Community – Abed can see the future
Sometimes Community gets so meta it makes my head spin. Ever since the pilot, Community has seemed very aware of the fact that it is a television comedy, complete with familiar sitcom characters. In this episode, Abed (who is the character who breaks down the fourth wall on a regular basis) basically says, “You guys, we are nothing more than tried and true archetypes molded and evolved on sitcoms over the past 50 years. Let me show u it.”
So in addition to seeing that Abed can predict everything his fellow characters say and do, we have Chevy Chase doing what Chevy Chase does best: pratfalls. Pratfalls made him famous, so the only thing surprising about having him fall over his drum kit in this episode is that it took them so long to do it.
Saturday Night Live – January Jones/Black Eyed Peas
This episode only served to prove that last week’s episode really was one of the better of the season, if not the best so far. Tonight felt like we were getting the scrapings from the bottom of the writers’ barrel of material. I held out hope for something really remarkable to come out of it, but wound up disappointed. At least the pre-taped Party segment was decent. It was a shame that we didn’t get a traditional sign-off, though. ‘Peas fans probably loved it.
Cold Open: Vice Presidential Address — Oh, what a surprise: more politics. However, I’ve always loved Sudeikis’s Biden impression, so this was one of the better ones in my book.
Saturday Night Live – Taylor Swift
I’ve gotta hand it to Taylor Swift, she did an excellent job as host of SNL this week. Not only was she solid at performing on live TV, but her acting was totally up to snuff and she was in nearly all of the skits (all but a pre-taped commercial and Weekend Update), along with performing twice. I’ll throw up at least a golf clap for all that. That’s the way to do it, though — why only appear in a few skits when you’ve got the honor of being on SNL? (Videos clips of most skits are embedded below.)
Cold Open — Am I the only one getting sick of the politically themed cold open? I think we may as well call it the Political Open at this point. Alright, so seeing them mock FOX News’s coverage of the election was pretty funny. I’m still tired of the politics, though.
Read the rest of this entry »
Saturday Night Live – Drew Barrymore; Regina Spektor
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.
Saturday Night Live – Ryan Reynolds; Lady Gaga
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.
Wherefore art thou, Liz Lemon?
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.
Saturday Night Live – Megan Fox / U2
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.
Most Commented (Past Week)