Precious star and cheerful fatty Gabourey Sidibe hosted “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, and it was okay, I guess. People always seem to love either bashing SNL as terrible or dismissing it as irrelevant, but I accept it for what it is: a decent way to pass the time. I’ve settled into a nice groove of watching it on Sunday and fast-forwarding through the commercials, musical performances, and particularly unfunny skits.

Anyway, Gabby’s not the best live entertainer, but what she lacks in live performance skills she more than makes up for with ebullience and arm fat. Highlights of the episode included the public employee of the year sketch, Bill Hader breaking character during Weekend Update, and Kenan Thompson as Steve Harvey hosting “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (video below). I feel so ashamed every time I find Kenan Thompson funny. I need a comedy priest to hear my confession. “You are forgiven, my son. Watch two episodes of ‘Archer’ and tell thirty fat jokes.”

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On Saturday night, Blake Lively and Kenan Thompson performed in a sketch that made fun of the unfolding Tiger Woods story (video below). Specifically, it addressed the allegation that Elin Woods attacked Tiger before he crashed his Cadillac. And because Rihanna was performing that night, the skit was tasteless, according to people who get offended for other people.

“We think, had the genders been reversed, ‘SNL’ wouldn’t make light of the potentially violent situation” noted PopEater in an article titled “‘SNL’ Lampoons Alleged Violence in Tiger Woods’ Marriage,” on Sunday.

Female-oriented site Jezebel called the sketch one of the show’s “obvious missteps… when you consider that Rihanna was the night’s musical guest.”

While over on The TV Squad blog, a writer called out the Rihanna connection…“Had the tables been turned and a man was suspected of beating up his wife, there definitely wouldn’t be a lighthearted sketch like this.” [Access Hollywood]

Three things: 1. A parody of something is not a statement that something like domestic abuse is okay, and the fact that female-to-male violence flips the gender stereotypes is precisely why it’s (theoretically) funny. 2. Let’s let Rihanna decide what’s inconsiderate to Rihanna. 3. By far and away the most offensive part of the sketch is Kenan Thompson’s acting. Why don’t people get more upset about that? That guy’s terrible.

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The cast of “Saturday Night Live” is always a divisive subject. There’s no hard and fast conventional wisdom for who’s good and who’s as funny as watching your parents die of cancer. My favorites in the present cast are Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, but some people who ordinarily see eye-to-eye with me think they’re awful, so I’m not trying to convince anyone of anything here.

My point is, I detest Kenan Thompson, but I give credit where it’s due: I love this ‘What Up With Dat?” sketch. It’s ridiculously silly and it goes against the grain of SNL’s standard talk show skit. Well played, everyone.

I didn’t see the rest of the episode — I was too busy destroying brain cells in Las Vegas and guaranteeing an eternity in hell — but please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments re: Gerard Butler’s hosting stint.

“Saturday Night Live” had an uneven, largely disappointing season premiere this weekend, and I’m sad to report that the scheduled picture of host Megan Fox has been replaced by SNL rookie Jenny Slate, seen here reacting to saying the F-word on live television in her first starring sketch, the three billionth variation of “regular person has an unfunny talk show” (see video below).

Quick reactions to the rest of the show:

• Megan Fox was actually pretty good, but the writers didn’t give her much to work with.
• The digital shorts fell flat. (And why was “The Date” with Fox and Will Forte even a digital short?)
• As indulgent as a third U2 song was, it’s better for the closing credits than people waving.
• Kenan Thompson is terrible. Absolutely terrible. I can’t think of a prominent SNL cast member who was worse.
• The writing for “Weekend Update” was sharp (save Thompson’s appearance). Kristen Wiig’s travel writer character represents the best of SNL: a one-note joke that, when executed well, is repeatedly funny.
• Most people seem to think the Bladdivan sketch was the best (see below), but I preferred the “Live Lounge” fake commercial.

Despite its weaknesses, it’s nice to have SNL back. It’s a great show to zip through in 50 minutes on Sunday while I wait for football to start, and it gives me something discuss on Monday morning with any weirdos who aren’t into the NFL or “Mad Men.” Not that those people are worth talking to. Read the rest of this entry »

Fox tried to hail “Sit Down, Shut Up” — the new animated series that debuted on Sunday night — as the heir to “Arrested Development,” and it was totally right in one regard: the ratings sucked.

Debuting at 8:30 p.m., Sit Down (5.2 million viewers, 2.3 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) fell 23% from its Simpsons (6.5 million, 3.0) lead-in, then audiences jumped up 65% for Family Guy (7.4 million, 3.8). American Dad (5.8 million, 3.0) filled out the block. The Sit Down opener also was down 15% from the time period’s average performance (typically King of the Hill).

If you missed it, you’re welcome to watch the pilot on Hulu, but… well, let’s put it this way:  I wanted to like it.  I tried to like it.  I did not like it.  There are some brief moments of wit and humor, but mostly it was easy, obvious gags and WAY too much of Kenan Thompson’s voice.  Kenan Thompson killed this faster than a Saturday Night Live skit.  And that’s no easy task.