April 8, 2017 – Louis C.K. / The Chainsmokers (S42 E17)

Cold Opening – Trump’s People

• BAH.
• ANOTHER Trumpwin open? What did I do to deserve this punishment?
• Boy, this cold open is BORING so far, with no laughs to be heard from me.
• Ok, the part about Goldman Sachs/coal mines was good.
• Alec is flubbing his lines here as well, and I remember thinking early on that it was part of his impression. I was wrong.
• The self-aware portrayal of Trumpwin continues to be a huge miss for me, and the whole “GONE!” bits here are repeated to death.

Rating: *1/2

Monologue

• Unlike his previous monologues, Louis is wearing a suit here, which seems fitting as this is final hosting stint, at least for a good, long while.
• Louis is able to get solid laughs by just talking normally.
• I’m LOVING the chicken-followed-by-a-black guy bit here. Such classic Louis, which reminds me of why he was always my absolute favorite stand-up comic. Also, the voice Louis is using for the chicken is slaying me, and the chicken’s realization that he’s a racist is great.
• Love Louis’ aside to the audience: “I’m just telling you what happened!”
• Big laugh from Louis’ explanation of how the joke is not racist, and his very funny, yet brilliant observations about chickens are fantastic.
• Love Louis’ spot-on imitation of a chicken’s movement & supposed racism.
• Louis’ bit about giraffes KILLED ME. And yet again, the voice he’s using here is hilarious.
• Louis’ very blunt “You suck!“ in conclusion to his brief bit about horses was great.
• Guilty laughs about Louis’ eagerness to get a goat, and his demeanor about not caring about the audience is fun.
• Like always, I love how Louis is opening up in his stand-up monologues to the audience, and his whole bit about his stand-up history, and staying in motels early on in his career is a prime example of why he’s such an influential comic, and why he is so popular.
• Hilarious bit with Louis leveraging his white privilege by wanting better hotel service, especially when it comes to his clothes being cleaned & delivered to him on time.
• I LOVE Louis’ bit about how unfairly treated he is in this hotel DESPITE being white, and his impression of the hotel manager is terrific, and his “I will conduct an investigation!” outburst as the manager is classic Louis.
• Excellent ending to the whole hotel story by Louis, and is, yet again, in this monologue, a prime example of how brilliant & effortlessly hilarious Louis C.K. generally is as a stand-up comic, and why he remains at the top of my personal favorite stand-up comics of all-time.

Rating: *****

Lawyer Lashes

• Solid & silly sketch concept, and Louis is so perfect for this sketch.
• Very funny close-up at Louis’ eyelashes, and his mock-shy smile killed me.
• I’m loving that Louis is constantly blinking in order to sway the witness from his stance. Louis’ aggressive way of doing so is hilarious. I honestly cannot think of any other performer right now that could sell this sketch as good as he is doing right now.
• Kenan’s remarks as the judge are very funny, especially about how Louis’ eyelashes are so perfect.
• Didn’t care much for the ending, yet what came before was so solid that it won’t be affecting my rating for this sketch.

Rating: ****

Thank You, Scott

• Yet another piece from this season spoofing liberals, and this is doing such a great job in mocking so-called online “activists”.
• Such catchy music & chorus especially. And the direction, with the flashy colors & visuals adds to the humor.
• Very solid rap solo from Mikey, a skill that should’ve been used FAR more throughout his tenure then it was.
• Love the part with the clapping Emoji, and the increasingly mundane “activities” that Scott is doing online.
• Overall, yet another great satirical piece from SNL this season.

Rating: ****

Soda Fountain

• I’ve always really liked this sketch in the past, and I recall reading that James Anderson had a hand in writing it. If so, this has to be amongst my favorites of his, even though I tend to love the charming & silly pieces of his (e.g. Spaceship, Restaurant Complaint, Hot Tub Christmas) much more.
• Great sudden turn to this sketch, and the 50s setting is somehow adding to the overall atmosphere.
• I’m loving how dialogue-driven this sketch is, and Louis is absolutely perfect in selling this dark, unsettling concept.
• Solid straight man delivery from Sasheer, and even the others commenting on Louis & Cecily isn’t overdone in this sketch, which helps in not making it seem stale.
• Leslie looks funny here, it’s too bad that she horribly botched her line. And this is only the beginning, as she has some truly cringeworthy moments next season when it comes to that department. I enjoy Leslie more than some SNL fans, but I really can’t defend her when it comes to her many moments of greenness on the air.
• Great ending with the jukebox.

Rating: ****

Pepsi Commercial

• Beck has been having such a terrific season so far, and this piece is yet another one of his that I’ve always loved.
• Ah, I see that this is parodying the infamous Kendall Jenner Pepsi commercial; another instance of this season successfully going viral with its sharp satire of current events.
• Beck is so perfect for this piece, as his line deliveries are always reliable for pieces where the straight man is slowly vanishing, such as this piece & the great Lexus and Picture with Dad pieces from his fantastic final year.
• I’m loving how when Beck is describing the commercial and the guy on the phone is telling him about how wrong the idea is. Beck’s slow realization is pulled off perfectly here, and yet again, Beck subtleties are nothing short of terrific.
• The random cutaways to others as Beck is listening to the guy on the other line are adding to the humor. And Beck’s deflated mood towards the end as he realizes the huge mistake he’s made with the commercial he’s about to film is very well-performed.

Rating: ****1/2

Musical Performance – “Paris” ft. Emily Warren

• Jesse Nathan: Ah, The Chainsmokers–another musical guest that takes me back to 2017. I actually remember, the day before this episode aired, I bought their album on iTunes, and I listened to the whole thing, so some of those songs hold fond memories of that time period, including this song. Now, I am aware that there are plenty of people who hate these guys and their music, but I’d like to be clear: I don’t have a problem with their music. Even today, 5 years later, I still get some enjoyment out of it. Hopefully, that rings true.
• Not loving Andrew’s vocals. I don’t hate them on the album version, but they’re not coming off well here.
• The drums during the chorus feel a bit unnecessary for both the song and the general tone. Then again, I’m more used to the studio recording, so maybe that explains it.
• Wait, we’re already doing the “let’s show them we are, show them we are” part after the first chorus? Again, I’m more used to the studio version, but this doesn’t come in until the second chorus.
• There’s something about the way this song is being executed that puts me off. I think it has something to do with how the vocals are mixed, or how off the instrumental sounds.
• Emily Warren’s vocals during the second chorus are more audible than they should be.
• What the hell? Why are we hearing a dubstep breakdown? This is weird as hell.
• Jesus Christ, the dubstep beat is so loud that it’s drowning out Emily’s vocals. This is poor, but it also kinda cracks me up in spite of myself.
• Yeah, the more this goes on, I’m not really caring for the different turns this performance is taking. It feels like it’s a whole bunch of Chainsmokers songs meshed into one.
• Emily’s vocals seem to be standing out more than the other backing vocalists.
• Man, the drummer is really going wild.
• This final chorus is really falling flat on its face.
• I got an unintentional laugh from Andrew and Alex’s high-five (?), almost as if to say “Yeah, we did it”. Sorry, guys, you didn’t.

Rating: **

Weekend Update

• Man, the commentary on Trump’s missile strike on Syria is truly a time capsule, and I’ll never forget the media’s weirdly positive coverage of the whole thing.
• Hilarious graphic of an imprisoned Hillary Clinton being jacked as hell.
• Solid usage of a Three Stooges clip in order to symbolize the US/Russia/Syria situation.
• Ah, always fun to have Kate’s Cecilia Giminez returning to the Update desk. This turns out to be her final commentary.
• Like usual, Kate is coming very likable and her line deliveries regarding Ronaldo’s infamously botched bust are providing solid laughs.
• Funny visual of a similarly-botched bust of Colin.
• Funny pregnant rhino joke from Michael, and some really solid jokes throughout this Update after Kate’s commentary ended.

Rating: ****

The O’Reilly Factor

• Solid Bill O’Reilly impression from Alec, even when he’s not nailing him entirely.
• A pretty funny, brief bit with Cecily.
• Aaaaaaand now we’re getting our SECOND Trumpwin sketch of the night, and why does it have to happen in this episode, of all others?
• The interview seems to be very well-timed between Alec as both O’Reilly & Trumpwin, which make me wonder which one is pretaped and which one is live. I’d say the O’Reilly portion is performed live, which makes Trumpwin pretaped.
• And now we get fake sponsors. A gag that this will era will be beating to freakin’ DEATH in the next few seasons.
• My GOD at the dog cocaine bit. Hilarious! I honestly remember laughing from it so damn hard for about a full minute when this episode aired, and just thinking about it & that visual of the dog sniffing cocaine KILLS ME.

Rating: *** (the last 1/3 for the priceless dog cocaine bit ALONE)

Birthday Clown

• (*sigh*) Much like Picture Perfect from season 40, this is a piece that I recall absolutely loving when this episode originally aired that would soon be busted for plagiarism. I’ll at least review this piece’s highlights, as it is one of Bobby’s last great moments on the show.
• Excellent reveals that Louis is the “little birthday boy” that Bobby was supposedly going to entertain, and that there is nobody else invited to the birthday party.
• I’m loving the deep contrast between Bobby’s playful, jolly deliveries as the birthday clown, and Louis’ deadpan, humorless responses to it.
• Bobby is so good in this short, and this is another short that utilizes his underrated straight man abilities and dramatic skills, much like the fantastic Five Stars short earlier in the season.
• Great moment with Bobby’s deadpan warning to Melissa’s Elsa and her partner “You don’t want this!” before getting busted by Louis.
• Pretty solid, dark ending.
• An overall fantastic piece, and a great, great Bobby showcase. A damn shame that this piece was indeed plagiarized, as it is easily amongst the season’s finest.

Rating: * (for plagiarism, even though I still personally feel very highly of this piece)

Sectional Sofa Emporium

• One of my personal favorite sketches from this season, if not the entire era.
• Excellent choice of having Louis be the spokesman for this commercial, his always-reliable delivery is perfect for this creative, absurdist sketch concept.
• I love the visual of the very long sectional in Roman times.
• Even Cecily’s singing is working for me perfectly, and is actually enhancing the unsettling, absurd atmosphere of this sketch.
• Aidy’s stealing this whole sketch with the footage of hers wanting bigger and bigger sectionals.
• Louis’ random delivery of “I used to have a family” KILLED me, as well it did with the audience.
• Brilliant twist with this whole thing turning out not to be a commercial & that these sectionals are not for sale.

Rating: *****

Musical Performance – “Break Up Every Night”

• Jesse Nathan: Andrew’s vocals still aren’t doing much for me live. In fact, they sound like they barely resemble a key.
• The line “then tries to bring me back to life” is somehow worse when you find out in the album version, the line is “then tries to fuck me back to life”. Now, I prefer explicit over clean any day, but in all honesty, that’s an awful line, explicit or not. Plus, it doesn’t make any sense. When you break up, you die? What?!
• “Give me the run-around.” Every time I think of that line, I’m always gonna think of Blues Traveler. I’d honestly rather listen to that.
• Why am I getting a slight sense of smugness from this guy?
• Not loving this bridge, though I do kinda like the synth going on in the background.
• I had barely anything to say that time. Yeah, this performance was pretty much a bust, and I can start to see why people don’t really care for these guys, as they’re kinda smug and don’t really have anything substantial to offer. That being said, I still kinda like their music, just…not here.

Rating: **

Tenement Museum

• Ah, here comes a memorable, beloved sketch from this season.
• Already, Louis’ accent is KILLING ME here.
• Ah, and here comes the memorable breaking from Kate, which in turns causes Louis to also break character. One of the very few genuinely charming character breaking incidents in recent SNL history. Much better than The Californians inside joke tripe.
• Louis is killing Kate here, and her face when trying not to laugh as Louis giggles his way through his line about brainwashing an Italian is priceless.
• Even the reacting portions in this sketch are working for me, as they are not overdone unlike some future sketches & Cecily’s performance is preventing them from becoming stale.
• It’s absolutely hilarious how this historic conversation is turning out to be filled with just anti-Italian remarks.
• A big, cheap laugh from Louis’ “chocolate face” remark towards Kenan, and the latter’s response couldn’t have been been more perfect.
• I absolutely love Louis’ Borat-esque delivery of “My wife”, and his face immediately afterwards is excellent.
• Great ending with Louis’ whole speech ending with him hiring “chocolate lady” to help his wife causes the tour to just immediately leave.

Rating: ****1/2

In Memoriam – a photo of Don Rickles mark his passing

Segments Ranked From Best to Worst

Sectional Sofa Emporium

Monologue

Tenement Museum

Pepsi Commercial

Lawyer Lashes

Soda Fountain

Weekend Update

Thank You, Scott

The O’Reilly Factor

Trump’s People

Birthday Clown

Final Thoughts:-

• YET ANOTHER fantastic Louis C.K. episode, which makes him now 4-for-4 in terms of delivering standout, memorable shows. Like all of his previous hosting stints, I greatly enjoyed the unique variety in sketch concepts on display throughout the show, and how Louis managed to elevate them even more with his performances throughout the night, as they were also specifically tailored for his comedic stylings, and fit with his performing style as well. And even though I had to give Birthday Clown a one-star rating due to plagiarism, I still feel very highly about it and consider it a major season highlight. If this turns out to be Louis’ final hosting stint, then he had quite possibly the strongest track record for a recurring host in SNL history, as all of his hosting stints were very strong & consistently creative.

Up Next:-

• Jimmy Fallon returns to host with musical guest Harry Styles.