By and large, the writing on "Saturday Night Live" doesn't differ from week to week. Sure, certain episodes are better than others, but the real difference in the comedic success of an episode is often determined by the host's enthusiasm and commitment to the gig. In that regard, Melissa McCarthy was a brilliant host for the show this weekend. As usual, the writers delivered a series of unoriginal skits that dragged on for too long, but McCarthy's dedication to getting laughs out of things like ranch dressing and balloons kept the scenes energetic and funny.
I could nitpick some sketches that didn't work for me, but I'd rather point out what McCarthy did well. In particular, she took two skits that could have been clunkers and elevated them to genuinely funny. Videos and more discussion on the following pages.
Arlene's sexual confidence is obviously reminiscent of McCarthy's character from Bridesmaids, but this is still impressive to watch. There's just nothing to work with here, yet she still made me laugh. The writers were like, "Uhhhh, we've got seven minutes to fill. Can you just come on to Jason Sudeikis the entire time?" And McCarthy was like, "Can I at least have some balloons?"
This is a better effort from the writers than "Arlene," but once again it's McCarthy who deserves credit. With a lesser host, I'd be complaining about how this was too long and an obvious product placement ad for Hidden Valley ranch dressing, but McCarthy gives her character such hilarious desperation that I was actually kind of sad when the skit ended. That NEVER happens.
Now that I've beaten up enough on the writers, I'll throw them a bone: this is an enjoyable concept with a solid payoff.
Also worth noting: Taran Killam is slowly becoming one of my favorite cast members. He can do wild, creepy characters or play the straight man with equal skill, and he often gets me to laugh even when a sketch is bombing. He did that twice this weekend: (1) I hated the Lawrence Welk cold open, but I liked his banter with Fred Armisen. And (2) he appeared for all of 15 seconds in the opening monologue and got a laugh out of me. Hooray funny people!
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This banner pic looks like one of your mom’s home videos.
I agree, I thought she was fantastic, and pinched myself a couple times, because I was laughing out loud and didn’t believe it.
I was almost crying during the Arlene skit. Melissa McCarthy is almost on par with Christopher Walken when it comes to making crappy material hilarious.
I thought Taran was pretty underrated too. He has a creepiness about him that works well – I noticed him immediately as the “too much touching” guy on “Scrubs”.
What makes a good host is someone willing to put themselves out there and risk it as an actor, and McCarthy did that in spades. More hosts like that, less athletes please.
The cast has gotten very talented top to bottom.
The Lawrence Welk skit needs to never appear on TV ever again. It got old before the first one was finished
The episode itself was average, but you’re absolutely right about Melissa McCarthy. In a way, I felt like her characters were TOO good for SNL, in that, they were portrayed in such an earnest way, the audience noticeably didn’t know how to react sometimes. Or maybe that’s a nice change of pace.
“Comments Section” concept was definitely much better than the execution. College Humor did it better years back – something like an internet commenter board room meeting.
haha….. it’s funny cuz she’s fat!
booooooooobz!
I liked the part where they rehashed unused Chris Farley material for an hour and a half, only less funny and with a vagina (that is possibly a redundant statement.)
This episode was a joke, and not a good one.
Aside from physicsforpoets, what in the fuck are you people talking about?! You enjoyed watching Melissa Mcarthy yell and chug ranch dressing? Seriously, what is wrong with you people?
UUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!! This show should have been off the air ten years ago.
WOO HOO H-V-R! Don Draper would never go in for these ‘shenanigans’
Oh gawd would you naysayers shut the fuck up for once. I caught the last twenty minutes of this episode and I had no idea who the host was. She was funny as hell. I was rolling at the 1930s actress sketch. And keep Farley out of this, I guaran-fucking-tee he doesn’t want you idiots representing him
the best line of the night was actually Andy Samberg’s loser character ordering Entourage Tequila.
SADDENED that this post didn’t even mention the very obvious nod to her YouTube videos. Shame, Matt, shame… [www.youtube.com]
The first two sketches weren’t even written by the SNL writers, they were from her days at the Groundlings maybe two three years ago.
Degree path popup….degree path popup again….oh…THERE’S the article. All popup ads and auto play videos get the fuck off from me. I don’t care if it’s the fucking cure for cancer. I didn’t ask for it. Fuck off.
pah! we’ve had our own funny fat women for years. yet again GREAT britain leads the way in fat funny women. suck it, ‘muuurca.
[www.youtube.com]
I never realized how much she resembles Ricky Gervais at times. That could be a funny pairing.