Playing to their strengths. That seemed to be the idea of this week’s Saturday Night Live. Lotsa familiar characters, leading off with Kristen Wiig’s Kathie Lee Gifford impersonation followed by Kristen Wiig’s mischievous-scamp “Gilly” character. (Wiig and Jason Sudeikis starred in this week’s funniest sketches. Ghost-presence Darrell Hammond showed up exactly once by my count — as, more or less, a ghost, playing an unfrozen Walt Disney.)
Other returning-characters: Bill Hader and Fred Armisen as the “new Jersey gay couple” (funnier than it was written, because these guys put such commitment into what can be a trite idea), and Sudekis and Will Forte as Jon Bovi, the Bon Jovi “opposite band.” I also laughed at Michaela Watkins’ snide movie-review blogger Angie Tempura, both because the stereotype she’s satirizing rings true and you’ve got admire the wide variety changes she can wring from the repeated phrase, “Oh, bitch, please!”
Host Zac Efron wasn’t all that funny, but he was pleasant and up for just about anything, from the inevitable High School Musical parody to getting a foot-rub from Sudeikis in the designated late-in-the-show oddball-sketch. The thing is, both of those were really well-done. The HSM sketch had Efron’s Troy coming back to high school to break it to the students that there’s no singing in college. The snippets of HSM-style songcraft were impeccable song-crap. I think there wasn’t more audience laughter for this well-written parody because it embodied an interestingly significant gap: while Efron was booked to attract a younger audience to SNL (and increase awareness of his upcoming 17 Again movie), a lot of the SNL audience simply doesn’t know the High School Musical productions. The sketch also had a nice sting throughout, and Hammond-as-Walt-Disney-as-anti-Semite was more unexpected than the inevitable cryogenics jokes.
Musical guests the Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Liked ‘em a lot. Go, Karen O.
Most valuable player award this night goes to Sudeikis, who not only appeared in a majority of scenes, but as an older brother teaching younger-bro Efron the fine points of foot-massage seduction, went the extra mile in actually trying to suck Efron’s toes. That’s earning your paycheck, buddy.
Did you watch? What sketches did you like? Or not like?
I stopped watching during the Gilly skit, because the opening skits were lame. I wish I had kept watching because this skit was really funny.
I thought Zac Efron was very funny. He was a great host, even better than Seth Rogen was last week for sure. Give him another episode to get comfortable and he’s going to be as awesome as JT. And yes the foot massage sketch was amazing.
I think Zac did a good job. He might not have been the funniest host but I would attribute that rather to the fact that he was given the role playing the straight man opposite the wacky characters in all his skits. If you give him some flashy or crazy characters he would be just as funny as the others.
I thought Zac did good! The real highlight for me though was the opening sketch and the musical guest the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I still have that 1st song in my head.
I def think Zac was much better than Seth Rogen last week which is pretty ironic. Do no agree about high school musical though-most parents out there should have seen it-more than once I should add. lookung forward to Justin in May..he is a sure bet.
Last night was okay. I thought there was once again too much Kristen Wiig though. I really do not like Gilly and can not believe that was brought back.
My favorite moment of the night was the unexpected Eliot Spitzer appearance at the end of the bar sketch. I wish there was more of Bill last night.
I thought the sketch with Casey running with the train was cute. And I’m starting to really like Bobby. I thought he did well in everything he was in today.
gilly has got to go. not funny. only uncomfortable. turned show off.
The Gilly skit by far and away was the best, followed by the HSM parady and the Effron’s opening monologue (a brillant nod to his popularity with tweens and to gay men into twinks)
Zac did a very good job. He was charming and versatile.
The news bit was very funny including the gay couple and the opposite of Bon Jovi band was hilarious. I also find the HSM parody were funny.
Overall, a good show!
I thought Zac was one of the strongest host this season.
Oh, and I thought the pizza roll commercial was pretty funny. Good show last night.
Not bad, but the lack of decent impersonations is wrecking SNL’s formerly solid political humor. In the opening skit, it was like Sudeikis (as Biden) and Armisen (as Obama) were having a “Worst Impression” contest. Isn’t there ANY comedian in NYC who can do a decent Obama?
Most of the people on this website might as well call themselves Angie Tempura.
I was pleasantly surprised by Zac Efron. The only sketch I didn’t like was the running by the train bit (minus Bobby’s moment, talk about making 5 seconds count). Jon Bovi and HSM were top notch.
Biiiitch Pleaaaase!
One of the most entertaining SNL’s of the season. It’s refreshing to see a host dive into the material with such excitement.