Season 37, Episode 15
“So many memories, so much laughter, and so much casual intercourse.”
Maya Rudolph holds an interesting place in SNL history; she is one of the show's alum that lots of people like – I count myself among them – even in the face of so many reasons why they shouldn't. Perhaps Rudolph's greatest (or at least best-remembered) contribution to the show was her series of impression of the loudest female African-American celebrities of the day (Oprah, Whitey Houston). This lead to the idea that Rudolph was an always over-the-top actress, and indeed, many of her original recurring and one-off characters existed within this vein. (Her role on Up All Night hasn't really helped this perception.) However, Rudolph could in fact reign in her acting when the sketch called for it – which wasn't often enough – and so she has better acting chops than people give her credit for. So it will be interesting to see if tonight if the show will allow Rudolph to exist in a more natural mode, or if we'll just be subjected to the umpteenth iteration of “Bronx Beat”.
Cold Open, New York Sports Now: This week, SNL eschews putting politics in its cold open in order to give us a sketch that deals with a different kind of current events – sports. Specifically Jeremy Lin, whose been a national obsession/punchline sicne before last week's episode. To that end, the early lines of this cold open, which appropriated Lin puns felt pretty flat. However, once the sketch settled into its actual groove – analyzing the double standard in regards to what jokes sports pundits are allowed to get away with on his race – the sketch became much stronger, and much much funnier. (It probably helped that this sketch fell on a day in which ESPN got into trouble for a particularly racist headline.)
Monologue: Okay, here we go, and it's a strong start for Rudolph. Admittedly, doing a monologue about her past on the show isn't the most original concept, and I'm never a fan of when the show has the host sing as opposed to giving an actual monologue. However, the show went all out with the number and pulled in practically the entire case (and, uh, Paul Simon), and the show just committing to this made for a very infectious and winning “monologue.” Given how succussful Jimmy Fallon was at doing the same thing, perhaps the show should look into making the monologues go big every week.
Bronx Beat: Called it! I've never been a fan of the Bronx Beat sketch, mostly because I've never felt that the sketches have ever gone beyond actors speaking in an Bronx accent, and I don't find “accent humor” to be any kind of humor at all. Thus, the first half of this sketch (and man was that a long first half) with just Poehler and Rudolph's characters fell largely flat. However, with the introduction of Tony and Lou (played by Justin Timberlake) the sketch picked up quite a bit, and I especially enjoyed the role reversal as the guys started hitting on the women.
Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Laughs: Obviously a spoof of NBC's weird decision to have a Betty White-hosted prank show, this sketch worked based on the humorous juxtaposition between Angelou (and her high-brow contemporaries) and the incredibly low-brow nature of the pranks. That these pranks also helped to sell the spoof of the prank show format was just a bonus.
Ivy: Frankly, I'm surprised that it took the show this long to do an entire sketch based on Jay-Z's and Beyonce's baby. Of course, considering that this sketch was pretty much nothing more than a string of celebrity impersonations – which were: Prince, LL Cool J, Nikki Minaj, Brangelina, Taylor Swift, Justin Vernon (Timberlake again, and who the show mistakenly called “Bon Iver”). I realize that celebrity impression sketches fall into that love/hate category, but I tend to enjoy them, and I found this one to be especially successful. Extra props to the Taylor Swift gag and the extended Bon Iver riff.
Weekend Update: In addition to Seth Meyer's usual shtick, we got...Well, nothing really. In fact, we didn't even technically get Seth Meyer's Shtick, considering that Amy Poehler joined him halfway through for a “Really?!” segment on birth control, after which she of course stuck around to read some more headline/joke combos. Poehler and Meyers have great chemistry, and it resulted in a very funny WU, but it is a bit sad to see the show play it so safe, and so short.
What Up With That (President's Day Edition): Another of those love-it-or-hate-it sketches, there's never really a whole lot that I can come up to say about WUWT, given that I find it to be generally hilarious. But in interest of fairness, I'll throw out some random observations: So weird to see Bill O'Reilly as part of the sketch, even weirder that the word “pinhead” wasn't worked in anywhere. If Kate Upton, appears in this sketch after getting mocked on WU, then why hasn't Jeremy Lin showed up yet? Having Monyihan and Samberg dressed as presidential figures was a nice surreal touch on an already surreal sketch, as was Rudolph as samba singer.
Super $$$ Showcase: Usually when SNL does game show sketches (with the exception of Secret Word), they are the highlight of the episode. That wasn't the case here, both because it's been such a strong episode overall, and because this one wasn't so much about presenting a ridiculous game show premise as it was about presenting a showcase in a “humorous” manner. I put that word in quotes because, well, the humor was once again based on “funny” accents, and because nothing about the showcase itself was funny. Although based on all the instances of breaking, the actors found it hilarious, I have to disagree.
The Obama Show: Man, Obama meets Cosby? How has nobody thought of mashing those two personas before now is beyond me, but man did this mash-up work. It also gave a nod to a specific episode, further proving that the show put a lot of thought into this one. (Well, except for Poehler randomly showing up as Clinton. That's just seemed like an overextension of the show's attitude towards using guest start cameos.)
How's He Doing?: Wow, a lost slot sketch that isn't totally weird. In fact, this was a really straightforward sketch, and apart from choice lines about race in America, it didn't really standout all that much either. However, in a show so full of strong sketches, who am I to complain.
Good Nights: Apparently Timberlake really wants us to know that he loves Bon Iver. Yeah, I'd be worried about the wrath of Justin Vernon too.
Man, that was a strong episode, and the fact that it was in the face of so many over-the-top Rudolph moments is making me rethink my stance on Rudolph's comedic sensibilities. Even the frequent and repeated celebritiy cameos couldn't bring down this episode, and man, there were almost too many of them. But hey, it all worked out for the best.
Best Sketch – The Obama Show
Worst Sketch – Super $$$ Showcase
Biggest Surprise – Bill O'Reilly showing up on the show
Biggest Dissapointment – All those celebrity cameos, and no Jeremy Lin...
Monologue: Okay, here we go, and it's a strong start for Rudolph. Admittedly, doing a monologue about her past on the show isn't the most original concept, and I'm never a fan of when the show has the host sing as opposed to giving an actual monologue. However, the show went all out with the number and pulled in practically the entire case (and, uh, Paul Simon), and the show just committing to this made for a very infectious and winning “monologue.” Given how succussful Jimmy Fallon was at doing the same thing, perhaps the show should look into making the monologues go big every week.
Bronx Beat: Called it! I've never been a fan of the Bronx Beat sketch, mostly because I've never felt that the sketches have ever gone beyond actors speaking in an Bronx accent, and I don't find “accent humor” to be any kind of humor at all. Thus, the first half of this sketch (and man was that a long first half) with just Poehler and Rudolph's characters fell largely flat. However, with the introduction of Tony and Lou (played by Justin Timberlake) the sketch picked up quite a bit, and I especially enjoyed the role reversal as the guys started hitting on the women.
Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Laughs: Obviously a spoof of NBC's weird decision to have a Betty White-hosted prank show, this sketch worked based on the humorous juxtaposition between Angelou (and her high-brow contemporaries) and the incredibly low-brow nature of the pranks. That these pranks also helped to sell the spoof of the prank show format was just a bonus.
Ivy: Frankly, I'm surprised that it took the show this long to do an entire sketch based on Jay-Z's and Beyonce's baby. Of course, considering that this sketch was pretty much nothing more than a string of celebrity impersonations – which were: Prince, LL Cool J, Nikki Minaj, Brangelina, Taylor Swift, Justin Vernon (Timberlake again, and who the show mistakenly called “Bon Iver”). I realize that celebrity impression sketches fall into that love/hate category, but I tend to enjoy them, and I found this one to be especially successful. Extra props to the Taylor Swift gag and the extended Bon Iver riff.
Weekend Update: In addition to Seth Meyer's usual shtick, we got...Well, nothing really. In fact, we didn't even technically get Seth Meyer's Shtick, considering that Amy Poehler joined him halfway through for a “Really?!” segment on birth control, after which she of course stuck around to read some more headline/joke combos. Poehler and Meyers have great chemistry, and it resulted in a very funny WU, but it is a bit sad to see the show play it so safe, and so short.
What Up With That (President's Day Edition): Another of those love-it-or-hate-it sketches, there's never really a whole lot that I can come up to say about WUWT, given that I find it to be generally hilarious. But in interest of fairness, I'll throw out some random observations: So weird to see Bill O'Reilly as part of the sketch, even weirder that the word “pinhead” wasn't worked in anywhere. If Kate Upton, appears in this sketch after getting mocked on WU, then why hasn't Jeremy Lin showed up yet? Having Monyihan and Samberg dressed as presidential figures was a nice surreal touch on an already surreal sketch, as was Rudolph as samba singer.
Super $$$ Showcase: Usually when SNL does game show sketches (with the exception of Secret Word), they are the highlight of the episode. That wasn't the case here, both because it's been such a strong episode overall, and because this one wasn't so much about presenting a ridiculous game show premise as it was about presenting a showcase in a “humorous” manner. I put that word in quotes because, well, the humor was once again based on “funny” accents, and because nothing about the showcase itself was funny. Although based on all the instances of breaking, the actors found it hilarious, I have to disagree.
The Obama Show: Man, Obama meets Cosby? How has nobody thought of mashing those two personas before now is beyond me, but man did this mash-up work. It also gave a nod to a specific episode, further proving that the show put a lot of thought into this one. (Well, except for Poehler randomly showing up as Clinton. That's just seemed like an overextension of the show's attitude towards using guest start cameos.)
How's He Doing?: Wow, a lost slot sketch that isn't totally weird. In fact, this was a really straightforward sketch, and apart from choice lines about race in America, it didn't really standout all that much either. However, in a show so full of strong sketches, who am I to complain.
Good Nights: Apparently Timberlake really wants us to know that he loves Bon Iver. Yeah, I'd be worried about the wrath of Justin Vernon too.
Man, that was a strong episode, and the fact that it was in the face of so many over-the-top Rudolph moments is making me rethink my stance on Rudolph's comedic sensibilities. Even the frequent and repeated celebritiy cameos couldn't bring down this episode, and man, there were almost too many of them. But hey, it all worked out for the best.
Best Sketch – The Obama Show
Worst Sketch – Super $$$ Showcase
Biggest Surprise – Bill O'Reilly showing up on the show
Biggest Dissapointment – All those celebrity cameos, and no Jeremy Lin...
Biggest Sigh of Relief - That the show didn't even try to work in a Whitney Houston impression by Rudolph. Stay classy, SNL.
In Two Weeks: Lindsay Lohan brings her awkward train-wreck self to the show, and Jack White shows up to hopefully even things out a bit. Except that's he's got his own kind of awkwardness to him. So....this'll be fun, right?
Quotes, Etc.:
“And Kobe's like 'I order fried chicken.'”
“Switching gears for a moment, it's Black History Month...”
“Thank you white butler, you may show him in.”
“It was just me, my husband, and Kanye.”
“I don't know, the butler's really into it.”
“Oh no, Bon Iver Put himself to sleep.”
“Said the president: 'Keep talkin' fellas.'”
“Because if you can find this lady believable as a cop, then you can find this man believable as president.”
“Oh man, that dog is going to get so much leg.”
“Don't get me wrong: I love trans-vaginal. It's my favorite airline.”
“The report went on to say, 'but hey, it's none of my business...'”
“So you're instincts were right: You can't win.”
“It's just a shame they didn't have a swimsuit in her size.”
“The only way someone in a sweater vest is getting my vote is if his name is Bel, Biv, or Devoe.”
“Kim Kardasian?” “He ain't Superman, he's just the president.”
“Kesha?” “I am not okay with the president getting with that busted up white girl.”
“I can't vote for Mitt Romney. He looks like the bad guy in every blaxplotation film.”
“You know what I did? I went outside and break-danced for three days straight.”
In Two Weeks: Lindsay Lohan brings her awkward train-wreck self to the show, and Jack White shows up to hopefully even things out a bit. Except that's he's got his own kind of awkwardness to him. So....this'll be fun, right?
Quotes, Etc.:
“And Kobe's like 'I order fried chicken.'”
“Switching gears for a moment, it's Black History Month...”
“Thank you white butler, you may show him in.”
“It was just me, my husband, and Kanye.”
“I don't know, the butler's really into it.”
“Oh no, Bon Iver Put himself to sleep.”
“Said the president: 'Keep talkin' fellas.'”
“Because if you can find this lady believable as a cop, then you can find this man believable as president.”
“Oh man, that dog is going to get so much leg.”
“Don't get me wrong: I love trans-vaginal. It's my favorite airline.”
“The report went on to say, 'but hey, it's none of my business...'”
“So you're instincts were right: You can't win.”
“It's just a shame they didn't have a swimsuit in her size.”
“The only way someone in a sweater vest is getting my vote is if his name is Bel, Biv, or Devoe.”
“Kim Kardasian?” “He ain't Superman, he's just the president.”
“Kesha?” “I am not okay with the president getting with that busted up white girl.”
“I can't vote for Mitt Romney. He looks like the bad guy in every blaxplotation film.”
“You know what I did? I went outside and break-danced for three days straight.”
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