why Segel is on the show, an appearance by the Muppets
was more or less guaranteed, but for them to get it just right out off the bat seems
just a bit defeatist on the show’s part. Additionally, Segel singing seems like
the lazy choice, and the “I thought I was hosting” gag is one of the oldest in
the book. That being said, anything with the Muppets automatically slaps a big
smile on my face (I know, I’m weak), and I like how they made the Muppets here
insecure and petty. It added an extra level to make this monologue work better
than it should have.
Red Flag: Fuck,
not this shit again. Hell, even knowing the joke this time around didn’t make
it any funnier.
(Okay, seeing Kermit
at the camera during the mid-commercial tease was pretty cool.)
Regis’
Replacement: This is one of those “It’s Not a Sketch, It’s a String of
Impersonations” situations, which either means that you love it or hate it. Me,
I’m a sucker for these bits, which tend to rise and fall based on the level of
performances that are on display, and this sketch had a pretty good batch.
Favorites include Sudeikis’s smarmy Gervais, Armisen’s manic George Lopez, Hader’s
creepy Garrison Keillor, Elliot’s awesome Zooey Deschanel, and Pharaoh’s Denzel
Washington, just because. Sadly, the
only truly negative impression was Pedrad’s Kelly, but it’s not like it was necessitated
by the needs of the sketch. She was just there to play the straight man.
Me-Time Mattress:
So it was a commercial that was just a string of masturbation. Not like it’s
the first time we’ve seen that. However, I think Segel sold the facial
expressions here, and the sketch was creative enough with the euphemisms that
this sketch was able to get a pass. But just barely.
The Vogelcheks:
Oh dear god. The “overly affectionate group of people” sketch, which is perhaps
the laziest in the show’s entire repertoire. I recognize that the sketch tried
to mix it up just bit by having the family do more than just kiss each other,
but doing so just made the sketch seem schizophrenic in addition to lazy. (Oh,
and Paul Rudd showed up, I guess because he and Segel stared together in that
one movie that one time.)
(Florence + The
Machine is no Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. That is all.)
Weekend Update:
So let’s just blow past the fact that SNL
just contradicted its cold open with Meyer’s opening joke, and just focus on
the bits within….Jon Huntsman appearance was just awkward, both because like
Mitt Romney, he doesn’t really have an edge, but also because well, he’s not
that funny….And then there was Really? With Seth and Kermit, which of course,
as with the monologue, felt as if the show was trying to pair two proven elements
together in order to generate laughs. Of course, it worked, because Kermit is like
peanut butter, he goes well with everything. I especially enjoyed his
exasperated “really?”.
Mitch Gurtz Open
Mic: Where to start with this one? Well, I guess the best way to describe
it as a biplor sort of sketch, as we had to sit through the repeated jokes of
Janelle and Louis, neither of which was all that funny. Louis’ dramatic reveal felt
like it could have gone somewhere – much like “All My Children Wrap Party” in the premiere
– but it just went back to the same two unfunny beats. Even worse, the sketch just
sort of…ended.
A New Jack
Thanksgiving: The show has done these
music-genre-meets-random-subject-matter sketches before (and man if this isn’t
just the night for recurring sketch formats), and while I’ve enjoyed the past
ones to varying levels of success, for whatever reason this one just flat one
didn’t work. None of the songs were all that creative, and I just don’t think
New Jack Swing makes for the best spoof material. Also, what was with the
random Florence appearance? Her voice may be good, but it is not New Jack
material.
Digital Short –
Seducing Women Through Chess: Man, that was 80s-tastic! But, no really, the
idea of this sketch may have been simple, but I think it was effective, especially
as they built up the skills to glass-eating and hiring a prostitute. (This sketch was apparently also going for
weirdest celebrity appearance with Olivia Wilde showing up, just because.)
Andre the Giant
Chooses an Ice Cream Flavor: Much like many “Celebrity does Such-and-Such
Thing” sketch, this was totally stupid, but it made me laugh nonetheless. Segel
sold that Andre The Giant impression, and that took some skill.
The Blue Jean Committee:
So, a band sings a song with wordy verses, and the crowd jams out to it? That’s
funny how, exactly. Not even the Muppets – or any of the other celeb cameos, as
apparently they all had to make an appearance – could have saved this sketch.
Good nights:
WHY DID THEY RUIN THE MUPPET MAGIC????? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?
So, that happened. While it started out strong with the
monologue and the following sketch, the rest of the night just slowly and gradually
declined in quality. I can’t believe I stayed up for this.
Best Sketch – Regis’
Replacement
Worst Sketch – The
Blue Jean Committee
Key Performer –
Kermit, for making everything just a little better
Most Disturbing
Image – The good nights, for destroying the illusion of Muppet magic.
In Two Weeks: SNL goes all HBO as Steve Buscemi hosts, and The Black Keys just prays that somebody remembers who they are.
Quotes, Etc.:
“And therefore I shall become 15 to 17 percent more edgy.”
“That must have rocked, huh father?”
“It rocked harder than a Josh Groban concert.”
“Guys, I’m starting to worry about something…” “Well,
have you considered taking Flomax?”
“Well for one, half of you aren’t even wearing any pants.”
“I WILL ABSORB YOU.”
“And if they can’t answer because their mouth is full of
bacon, they have high cholesterol.”
“Also, you gotta be cool with getting kidnapped forever.”
“Whether he’s convicted or not, he will be sentenced to a
life of being reminded of ‘that time you shot me’.”
“I kid came to my door dressed as a pirate. I thought he
was supposed to Dom Deluise.”
“Which is a shame, because up until that point it has
been a lovely bar mitzvah.”
“I’m Little Richard’s white half brother, Medium Richard.”
“And the baby’s lying in a grave…he’s fine, though.”
“That song later became the theme to a prominent porno.”
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