| Brittany Murphy / Nelly | |
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By Neil McCormick
Well I'm writing this review well into December and the show aired on November 16th... but I just re-watched the show on tape to refresh my memory so this review shouldn't be biased (or, at least, any more biased than usual). I was extremely disappointed with the last episode, hosted by Nia Vardalos, so I was hoping SNL could have a turnaround from that and produce a decent episode.
{cold opening} Adam
Sandler Sings Chanukah Song 3
Wow... this is amazing. Adam Sandler
is the greatest. What a spectacular way to start the show off. The Chanukah
songs are always classic, and this was no exception. The Rob Schneider
appearance really helped too. Terrific way to start the show.
RATING : 9.5/10
{monologue} Brittany
Murphy
Right, well she seems far to hyped up
to NOT be on something, but whatever works... I suppose I'd be pretty excited if
I was hosting SNL too. Good monologue concept though, with the two sides
rapping, and Amy rapping was great, though a bit predictable. One of the better
monologues of the season.
RATING : 8.5/10
{commercial} Welcome
Back, Potter
Okay, when the commercial finally
said "Welcome Back, Potter" I was blown away at what a great sketch
concept it was, but I was pretty disappointed that there was no actual sketch to
it. Hell, maybe it was for the best... if it turned out bad it would have ruined
the whole thing. Cool idea, I'm...uhh... semi-impressed? Yeah, that's it.
RATING : 7.5/10
{sketch} The
Leather Man
I think the last time they did this
was during the Britney Spears episode. It was an average sketch then, and an
average sketch now. As usual, Horatio's role was hilarious. The only real
"laugh-out-loud" funny part was when Jimmy called 911 about the snake
bite... his reaction : priceless. I'm a bit leery that the show starts with
this, however.
RATING : 5.5/10
{sketch} Donahue
Haven't seen the ol' Donahue
impression in a long time! Like all of Darrell's works, this one's great too.
Not all that great a sketch though. Not many jokes. Jeff's character as that
dirty guy salvaged the sketch a little bit, but other than that, not much here.
RATING : 5/10
{sketch} Jarret's
Room
They're doing these sketches way too
often. It's just too worn out to be funny anymore. Sorry guys, you ruined
something that could have been great. Seth tried his very best to salvage what
was left with his retro music, but there's only so much that can be done.
RATING : 4/10
{sketch} C-SPAN
Diana's Butler
Well, this was the best sketch of the
night so far. The announcers little pieces of commentary were really well placed
and this was a great sketch concept all around. "...just like what a dude
would wear".
RATING : 9/10
{sketch} Tennis
Talk with Time Traveling Scott Joplin
Wow, just looking at the title makes
me laugh... what a hilarious concept. Unfortunately, I think Maya was a terrible
choice to play Scott Joplin... she just couldn't pull it off and make the whole
thing funny. Tracy and Dean as Venus and Serena were good, and Brittany wasn't
bad as Anna (but Kirsten Dunst was better I think...). However, overall, this is
a good sketch gone wrong.
RATING : 5.5/10
{music} Nelly
Yeah okay this was a good time. This,
of course, is the third rapper of three-in-a-row. Dandy.
{weekend
update} With Jimmy Fallon & Tina Fey
Okay, silently in my mind I've been
blaming the season's slow start on the absence of Will Ferrell... but why isn't
the Weekend Update as good as usual? I mean, one or two jokes are real good
ones, but the rest just aren't up to par with those from last season and the
season before. I really liked the J.Lo/Ben Affleck joke, but other than that
there wasn't anything special. I'm disappointed.
RATING : 8/10
{sketch} Astronaut
Jones
Featuring... Garrett Morris and
Nelly! Ohhh, what? SCORE! I know, this was practically the same as the first two
times they've done this sketch, but I still find it absolutely hilarious.
And as a bonus... it's Garrett Morris! I'm impressed. Good variation. Sketch of
the night.
RATING : 9.5/10
{cartoon} Religtables
No, this wasn't funny. Just... not...
funny.
RATING : 2/10
{novel} Big
Thick Novel by Jack Handey
"...last time we went square
dancing..."
Deep Thoughts are so amazing... like
one of the best parts of SNL ever... and why do these suck sooo bad?
RATING : 2/5 (not counted towards
final rating)
{music} Nelly
I've never heard THIS song before! No
wait, it's the most overplayed song in the history of music EVER.
{sketch} Girl
With No Gaydar
I know it's a bit hypocritical,
seeing how I continuously give Astronaut Jones high marks, but this really a one
joke sketch... they can only do so much. I'll cut it some slack though, seeing
how it was the last sketch. Left me with a bad taste in my mouth though.
At the end when Rachel goes "...then what is my sister's husband doing
here?" and the camera pans over, it was the night's greatest disappointment
to see Darrell rather than Will in his traditional role. Say what you want, but
until we get more newbies in the sketches, the show's gonna suffer without Will.
RATING : 6/10
{overall rating} 71
/ 100
{sketch of the night} Astronaut Jones (9.5)
{quote of the night} Brittany Murphy : "So
you and Parnell get along?"
Tracy
Morgan : "Nah, he's a little bitch"
{points of interest} This is the.... fourth episode this
year to get a 71 rating.
Episode four of six to get a rating of 71... it's gotta be a fluke. Don't compare this to last season's numbers though, because this year I'm dropping the lowest sketch from the average, so ratings will be higher. Honestly, I'm not all that impressed from the season's start. Fred and Will both show tremendous potential, but the rest of the featured cast is going to have to get in the show more frequently. Now, we've got two weeks off until the big man, Robert DeNiro, stops by to host with musical guest Norah Jones. It's gonna be a good one!