Segments are rated on a scale of 1-5 stars
OBAMA RETURNS
pesky Joe Biden (JAS) won’t let Barack Obama (FRA) get back to work
— As I’ve mentioned sometime before, I hate how recent SNL eras like this often have the audience pointlessly applaud when someone at the beginning of the cold opening starts speaking. I especially don’t like it in this particular cold opening, because it distracts from Jason-as-Joe-Biden’s funny “Get me Jack Bauer!” opening line that he says into the intercom, and the applause causes him to repeat the line to less comedic effect.
— TWO consecutive episodes with an Obama-in-the-Oval-Office cold opening? At least this one isn’t an address to the nation, plus at least this one has Jason’s Biden as the much-needed comic relief.
— A thin premise, but Jason is selling it well in the way that he typically can, especially as Biden.
STARS: ***
MONOLOGUE
tween girls (KRW) & (ABE) & a middle-aged man (FRA) are huge fans of host
— Zac Efron literally sliding onto the stage on his knees. An energetic and rather unique monologue entrance at this point of SNL’s run.
— When this monologue originally aired, a lot of online SNL fans, including myself, initially confused Abby for Casey in the first cutaway to Abby and Kristen as Zac Efron fangirls in the audience. (Even the SNL episode guide I borrow my sketch synopses from erroneously credits Casey in Abby’s role in this monologue, as seen here.) It was something about Abby’s facial expressions that caused the mix-up among us fans. Hell, even watching this monologue now, 11 years later, I still, at certain points, find Abby to have an uncanny resemblance to Casey with the facial expressions she’s making in this. The resemblance is almost downright freaky.
— Zac’s direct-to-camera thank-you message to tweens is actually very funny.
— Blah at Fred playing not only yet another gay role, but apparently a child predator role (at least leave the latter to Will Forte, who has the ability to make that type of role funny without making me groan.) I do admit, though, to getting a laugh from Fred’s definition of the “tween” knockoff word “twifty”: someone between ages 40 and 50.
STARS: ***
TODAY
Kathie Lee Gifford’s (KRW) son Cody (host) takes after his mom
— (*groan*) This again.
— Right at the start of this Today installment, Kristen’s Kathie Lee Gifford actually got a laugh from me for once – a very guilty, oh-so-wrong laugh, with her random, un-PC imitation of how deaf people talk. I also like Michaela-as-Hoda-Kotb’s nervous reaction to that.
— I don’t know why, but I’m actually finding myself being amused by Kristen’s Kathie Lee shtick so far in tonight’s Today installment, which is surprising, given how I usually can’t stand her in these sketches. Perhaps something about the atmosphere of tonight’s general episode is making this sketch work for me…so far. We’ll see if my goodwill is going to last for the remainder of this sketch.
— Odd how Michaela’s Hoda sets up a tape of celebrity congratulations messages in a way that makes it seem as if we’re going to see various messages, only for it to end up being ONE: Fred as Penny Marshall. In dress rehearsal, this sketch actually had more celebrity messages during this portion of the sketch, including Jason as Harry Connick Jr. singing (IIRC) “It Had To Be You”.
— Zac is doing a good imitation of Kristen’s Kathie Lee shtick.
— I loved seeing Michaela’s Hoda finally lose her temper and bitterly smash a bottle over Kristen-as-Kathie-Lee’s head (which unfortunately has no effect on her).
— Overall, nice to see a Kathie Lee/Hoda Today sketch actually work for me for once. I wonder if I’ve finally come around on this recurring sketch, or if it’s just tonight’s episode where this recurring sketch works for me. I guess we’ll see when I cover the subsequent installments of this sketch (plus Kristen-as-Kathie Lee’s appearance in an upcoming Celebrity Jeopardy sketch in this season’s finale).
STARS: ***
GILLY
Gilly intimidates & terrorizes her fellow students at a science fair
— (*groan x infinity*) These Gilly sketches have officially become recurring.
— With this being placed right after the Today sketch, this is another episode this season that makes me feel more like I’m watching an episode of The Kristen Wiig Show rather than an episode of SNL. SNL’s favoritism towards Kristen shouldn’t get to the point where they bunch all of her sketches back-to-back at the top of the show.
— Pretty fun accent from Zac’s foreign exchange student character.
— As usual, I’m actually getting mild laughs from the supporting characters in this sketch, but the actual Gilly portions of this sketch are fucking insufferable for me.
STARS: *½
THE ALLIANCE OF DIRECT MAIL MARKETERS
direct mail marketing rep’s (JAS) defense of junk mail is unpersuasive
— Jason’s friendly spokesman character exaggerating the “usefulness” of junk mail is providing several laughs.
— The photo they use as an example of a citizen with an STD (the second-to-last above screencap for this sketch) is the same photo that was previously used as the photo of Amy Poehler’s character’s allegedly-slutty dorm roommate in the NCAA Tournament Pool Party sketch from the season 32 Peyton Manning-hosted episode.
— A lot of good little laughs all throughout this.
— Fantastic spokesman performance from Jason, well-executing this commercial’s Jim Downey-written (I assume) dry humor.
STARS: ***½
UNDERAGE DRINKING
of the drinkers in a bar, (ANS) & (host) are by far the least underage
— Very funny gag with the kids at one table simultaneously taking a bomb shot, by each dropping their shot glass into their beer mug and drinking both of those drinks together.
— Hilarious line about gerbils (little girls who go after older guys) being the opposite of cougars.
— Funny brief walk-on from Kenan as a bouncer.
— I like the PSA twist at the end with Bill reprising his impression of “disgraced former New York governor” Eliot Spitzer.
STARS: ***½
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest performs “Zero”
WEEKEND UPDATE
New Jerseyite same-sex couple approves of Vermont’s gay marriage statute
after bashing host, Angie Tempura goes gaga for him when he appears
dissed by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, Jon Bovi moves into other genres
— Oh, no. The return of the Same-Sex Couple From New Jersey, after a (merciful) two-and-a-half year absence. Despite being progressive in regards to SNL’s portrayal of gay people, I’ve never found these characters funny.
— (*groan*) That hacky “whacked a guy” joke from Fred and Bill…
— The second and final appearance of Michaela’s Angie “Bitch, Pleeze” Tempura character. I was disheartened to have a negative reaction to her when recently reviewing her first appearance (that negative reaction of mine surprised me, given how much I used to like this character back when this season originally aired), but I hope to have a better reception towards this second appearance of hers.
— I did get a laugh from the way Michaela delivered her first “Biiiiiiitch, pleeeeeze” in tonight’s commentary.
— Speaking of Michaela’s good delivery, something about her delivery of the line about Nicolas Cage making her want to barf blood cracked me up.
— Despite my more positive reaction to tonight’s Angie Tempura commentary so far, there’s still a weird anti-comedy vibe I’m getting from this character, and I’m not even sure that’s what Michaela is going for.
— Tempura’s uncharacteristic fangirl-y reaction to Zac Efron’s walk-on is funny.
— I’m glad that I enjoyed tonight’s overall Angie Tempura commentary MUCH more than I enjoyed her first one. Too bad this is her final appearance, but then again, after that ending with Zac, I’m not sure where else they could’ve taken this character if she made any future appearances had Michaela been given a second season on SNL. That ending with Tempura happily walking off with Zac seemed like a very fitting conclusion for her as a recurring character, whether SNL intended that or not.
— I see Seth is now introducing a third Update commentary. (*sigh*) Would it kill SNL to do a solo Seth Meyers-era Weekend Update with only one or two guest commentaries? Four months into this solo Seth era of Update, and we have yet to get a single Update with less than three commentaries. Are they padding out these Updates with so many commentaries because the Update writers perhaps aren’t familiar with how to write Update for only one anchorperson, after having gotten so used to Update having two anchors for so many consecutive seasons?
— Oh, turns out tonight’s third Update guests are Jon Bovi. Seems really soon to bring them back after their previous Update commentary from only three episodes prior, but I’m certainly not complaining, as I absolutely love these characters.
— Jon Bovi’s “Good Medicine” song has stuck in my memory over the years.
— Absolutely hilarious bit with Seth questioning Jon Bovi on why they consider “speedstick” to be a suitable opposite word for “sure” during their opposite version of the song “That’s What Friends Are For”.
— As always, Jon Bovi is a fucking blast. SNL sure lets these Jon Bovi Update commentaries go on for a LONG time, but again, no complaints from me when their commentaries are as damn fun as they’ve been.
STARS: ***
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 4: NEW SENIOR CLASS
Troy (host) reveals lack of singing in real world
— The closest to a noteworthy role that the sadly-fading-away Casey Wilson has gotten in a damn good while.
— I like Casey’s cheery and smiley “Okay” after Zac sternly tells her “Back off!”
— Good conceit to this High School Musical parody, with Zac’s character deflating the students’ spirit by letting them know the horrors of what the real world is like after you graduate from this particular school.
— Darrell-as-Walt-Disney’s bitter, deadpan line about “Jews” cracked me up. A good use of Darrell’s extremely low-energy performance style from these later days of his SNL tenure.
— Overall, actually a well-done High School Musical sketch.
STARS: ****
LEAVING FOR WAR
freakishly fast (CAW) chases her doughboy beau’s (host) departing train
— Wow, I thought it was a big deal that the fading-away Casey Wilson got a semi-noteworthy role in the High School Musical sketch that preceded this, but that’s nothing compared to this, as Casey gets an actual STARRING role! Feels like it’s been almost ages since the last time she had the sole lead comedic role of a sketch (I’m not counting co-starring roles in this case).
— I like the effects SNL is doing to make it look like the train is starting to take off, complete with street lights passing by the screen.
— Very fun premise to this, with Casey chasing down the speeding train that Zac is on. Good use of a greenscreen, too.
— Bobby temporarily steals this sketch with his hilarious brief appearance, and, as I always say, I always like the pairing of him and Casey.
— Great performance from Casey all throughout this sketch, and I love the part with her immediately returning with a fish after she fell into a creek off-camera.
— When this sketch originally aired, at this late point of this season, it gave me renewed hope on Casey’s chances of being brought back for the following season. Sadly, she would end up NOT being brought back, and this sketch, instead of being a last-ditch effort that saved her from getting fired, would instead end up being her final SNL lead role. At least she went out on a good note.
STARS: ****
GINO’S PIZZA ROLLS
actress’ (FRA) frenetic line reading ruins a pizza roll commercial shoot
— Not only do we get Fred in his bazillionth drag role (and his second one tonight alone), but, at first glance when this sketch starts, the choice to have a man play this particular female role seems random.
— I admit to getting a good laugh from Fred’s first “HEY! I! AM! YOUR! MOTHEEERRRRRRRR!”
— As the aforementioned joke repeats and escalates, I’m having very mixed feelings, but I think I’m leaning more towards the “I don’t like this” side, sorry to say.
— I don’t care for the bit right now with Fred’s character filming a whole bunch of over-the-top takes in a row.
— I admit that I originally found this sketch to be pretty much a laugh riot back when it originally aired, which was back in the days when Fred was one of my favorite members of the then-current cast and he could do no wrong in my eyes back then (for the most part). As I pointed out in some recent reviews, I’ve been disheartened to recently discover in my SNL project that Fred’s work in seasons 32-34 is NOWHERE near as consistently good as I had remembered (hell, I’d argue he’s had far more misses than hits in the season I’m currently reviewing). And now, though this isn’t quite as bad, I can’t help but see this sketch as a precursor to the particularly annoying, unfunny drag roles Fred would do quite a bit in what are known by a number of SNL fans as Fred’s official bad years (seasons 35-38), which we are soon approaching.
— For such a young actor not experienced in sketch comedy, Zac’s doing a great job keeping a perfectly straight face at Fred goofily yelling in his face throughout this sketch.
STARS: **
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
musical guest performs “Maps”
FOOT RUB
(JAS) teaches little brother (host) foot rub technique by giving him one
— Jason has been all over tonight’s episode. A very strong night for him.
— Very funny line from Jason about Zac wanting to get his “ranch dressing” in his girlfriend’s “Hidden Valley”.
— Great character from Jason, and I love his various quirks.
— Hilarious running bit involving the crusty t-shirt, baby oil, and Lane Bryant catalogues that Jason “mysteriously” keeps by the table.
— A hilarious foot rub sequence. I particularly love the Batman “Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na” bit Jason does during it. Jason is performing this whole sketch so damn well. One of his best performances ever.
— Very funny climax to this sketch, with Jason getting so into the romantic music that he almost puts Zac’s foot in his mouth. The audience goes wild during this part.
— Overall, while I’ve always liked this sketch a lot from my past viewing of it back when it originally aired, my current viewing has made me find this sketch even better than I did in the past, so much so, that it’s now officially become a new favorite of mine. Such a fantastic and very underrated sketch. Literally just about every single moment in it hit with me.
STARS: *****
GOODNIGHTS
IMMEDIATE POST-SHOW THOUGHTS
— A solid episode. The post-Weekend Update half in particular had a lot of strong pieces, especially the final sketch, which is an underappreciated Jason Sudeikis gem. This episode in general had such a good vibe that it even made me enjoy some recurring bits that I didn’t enjoy previously (Today, Angie Tempura).
MY PERSONAL CHOICE OF “BEST OF” MOMENTS FOR THIS EPISODE, REPRESENTED WITH SCREENCAPS
RATED SEGMENTS RANKED FROM BEST TO WORST
Foot Rub
Leaving For War
High School Musical 4: New Senior Class
Underage Drinking
The Alliance of Direct Mail Marketers
Today
Weekend Update
Obama Returns
Monologue
Gino’s Pizza Rolls
Gilly
HOW THIS EPISODE STACKS UP AGAINST THE PRECEDING ONE (Seth Rogen)
a step up
My full set of screencaps for this episode is here
TOMORROW
Justin Timberlake