This was a busy, frenetic, enjoyable Christmas episode of SNL, with not only Martin Short and Paul McCartney in Studio 8H, but also Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Tom Hanks, Samuel L. Jackson, "Nirvana," Carrie Brownstein, Kristen Wiig, Alec Baldwin, and some dude holding a llama making appearances. Let's get to the breakdowns.
Before the episode aired, I guessed that SNL would handle what happened in Newtown with a flashback sketch, set in 1791 when the Second Amendment was adopted. (Yesterday was its 221st anniversary.) Playing the revisionist history angle, something along the lines of the Forefathers admitting that it was risky to allow American citizens the right to keep and bear arms, but considering it took a minute to load a musket, certainly nothing bad would ever happen. It would have been the least controversial way for the series to make a statement, while offending the smallest amount of people possible.
Well, for better or worse, that's not what SNL did. Instead, they got the New York City Children's Chorus to sing a somber version of "Silent Night." It was touching and sad and probably the right thing to do (the cries of "too soon" would have been deafening otherwise)...and yet, I still wish SNL had handled what happened more head on. Bringing in the kids was a way of acknowledging the tragedy, without actually acknowledging it all.
Again, probably the wise thing to do, and maybe this makes me a monster, but this felt like an opportunity for the show to revisit their long-standing history of F*CK YOU GUNS (and, with all due respect to President Obama, now IS the time to talk about gun control). But they didn't, and neither will The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, both of which are on break until 2013. Oh well, I guess it's up to Fox News to provide us with the unintentional humor in "VIDEO GAMES DID IT." (See, that's the kind of terrible non-joke we're left with without SNL's take.)
MOVING ON. "Royal Family Doctor" looked to be a disaster when the gap-toothed Short walked through the door, but by the time he got to "her Downton Abbey," I was pulling a Hader and couldn't resist from some suppressed laughter. Rupert is the exact kind of caricature of a human being that Short excels at.
Secret shame: I have a soft spot for SNL sketches that exist merely to show's off the cast's abilities at impressions, so I loved the sh*t out of "You’re a Rat Bastard, Charlie Brown." The cutaways to the horrified kids made for a decent punchline, but I could watch Short's Larry David, Nasim's Kristin Chenoweth, Hader's Al Pacino, Taran Killan's Michael Keaton, and especially Kate's Edie Falco all day.
As a good little mentsh who's been to a handful of bar mitzvahs, let me tell you: SPOT. ON. But don’t tell my parents I said that! Seriously, don't, I was never mitzvahed; it's a touchy subject.
“Can I do a minstrel show really quick?” Always amusing, but was anyone else hoping for an appearance from either Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, or both?
If "What's Up with That" was 20 minutes long and appeared in every episode, I would be ecstatic. There's something about this sketch that does it for me — maybe it's Kenan's increasingly sweaty face, maybe it's J-Suds' Running Man dance, maybe it's Fred's saxophone playing, maybe it's Lindsey Buckingham. OK, it's all those things, plus last night's iteration featured the one-two punch of my secret girlfriend Carrie Brownstein and Samuel L. Jackson, who maybe stopped himself from saying "f*ck," but definitely let loose a "bullsh*t." (Kenan's "that costs money" response was fantastic.) PLUS, there was a breakdancing Tiny Tim.
If this was the final "What's Up with That?" I'm glad they saved the best for last.
Ultimately pointless and not very funny, but still fun seeing two improv veterans letting their comedic instincts guide them (even if they broke the "Yes, and..." rule once or twice).
“Wonderful Christmas Time” is garbage, but the sketch set-up, with tyrannical Caleb and quietly sad Monty, and specifically McCartney's surprisingly decent comic timing, slightly redeemed it. OK, that's not true — the song's still terrible, but at least he didn't sing "Ebony and Ivory" with Drunk Uncle?
Collect all the Saturday Night Live badges!
The more Saturday Night Live related content you read, discuss, and share on Facebook or Twitter, the faster you earn the best show moments in badge form. First Up: "Drunk Uncle". More details
How To unlock:
Log into UPROXX or create an account and participate.
![[avatar]](http://p.uproxxcdn.com/photo/679/thumb)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/IMG_4440-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/thumbnail_7195268458509813963-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/beatles-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/06/forever-young-150x150.gif)
If you’re wondering where the monologue and other sketches are: NBC and Hulu didn’t upload them. No clue why.
They crushed it last night. Easily the best episode of the season and possibly the best of the last few years.
Right up there with Maya Rudolph’s from last season.
If I ever find myself in a situation where I’m given a last request before my impending death, it will be for a slick red track suit and a jewfro wig so I can do the running man seconds before oblivion.
Yes.
I will never get tired of that. NEVER.
Greatest gif ever.
I’m just gonna watch that .gif until football starts.
thats the best part of that skit obv.
I love how he jive walks off stage when the song ends
I love when he jumps in before his dance. Is there a trampoline of stage?
The slow-mo version when Kenan did the break-down was boss too.
Really, every thing about him.
That was a surprisingly great episode, even if Paul insisted on singing his crappy Christmas song. And can Bar Mitzvah Boy becoming a recurring character? Because it’s adorable.
I’m going to require a gif of Jimmy Fallon and T. Hanks jumping around like excited children.
No new show until January 19!? Goddamnit (And I realize they take about that long of a break every year, but it really twists my nipples…in a bad way). And I will be anxiously looking forward to watching this episode soon!
Man, Nasim Pedrad is even hot when she’s playing a female Grinch
I’m fully behind this, more Nasim is required. Especially in sexy Santa costumes.
How is she not in every sketch? Criminal underuse. She should break out into movies.
She makes me watch at least 5 mins a week of that awful Charlie Sheen show. She always looks smokking on it
I missed last night’s show, but I’m assuming that there was no Jiminy Glick, which is just a big ol’ missed opportunity.
Also, Jennifer Lawrence…..MMMMmmmmmmmmmm
Jiminy Glick is god-fucking-awful.
Dissident, I strongly urge you to reconsider.
[www.youtube.com]
I grew up loving the Beatles. I was in high school when Kurt … merged with the express lane. But Paul + Nirvana does not equal amazing. I made myself listen begrudgingly like an Friend of Jack keeps a bottle of scotch in plain sight above his fridge. “I’m strong enough to get through this, dammit.”
The open was beyond perfect.
Agree
I won’t lie to you, Kurp. I would put Macca and Drunk Uncle’s “Ebony and Ivory” on my ipod and listen to it every single day.
The open and Weekend Update completely avoiding Friday’s tragedy was just a classy move.
I wonder if Picadilly Cervix has all the lights around it
i was gonna say, i didnt see half the sketches if all those cameos appeared….WTF.
It never fails that when improv is brought up, “yes, and” is always everyone’s go to, yet most people always misinterpret. It doesn’t mean you’ve got agree with with everything your fellow players say and you can’t say “no.” Matt Besser, one of the founders of UCB and an improv legend, says the phrase misleading and can hurt the humor of because the way people misinterpret it. It would be more accurate if the phrase was, “if this is true, what else just be try as a result.”
exactly.
your last sentence just gave me a nose bleed Bluth
As it should have. I think I might have been under the impression of marijuana as I typed that one. What I meant to say was: “If this scenario is true, what else must be true as a result.”
Influence, not impression. Jesus, I’m a goddamn copy editor, these errors are unacceptable.
Real solid episode. it kind of limped to the finish, especially with that awful christmas song. but overall, really good. I was surprised how little Martin Short pissed me off, he’s usually just a slightly more tolerable Robin Williams.
I really enjoyed last night’s episode, and can’t wait for Jennifer Lawrence
If she snaked, i cant wait. If shes clothed, i’ll tune in, i guess
Krup, I can imagine us doing a “The Girl Is Mine”- type video over Carrie Brownstein.
Except if either one of us told Carrie that she was ours, she’d kick our ass.
If she kicks my ass, that means that she touches me. I consider that a victory.
I’m glad you all liked it but, man, Lorne Michaels is just f*cking with us at this point. Martin Short was strange, the music stranger.
I enjoyed that “My Valentine” performance quite a bit, the Nirvana set was alright, but that Christmas song is just unbearable.
A funereal dirge followed by the old guy rocking out complete with ‘selic and Smears doing get a load of this guy poses after, finished by a dead mic (maybe) during the Christmas song. Just… odd.
Or maybe I just shouldn’t use Ritalin recreationally. Never mind.
what is the “yes, and…” rule your saying they broke? 0_0
In improv, you’re supposed to answer questions with, “Yes, and…” But once, maybe twice, Armisen answered a question with “no.” It’s amusing, but leaves the partner with little to play off of. Granted, this is coming from someone who’s never done improv…
That Girl at Party character cracks me up, I have no idea who the actress is but I want to make a romance inside of her (please forgive me for the horrible Borat joke)
I was expecting commentary on the school shooting but the choir opening was very touching.
I hate “Wonderful Christmastime” but Caleb & Monty worked for me. I almost wish I’d watched this one live.
Holy crap SNL, you end with what is considered one of McCartney’s worst songs ever?
When Paul fu**ing McCarney wants to do a Christmas song on SNL, Paul fu**ing McCartney does a Christtmas song on SNL.
Seriously, he’s Paul McCartney. Even his worst song is 100 times better than half of the crap that’s out there now.
Solid episode, Lawrence should be a fun one to watch!
Josh, that was the New York City Children’s Chorus, not the Harlem Gospel Choir. HGC was on Colbert Thursday night with Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples, and Sean Lennon. Two very different groups.
Thank you. My fault.
Holy shit, that Larry David impression was spot on.
i don’t get the love for it. it didn’t seem all that accurate, especially compared to everyone else.
The genius of a great impression is that it’s *not* accurate.
yeah… that doesn’t make any sense.
Granted, they were glorified kiddie movies, but McCartney was in those Beatles “comedies” back in the day. Shouldn’t be that surprising he has decent comedic timing.
“Read something, Seth. Learn a book.”
Question: has Lindsey Buckingham’s presence on “What’s Up with That?” ever been explained? I’m only an occasional viewer, so when I’ve seen the sketch before I just assumed that it was something just to be taken for granted.
I think I have seen all of the skits of it, and there has no reason given that I remember, just that he keeps getting bumped.
It’s my favorite part of the sketch. It’s just random and funny.
OK, thanks guys. I was beginning to wonder if I was missing something.
I wasn’t as crazy about this episode as some of you, but I thought the Royal Gynecologist was great.
Martin thanked Jimmy and Tina at the end of the show, but were they involved in any sketches? Maybe some stuff that didn’t make it to air like the Hader/Armisen doormen sketch from last week?
Sam L made my night.
Ragging on Wonderful Christmas Time? Kurp, you can just go gargle on my warm eggnog.
This was such a perfect Christmas episode of SNL because it was sentimental and funny, and having all of the cameos lent it a strong sense of community. Nearly all of the sketches were hilarious, and I don’t think that any of them flopped. I was talking to a coworker at DISH about the show, and she thinks it is the best episode of the season. I am definitely going to save this one on my DISH Hopper, and I am glad that I don’t have to worry about storage space since it can hold 2,000 hours of entertainment because I could see watching this one every year! It is going to be hard to wait a month for the next new one, but this episode was a great way to go into the holiday break.
yessssss
My God, when I figure out it’s a Dish spam, I just keep on reading. I can’t wait to see how it ends. Dish, never stop.
McKinnon as Lucy in that short skirt was a pleasant suprise.
The Michael Keaton impression was spot-on.
It was not a Michael Keaton impression. It was a Beetlejuice impression.
ArrBast, Not to be “that guy,” but the Keaton impression was actually him in the 90′s “Batman.” I’ll wedgie myself on the way out, thank you.
You forgot to mention Joe Walsh. I may hate the fucking Eagles, but I will admit to enjoying Joe Walsh’s side-projects.
I really reeeeeeeeeeally enjoyed this episode. Seems like Martin SHort had everyone on point…the sketches didn’t get bad until the Old Friends sketch. And seeing Paul McCartney with Nirvana….epic
I thought the Cold Opening was appropriate and excellent unlike the unfunny shit idea Kurp had for shoving the gun control debate down our throats. I’m for stricter gun control. Also kudos to him for incorrectly calling New York City Children’s Chorus the Harlem Gospel Choir, way to belittle kids in an attempt at a joke you douchenozzle.
I’m going to agree with Quasimofo. You’re idea would have been the single worst SNL skit ever. Yes, even worse than Gilly.
Your….
That song Paul did with the guys from Nirvana was god awful. And that is coming from a guy who is a huge fan of both bands. The only way that song could have been worse is if they got Yoko Ono to sing back up vocals. That song was all noise.
+ 1 million
I wish they’d do What’s Up With That ’til Kenan strokes out.
Fine, I’ll say it – where the F was Stefon?
I get a little worried they’re phasing him out. Every time Meyers sets up the next guest with something about how it’s BLANK time of year so there are bound to be a lot of parties I’m waiting for Stefon and instead now we get Girl At A party…
Favorite episode so far. Loved Alec Baldwin as Tony Bennett.
I enjoyed the ep quite a bit. I do dislike when they bring someone into a sketch who has a well known talent outside of acting/comedy and then spend the whole time essentially winking at the camera as the sketch is based on this person not being permitted to do that thing they’re good at. That’s a long way of saying that entire final sketch with everyone giggling as Martin Short tells McCartney that he’s not the singer really soured an otherwise fun episode for me.
This guy enjoyed the show!
“That Costs Money” is now my new catchphrase for the week