Jesse Eisenberg hosted “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, and the big moment came in the first few minutes when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg appeared on stage with the actor who portrayed him in The Social Network — as well as another impostor, Andy Samberg. I’m on the record as being against the “SNL” habit of real people confronting their imitators, but in this case I laughed in spite of myself (and despite Zuckerberg’s nervous overacting). What can I say, it was the best Bergfest since the Titanic sank.
If there was a downside to Zuckerberg’s appearance, it’s that it overshadowed one of the better monologues in recent memory (I liked Eisenberg joking about his confidence) and the asstastic luminosity of Nicki Minaj, who appeared in a digital short and a sketch in addition to her two musical performances. God, I love her. She’s like Lady Gaga, except way hotter and cooler and able to rap. (So… a black Lady Gaga.)
Highlights of the episode below.
Monologue:
I could’ve done without the backstage peek with Lorne Michaels, as I think it would have been better if Zuckerberg had just shown up on stage. But it’s a pretty small quibble for the rare monologue that wasn’t a complete waste of time.
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Note to SNL writers: for the last time, putting someone in an obviously awkward situation, then having Samberg turn to the camera and say “AWK-ward!” is not funny in itself. You have the first meeting of an oscar nominated actor and the world’s youngest billionaire the actor gave a not-so-flattering approximation of…maybe come up with something a little better than “awkward!” and “it was interesting.”
End rant.
AWK ward!
Booty!
I thought that was one of the better digital shorts recently. Not “I’m on a Boat” great, but solid.
And I didn’t know much about Nicki, but she was pretty damn adorable in that. So I can’t not like her now.
Pharoah WAS doing an impersonation in this: Bootsy Collins.
In the Blackenstein sketch — which should easily be considered one of the season’s best — Pharoah is actually doing a very good Bootsy Collins impression… ‘s part of the reason I loved the skit.
And personally, I think Bill’s Herb Welch is pretty darn awesome. “Well, there you have it, City College is fully integrated.” “I’m not taking my marching orders from a haircut.”
Arguably the worst episode in a long line of bad episodes this season. It was mediocre across the board. I tend to prefer one great sketch surrounded by all-around awfulness over pure mediocrity.
@ClueHeywood
Actually, he said “Awk-BERG” which admittedly isn’t hilarious but at least they were trying.
Overall, one of the best SNLs in quite a long time. You know why? NO RECURRING CHARACTERS (aside from Herb Welch, but that was a less prominent end of the night sketch, and was pretty funny).
I don’t think there was a terrible sketch all night and I thought Blackenstein was hilarious and very creative.
“You don’t know what its like to be with a sister.”
“I date Jewish women.”
“Oh so you kinda know.”
Also, nice cleavage shot of Abbie Elliot in the Skins parody. And Mark Zuckerberg is tremendously awkward on camera.
I’m am disappoint they didn’t all wear matching hoodie/jacket combos.
@Pepe I didn’t hear it that way…OK, maybe it was a little different than the 50 times they’ve done it before. I’d love to credit them for self-parody, but I doubt that entered into the process. Seth Meyers-era SNL jokes rarely have more than one layer.
Thats a lot of bergs…..
As someone who gets great pleasure out of calling people “haircuts,” I will be adding Herb Welch’s “can of hairspray” line to my toolbelt immediately.
@ 2:47 … the Real Zuck was really proud of the ‘poking’ line. laugh count: 4
anyway, i’ve seen enough acreage of chin for a week, and watching rich assholes try to be funny makes me feel a little lazy.
*creates resume on Wendy’s menu
I watched Social Network last night. It sucked. I can’t believe how much hype it’s getting. The story is flat and unsatisfying. Eisenberg’s performance was middling. Timberlake was over acting. The only good performances were put in by Garfield as Saverin and Hammer as the twins. The King’s Speech is far superior in every respect. As are The Fighter and True Grit.
Pretty enjoyable episode- I’d go as far as saying a good episode based on this season overall. The don’t forget the lyrics sketch was solid. And I almost smiled during Keenan’s Tyler Perry bit on weekend update, a huge upgrade from my normal reaction to his screen time which generally involves alternating between sobbing and screaming ‘why?’
Blackenstein was strong. Herb Welch was very funny. So overall I was pleased. I credit Zuckerberg with putting himself in an uncomfortable situation when, really, he could take a nonstop treasure bath for the rest of his life.
@dach–sorry, Social Network is much better than you say it is. King’s Speech was good but it checks off so many boxes on the “give me an Oscar” list I’m surprised they didn’t add “Holocaust” to the title; Jeff Bridges gives a fair performance as Jeff Bridges in Grit; and the Fighter, while very good, perpetuates the myth of the great white hope. I prefer Inception to everything except Social because Nolan’s shit is crazy.
I vote for solid. Blakenstein and Herb were the best. Was it me, or did it seem like Eisenberg genuinely pissed off Sudakis during the Don’t Forget the Lyrics sketch. Seemed like he was going off script. Maybe not. I don’t know. I sniff a lot of glue.
Eisenberg was solid in pretty much every sketch he was in. It makes me wonder if he wouldn’t be better off being on SNL as a way to stretch his acting legs instead of landing staring roles in movies where he’s the same character every time.
Also, Herb is SNL’s best new recurring character. Bill Hader needs to start being used in as many ways as possible.
That was definitely the best episode of the season. I thought the Mubarak skit on Weekend Update was hilarious. It’s hard to believe there were two funny skits that actually included Seth Myers.
Blackenstein was awesome. Nikki Minaj is cool
Best Eisenberg performance of the evening? Not having obvious wood as Nasim Petrad rubbed all over him.
I never noticed before, but Mark Zuckerberg looks EXACTLY like one of the West Memphis 3. The retarded one. Not the super retarded one, but the slightly retarded one.
Holy shit. My foreskin just disappeared from the sheer Jewness of that screencap.
People still watch SNL ?
Played it awfully safe. Why not have Eisenberg at a computer before the show, checking Facebook, and Zuckerberg’s voice comes through, taunting him. “I can see you” type stuff. Eisenberg traces a wire to find Zuckerberg speaking into a mic in his closet. After 2 minutes of sustained applause and laughter, some banter, maybe even busting on the actor for being in a movie that made shit up. Then Show Opening. Then avalanche of Emmys. Then my hiring as a writer/minor cast member.
If he isn’t going to use my ideas, I’ll just stop chasing Seth Meyers through the NBC parking lot altogether.
Hader’s always been used decently but it seems like Keenan and Andy are getting more screen time. Loved Jay’s Bootsy impression! To be honest, I thought Minaj had a lot of confidence and did well as far as acting goes.