“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disappointing season premiere this weekend, and I’m sad to report that the scheduled picture of host Megan Fox has been replaced by SNL rookie Jenny Slate, seen here reacting to saying the F-word on live television in her first starring sketch, the three billionth variation of “regular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.
TAGS: jenny slate, KENAN THOMPSON, Kristen Wiig, LORNE MICHAELS, megan fox, NBC, saturday night live
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Jenny will be fine. Unless she gains weight. Then it’s GTFO, fatty.
OMG MEGHAN FOX HOSTED SNL?
Cant believe no one told me.
That Wiig sharacter is terrible, practically unwatchable. I thought Kenan’s bits were some of the better points of a terribly disappointing show. And yes the Bladdivan sketch was the high pioint of the show – all down hill from there.
Won’t someone please think of the children?
Kenan Thompson is your black friend that doesn’t count.
Jenny Slate is the new Ernie Anastos
Someone said the F-word on broadcast television? But the sun rose and set as normal yesterday, and plagues of Biblical proportion didn’t ravage the Earth? I’m confused.
/Charles Rocket approves
It’s sad that the only time Keenan is funny is when he’s giving a scornful facial impression without talking. And I do that practically non-stop.
Yea, that was pretty much a bomb. The Lava Life parody was the only thing that made me laugh save for a few Weekend Update jokes. They are oversaturating the Digital Short thing. A lot of them don’t need to be digital shorts, and most of them are dumb.
STOP PUSHING FRED ARMISEN ON US SNL! HE SUCKS!
Not real impressed with the new girls thus far, and I still don’t get why they axed the two girls that seemed to have some comedic talented, while keeping Chris Elliot’s daughter who hasn’t done anything yet.
“It’s sad that the only time Keenan is funny is when he’s giving a scornful facial impression without talking.”
The only thing he has ever done that has made me laugh is his Whoopi Goldberg impression where he does exactly that.
Really, Uff? The travel agent bit was horrible. Why do they keep cramming Wiig down our throats. SHE IS NOT FUNNY.
/I am not “just kidding”
It’s not that I genuinely think it’s funny — I just think the execution is impressive. When she came on as that character, I was like, “Aw crap, this sucks.” Then I found myself laughing, to my own chagrin.
I’m surprised that the reason I hated the episode wasn’t due to a terrible host but to poor writing. They had all summer and came up with that?
Think of how famous Charles Rocket became for the same offense.
In general, women don’t make me laugh. I swear I’m not a chauvinist asshole or actively try to not laugh at female comedians. I just, for whatever reason, don’t find them genuinely funny. But Kristen Wiig is fucking funny. Some of her characters are terrible, but on average she is great.
That said, if I was in a jury for the trial of Kenan Thompson’s murderer, I would let the killer off the hook with a plea of guilty.