Saturday Night Live got off to a rocky season premiere, starting with its choice of host. There was no way Lorne Michaels and company could have known, when they booked Fox, that Jennifer’s Body would be a box-office disappointment. (Which doesn’t also mean it’s a bad movie — I don’t know; haven’t seen it.) But the fact that Fox didn’t even mention Jennifer as part of her resume in introducing herself at the top of the show suggests how much distance she wants to put herself from the film already. It was distractingly awkward.
Whether by her choice or the show’s, Fox was used primarily as — well, as a body. She matched Wiig’s Southern accent in the early flight-attendant sketch, and did some nice acting opposite Will Forte in a well-written Digital Short that was primarily a showcase for Forte’s beautifully calibrated sensitive-nerd SWAT team leader. But in playing a beautiful Russian bride, a cynical chat-line spokesmodel, and a curvy stooge for Kenan Thompson’s terrific Grady-Wilson-teaches-you-sexual-positions commercial, Fox was fine, but she didn’t really stretch her comedy muscles.
New cast members Jenny Slate and Nasim Pedrad didn’t appear much, although Slate may get some unwanted attention for apparently using the f-word by accident during a sketch called “Biker Chick Chat.” Please don’t punish Slate, and back off, FCC — it was clearly an accident.
Wiig, by contrast, was over-worked, popping up all over to little effect, reprising her “Judy Grimes” character, who says, “Just kidding!” a lot, and in an unfortunately long final sketch with a long title: “Your Mom Talks To Megan Fox While You’re Getting Ready.”
Kenan Thompson was really funny as the Sanford and Son character Grady in the Burnin’ Up The Bedsheets DVD sketch mentioned above, and he almost singlehandedly saved a rather drab “Weekend Update” segment with a fresh version of his recurring character Jean K. Jean (“Bon to the jour, Seth!”). Also on the plus-side, Forte (sporting a nice just-joined-the-armed-forces-style haircut) and Bill Hader managed to wring laughs from even weak sketches on the strength of their intonation and delivery.
And: U2 sounded strong, in its usual, overblown way.
Did you watch Saturday Night Live? What did you think?
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U2 first song “Breathe”
the 2nd song “Moment of Surrender” was a little wobbly
and the last song “Ultraviolet” was a classic from their best album ever “Achtung Baby”
for U2 who were just coming off of 4 stadium shows in 5 days (2 in Boston,2 in New York) that wasn’t a bad night
Megan Fox was pretty good on the show but the show as a whole was terrible. She was not the problem.
Probably because not enough of the actors are funny at this type of sketch comedy. I couldn’t believe that Kristen Wiig is the ONLY female character on the show (that’s not featured). It’s seriously an all-male cast. We need some funny females on this show, and Lorne needs to be unafraid to cut dead weight like Kenan Thompson, Fred A. and Will Forte.
yeah…cut the actors that gets the most laughs, thats smart.
I agree that Kenan is NOT funny. What is funny about the Jean K. Jean character? Maybe it’s because I’ve spent time in France, but it’s just not funny. Plus, shouldn’t he at least TRY a French accent? His delivery and intonation never change. Armison is hit-or-miss, and I generally like Forte. They can’t afford to lose that much, but Kenan is dead weight.
Kenan is the worst. He is seriously awful. SHOUTING isn’t the same as acting; his “characters” are all just him, assaulting the boom mic.
Will Forte along with Bill Hader are the best actors on the show, what have you been smoking? calling him dead weight would like saying Will Ferrell was dead weight back in the 90’s, get a clue, or better yet buy a funny bone!
you’re high if you think Will Forte is dead weight, if anything they guy nees MORE to do, him and Fred are the funniest in the cast.
oh wait, Scratch that, Bill Hader is the funniest from the cast, but the other two arent far behind.
Will Forte is awesome! Watch his sketch’s as a basketball coach with peyton manning…..classic!
jean k jean is not supposed to be french. he’s supposed to be cajun!
Are u kidding me Kenan saved the show to me his Grady bit was so funny
I totally agree that Kenan is no good. He ALWAYS sounds the same. He was on Psych the other day and again he sounded the same. He’s just a bad actor.
Jean K Jean, is not Cajun. He is French. That’s why he wears the beret.
I have to be in agreement with the commenting hear. Mrs. forte, hader and even mr. suedickis are so so much of fun on the show. i thing it the way they say there words. it would be bad shame for all of them men to lose there jobs because they make me laugh so many times.
Kenan reminds me of Tracy Morgan. He has awful delivery, screams out his lines, and thinks making a joke is the only thing you have to do to earn a laugh, rather than be funny. I know there are going to be Tracy fans who hate me for saying this, but he’s only funny on 30 Rock because Tina Fey is smart enough to write around his lack of acting ability. Hopefully Kenan will find his own Tina Fey.
It’s funny. I read another article that said pretty much the exact opposite of this one. I heart Forte, but I do think that Kenan is not funny at all. He’s boring. They do need diversity in the cast, but really, can’t they just recast him with an african american actor who can act?
I’ve never been a fan of Kenan, but you know SNL is awful when he has the most(marginally) amusing skits of the night. Where’s Sarah Palin and Tina Fey when you need it? It’s going to be a long, unfunny season.
I agree. Megan Fox was OK but altogether the show was just not that funny. I think this is a backlash from Lorne firing two of last seasons great supporting cast members.
I agree somewhat. Casey Wilson was boring but BRING BACK MICHAELA WATKINS! i was shocked to find out she had left. Now there will be no more Kathie Lee/ Hoda Kotb sketches! that was a dumb movie to fire her…honestly i thought she would be promoted to full cast member. Abby Elliot is dreadful 90% of the time, she’s making it out of sheer familial showbusiness (but I will admit her Angelina Jolie impersonation is pretty dead-on)
Hot Chick, Bad Commedy, ’nuff said
Well it’s interesting that your title doesn’t match the article at all. It says “not many laughs”, and yet you describe almost every sketch as funny and terrific.
Really? I thought Ken seemed to be nice in describing the sketches. He basically was saying the sketches weren’t horrible cause they were being “saved” by individual actors. Being “saved” doesn’t mean that the end result is “funny and terrific.” Could be wrong of course.
BEEN SO LONG SINCE THIS SHOW WAS FUNNY I DO NOT EVEN CARE IT IS STILL AROUND…
BEEN SO LONG SINCE I FOUND MY CAPS LOCK KEY I DO NOT EVEN CARE IT IS STILL AROUND…
HA! Beautiful!!!
if you don’t care than WHY are you reading this and leaving a comment?!
ooooooh snappy comeback (not)
ive been watching this show for about 20 years now and the “it used to be funny but isnt now” line was old then…there were always horribly lame sketches and bad ideas but you just remember the gold…last night not so much…too bad they sacked casey, she was great
Heh…I’ve been watching the show for 35 years…the “it used to be funny” line popped up in 78 or 79 or so.
There were a few good laughs last season. If this show is any indication, this is going to be very very long year.
I saw it and i thought she did good on the show i laugh at time like the burning up the bedsheets sketch made me cry from laughing so much. I also did hear slate say the F word when i saw it, I said did she just say the F word?
Maybe SNL should quit the Thursday night thing and pack those jokes back into to main show, which was sorely lacking in funny. The f-bomb made me laugh harder than anything, only because you know it had to be in the back of her head, and she was probably even making a conscious effort not to say it, and the psychological phenomenon that occurred is not just fascinating, it’s hilarious! The women in showbiz nowadays are sooo bland; just models reading lines. Megan Fox has a great body, for sure, but she is NOT hot! The droopy eyes and too much makeup don’t play well with her matted hair (extensions possibly?). Is this really what it’s come to? She has about as much personality as Jessica Rabbit. Also, I saw her appearance on Jimmy Fallon and she’s dumber than a signpost. Even in this day and age of environmental awareness, she freely admits to leaving all the lights on in her house all the time, even when she’s out, because she’s afraid of ghosts and doesn’t want to come home to a dark house. That’s freaking crazy, not to mention irresponsible and wasteful. Bring back Anne Hathaway, best female host of the decade!
Awww, man, why you gotta dis Jessica Rabbit like that?
Do you mean Anne Heche ?
I was actually at the season premiere tonight, and thought it was pretty decent. Granted, my expectations were low, but Megan Fox wasn’t as horrible of a host as I thought she would be. The show had its funny moments, but I was saddened by the lack of Andy Samberg and Bill Hader; on the flip side, they were showing quite a bit of Bobby Moynihan..not sure where they’re going with that..
Also, I live in the Mountain time zone where the show is not aired live. I figured they would have beeped it by then rather than willingly continue to air an f-bomb on free tv… strange
Wow really? I heard it on the East Coast and figured they would have cleaned it up already. I mean it was clearly just a slip up. She even made a weird face after she said it – clearly felt awkward. And if the FCC didn’t even clean it up for later airing that’s their fault. I thought everything was on 10 second delay now to prevent that kind of stuff anyways.
The FCC doesn’t clean it up, that would be up to NBC. And the show wasn’t funny at all. The Russian bride thing had potential, but couldn’t they come up with something more funny than which one is cheaper? Disappointing.
I thought Megan did an adequate job, unlike U2, who, to me, were pretty boring. The sketches WERE one track, with the use of her looks as all of their plots. I think she performed the funniest as the biker chick! In regards to dropping the F-bomb, my face went flush for poor Jenny Slate, and I could feel her embarrassment as she tried to pick up afterward. Bill Haders facial expressions make me laugh harder than everyone combined! And where’s Darrell Hammond!? Hoping RyRey brings the funny next week!
He retired.
of course the sketches revolved around her looks. that’s the only reason she has any sort of career. why would SNL do anything different? it’s not their job to teach her how to act.
I liked the digital short with BAG appearing as Bumblebee.
Yes! That was my favorite moment! And I liked when they did the “opening credits” for the fake Transformers movie and Megan did that little fist pump. That was HER funniest moment. And I liked that U2 did “Ultraviolet,” an older song at the end.
I haven’t seen the SNL premiere as I’m in England at the moment, but I can tell you this: when an actor or actress has a lot of talent for being funny *consistently*, SNL’s writers tend to use that. Compare Dwayne Johnson’s appearances to, say, Wayne Gretsky’s, and you’ll see what I mean. I would take her demured use in the premiere as a sign that, regardless of how she is to work with in movies or television, in live television she’s risky and they’re working around her.
Kristen Wiig is not going to get another Emmy nomination doing crap like what they had her do tonight. Pick it up, SNL.
It was horrible!
Really looked forward to this first show of the season, but was really disappointed. Seemed lame all the way around; hard t believe it was the premiere. Lots of old bits rehashed, very little fresh energy. Hope it finds a groove in the next few shows; this wasn’t an encouraging debut. Would have preferred another re-run of a decent show . . .
Fox is bland in general, even in interviews, but the writing was terrible. I think the last 8 years have been comedy heaven w/ Bush, Palin, etc. Since obama is untouchable, where are they going to find their jokes? That UN crap was terrible. I was disappointed.
Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig are the best!
Why is Obama untouchable? Last season, they poked fun at a blind guy (Gov. Paterson of NY), even after he complained about it! I voted for Obama and still support him, but I’d love to see a funny sketch that gets laughs at his expense. And Joe Biden is comedy gold.
To Brian, personally I think it’s because Fred’s BO impression blows. People keep saying he’s gotten better with it over time, but I don’t see it. There’s got to be a comedian out there that does a good Obama impression. Jason’s Biden is really good, hopefully they’ll use him more.
Terrible episode. Just awful. I often find myself defending SNL, but this was just an increadibly weak, unfunny premiere. Fox was ok. Did the best she could with bad material. They’ve had all summer to write sketches and this is what they come up with?
“They’ve had all summer to write sketches and this is what they come up with?” That’s what I said last night. I mean seriously? They need to get rid of Kenan. I think Lorne Michaels need to walk too. It’s time someone else took over the show. I hope they use Bill Hader more. He’s the best they’ve got!
IMHO its just hard to watch someone like Ms Fox who’s trying so hard to be someone else (what’s w/the mole now?). I think she has potential; let’s hope, as she grows, she can just be herself…not marilyn monroe, not angelina jolie (forgive me, Ms jolie).
The total lack of mention of Jennifer’s Body was amusing. Megan Fox was the host…where was the Abby Eliott as Angelia Jolie sketch? I thought U2 was a bore.
I agree that U2 was a bore, which troubles me because I’ve got tickets to their Raleigh, NC, show next Saturday. Let’s hope they play a lot of old-school hits. Also, maybe I’m the only one who thinks this, but as Bono gets older, he looks more and more like Robin Williams.
Megan Fox sucks at comedy, and JENNIFER’S BODY was pretty lame. I wouldn’t mention it either.
U2 was awesome in NJ/NY… I knew almost all but 4 of their songs
Just because you know their songs doesn’t mean they’re any good…
Pathetic and uninspired. After the great season last year we get served such a poorly written & performed show. Wiig cannot save it this time out, NOT just kidding. Lorne needs to rethink this crap and start over. Or just stop.
Yeah, it just has to occur to Lorne Michaels at some point “How the hell is it that Justin Timberlake is funnier than every single member of my SNL cast?”
oh man, so true.
I agree Justin Timberlake is awesome when he is on SNL! Andy Samberg and Bill Hader are the best ANL has right now!
Shame that NBC didn’t choose to help themselves by having one of their own stars/lead in an actual hit movie host. Zachary Quinto would have nailed anything thrown his way.
Wow, I’d love to see Zachary Quinto host. I think he’d be amazing.
I third that.
I fourth that!
I agree !! Zachary Quinto is GREAT.
HORRIBLE season premiere. I’m not an SNL basher – I was really looking forward to tonight. But it was just lame. The cold open just dragged on and on and on. And it never got better. This was the best writing they could come up w/ all summer? Maybe they need to drop the Thursday show and focus on making SNL itself a solid, funny hour and a half.
I agree. The incredibly long and unfunny opening started things off badly, and it just got worse from there.
Also, has anybody else noticed that SNL has started running one skit then a bunch of commercials then one skit then more commercials right from the beginning now instead of only towards the end? It makes me think they’re putting less effort in and writing less skits…
they didnt use megan foxs comedy ability because she has none, shes not funny, shes just attractive
What do you mean U2 sounded strong?
Their first song sounded FUCKlNG AWFUL. Complete mess. Fortunately, the fixed most of the sound problems for the 2nd and 3rd songs.
Too bad that entire episode sucked @$$. There was not one funny moment in the entire broadcast. A pretty pathetic way to start the new season. The F-Bomb is no big thing anymore and it certainly doesn’t merit the kind of attention it will be given over such a lame excuse of a skit. U2′ s performance was pretty sub par as well. Not to sound like a hater but I really expected much more over the whole overhyped and underacheived season premiere. Fail in my book.
Zut alors the show was definitely a swing and a miss. I could see the Khadafi sketch coming. The flight attendant sketch was kinda funny but I also thought the jokes about planes shaking up came a little too soon after that crash of the plane from Brazil – didn’t feel right from the start and went too long. I agree with some of posters that Kenan is not my favorite but I did think his bit about the $ex aids was funny. I think more could have been done with Megan Fox – monologue was weak (enough with the “plants” in audience asking questions) and in every scene she didn’t get a chance to show anything off (except her body). The one sketch Megan was probably the best in was Biker Chicks which was DOA once new girl dropped the F-bomb (I have a feeling tonight will be the last time the show airs without a delay) I thought the Transformers Digital Short was ok until Brian Austin Green took off his mask. They may also just want to start calling this the Kristen Wiig Show as she is the best comedian on the show. The one bright spot was U2 who as usual were brilliant (new songs sounded great – wish they didnt try to cram extra song in during credits). 1 more thought about pacing of the show – I know Lorne Michaels is trying to keep people watching but 38 straight minutes of comedy before U2 is insanity – break the show up better and save some Weekend Update material for Saturdays show.
The show had two segments I thought were mildly funny. The first bit with a rambling Muammar al-Gaddafi gave me a chuckle or two and the “Live Lounge” skit. I haven’t watched SNL for a long time and last night’s episode reminded me why. It just isn’t funny. Just kidding, no it was hilarious, just kidding… I wanted to throw my TV threw a window. Just kidding, I laughed until I peed myself and didn’t care that I peed myself. Just kidding, I cried when I peed myself. Just kidding, watching the show was like having a tooth pulled without a painkiller. Just kidding, I like having my teeth pulled. Just kidding, I thought the show was lame.
Where was I… Oh yeah… I feel sorry for Megan Fox because she had a chance to show she can be funny and the SNL writers gave her crap to work with. Better luck next time, Megan. It’s too bad the writers gave great toys to Lindsay Lohan and all you got was coal in your fishnet stockings.
We shouldn’t worry, Ryan Reynolds should at least do a pretty good job next week.
Since they only have Wiig and the new girls, I applaud them for getting a female host at least 3 times per season. I personally don’t understand what Jason Sudekis has been doing to stay on SNL for so long, the man always looks and sounds the same (not funny). Kenan is hilarious and obviously the (only) much-needed black guy, so nobody’s going to fire him anytime soon. I live in Germany and haven’t seen the season premiere yet, but one thing’s for sure: Judy Grimes and Gilly are terrible characters. Time to get your sh*t together, writers.
Jenny Slate is a genius
the fact of how she and wiig handled the f-bomb with no interruption was brilliant
Slate made a face after she dropped the F-bomb. She showed she knew she made a mistake, But she did quickly continue on. Too bad the sketch was awful and unfunny. Nobody would be talking about it if it weren’t for the F-bomb.
megan,,,,,,,,not funny
Before the show started there were two things that really stood out for me. The first was only ONE female featured player. I’m still disappointed that Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson were fired. I thought they were on their way to becoming featured players. The second was seeing the 35 on the SNL bug. I watched the very first episode when I was a freshman in high school (yes, I’m that old…ha!), and now I watch with my high school-aged daughter.
During the show, she did tell me that “Panning for Gold,” among other Grady Wilson’s phrases would probably be quoted at school on Monday. Also, she was hoping for an Andy Samberg “digital short” song. Finally, as a Mom that is not even close to the conversation I’d have with Megan Fox… yuk!
I, too, only noticed that there is only ONE female cast member. I watched without much anticipation for the episode. After all, with Megan Fox as host, could we honestly expect quality? I really only laughed during the opening commercial, the Grady Wilson sketch, and Weekend Update (minus the Jean K. Jean character).