“SNL” was REALLY proud of its recent history during last night’s episode. Whether it was appearances from former cast members (host Will Ferrell, Will Forte), resurrecting old characters (George W. Bush, the Culps), or honoring milestones (the 100th Digital Short), very little felt new, especially in the first half.

They were so busy celebrating themselves, in fact, that they forgot to write any good sketches, Lonely Island excluded. You’ve got one of the funniest people on the planet as your host, a former cast-member at that, and the best the show came up with is bringing back one of his weakest recurring characters and whatever the f*ck was going on in “Broadway Sizzle”. At times, I actually forgot Ferrell (who, to be fair, seemed a little under the weather) was the host because he was absent so much of the time.

Don’t look so proud of yourself, Lorne. This was the most disappointing episode of the season.

Read the rest of this entry »

Over the weekend, “Saturday Night Live” had originally planned to run a cold open featuring Fred Armisen’s President Obama that basically lampooned Obama’s supposed exploitation of the killing of Bin Laden.

“This is a special time of year,” Obama says, “when we gather together with family and friends to commemorate the shooting of this terrorist, and the gutsy decision that made it possible.”

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to be at home this year, as I had to fly to Afghanistan, to remind President Karzai that, exactly one year ago, we killed Osama bin Laden and that the decision to do so was a gutsy one — and was mine.”

The skit ultimately was cut in favor of the Fox & Friends sketch, which basically (rightfully) makes fun of Fox News for being dumb, biased, and racist. Naturally, the conservative media — everyone from the National Review to the folks over at Breitbart — is throwing a hissy fit, claiming that “Saturday Night Live” won’t attack Obama during an election year because of the show’s own political biases. Lorne Michaels, however, shot back, asserting that “It wasn’t its politics. It was about the comedy. The show’s many things, but partisan it is not.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Former “SNL” cast member Rachel Dratch has a memoir out, Girl Walks Into a Bar …, which means she’s doing the publicity circuit, which means there’s been a lot of talk about why her career stalled after she was booted from “30 Rock” in favor of Jane Krakowski. Dratch offers her own assessement:

I am offered solely the parts that I like to refer to as The Unf—ables. In reality, if you saw me walking down the street, you wouldn’t point at me and recoil and throw up and hide behind a shrub. But by Hollywood standards, I’m a troll, ogre, woodland creature, or manly lesbian. … Trolls, ogres, and woodland creatures can be done with CGI, so that leaves yours truly to play the bull dykes.

Jezebel, naturally, is outraged, arguing that there’s a double standard in Hollywood with regard to ugly people.
Read the rest of this entry »

Two interesting tidbits about upcoming hosts of “Saturday Night Live” were revealed this weekend following a fairly mediocre episode. The first is New York Giants’ quarterback, Eli Manning, is set to host the show on May 5th. He’s the first quarterback (and NFL player) to host since his brother, Peyton, did so in 2007, and Eli’s bitch, Tom Brady, did so in 2004. I’m not sure what the source of comedy might be, but if the writers want to get topical, Eli could always play the fetus in a pro-life sketch. Still, if he’s half as good as his brother, it’ll be the best “SNL” of the year, not that it’s a particularly high bar for the 2011-2012 season where the best three best episodes were hosted by Jimmy Fallon and Bridesmaids’ alumns, Melissa McCarthy and Maya Rudolph.

The other, more interesting note is that Mitt Romney has been offered a guest spot on “SNL” by Lorne Michaels. Depending on who you ask, he’s been offered a cameo or a role as host of the show. Either way, Romney is purportedly mulling the offer. It’s basically the only thing he has in his arsenal to demonstrate that he’s an actual human being and not some pre-programmed pandering android. In fact, wouldn’t it be funny if he was brought in to play a pre-programmed pandering android?

Word is also that Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig, the subject of rumors regarding their departure at the end of the season, may actually stick around through the election to continue playing Mitt and Ann Romney. Why? I don’t know, particularly since there’s usually only one political sketch in each episode, the cold open. In recent years, they’ve also been fangless and painfully unfunny, and it’s certainly not as if those two characters have reached the heights of Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin. But, if Romney ends up selecting Chris Christie, at least Bobby Moynihan will finally serve a purpose.

Girls (HBO, Sunday) – I am definitely looking forward to this new comedy, created by Tiny Furniture’s Lena Dunham and produced by Judd Apatow, but JESUS PETE do people like writing about it. Splitsider put together this list of 24 “thinkpieces” about the show, and that doesn’t even include my favorite take on it, by Andy Greenwald at Grantland. He made a Beastie Boys reference in the headline. That is a direct route to my heart. (Trailer after the jump.)

Eastbound & Down (HBO) – Series finale. The saga of Kenny Powers comes to an end Sunday night. Goodnight, sweet prince. Sweet, belligerent, xenophobic prince.

Mad Men (AMC, Sunday) – Someone should make a Tumblr titled Peggy Counting Money, and just post this GIF every hour on the hour until the end of time.

Game of Thrones (HBO, Sunday) – TV Guide has an 80-word summary of the show in their listings, and not once do they mention whether or not Joffrey gets slapped. THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW, TV GUIDE.

Saturday Night Live (NBC, Saturday) – Josh Brolin hosts, with musical guest Gotye. Josh does the recaps of the show, but I want it on the record that Bobby Moynihan’s Drunk Uncle character brings me almost an endless amount of joy.

The Finder/Fringe (FOX, Friday) – 50 Cent guest-starred on “The Finder” last week, and his character’s name was Gangsta Glade. I just wanted you all to know that.

Titanic (ABC, Saturday/Sunday) – ABC is running this four-hour miniseries over the weekend (three hours airing Saturday night, and the one-hour conclusion on Sunday). If human beings had any sense at all, the sinking of the Titanic would have put an end the cruise ship industry. Go to a resort instead. Resorts don’t sink.

The Good Wife (CBS, Sunday) – “OK, I’ve got an idea… what if, for the big trial — and just here me out — Franklin & Bash were opposing counsel.” – Me, if I wrote for “The Good Wife.”

The Client List (Lifetime, Sunday) – This show got a ton of press by having Jennifer Love Hewitt do photoshoots and videos with her cleavage hanging out, then got even more press by covering it up and shrinking it. Someone at Lifetime is a goddamn genius.

Read the rest of this entry »