SNL's Continued Downward Spiral Thread

Put it this way. For as F'd up a network as NBC is, this is one of the few shows going right for it in the ratings.

 

One thing most of the guest stars can take comfort in knowing . . . they likely aren't going to be upstaged by the hired help.

 

They up their game when one of their own come back.

I think it also serves as a reminder as to how mediocre the current cast is...

 

Still damning the show with faint praise. Face it; last night was an outstanding effort.

 

I think Mizzou is on to something. Shows with former cast members as host -- Maya Rudolph last night, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, et al -- always seem to be a cut above. Current cast tries to make it special, show how good they are; former cast member doesn't want to disappoint. Most of last night's sketches worked well, and there was fresh material.

 

I thought this was SNL's strongest effort in a while. Too bad that Whiney Houston died as I always enjoyed Rudolph's version of her.

 

BTW, the Beyonce/Jay-Z skit was pretty damn good. Nasim Pedrad's Nicki Minaj was great.

 

I don't normally feel this way about her, but Maya Rudolph looked FINE as Beyonce.

 

I think this is because:

1. Writing staff and the host already have chemistry.
2. Writing staff knows the host will be down for anything. Nothing is off limits for the sake of comedy.
3. A former cast member, knowing what's required, is going to show up with ideas, unlike some stars who just show up and read their lines. Supposedly one of the reasons Baldwin and Timberlake are so good is they always come to the writing room with at least a couple ideas they've been toying with.
4. It's unlikely you have to scratch a sketch because the host's agent or publicist is worried about it.
5. Sketch comedy is hard. If you've been on SNL and gone on to something bigger and better, you were probably very, very good at sketch comedy.

 

Just read about Lohan hosting. CNN.com's Alan Duke gets new title of "bullshit PR man disguised as a journalist.

Had something like "sales of her December issue of Playboy shows that her troubles haven't diminished her star power." Yeah, right. Hollywood's just falling over itself to cast her. Hell, even crackheads just shake their heads at her.

 

More Jay Pharoah, please.

Jay-Z: Man, what's Bon Iver singing about?

Beyonce: I don't know, but White Butler is really into it.

 

Really? REALLY?!!

(Just kidding, I just love that bit.)