Cold Opening – NFL Championship Sunday
panelists lament the end of football season
- Nice visual with JAJMukes being the very first thing this episode opens up with. I also have no familiarity with Jim Nantz, but I am sure James’ impression is spot-on, as it is as layered vocally as his other ones.
- I appreciate this sports-centric cold opening having an actual premise behind it and not just recapping the week’s events. The panelists lamenting this game being the final real day for football fans of the season is a good conceit.
- The SNL meta moment with Kenan is alright, but at times with SNL going meta, it feels a bit self-indulgent for me.
- Man, Michael is so awkward to watch in this cold opening. I don’t know why, but he feels out-of-place next to the other performers. I think that’s partly due to how limited he is playing “normal” parts and being part of an ensemble. This has been such a terrible season for him in general.
- The Blue Bloods/So Help Me Todd part was pretty funny and especially Andrew’s reaction to it.
- Ugh, I’m just tired seeing Molly being dressed as men for a cheap laugh and their performance here, while brief, didn’t work for me. I do not understand SNL reaching such a milestone by hiring their first non-binary cast member and using them the same way they used Kate and Aidy in their later years and Sarah at times by dressing them in such outfits for the sight of a cheap laugh. Molly having such a rough season makes this misuse of them even more annoying to me.
- This cold open is alright, but it feels really dead in parts; not even the singing, besides the initial start with James, could’ve elevated this one for me. It was also a bit long for a cold open that’s with a straight, simple premise.
Rating: ***
Monologue
host talks coming back to host & reuniting with musical guest; Jimmy Fallon cameo
- The opening joke with the Trump/Taylor pandering felt pretty hacky and sucking up to Taylor Swift.
- These jokes in general are fine, though the Sydney Sweeney mention made me realize how a lot of fans think SNL asked her to host and declined. I can see that myself.
- The Dakota video as a kid with her dad making silly faces was more adorable than funny, but it was a nice touch.
- Here comes Justin Timberlake in what I assume is the first of several obligatory appearances tonight. His back-and-forth with Dakota is good; she’s in general better here already than her previous monologue.
- Jimmy Fallon showing up as Barry Gibb reminded me of his many cameos during Justin’s prior hosting stints. Also, knowing Jimmy’s Barry Gibb only showed up just once during Jimmy’s tenure is surreal to me, as it is one of the most popular impressions from his repertoire.
- An overall fine-if-not-disjointed monologue.
Rating: ***
Waiters
waiters (host) & (SRS) cannot understand simple orders
- I guess other than being the go-to for commercial voiceovers, JAJ is now basically also the go-to for dad roles as well. Good, as he is very likable and natural in such roles.
- Is this a patented Sarah sketch? The premise with the waiters being anxious and confusing the simple orders is pretty old comedic trope, and while this execution is alright, it is doesn’t feel anywhere near as creative as Sarah’s prior sketches.
- Dakota seems perfect for such a sketch. Her performance is already better than her work in her previous episode. Sarah, on the other hand, just isn’t working for me here at all.
- For some reason, when Molly is ranting about the order, Troast clearly seems to be struggling to keep a straight face if you look closely, but it doesn’t detract from the sketch or anything.
- Something about this sketch as it goes on feels wrong. I don’t know if it is how slow-paced it is (which is not the way to start an episode proper with), or how some of these performers are coming off underrehearsed, especially Sarah and Molly, but this sketch as a whole lost its luster as soon as Sarah appeared next to James. Still not terrible, but for a Sarah Sherman sketch, this was pretty subpar.
Rating: **
Home Videos
home videos reveal AND’s parents (host) & (MID) met at a trashy show
- For some reason, I never can buy Mikey when donning old makeup. He is doing a good job in this short, though.
- Great turn with the next home video, which was introduced as the day Mikey discovered he’s going to be a dad, turning out to be Maury parody with Mikey and Dakota as a feuding trashy couple. James is doing a great job playing the host and the show in general is spot-on parody of these trash TV staples.
- Mikey is having me in stitches! His characterization and douche look already cracked me up, but it is his line deliveries and physicality that are really what is killing me.
- Dakota is solid as well, especially when showing off her body to the audience. Much like Mikey, she is very solid playing this out-of-the-ordinary role for her.
- I like Marcello, and I really don’t want to taint this great short with what I will say, but maybe it’s miscasting or something, as he is coming off so out of his element and amateur in his role here, compared to how all the rest seem to be naturals.
- Didn’t really care for that ending nor the cutaway reaction shots, as brief as they were, but as a whole, this was really strong.
Rating: ****
The Barry Gibb Talk Show: 2024 Election
Barry Gibb (JIF) overshadows panel
- I am really surprised they brought this recurring sketch back, even when Jimmy literally appeared in costume in the monologue, as the previous installment with the real Barry Gibb showing up felt like a natural conclusion. I guess SNL really doesn’t know when to end recurring sketches.
- Jimmy always brings up a lot of energy during these sketches, which is always the best part in them, but he feels a bit sloppy in parts here, though it is understandable. I will admit, however, that his Saltburn line made me laugh out loud.
- Oh, we have a host tonight? Four minutes into this sketch and they just remembered Dakota is there in studio. Her quick crackup was adorable and maybe the best moment so far in this installment.
- OK, Justin’s Robin whispering into Jimmy’s Barry and turning out not to have anything to add was pretty funny.
- All-in-all, I can see some trashing this sketch and I get why, but this was as a whole about the same as the previous ones to me: not bad, but not for me. I will say, however, there were a few more genuine laughs in this installment than the last three or four had. So, while there’s sadness seeing a much-older Timberlake and Fallon playing these two a decade after their prime days on the show, this came off a lot better than it could’ve been.
Rating: **1/2
Please Don’t Destroy – Roast
host roasts fellow nepo babies John Higgins & Martin Herlihy
- The audience’s reaction to the PDD logo showing up is even stronger than usual.
- Dakota’s deadpan in reaction to the guys’ pitch to her is great and I love the turn with her calling them “The Lonelier Island” and closing the door with a stern look towards them afterwards.
- So many sharp lines back-and-forth between Dakota and the boys; Dakota in general is fantastic here; easily the funniest performance from her in both hosting stints.
- Some of my favorite lines here are: Dakota saying the three guys look like the last three a lesbian would sleep with before coming out, Martin saying “A Bigger Splash” is what Dakota wished her movie would’ve made at the box office, and John threatening to have Dakota say the N-word by accident in her monologue by writing on her cue cards last minute.
- Great “Nepo Truce” turn, especially when Ben is left out of it.
- An overall excellent PDD. Between this one and AI, these boys seem to be hitting a stride as of late with their shorts.
Rating: ****1/2
Big Dumb Cups
women (host), (CLF) & (HEG) advertise big dumb cups
- The return of the Big Dumb Hat ladies from last season and another Heidi/Chloe sketch this season. I could be wrong, but this is probably the 5th or 6th character debuting these last two or so seasons that has now become recurring. Man, I guess this new SNL era really wants the return of big recurring characters, considering the previous one barely had any outside of Update.
- I know these are co-written by Allison Gates, but it feels like Heidi and Chloe are aping the Kaidy teamup sketches Gates co-wrote for both of them in her earlier seasons.
- These lines and visuals are nothing really special, unlike the harmless feel of the first one, besides Heidi’s line about Trader Joe’s dropping a new snack.
- Unlike the first time he showed up, Marcello’s walk-on did nothing for me here. It felt pointless and reliant on his increasing popularity with viewers.
- Man, second episode in a row with a kiddie show visual, as the massive cup Dakota held near the sketch’s end did nothing for me.
Rating: **1/2
Musical Performance – ”Sanctified” ft. Tobe Nwigwe
Weekend Update
Ethan (BOY) presents his own version of the Oscars
Tarot reader Jan Janby reads cards for MIC and roasts him
- I’m really enjoying the breakdown of the Trump/E. Jean Carroll verdict, especially the mention of OJ (Che: he didn’t even do it!) and how his court sketch made him look like that lady who got her face torn apart by a monkey.
- Man, even for the usual political hypocrisy, that DeSantis/Trump clip is priceless.
- Heh, the Trump “de-bank” clips is the usual bafflingly stupid Trump shit, as was Jost’s dumb-but-funny joke about it afterwards.
- The Michael Che/Texas teen pregnancy joke is easily one of my favorite jokes of the season so far. This Update in general is shaping up to be pretty strong so far.
- WTF at some of the audience members being upset over the Oppenheimer joke? It was stupid and harmless enough.
- I absolutely loved the spirit/JetBlue joke from Colin; another one of my favorites from this season.
- Bowen debuts yet another Update character. I will come into this one with an open mind, considering that I enjoyed most of Bowen’s work the previous episode.
- The voice Bowen’s using here reminds me of a voice I swear I heard another cast member use, but cannot remember who.
- This commentary, as it goes along, while not bad and I get what Bowen is trying here, feels endless and directionless for me. Very lengthy desk pieces that go nowhere has been a bit of a staple these past few seasons with some cast members between Bowen, Heidi and Kate in her latter seasons.
- I will say, however, that I got a laugh from the In Memoriam joke due to how stupid it was. The ending too was also pretty silly with Bowen “winning” the first Ethan Award.
- Man, this Update has been on fire with the jokes, as Goofy-watching-women-giving-birth being the punchline to the maternity ward in Disney World joke is fucking hilarious to me.
- Loved the dark end to the Ghana looted artifacts joke, especially the audience booing the “people looted from Ghana” punchline. And, to make it funnier, the big gay orgy punchline to the “Man Camps” joke afterwards was hilarious as well. Che is so on fire in this Update in general.
- As soon as Heidi came on in that getup, I got worried, considering how terrible so many of her desk pieces have been since last season. I will try to give this piece a fair chance.
- Heidi is a bit too much here, as she seems to be even more hammy than she usually is these past two seasons. However, I am getting some decent laughs from the cards, especially the very dumb Onlyfans revelation. The interesting camera angels above the desk are also adding to this commentary as well.
- Overall, some killer, and I mean killer jokes from Colin and Che, as well as two commentaries, while not my favorites, had their share of highlights and did not hinder the momentum of this Update.
Rating: ****
Book Club
(host) announces a million-dollar idea
- Dakota has been channelling both Tina Fey and Kristen Wiig in the wigs she’s wearing tonight. Her look here especially feels like one Kristen sported in the past.
- Can Molly Kearney go through a single sketch delivering their lines normally? The Farley-esque delivery of them distracts me at times.
- I really like this sketch concept, especially the very offbeat vibes, but the execution feels really clunky, as we truly didn’t need basically the whole female cast here, alongside Molly delivering reaction/explaining lines. Dakota’s solid performance is what’s keeping the sketch afloat for me, but it could’ve been stronger.
- Man, showing how unnecessarily bloated the casting for this sketch is: Ego’s just sitting there reacting and looking around. It’s absolutely surreal to me how far her utilization and presence on the show this season is beginning to rapidly diminish.
- The Shark Tank cameos turn at the end is a fine way to cap this offbeat sketch with, though this sketch needed more revision, as I would’ve rated it a lot higher than its current rating.
Rating: ***
Musical Performance – ”Selfish”
Lost Bag
(host) tries to prove ownership of bag
- Yet another sketch where Michael Longfellow is coming off extremely awkward and halting to me. I do not dislike Michael, but I have now noticed how very awkward he is coming off this season when he is playing regular roles. The same can be said of his fellow class from S48; how in the world will these performers be able to carry the show a few seasons from now?
- I got a solid laugh from Devon’s lispy character’s voice and look, but as soon as the sketch centered around his character being the “weird” one, this sketch is starting to die out for me.
- Some said this online, but it is so bizarre how much the energy and feel is polar opposites between Michael/Dakota and Devon. Not only from how awkward Michael is, but even Devon’s performance feels odd and trying hard to be “funnee.” I am really noticing how many issues in general I’ve been having with the cast, which really started to show for me these past two episodes.
- I did not care at all about the Kenan part at the end. I assume he was trying to “save” the sketch, but it made realize how much Devon seems to be aping his performance style in general, which is the last thing we need when Kenan eventually leaves.
- What a lousy ending with Sarah, especially the grating character voice she used; so unnecessary.
Rating: **
Cut For Time: Horny Little Dork
horny little dorks the latest horror trope
- A decent reveal of horny dorks being the thing to fear in this horror trailer.
- Mikey is cracking me in spite of myself playing up his part, even as it feels like something he did so many times before.
- Did we really need several cast members to portray dorks? James is pretty solid in this role, but I rather have one single dork to make this short more focused.
- While it feels like a typical Bowen moment, I cracked up at the revelation of him being a secret dork.
Rating: ***
Goodnights
Segments Ranked From Best to Worst
PDD – Roast
Home Videos
Weekend Update
Book Club
NFL Sunday Championship
Monologue
CFT: Horny Little Dork
The Barry Gibb Talk Show: 2024 Election
Big Dumb Cups
Lost Bag
Waiters
Final Thoughts:
- Just a little above average. This one did have its share of highlights, including a very strong PDD, but a lot of it was just…. there for me. I am glad, unlike the previous episode, there weren’t too many bad sketches. Dakota Johnson was a better host this time around, coming off even more likable and having some shining moments, even when the digital shorts were probably the most she was let loose. I am glad this episode overall was an improvement over the lousy one last week, but I hope for a strong effort for Ayo next week to bring back the momentum from the strong first half.
- Before I conclude this review, and you probably noticed it from my review above, I’ve just realized how plain frustrated and bored I am with almost this entire cast so quickly. I am absolutely stunned how quickly I’ve reached such a state of burnout with them. This whole cast of 17 performers are ones that I find either expendable, past-their-prime or just very poorly-used. I am absolutely stunned in took just a season and a half for me to reach such a degree of burnout with this cast; a thing I never had with any other cast since watching live with season 40. Hell, even Sarah Sherman, one of my favorite cast members in ages, is rapidly starting to bore me and I don’t think I even praised her in anything in this episode. The “new” group of cast members from season 47 on, has only two cast members I have no critique of: James Austin Johnson and Chloe Troast, and even they could barely get any airtime most of the time, while burnt out or expendable performers walk around hogging up the camera. Ego Nwodim, far and away the strongest female of this whole cast, feels like a featured player this season, with an endless number of almost-silent roles or ones where she is just…. sitting or standing there. Besides a few sketches the first batch of episodes, the show clearly seems to either 1) not know how to use her anymore (and her airtime almost decreasing 100% from last season is a big sign of yes), or 2) they moved on to using solely Heidi Gardner as the female leader of the cast instead of dividing up the airtime between her and Ego. Was it necessary for the Bowen and Heidi desk pieces tonight to be so, so bloated and lengthy? Even when Bowen’s clearly tried something different? Knowing the promising-sounding puppet piece with Andrew got cut, for the second week in a row, makes it clear this show still seeks its “stars” in performers so past-their-prime and rely on their tenure status and time on the show. It is so clear so much of this cast just needs to go, including some of the newer cast members who do not seem to be natural sketch performers nor I cannot see at all anchoring sketches, besides of JAJ and Troast, as mentioned before. Devon, Molly and Marcello, the latter two getting slowly on my nerves, are ones I absolutely cannot see anchoring sketches as “glue” or displaying any variety of voices, characters or tones that a cast member should display. The same can be said about Michael Longfellow, who seems to be basically living in his dressing room this year, besides very few extremely awkward roles thrown his way. Yes, performers like Michael and Devon definitely worked for me in the past, but both, as well as Molly and Marcelo, are shtick cast members who rely on one or two bits and nothing. These cannot be the core of the cast moving ahead, nor is someone like Sarah who is starting to also bore me outside of her oddball roles (and her starring sketch being the night’s worse is a sign she might be running out of gas ALREADY). I…… am sorry for this super lengthy ranting, but hey, I gotta be honest in these reviews with you guys. I just cannot see this cast sticking around for 50, and if they do, then just…. just cut almost the whole cast down besides four or five (already mentioned the three in need of airtime above: Ego, Troast and JAJ; you can guess which one or two others I have no problem with), and even in that case, Ego will be in her potential 8th season and she already feels on her way out. To just conclude this ranting and this review, I’ll say it once and for all: this current cast is simply one that is not working and won’t work. I only hope the potential successor to Lorne Michaels will be one who would cut down and replace this bloated, mostly-weak writing staff and cast way down. Episodes like this one, while not bad, truly shows this cast both cannot sell both solid and weak writing. SNL deserves to have a better-structured feel than it’s been having these past two seasons.
My Favorite Moments of the Episode, Represented with Screencaps:
Up Next:
- Ayo Edebiri / Jennifer Lopez.
My Full set of screencaps from this episode is here
I noticed the same thing about Devon in the cold open. I think his problem is his dead eyes in everything he does. Some acting classes would be helpful for him.
Great review Mr. Blood.
I was FINALLY able to watch a live show for the first time since November, and I can say that the episode was pretty good, despite it being pretty inconsistent.
I am honestly VERY SHOCKED at your burnout for most of the cast. While I already knew that you were tired of the “stars” of the show by this point (Heidi, Bowen) I feel that most of the rest of the cast is doing well. I can understand your frustration over Molly being type casted in drag roles. But I actually really liked Devon’s 10-to-1 and I thought it was nice that the show gave him something to do (for the first time all season it feels like)
I don’t get why you’re getting frustrated over Marcello though. I can’t really think of any examples of him annoying me really. Maybe I’m just forgetting some, idk.
Michael seemed checked out AS HELL in the cold open. He said LFNY at the wrong camera and booked TF outta there right after saying it. I think he’s honestly tired of being on the show at this point, which feels weird asf to say considering his AMAZING rookie year and his great cigarette commentary from December. Maybe his overall lack of airtime has him checked out. I wouldn’t be surprised if he left after this season.
And I can say the same for Ego, who hasn’t done ANYTHING noteworthy I can think of ALL SEASON. Which really does suck because her 3rd and 4th years were really great.
Heidi and Bowen need to get tf outta there. Anyway.
Now I’m gonna talk about the episode, it was pretty good. But pretty inconsistent as well.
6.5/10
The more I have thought about it, and especially following this episode, I have been wrong about my praise for the cast. I think I have been seeing them through their talent individually, rather than working cohesively within an ensemble. And you’re right. I understand why I haven’t been liking this season, and I chalk that up now to most of the players. For most of the pieces this year, it’s narrowed down to “good premise, bad execution.” And I felt it reached a boiling point last night when for almost every live piece, I said to myself, “Why isn’t this being carried out a little better?” And it’s because we have now collected an ensemble (and writing team) consisting of mostly standups, whose charisma can only save so much. And it’s easier for Lorne to build up a group of 20 individual stars and call it a cast, rather than finding 10 people who have chemistry and a rolodex of talent. I like everyone on the show, but I’m noticing that the seams are loosening up and my confidence in them is diminishing. I hope that they all notice their flaws and work on them over the spring because nobody wants to look back on the fiftieth season and say “the cast was meh.”
Also, I’m sorry but this is my least favorite Weekend Update of the season so far. Heidi overacting and mugging as usual, and Bowen’s commentary just didn’t work for me. Despite Bowen’s performance being great as usual.
I also didn’t really like the jokes here, despite some good ones.
Of the new players…
Chloe Troast seems very promising. Of course, a number of the other players had great debut seasons and then stalled out. But she seems to be very good at doing a mix of lead/supporting roles well.
Michael Longfellow I agree appears somewhat checked out. I don’t know if he’s like a niche performer that nobody can agree on how to use, but aside from stuff specifically focused on him, he seems awkward or apathetic.
Molly Kearney…I agree the show just doesn’t know how to use them. They only seem to appear now like dressed as a man or doing silly, Chris Farley esque stuff. They need some pieces or sketches that speak to their specific comedic style.
Marcello Hernandez I think is being used generally pretty well. I don’t quite share Blood’s negative take yet, but I understand the point being made, as I don’t think Marcello has a huge range. That’s fine, not every cast member does, but the show cannot make the same mistake they are doing with Bowen and trying to make them the front line star
Devon Walker is a very funny, strong performer, who I think does better playing off of someone or when he does kind of “dumb straight man” roles. He was funny somewhat in that airport sketch, but he was pushing too much and wasn’t in the same groove as the others.
None of us this is necessarily bad–these are first or second year people, after all, but it gets more noticeable when a lot of cast members are played out, kind of floundering/stalled, or checked out. It’s insane to me how this can happen right after a couple years when many veteran cast members left, but there you go.
The issue with the way Molly is being used is that SNL seems wary about have a large performer do things reminiscent of Farley. At the same time, looking at their. standup, its not premises for sketches. Unfortunately I see them being let go before S50 which is a shame because it proves SNL doesn’t know what to do with NB performers if they don’t fit the binary
Marcello is on the cusp of becoming like Fallon for the show based on the Cups sketch, just a popular charismatic name they pass the ball to or trust too much but still churning out good sketched when he brings his own voice into it
Another great review Blood! Definitely well worth the wait.
I’d like to start by addressing your thoughts at the end: while I can see where you’re coming from with some cast members, I think you’re being overly hasty.
First off, with regard to Sarah, there is absolutely no indication that she wrote that Waiters sketch, and even if she did, I doubt she had a super prominent role and was more than likely just supplying some occasional ideas/lines here and there. Nothing about this sketch seemed like it had any of Sarah’s trademarks. The only indication that she had any input whatsoever is simply that she had a large role. As such, I find your presumption that this is “a patented Sarah sketch” quite strange. Furthermore, I found her to be very good in the Home Videos sketch, especially with that Reba wig and southern accent, which is something that I don’t believe we’ve seen her really do before. As for her part in the 10-to-1…it was literally just two lines and less than 20 seconds of airtime. To each their own and you’re certainly entitled to your opinion, but I don’t see how any of this justifies changing your tune on Sarah and predicting that she’s already running on fumes. May I remind you that you had similar fears at the beginning of this season before she had a hot streak for several episodes in a row. Again, I mean NO disrespect when I say any of this, just that I find your changing your tune on her to be rather odd and (in my view at least) undeserved.
Now, as for the S48 hires: I fully agree with your take on Molly. Their line delivery tonight was off (given their abysmal airtime this season, I wonder if that was some desperate attempt to make a splash) and they’ve really made no lasting impression whatsoever this whole year. I think for sure they will be out and I can’t say I’d miss them all that much, despite seeming likable offstage.
With Longfellow, I can’t say I see as much awkwardness as you’re seeing. I suppose I can sort of see it in certain areas, but part of that is just his dry delivery. I enjoyed his delivery of “I didn’t even care about the diarrhea thing…but yeah like also I don’t love it” in the 10-to-1 for example was great imho. Yes, he’s arguably more suited for Weekend Update character pieces, but I definitely wouldn’t go as far as dumping him (though sadly that’s looking more and more likely with how bad his airtime this season has been).
Marcello I’ve run hot and cold on, as I do think he’s been in danger of being overexposed at various points in this season, and while his impression skills aren’t the best, he can be a very likable presence when used properly. Once again, I didn’t detect much awkwardness from him in the Home Videos sketch (though I do think the editing surrounding him was a bit too quick paced). Plus, as a Hispanic performer, he provides a unique voice to the show, not to mention he’s very popular even outside of SNL circles. He’s the one I feel most confident is staying.
Devon, outside of some stumbling of some lines here and there, I haven’t really had any issues with. He’s such a likable, warm, and friendly presence on the show, and really has the ability to make lines funnier than they have any right to be. Hell, look at him in last year’s HIV Commercial sketch. He was basically playing a homophobe, yet he was so funny and likable that it was basically impossible to hate his character. Or think of his strong dramatic acting in the Subway pretape from this season. While I’m not saying he has the biggest range, he reminds me of Punkie or Kenan in that aforementioned ability to steal a sketch just by a simple line delivery. His airtime has been up and down this whole season, but I truly hope he sticks around.
I agree that there are some other issues regarding the usage of this cast, namely Bowen being pushed too heavily and given too many “funnee” roles, JAJ being relegated to a lot of straight man roles, and Ego being used less and less. But I can absolutely see this cast working well if used properly. Let me break it down:
– Have JAJ be the glue/go to utility player, as well as give him a chance to show off his impressions
– Use Chloe T as a female glue/utility player along with giving her a chance to spread her wings and do some unique oddball stuff ala Will Ferrell
– Lean more into Sarah and Andrew’s respective oddball tendencies in both writing and performing
– Use Bowen a little more sparingly and make his characters have actual depth beyond “look at how wacky I am!”
– Make use of Longfellow’s knack for dry and laid back delivery, similar to how Norm could be used in sketches back in the day
– Have Punkie and Devon be that “sketch stealing” kind of performer due to their likability and unique line delivery
– Find a way to get Marcello’s standup to fit into unique sketches without pushing him too heavily
In any case, I don’t think your criticism of the cast is entirely warranted…yet. If we have a few more dud episodes, then I’d be more willing to revisit this idea. As it stands now though, the problem is more with the cast being misused and subjected to some poor writing. If we’re gonna overhaul anything, let’s overhaul the writing staff first before we go and get rid of over half the cast.
Interestingly enough, while I’m more positive on this cast than you are, I was more down on this episode than you were. The Book Club sketch was very meh to me despite some initial promise with Dakota’s character and the Waiter sketch I found to be even weaker than you did, thanks to some very confused and muddled writing, plus the simple fact that they led off with that sketch.
On the plus side, PDD’s short was amazing. My favorite thing that they’ve done up to this point, and a true 5 star sketch for me. The Home Videos sketch was likewise strong and the twist at the beginning with it being a Maury parody gave me a good laugh.
I suppose overall this episode was a little better than Jacob’s. At the very least, it definitely had higher highs. But there was still an awkward dead feel (certainly not helped by the audience being dead in parts) that sunk a lot of the material, so I can’t really say that this episode was good. Dakota was rather hit and miss for me. Her dry delivery was perfect in the PDD short, but her delivery in the Lost Bag sketch was awkward and stilted and disrupted the momentum.
Hopefully things improve with Ayo’s upcoming episode.
JAJ, Ego, and Chloe Troast should be the anchors of this cast. I love Mikey and would put him in there but I just kind of feel like he’s nearing the end of his run (though he is still aces as a writer). Sarah and Andrew provide an oddball sensibility that keeps the show fresh. Punkie and Marcello should be the charming/likeable personality type cast members. Maybe not much range but tons of charisma. Longfellow would be great on update. I think that’s where his dry delivery would shine best.
For me, this is what the cast should look like. I’d like to hang on to hope that Bowen and Heidi can end their tenures positively, but I feel like they are in their Wiig/Armisen era where they are way too comfortable and indulgent as hell. I actually laughed at their commentaries tonight but dear lord are they are still hammy. Heidi does this cross eyed thing with her characters now that I just do not like. It sucks cause they actually once were two of my favourites.
I overall agree that Im not really feeling this cast. My takeaway is that the new kids are all great but they need stronger writing or to write their own stuff more. The real problem are the Veterans in this cast who just keep doing the Same thing. Heidi and Chloe haven’t done anything interesting or exciting since like Season 46. Ego hasn’t had a memorable role in the last three years either. Bowen is just doing his Bowen thing and it’s getting tiring. Mikey has already offered all he could to the show. Colin and Che have been getting tiring and writing too many crap sketches. It’s time for all of them to go. I do truly believe that if they all left and the new kids would allow to make the show their own it would be much better.
Cause I do really like Marcello, to me he never came off amateurish and always knew how to properly sell comedy in every single scene he’s in, he’s my favourite. Sarah started off strong but needs to get creative again cause when she does then it’s something new. Devon is nothing unique but he’s a string comedic performer who can amplify other people’s sketches. Molly has really had no proper sketch of their own since their debut. JAJ could lead the show. Trust has potential. None of them are the problem here.
Can’t wait to see the Vintage version next week…
Sketches I enjoyed: Home Movies, Big Dumb Cups, Heidi on Update, Roast
Don’t get me started on The Shirt sketch, The Restaurant sketch, or Bowen on Update.
Am I looking too far into it, But was the Bag referencing ISIS a throwback to her last episode? At least there wasn’t anything Star Trek related.
And if we were to get rid of cast members; I’d get rid of Dismukes, Heidi, Molly, Update Duo, Bowen, and Kenan.
I also want the show to do more Celebrity (Not Political) impressions and Press Conference/Meeting CO’s as opposed to one person talking to camera for 8ish minutes.
Then hire one writer for update and another from the cast to do Update. I miss when cast members did Update and sketches.
Thanks as always for the time you take with these reviews and your screen captures.
For the second week now, I’ve checked out of Update jokes enough to where I don’t know most of them until I read your reviews.
You say it all about the current cast. It’s a subject I often dance around because many, above all else the show, could interpret as wanting more “stars” and pining for Kate/Aidy/Cecily, which is how we get week after week of the same few people shoved at us (as you mentioned, endless Bowen and Heidi segments on Update while Andrew, who is not a “star,” is shut out two weeks running). They just do not work well together, and I don’t even think trimming the cast down would make a difference, because the processes that make for good cast cohesion are long broken.
It’s been a while since I was so frustrated by an episode, not in terms of thinking it was bad (it certainly wasn’t good, but no individual moment really left me in a sour mood), but at being incredibly disappointed at how poorly executed so many things were. I think you sum it up better than I could.
This felt like two distinct tracks for where the show is going wrong – the misguided nostalgia which tries to get back viewers who will never return, and the inability to appeal to current or future viewers who patiently sit through an incredibly clunky, insecure show.
At least Dakota was better served compared to her first episode (other than the luggage sketch I don’t think she was ever a negative part of the night, and she outshone several in the cast), and after what feels like years of complaining about the pre-tapes, the two that made it to air were much stronger and more focused than many of late. If only that could last.
I’d say Bowens’ Update commentary reminded me of Good Neighbor in general. The voice was all Kyle but the general conceptual vibes were more Beck.
Anyway, solid review. Glad you were able to enjoy this episode as a whole than I was. I agree with one of the previous commenters who said the problem with the cast is more how poorly they’re being used and the writing they’re being given (although Bowen, Heidi and Chloe F are past their sell by date and need to go and I’m a little higher on Marcello & Sarah than you are). I agree that the show needs to figure out how to better utilize JAJ and Chloe T as the new heart of the show.
Regarding Sarah, the lead sketch is such a shame because all her Squirm pieces have been cut this year (The one from the Bargetze episode and one with the Zit puppper she showed on Fallon) in favor of becoming more a part of the SNL machine that essentially is neutering anything actually unique or well written
Great review Blood, I find myself aligning with a lot of it while also wanting to push back on a couple things. In terms of the episode, in some ways it surprised me (there is something about Dakota Johnson’s anti-charisma that kind of works for me in a comedic sense) and in many ways it left a whole lot on the table (the Waiters and Book Club sketches seemed SO CLOSE to actually working, but the execution was off).
I liked the last little Devon feature piece. It was a funny mix of kind of a classic “trying to get a new character off the ground” SNL shittiness, but with an extra weird energy, partly thanks to Johnson, that really kind of worked for me. Plus, it’s just really great fun to see Devon grow as a performer. Count the small victories man. In a cast this off-putting, you need all the wins you can get.
I’ll also push back on the Longfellow complaints. I think that’s just his vibe. I’m down with it. I don’t think he’s a bad performer or seems checked out, he’s just dry as hell and I’m into it.
The complaints about the cast I get – I’ve recently caught myself in the realization that I’m not really crazy about the group. On an individual level, I love Andrew, JAJ and Ego and find it easy to root for Punkie and the featured players, but it is a weird mix of limited standups and more popular players who are unfortunately in their indulgence phase (Bowen and Heidi). Kenan is Kenan – neither good nor bad, just capable. Mikey feels like the discount version of far better performer. He’s like the captain of a sports team during its re-building era. Good vet, appreciate the leadership, but all the really good ones have left the team.
But all in all, I’m not too upset about it. This was a flawed episode, but it had some clear highlights and some promising near-misses with no outright stinkers. Hell, even the cold open was passable. While we complain about the cast alchemy, I would still note that, for me, we’ve only had a couple poor episodes. The show is batting roughly .800, with a couple great episodes and a handful of decent ones. That’s really not too shabby.
hi first time commenter. i thought this episode was pretty good, better than last week’s for sure.