Taylor Swift proved to be this season’s best Saturday Night Live host so far. Whether shrewdly letting her Kate Gosselin wig do most of the acting during a typically pungent parody of The View, or gleefully screeching while wearing braces in a public-service commercial satirizing texting-while-driving, Swift was always up for the challenge, seemed to be having fun, and helped the rest of the cast nail the punchlines.
Swift began the night strumming her guitar and singing “Monologue Song (La, La, La),” whose lyrics nicely dispatched the heavily anticipated Kanye West jokes, as well as invoking Swift dates Taylor Lautner and Joe Jonas.
Speaking of Lautner, a clear stand-out was the beautifully-shot Digital Short spoof of Twilight that subbed a Frankenstein-monster family for vampires and featured Swift doing an impeccable mopey-Bella:
In her day-job, Swift’s appeal relies in part on the thin vulnerability of her voice and her sensitive-songwriter lyrics. But here, Swift proved admirably resilient in a wide variety of sketch roles, whether she was required to imitate Kristen Wiig’s nervous Penelope character, or Kenan Thompson’s tough convict in a “Scared Straight” sketch that cracked up its own participants. (The host also performed two songs.)
Even the Swift-less “Weekend Update” was strong this week. Many of Seth Meyers’ jokes had a sharp snap, there was a fine Amy Poehler cameo during a “Really!?! with Seth & Amy” segment.
I always love Fred Armisen’s “Nicholas Fehn” moments on “Update.” Armisen, in a shaggy wig and Army-green jacket, toting newspapers, melds Mort Sahl, George Carlin, early Robert Klein, and his own take on any pretentious “conceptual” comedian — it’s an inspired put-on.
Swift inspired more of a female, girly-in-the-best-sense sensibility in SNL than it’s shown since the Tina Fey-Amy Poehler days. I’m thinking, for example, of a sketch such as the one in which Swift and Nasim Pedrad played delightfully devoted-to-each-other roommates, irritating a boyfriend played with fine exasperation by Andy Samberg.
This was one of the rare SNLs where even the late-in-the-evening bits were home-runs. A satire of pop singers contributing to a kid’s-movie soundtrack included dead-on impersonations of Randy Newman by Armisen, Wiig as Natalie Merchant, and Samberg as Adam Duritz.
All in all, these 90 minutes went by Swiftly and niftily.
Agree? Disagree?
(Follow me on Twitter.)
For more on SNL: Taylor Swift sings to Kanye West and Taylor Lautner
Comments (1-30) of 350 Add your comment
Agree. Hopefully the cast continues to pump out episodes like this.
Are you mad? It was a painful episode to watch. Taylor Swift should stick to the music industry, where mediocre talent is actually celebrated! I feel bad for the three talents actually left on SNL: Hader, Wigg and Samberg. It’s not their fault they’re given such sub-par material to work with, they can only do so much with the rubbish they’re handed.
Worst episode of the season.
Are you watching the same show as the rest of us?
Yeah I’ll admit I’ve been disappointed by SNL lately (last five years) but last night had be me cracking up all the way till the end. I don’t think Taylor could have done a better job.
Thank you so much Nihilistic! This episode was flat-out painful. I didn’t laugh once and constantly felt awkward whenever Tayler was on screen. I cannot even fathom how someone could have enjoyed last night’s episode. It seriously concerns me that people have no guage on humor any more. This was one of the worst SNL episodes I have ever seen.
Apparently you and I saw the same show (well, what I could stomach). Of course, I wasn’t terribly hopeful when the utterly talentless – can we say, “nails on a chalkboard voice”, kids? – Taylor Swift foisted upon us.
Amen!!! Taylor Swift’s wooden performance was painful to watch. I was embarassed for the whole cast. The best part of the whole show is Weekend Update. The rest of the show was very boring and very unfunny.
I have to disagree, so far this season I have thought SNL nearly unwatchable, but I thought swift was funny and appeared to be having a great time(and she is what 16-17?, better than I could have done at that age)
Taylor’s actually 19.
that was funny i don’t see why your so criticizing about Taylor doing it
You are apparently unaware that the actors on SNL do most of their own writing.
Actually SNL actors do not do their own writing. Thats why SNL has a WRITING TEAM. Only Seth Meyers who is head writer does some actual writing. Andy Samberg writes some of the digital shorts. everything else is done by WRITERS. If actors did most of their writing don’t you think Tina Fey would’ve been funny on her years at SNL?!?!?
I think she was great. Very funny. The Kate Gosslin impression was right on. And Shakira was a lol moment. Best SNL of the season so far.
@snl buff – Tina Fey was the head writer while she was on the show.
I agree, too. I’ve been saying she should host ever since early this year when she was the musical guest on the NPH episode and she was Annie in that “Broadway recession” sketch.
This is when KANYE should have interrupted her!!!! The only thing he’s guilty of is poor timing!!! Her performance on SNL sucked!!!!
word.
Taylor Swift was awful – there was no reason for her to be on the scared straight sketch, she barely said or did anything – the guys craked up becasue of kenan which they have done in the past. SNL has become terrible relying over and over again on the played out Kirsten Wiig who is a one note comic whose sketches are all similar – penelope/gilly/etc – they are boring
It was one of the better episodes this season, but no thanks to Ms. Swift. She was a little stiff in her sketches, and as a singer, well, I’m a better singer and I’m not a very good singer.
I’m going to be completely honest with you, the point of the Monologue song was to be funny and make fun of herself, Joe Jonas, Kayne West, etc, not showcase her talents. Silly songs like that are never to be taken seriously into consideration of the performer’s talents.
SNL Buff: Tina Fey was the head writer during her final years at SNL.
I thought this was one of the funniest SNLs in a long time. They were at the top of their game. Maybe the Yankees winning the Series put an extra buzz in New York. Excellent skits, excellent host.
As one who rarely, if ever, watches Saturday Night Live, I was pleasantly surprised at how well Taylor Swift did. Versatile would be the correct word. She was able to do what I hoped Megan Fox could, but didn’t: pull off the various routines, make them somewhat believe…and, at times, funny. Best inspired bit? The spoof on Twilight. Hilarious. All in all, a good night for Saturday Night Live!
I was impressed. She jumped in feet first and gave it her best shot. I was one of the best of the season. They need to shorten it to an hour and dump some of the crappier skits.
Come on, Ken! You don’t mention Taylor’s spot-on Shakira imitation? Nailed it! I agree with you–I was very pleasantly surprised with how well Taylor did on this show last night. She more than held her own. And when she busted out a quick ‘Penelope’ imitation, it was really a delight. One of the best SNLs of the season, easily.
I agree! That Shakira impression was the best of the night!
She did a great impression of Shakira! It was hilarious.
Lol yea the Shakira imitation was actually really good.
The sketches were great.
Her singing… eh. She really is a better song-writer than singer.
I agree. She was pretty cute, but her singing was atrocious.
Ive heard her sing live, shes great. I think she was having a hard time hearing herself, I dont think her audio was right. She sounded like a singer who just couldnt hear herself which unfortunately happens sometimes.
I thought she was pretty good. Any problems she had were probably due to being out of breath from all the running around and costume changes she did just before going onstage to sing. For sure her monologue song was hilarious.
I thought she was great on the Monolog song, but when she tries to do the upbeat stuff she strggles too much. Plus, watching her dance is PAINFUL. However I loved her in the sketches and thought she was def one of the better hosts not only this year, but in the past few years.
Did anyone else find it ironic that she sang “She wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts” while wearing a sequined minidress?
Yeah that was pretty funny, she was definitely NOT wearing a t shirt
All of her songs are hypocritical – they describe an “average girl” which she is clearly not – they sound like something a 12 yr old would write.
Maybe she went really overboard with a Bedazzler over her t-shirt and jean shorts…you know, glam it all up for SNL. lol
That makes me think of John Lennon singing about how great it would be if there was no money while wearing an expensive suit, playing his very expensive grand piano inside his mansion. Few songwriters or musicians can live up the ideals expressed in their songs. The again, it’s like acting… the “voice” of the song isn’t the singer but a character the singer is “playing”.
Remember Burt Bacarach? Good songwriter, not so good performer. But that didn’t stop him from having a great career.
I was pleasantly surprised to see how well Taylor did. I really hope she comes back to host in the future, during which I am sure she’ll do a lot better. The writing is still rather weak, but luckily this week this did a bit better and had a good host to make up for it.But I still wish there were nore sketches that feature the host and a little less weekend updates, although this week’s edition was pretty good. Anyways, Taylor wasn’t perfect but she had a lot of enthusiasum and was fun to watch, not at all cringworthy like past hosts. Firelight was hilarious! And dare a say provided a better trailer than the actual Twilight movie did,lol. Also Taylor did amazing in her second song, I am not a country fan but I think she’s a really good singer.
That is because she really is not a country singer, if anything she has more of a pop influence with a hint of country thrown in.
You say that because you know “You Belong With Me” rather than “Tim McGraw”, which completely exposes the country-girl side of Taylor Swift.
I usaly think SNL is pretty lame but this episode was so funny. Taylor is a great actress !
I thought Taylor’s monologue was great. She is a really good actress. I am always surprised when I hear her voice because I expect it to be high-pitched and kind of childish, but she sounds so mature.
As for the rest of the show, it just doesn’t make me laugh like it used to. They have a really funny cast, but the sketches come up short a lot of the time. I’ve never been a huge fan of Seth Meyers and I’m wondering if his role as head writer is the reason I don’t dig the most of the comedy. I don’t know.
Never heard of her before Kanye. thought she was really fun to watch.
You have never heard of Taylor Swift before the VMAs? You need to get out
You need to get out. There’s way better music than hers.
I’m with From on this one. I heard of her but only in passing from the gossip columns. I never heard her songs until the VMAs.
Some people must not listen to variety radio stations, Taylor Swift is all over the radio.
Yes… Some us choose not to listen to the radio. There’s way better music than was the airwaves put out.
I thought this episode was horrible. The punchlines were carelessly thrown away and one only had to hear the audience to see that no one was having a good time. I think the lack of audience-laughing ruined it for me plus most of the sketches were so ill-executed.
MAN, I could not agree more. I wanted them to tilt the cue cards or teleprompter down so she would stop looking to the same place every 15 seconds, even when all she did was echo Kel during that strange prison sketch.
The only decent thing to watch was their spoof on Twilight, after that, I couldn’t keep the channel trained to SNL.
I know, what happened, did she forget her lines or something during that sketch???
I totally concur. The audience did not laugh at all last night. I had to keep reassuring myself that the sketches were actually occuring LIVE because the audience was definately not feeling it.
I haven’t watched SNL in quite some time, but I did last night and I thought she did a great job? I laughed out loud a few times. I love Kristen Wiig as well, very talented.
Lizabeth, I agree. I am not a Seth Myers fan either. I didn’t realize he was Head Writer. That has to be due to the fact that no one else wants the job, lol. You know how that happens in places, everyone who has any intelligence or talent, leaves, so then the underqualified get the management jobs, happens all of the time where I used to work…..
You don’t think anyone wants to be a head writer at SNL? Are you insane?
I don’t think it’s fair to blame him. While he is head writer, SNL is a collaborative effort – there are 22 writers!
I think Seth is really smart and politically minded and weekend update is probably a good place for him and you are right S, he shouldn’t get all the blame. But, ever since Tina Fey left her spot as head writer, the humor is not as sharp.
I loved SNL last night. I also thought the Gerard Butler show was really good. Two thumbs up.
Who are you, and what have you done with Ken Tucker? Swift was PUTRID — every time the camera cut to her there was a slight pause while she mentally reviewed the first few words of the cue cards, THEN began speaking…perhaps I was a little too anti-teen girl last night after a b-day dinner was ruined by a table full of high school girls taking pics of each other with their iPhones and screeching for 2 hours. Wiig as Penelope was limp, but her Greta van Susteren was great…STRAIGHT downhill from there…
Maybe you need to upgrade where your birthday dinners are held. They do have better places than McDonalds you know.
And how would you know????
Best episode this season. Swift was great.
it sure was the best of the season…which just goes to show how awful the rest of the season has been.
I think this is the first episode in years that I watched the whole way through!! Go Taylor Swift, and whoever wrote the sketches for last night’s show. I was ready to give up on it.
Lorne, get a clue! This is what we need!!
I meant (above) that I was ready to give up on SNL as a whole, not last night’s show. D’oh.
Hey, I’ve got an idea. Let’s do the “Scared Straight” sketches with three teenaged GIRLS, don’t change a word, and see how well the rape jokes go over. I DESPISE this offensive crap, and I’m truly disappointed that they keep bringing these back.
If you despise this so much, maybe you should just stop watching SNL. It’s full of stuff like this, not just on the “Scared Straight” sketches.
Rape jokes? Where else? I’ve watched this show from day one, and SNL is not “full of stuff like this.” Rape is not funny. And male rape doesn’t make it acceptable.
Yeah, I actually don’t recall too many rape jokes. I’m with David. Not funny at all.
The SNL writers didn’t dream up the idea to joke about scaring teenage hooligans with rape, it’s a direct spoof off of the old MTV ’scared straight’ shows where they talked about it constantly. Using male convicts to talk to girls (or vice versa) wouldn’t make sense. And neither does your analogy.
@Idinafan 737—-You tune into SNL then you’re surprised that its sometimes crass??? LOL are you serious????
OOOOPS MY BAD! SORRY IDINA FAN 737 MY COMMENT WAS FOR DAVE D NOT YOU. MY APOLOGIES!!!!
Sorry Ken, I’m always glad I DVR when “Nicholas Fahn” comes on… FF right through that unfunny 5 minutes every time!
Why would you fast-forward through Nicholas Fehn?? You know it’s people like you that…well, let’s just say that if I had a nickel for every…that is to say, not everyone just automatically assumes that…my grandmother used to put it to me like this, nobody…actually, to borrow a phrase from Lincoln, there comes a time that…though I suppose on the other hand, millions of Americans support the idea of…and mind you, this isn’t taking into account the fact that no one actually uses a VCR anymore but if you just…I think my argument can be summed up in three points, point one being…well, there’s only one thing I really want you to walk away from this rebuttal with and that’s…
LOL!
Best.. post… ever! lol! Nicholas Fehn is the best! I always think “Oh, this one isn’t as funny.” and then burst out laughing a second after. Great stuff.
LOL-Love Nicholas Fehn-and your impression…
Spot on! I love you.
Ha Ha Ha Right on Nihilistic!!!!!!
Did Ken Tucker lick the back a of hallucinogenic toad last night or what? This was hands-down the worst episode of SNL in a season full of trash! I honestly expected Tucker to come on here today and lambast Taylor Swift for helming what was the abysmal capper on a terrible, off-the-mark season of SNL. Her Gosselin impression was heinous, her acting monotonous and her comedic timing left much to be desired. There was one lame sketch after another and I began wondering if they handed out Ambien to the entire audience because the laughter never registered louder than a few pityful chuckles.
Please, Taylor, stick to music. It’s an industry that actually champions mediocre talent!!
Lol…I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Taylor nailed this one, probably better than anyone who has ever hosted the show. Every skit was unbelievably done well. And don’t forget her portrayal of Shakira, which, if not for the start of the next scene of the skit, the audiance would have still been applauding her portrayal.
OK, Rod, let’s not go over the top. I think Taylor did a great job, best host this season. But “better than anyone who has ever hosted the show”?? Please. Early Steve Martin or Lily Tomlin, mid-90’s Alec Baldwin or Christopher Walken, even the more recent hosting stint of Tina Fey all outshine Taylor.
Rod must be 15 years old…
I assume Rod means “better than anyone who hosted the show THIS SEASON”
I think it’s pretty safe to say Rod’s being sarcastic here, given the unwarranted overenthusiastic praise of this episode and Taylor Swift’s performance considering the fact that she blew massive chunks. And I mean massive. That was god awful.
I thought Taylor was great, especially the monologue song. But besides the classics (Alex, Christopher, et al), the best hosts in my memory have been Justin Timberlake (which is often noted), and the amazingly funny Scarlett Johansson–who was even better than Taylor was.
Got to admit, this has been a weak, weak year for SNL until this show.
TAYLOR, IS THAT YOU????????????
I liked the episode, and I agree it was the best of the season so far. The writing isn’t what it used to be, but I like the current cast, and it still manages to make me laugh. Loved the Twilight spoof especially…and it was a great surprise to see Amy. Really!?!
I was wary about Taylor hosting… but she did an excellent job!! I thought she was funny and she definitely made me laugh out loud. The sketch in the police dept was hilarious… Taylor actually kept her cool while the rest of the cast was cracking up laughing. I love it when they start laughing at themselves within a sketch! So kudos, Taylor, on a terrific performance… I didn’t think I’d ever say it, but I think I’m becoming a fan. I might have to line up beside all those tweens and teens and buy myself a Taylor Swift cd. Ah well… the girl is talented! (Although I do agree that she a better songwriter than live singer. Her stage presence is more jerky and hair-flinging than it is commanding. That said, though, for her age, I think she does a nice job.)
The current cast members are mediocre at best compared to past cast members. This episode, like many of the new ones, was lame.
You do realize that this comment could have been made at any point in the past thirty years, right? Congratulations on becoming a walking cliche.
Oh Ken, you have to be kidding me. You hated the Gerard Butler episode (the real best host of the season) but you loved this piece of crap? NOTHING was funny this episode (with the exception of the Twilight spoof). Taylor was not funny, she constantly read off her cue cards—the skits were annoying—she came off annoying…absolutely horrible. I’d go so far to say she was my least favorite host this season—which is surprising, because I love her music.
Thank you, thank you Chelsea for bringing some reason to the influx of tweeners who have infiltrated the comment sections. The Butler episode was an absolute MASTERPIECE compared to the dreck that my television was subjected to last night by Swift & Co. Swift was a tedious mess of an actress with absolutely no ear for comedy and a propensity for over-delivering the punchline. I didn’t know what to expect when I heard she was hosting but I definately didn’t expect her to drag the rest of the cast members into the tsunami of suck she unleashed in that studio last night. I bet that was one awkward cast party after the lights went off last night as Lorne and Crew all rethought how wise it was to cast someone weeks after the interesting incident that thrust them into the spotlight (VMA’s were HOW long ago?) had already been exhausted in every comedic way possible.
I laugh knowing now I have a much clearer understanding of that which Ken Tucker finds the pinnacle of sketch comedy brilliance.
Get a life
Nihilistic, you are hilarious. Hopefully EW is listening and will give you your own column. Although you might have to change your name a lil’ bit…*thinking of the “too light, too heavy beer commercials*
HA! “Tsunami of suck” I LOVE IT !!!!!LOL LOL !!!!!!
Am I the only one who believes Taylor Swift has probably the weakest voice in music.It’s really difficult to watch her perform. She is probably a very nice young lady but her talent leaves much to be desired.
that’s what has me so puzzled about Swift. i mean, this girl CANNOT sing. plain cannot sing. her singing sounds like talking, it’s almost laughable. that last song? painful. in terms of country singing, Carrie Underwood is a billion times better than taylor. i honestly don’t know how Swift got a record deal. maybe b/c she’s pretty. there’s no other reason.
She writes her own music and also plays the guitar. And she’s so cute and likable. That’s how she got a record deal.
If you legitimately think Taylor Swift writes her own music then I’m really the King of Scotland.
Of course she writes her own music. Why, you think the whole thing is a scam and the real writers aren’t given credit?
She does write her own music…I met her a few weeks ago while she was on a quick break from the Fearless tour. Half the time she was staring off into lalaland while on the beach. Someone asked her mother if she was ok, and she replied “she always gets like this when she’s thinking about lyrics”
I thought Taylor did a great job. They certainly got their money’s worth out of her. Her opening monologue song was great, the sketches were funny, and of course her 2 musical performances were good. Great episode; best in a long time; and I actually stayed awake during all of it!
I feel this was the worst episode to date. Swift’s acting was horrible and her singing had much to be desired. It was obvious she was reading from cards and during the Scared Straight, she was three steps behind. She wasn’t funny at all.
Well, the Shakira bit was funny. Too bad you had to wade through all that other stuff before you saw it. That last skit was the funniest of the night…”you’re gonna PAY me…”
Forgot to add that I thought the ’stage security’ detail was hilarious! And loved the ‘Nicholas Fehn’ bit.
I don’t mean to sound mean or anything, but I think taylor swift is WAYYYY overrated as a singer. Her acting wasn’t that bad, but I wouldn’t want her to host again.
It really wasn’t that funny. I appreciated that she was willing to do anything, but the sketches weren’t funny. Weekend Update wasn’t funny except for Fred Armisen, but the whole show just seemed so tired and flat. Another “scared straight” sketch? Ugh. The Twilight spoof went on for way too long and wasn’t funny after the initial joke. The View sketch was so repetitive of what they’ve already done. I liked Taylor’s spoof of Kate Gosselin but the audience didn’t seem to get it and it landed flat.
Agree with you on yet another tired reprise of “The View.” Maybe the audience feels nauseated at this point by Kate Gosselin in ANY incarnation; I certainly do!