I remember many years ago that, when a guest was scheduled to appear on SNL, it was a near certainty that at least one skit would be all about some movie or TV show that the guest was associated with. What the hell happened to that? I miss those days of SNL. I think we all do.

Cool thing about this week’s post: ALL of the skits AND musical numbers are embedded below!

Cold Open: Presidential Address — Surprise! Another presidential address, and I think everyone was with me in knowing it just had to be about Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize … for “not being George Bush.” Yowch. Really a weak open, just because it short on the funny and really didn’t have much to it.

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Tonight I was surprised not more was done with the Polanski case, but Weekend Update took it on a bit. For some reason, though, the doors to the SNL studio flew open for a few notable cameos, one of which will likely have people talking.

We’ll update the below with video clips of the skits from NBC.com sometime Sunday morning, when they’re released to the public. Until then, here’s a rundown on the skits and what I thought of them all.

Cold Open: Presidential Address — I knew the Olympics decision would make its way into the night’s episode somehow. How many Chicagoans now want that 2016 t-shirt he held up? Anyway, this wasn’t all that funny but maybe those who really despise Obama loved it more than words can say.

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It should come as a surprise to approximately no one that I, above all else, positively worship Tina Fey. That woman is a comedy genius, and 30 Rock brings a light to my life that is only rivaled by puppies and newborn babies.

So why does NBC insist on holding out this show on me every year?

Look, I understand that 30 Rock has pretty low numbers, ratings-wise, but I absolutely fail to understand how starting the season later helps matters. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that people want things to start all around the same time? I can’t help but think that the late starts are actually hurting 30 Rock in the long run — people look at a late-starting show and go “oh, I don’t need another thing to start watching” once their schedule is made. Meanwhile, long-time fans like me often miss the premiere by accident or go crazy waiting.

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Saturday Night Live is officially back for season number 35! The season opened with Megan Fox hosting the show. I think she did a pretty decent job, but it certainly seemed like she wasn’t given that much material. I mean, in half the sketches she pretty much just played a random “hot girl,” and in more than one sketch she played herself. Suffice it to say, I don’t think she’ll be following Justin Timberlake’s lead and winning an Emmy.

The big story to come out of this episode, though, will most certainly be the accidental f-bomb dropped by new featured player Jenny Slate. I really feel bad for her. She must have been really nervous, and frankly, that skit was pretty dangerous. The fallout should be interesting to watch.

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This week kicks off the real fall season with more premieres than we could possibly list here. Even more intriguing is The Jay Leno Show, kicking off Monday and every weeknight at 10pm. Will it work? I’m sure it’ll launch huge, just like Conan did over on The Tonight Show. But will it last?

If it does, will this spell the slow decline of expensive quality scripted fare on television? And what about expensive less-than-quality programming like ‘Til Death and Brothers? These shows need homes on the schedule as well … for some reason. Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve got a pretty wide range of rerun selections tonight, including the chance to get in on the ground floor, and several marathon runs. Check it out:

• Legend of the Seeker, Syndicated, Check local listings. This show isn’t set to return until October, but that means there’s time to catch the whole thing in reruns, starting today. Whether you’ve read The Sword of Truth series or not, this is pretty fun sword and sorcery adventure.
• Wipeout, ABC, 8 p.m. This goofy obstacle course is back for a second season, and even though it doesn’t really matter, if you want to see that season premiere, ABC is giving you that chance.
• Battle of the Sexes, ABC, 9 p.m. Another season premiere, this time you might want to get in on the ground floor, meeting the nine new couples and watching them splatter one another with paintballs.
• Saturday Night Live, E!, 9 p.m. Remember when Lindsay Lohan hosted SNL in 2004? That’s right, it’s Mean Girls era pre-trainwreck Lindsay and that classic Hermione Granger with boobs sketch!
• Saturday Night Live Remembers Chris Farley, E!, 10 p.m. Stick around then to see a retrospective of the late, great Farley.
• Saturday Night Live, NBC, 11:30 p.m., but don’t give up yet. Flip to NBC and catch Justin Timberlake hosting SNL so you can see the “Dick in a Box” sequel, “Mother Lover!”
• The Tudors, Showtime, 7 p.m. In this third season finale, it’s time for Henry to clean house and throw the latest chick out. Women may not grow on trees, but Henry picks ‘em like they do.
• Marathons. If you’re one of those addictive types, why not stick with marathons of one show all night. TVLand has The Andy Griffith Show, it’s original crew House on USA, America’s Next Top Model on Oxygen, Ice Road Truckers on History. We has The Locator from 8-10, which my wife is hooked on. She keeps telling me I should find my father.

Once upon a time, I was a hardcore SNL fan. I’m talking back in the days of Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer, Chris Kattan and Molly Shannon. Towards the end of the 90s, I drifted away and only recently have started to watch again on any regular basis.

Still, the show on a whole just doesn’t make me laugh like it used to. Maybe that’s because I’m no longer 14, but I like to think I’m as immature as I ever was, at least where comedy is concerned. This is probably why the one and only skit out of this entire season to make me literally convulse with laughter, tears streaming down my face so hard I could barely see, was The Lawrence Welk Show from episode four, with Anne Hathaway hosting. Read the rest of this entry »