December 13, 2014 – Martin Freeman / Charli XCX (S40 E9) 

Cold Opening – Charlie Rose

• A good Charlie Rose voice from Taran.
• Great reveal of this open’s conceit with the torture consultant taking pride in their evils, so many solid, witty lines spread throughout this open.
• Some great satire here, and the rare duo of Bobby & Kyle here is making this work even better than it should otherwise.
• A fantastic, brilliant bit about Bobby & Kyle’s tourture consultants being behind autocorrect, and I absolutely love Bobby’s delivery of his hilarious “it sure ducking was” line.
• Such a great, sharp, and very biting cold open, possibly this season’s finest.

Rating: ****

Monologue

• I’m about a minute or so into this monologue, and Martin is already miles better and more likable than our preceding awful host.
• Some good laughs from Martin’s lines about British celebrities knowing each other.
• Ah, Kate’s Maggie Smith impression is always good for solid laughs.
• A hilarious & spot-on Alan Rickman impression from Taran, his first line gets a huge reaction from the audience.
• Solid & fun monologue overall, and was kept at length.

Rating: ***1/2

Sump’n Claus

• Ah, one of the more memorable music videos from this era.
• Kenan’s absolutely perfect for this hilarious concept.
• I LOVE Kenan’s “Everybody gettin’ sump’n!” And the hilarious bit with it being repeated throughout this blast of a music video.
• Catchy chorus from Cecily & Sasheer and both also look great here.
• Solid sequence with Martin’s character getting mad at work & then beimg sent to jail.
• Aidy’s looking damn good as Ms. Claus.
• Man, even when she’s not talking, I’m getting laughs from Aidy’s facial expressions.
• I always though that Bobby looked like Mikey Day in this short in the past, now I do not see that resemblance as much as I did.
• A guilty laugh from the Justin Bieber & Paula Deen lines from Kenan.
• Solid line deliveries from both Sasheer & Kenan about Kevin Bacon, a memorable and funny part from this already-fantastic short.
• Fantastic, epic final moments for this short, I especially love Cecily & Aidy dancing next to Kenan as he moves his arms with a deadpan expression, such a memorable & hilarious visual.
• A great ending line & look from Kenan.
• Simply, a perfect short in every single way.

Rating: *****

Wedding Objections

• This has always been my favorite of the “parade of idiots” sketches from this era.
• Interesting casting of Martin & Leslie as the marrying couple, and the size difference here is fun to watch.
• A huge laugh from the visual of the MANY attendees that want to raise an objection regarding Leslie & Martin marrying.
• Strong reveal of Vanessa being Martin’s wife, and she’s giving the usual solid, committed performance here.
• A great line from Taran’s doctor character in regards to Martin’s penis, comparing the reconstructed penis to a late-stage Jenga tower.
• Ah, here comes Kate to absolutely steal this whole sketch.
• Kate is killing it here, and I LOVE the fantastic reveal with her disclosing that she has absolutely no idea who the bride and the groom are, but was walking next to church and caught a glimpse of the couple getting married, and something told her to “GET IN THERE AND SHUT! IT! DOWN!” A moment that gets a great audience reaction.
• A great, fun, silly sketch overall, and it most definitely lived up to my very positive memories of it.

Rating: ****1/2

The Office: Middle Earth

• A fantastic & memorable concept.
• Bobby’s slaying me in his scene early on, playing a perfect hybrid of David Brent/Gandalf with such precision and total ease.
• A freaking phenomenal Gollum impression from
  Taran. Absolutely UNCANNY. I don’t think that Taran ever got enough credit on how damn strong he is as an impressionist.
• Big laughs from the spot-on recreation of the classic “stapler in jelly” scene from The Office.
• Martin’s a great straight man here, his direct-to-camera scenes are great, helped with his perfect, dry British delivery.
• Kate is perfectly cast as an elf.
• A huge laugh from the memorable “Dildo Baggins” scene between Bobby & Martin, and the latter’s look to the camera is perfect.
• Overall, an SNL masterpiece & this episode is on FIRE so far with all of its fantastic segments.

Rating: *****

Right Side of the Bed With Gracelyn and Cory

• Oh no, I recall this sketch getting more and more annoying as it progressed in this & next season. Yet, I’ll go into the debut installment with an open mind.
• With the effeminate, southern gay stereotype that Taran’s playing, you could tell this is an aggressively Anderlette sketch.
• A very random casting of Kate as a male celebrity for no reason, which will hit a nadir when a certain game show host becomes president in two seasons from now.
• Overall, enjoyed the energy here and Martin’s performance elevated the material. This had some energy at least unlike the dull, unfunny, dead sketches that Anderlette regularly write. Although I know that I might get sick very quickly from this sketch, as it already feels too familiar.

Rating: ***

St. Joseph’s Christmas Mass Spectacular

• Another favorite of mine from this episode.
• There is another also-great short with this same style of directing & writing in the Amy Schumer episode from season 43. I do recall also loving that one, and I hope it lives up to my memory.
• A big laugh from Bobby’s scene.
• I absolutely love the direction of this short, I always thought this was a Good Neighbor-written piece due to its style & Beck’s voice-over, but does anybody know?
• Beck’s voice-over is hilarious in how he present a normal, and kinda dull event in such a “cool” and “badass” way.
• Some funny visuals throughout this short, I particularly enjoyed Beck & Kyle’s scenes in this.
• Overall, yet another winner tonight. This episode is on FIRE so far. One of the strongest pre-Update halves that I’ve ever reviewed.

Rating: ****1/2

Musical Performance – “Boom Clap”

• Blood Meridian: That’s quite… the appealing look from Charli tonight.
• Jesse Nathan: Did I mention that I have the hots for Charli XCX? Because I do. And so far, this performance isn’t changing anything.
• I like the outfits that the other band members are wearing.
• The intro is being well-executed.
• Charli’s vocals sound great here, and I don’t care if people say they sound a bit too similar to Gwen Stefani.
• I like how the stage is well-decorated for Christmas.
• Ooookkkaaay, Charli’s cleavage might be showing a liiiiiiiiittle bit.
• The chorus doesn’t sound too good, mainly due to the fact that we only hear Charli and no one else.
• Oof, Charli’s opening bridge line fell way too flat.
• What’s happening to the vocals as the song ends? They’re starting to die a little bit.

Rating: ***

Weekend Update

• Strong joke deliveries from Michael early on. I guess the line flubs are nearly gone by this point, and we are beginning to have the Update duo we now know and love.
• Great to see the very underused & talented Sasheer Zamata getting an Update showcase as herself.
• Very solid racial commentary from Sasheer, and knowing her improv background pre-SNL and how damn strong she is outside of the show, makes her frustrating underutilization in favor of a one-note, weak, basically a walking racial stereotype of a performer all the more anger-inducing.
• Huge guilty laugh from Michael’s “foot race” joke about FDR, he’s been having a hot streak in tonight’s Update so far.
• The debut of Cecily’s A One Dimensional Female Character From A Male Driven Comedy. I recall this character being one of Cecily’s few solo showcases that I actually enjoy.
• Solid & spot-on characterization from Cecily here, and I’m enjoying her interaction with Colin throughout her commentary.
• Blaah, the return of Jacob. One of the very few things that Vanessa did (alongside Two Best Friends), that I absolutely DESPISE.
• How many times am I supposed to laugh at Jacob ignoring Michael here??
• Meh, the same old, boring, by-the-numbers bits from Jacob.
• Yeah, I’m getting extremely bored by this commentary, even though Vanessa is performing this well. I guess all that I can say is that this snoozefest made me dock half-a-star from this strong Update, which is a real shame. Thanks Jacob!

Rating: ***1/2

Assembly Line

• Ah, I recall this being a pretty fun, unique, great sketch in my past viewing of this episode.
• Some good laughs from Taran’s confused reactions to Martin’s simple instructions.
• Bt the way, Taran’s been having a strong night so far, and I do recall this being possibly his finest night in his whole tenure.
• I’m LOVING how this sketch is both written and performed, it has such a unique concept, and an even better execution. It’s giving me Monty Python vibes and I absolutely LOVE it for that.
• Once again tonight, Martin’s great straight man here.
• Big laughs from both Taran’s not understanding the very simple instructions & Martin’s great frustrated reactions to him.
• A great, silly ending to such a dumb & very fun sketch. One of my favorite Taran Killam sketches, and this season will be his highpoint as a cast member, with many fantastic highlights as the season passes.
• I do recall another sketch later in the season, I guess by the same writer/s as this one featuring a spaceship captain being revealed as a chicken. I do recall loving that one also, and I hope it lives to my memory when I eventually review it.

Rating: ****

Holiday Gig

• Another Anderlette sketch tonight, although I surprisingly never disliked this occasionally-appearing sketch, finding it to be harmless, but nothing beyond being decent.
• Kenan’s singing is so dumb, but very catchy, a testament to how great he is as a performer.
• Vanessa is vast in thankless, dull, REACTING role here which as I said previously, will be seeing in it a lot. Especially the upcoming horrid Gemma sketches.
• Taran’s absolutely stealing this whole sketch and his look as he emerged got a solid reaction from the audience.
• I love the fun visual at the end with Taran’s hilarious dancing.

Rating: ***

Musical Performance – “Break the Rules”

• Jesse Nathan: I like how Charli has her hair down this time.
• Boy, Charli’s execution of these opening lines are eliciting feelings in me that are best left undescribed.
• I like the drum work on this song.
• Geez, Charli seems to be straining on the first chorus.
• Now her vocals are starting to be drowned out as the song goes on.
• Charli’s dancing during the instrumental is bizarre and indescribable.
• Now the guitarist is starting to strut during the second instrumental.
• Wow, someone forgot to turn on the guitarists’ mics.
• Boy, the drummer might be going a little bit crazy.

Rating: ***

Waterbed Werehouse

• A silly, but fun premise.
• Aidy’s look & delivery early on freaking slayed me.
• Martin is perfect in his scenes here, solid characterization too.
• Aidy’s occasional singing in this is hilarious, and weirdly catchy.
• Some very fun visuals throughout this, I especially love the big photo of Aidy, where she opens in it and smiles to the camera. Aidy’s so good in these types of roles.
• Wow, Taran appeared in almost EVERY SINGLE SKETCH tonight. It reminded me of how very heavily he was utilized in the second half of his tenure, much like Phil Hartman, Will Ferrell, and Bill Hader before him. I remember that I, and many others predicted a legendary trajectory for Taran as his tenure progressed, and especially with the creation of his great Jebidiah Atkinson character. Knowing in hindsight how sadly his tenure ended, seeing him here is making me sadder than I was when he was unjustifiably fired.
• A great, very fun sketch overall and a perfect way to end tonight’s episode.

Rating: ****

Cut For Time: Santa Traps

• Solid line delivery from Martin early on.
• A great reveal of the product.
• Funny visual of the bear getting trapped in one of the traps Martin’s promoting here.
• Very solid delivery & performance from Cecily as she discloses that Martin’s character is brain-damaged, and once again, Martin’s line deliveries here are excellent with his oblivious attitude to what she’s revealing.
• Pretty solid ending for a solid, short, hidden piece.

Rating: ***1/2

Segments Ranked From Best to Worst

Sump’n Claus / The Office: Middle Earth (tie)

Wedding Objections

St. Joseph’s Christmas Mass Spectacular

Assembly Line

Charlie Rose

Waterbed Warehouse

Monologue

CFT: Santa Traps

Weekend Update

Holiday Gig

Right Side of the Bed With Gracelyn and Cory

Final Thoughts:-

• Ah, an extremely strong, fun, flawless episode, and a quintessential one for this era. Lots of fantastic & very fun, creative segments tonight, and you got an excellent, game host who elevated everything tonight, the result is pretty much a perfect episode.
• The difference between this episode & the dire preceding one is like DAY AND NIGHT (it will be interesting to see what the average that Jesse will calculate for this episode, it HAS to be much higher than the soul-sucking 90 minutes package of an episode that preceded it). This episode, other than featuring very fun, funny, creative, silly, solid sketch concepts (the pretapes, Wedding Objections, Assembly Line, and Waterbed Warehouse are prime examples of that), it had the warm, calm Christmas feeling, and good vibes, in a total contrast to the dead, hollow, and miserable previous episode. Such a great, underrated episode in general that should be praised even more and considered a classic Christmas-y episode in the future.

Up Next:-

• It’s the Christmas show with host Amy Adams and musical guest One Direction.