I am currently working on my next writing; which is going to be a review of "Saturday Night Live"'s thirty-seventh season. It is taking me a little longer than I expected; henceforth, it should be up sometime after the holiday weekend. I apologize for the delay; but I want it to be a very good read.
So please stay tuned. My article will be up sometime next week. Trust me. It will be worth the wait.
Thank you all for following me and stay tuned for more Natert-Tainment!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.xom
Friday, May 25, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
All in all, a weak show
Well the 37th season has come to an end. And the finale could have been MUCH BETTER. Mick Jagger was a very good host; despite the fact that he was given very bad material.
The Lawrence Welk Show was nothing special. Jon Hamm's appearance was a nice surprise; and it was nice to see Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm on stage together for one more time. The performances were good but the sketch itself wasn't great.
Mick Jagger did a very good job with his monologue. I liked seeing him have the stage to himself. Even though he didn't perform a song, I was happy with it.
Secret Word was brought forward once again; and it was the same old thing. Kristen Wiig performed well once again as her character; but the writing was pretty stale. Mick Jagger gave a good performance and I was glad to see him play a character in a sketch.
The open mic sketch wasn't very funny. I got the joke right of Mick Jagger playing a character that is nervous about performing in front of a live audience. The comical renditions of The Rolling Stones' songs by Fred Armisen and Bobby Moynihan were alright; but the joke grew old fast. Mick Jagger handled himself very well; and his purposely bad singing at the end was funny. Other than that, this was a predictable sketch and could have been written A LOT better.
"Lazy Sunday II" was an interesting surprise; as it was nice to see a tribute to the digital short that made Samberg a star. It was very nice to see Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg together again; though the short itself wasn't as hilarious as the first one. Nevertheless, an alright tribute to Andy Samberg.
Kenan Thompson's Al Sharpton sketch wasn't funny at all. I've gotten very tired of Kenan this season; as most of his sketches haven't been great. This particular sketch featured weak writing and not many jokes, Mick Jagger did fine with the material he was given; but that's about it. In addition, Jason Sudeikis was practically given nothing to do. That's a big shame; considering that this could have been his final show.
Weekend Update wasn't entirely great. Seth Meyers had one or two good jokes; but other than that, his material was pretty much a miss. I'm really getting tire of him rushing through every joke in a desperate attempt to move the segment along in hopes of getting to the guest commentators or characters. Bill Hader once again played Stefon; but his given material was nowhere as good as some of his previous appearances. Bill Hader and Seth Meyers possess good chemistry; but I truly feel that the segment could have been funnier. I also am surprised that there wasn't any other commentaries on Weekend Update; but, even if there would have been, chances are the writing would have been bad. Thus, a weak final Weekend Update for the season.
The So You Think You Could Dance sketch was pretty weak. Bill Hader's Dave Matthews Impression wasn't funny or accurate; which is disappointing as usually his portrayals of celebrities are very good. Nasim Pedrad did a weak impression of Jewel as well and Fred Armisen's Santana portrayal was alright. I actually liked Mick Jagger's portrayal of Steven Tyler; though his allotted dialogue wasn't very funny. The dancing portions weren't very funny; and I felt they were pretty rushed. In all honesty, the whole sketch felt too short and the ending was very abrupt. Not a great sketch at all.
I have nothing to say about The Californians. The sketch wasn't funny the first time it took place during the Josh Brolin episode and it wasn't funny now. I felt terrible for the cast, Mick Jagger, and very surprise guest Steve Martin (what was he doing in that sketch???); as they were given such terrible material. I don't understand why Lorne Michaels wanted this sketch to come back. And I also wonder why Steve Martin would agree to make a guest appearance in this sketch anyway. I wish he would have been given a better sketch; perhaps one that starred him, Mick Jagger and Kristen Wiig. Now that could have been good. But no. The writers and Lorne decided to bring back a sketch that wasn't funny at all the first time it occurred. What a disappointment.
All of the evening's musical performances were very good. Mick Jagger is one of the world's best performers; and I enjoyed all his collaborations tonight. He sounded very good with Arcade Fire; but it was his performance with The Foo Fighters that made the night. The Foo Fighters are a GREAT rock band and they sounded great with Mick Jagger. Jeff Beck was also very good; and the combination of his guitarring with Mick Jagger's singing was great. Simply put, the musical performances tonight are probably tied with The Black Keys and Coldplay as being the best of the season.
The farewell sketch for Kristen Wiig was very nice and sweet. Mick Jagger singing "She's Like a Rainbow" fit perfectly with the farewell. I really liked seeing the castmembers dance with Kristen Wiig along with Lorne Michaels. You could tell they all enjoyed working with her these seven years and I'm really sad to see Kristen Wiig leave. She may have been given bad skits, but she is an adept performer. She has saved allot of sketches throughout her tenure as a castmember due to her great comedic skills and acting. I'm going to miss seeing her on the show and I wish her the best of luck.
I'm a little uncertain if this was Jason Sudeikis' final show. His small part in the Al Sharpton sketch and his introducing of Mick Jagger and The Foo Fighters was all he did tonight. If this was his last show, I'd be VERY DISAPPOINTED. Sudeikis was a great performer and, just like Kristen Wiig, he was able to save sketches thanks to his top-notch comedic skills. I have a small feeling that he will be back at the start of next season to play Mitt Romney in all the political sketches. And then after the debates and election sketches, he will formally leave. Other that that, I just don't know. I'm just disappointed that Jason Sudeikis didn't get to do all that much tonight for the season finale.
As for Andy Samberg, I have a feeling that this was it. Last week, he and his fellow Lonely Island cohorts got to celebrate their 100th digital short; and this week, he got to re-team with Chris Parnell once again for a follow-up to "Lazy Sunday." I don't think there is much more he could do; so I wouldn't be surprised if tonight was his last show as well. He was a good sketch comedy performer throughout his tenure on the show; but he wasn't as great as Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis. I will miss him a little he's not back next season; but I think it's time for him to move on.
And that's my review. I enjoyed live-blogging many of this season's episodes as well as reviewing other episodes. Sometime this week, I will be posting a review of the 2011-212 season on my blog for your reading enjoyment, I am looking forward to writing this; as I will be sharing my overall thoughts about the season as a whole.
Until then, thank you all for following me and stay tuned for more Nater-Tainment! Good night everybody!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
The Lawrence Welk Show was nothing special. Jon Hamm's appearance was a nice surprise; and it was nice to see Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm on stage together for one more time. The performances were good but the sketch itself wasn't great.
Mick Jagger did a very good job with his monologue. I liked seeing him have the stage to himself. Even though he didn't perform a song, I was happy with it.
Secret Word was brought forward once again; and it was the same old thing. Kristen Wiig performed well once again as her character; but the writing was pretty stale. Mick Jagger gave a good performance and I was glad to see him play a character in a sketch.
The open mic sketch wasn't very funny. I got the joke right of Mick Jagger playing a character that is nervous about performing in front of a live audience. The comical renditions of The Rolling Stones' songs by Fred Armisen and Bobby Moynihan were alright; but the joke grew old fast. Mick Jagger handled himself very well; and his purposely bad singing at the end was funny. Other than that, this was a predictable sketch and could have been written A LOT better.
"Lazy Sunday II" was an interesting surprise; as it was nice to see a tribute to the digital short that made Samberg a star. It was very nice to see Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg together again; though the short itself wasn't as hilarious as the first one. Nevertheless, an alright tribute to Andy Samberg.
Kenan Thompson's Al Sharpton sketch wasn't funny at all. I've gotten very tired of Kenan this season; as most of his sketches haven't been great. This particular sketch featured weak writing and not many jokes, Mick Jagger did fine with the material he was given; but that's about it. In addition, Jason Sudeikis was practically given nothing to do. That's a big shame; considering that this could have been his final show.
Weekend Update wasn't entirely great. Seth Meyers had one or two good jokes; but other than that, his material was pretty much a miss. I'm really getting tire of him rushing through every joke in a desperate attempt to move the segment along in hopes of getting to the guest commentators or characters. Bill Hader once again played Stefon; but his given material was nowhere as good as some of his previous appearances. Bill Hader and Seth Meyers possess good chemistry; but I truly feel that the segment could have been funnier. I also am surprised that there wasn't any other commentaries on Weekend Update; but, even if there would have been, chances are the writing would have been bad. Thus, a weak final Weekend Update for the season.
The So You Think You Could Dance sketch was pretty weak. Bill Hader's Dave Matthews Impression wasn't funny or accurate; which is disappointing as usually his portrayals of celebrities are very good. Nasim Pedrad did a weak impression of Jewel as well and Fred Armisen's Santana portrayal was alright. I actually liked Mick Jagger's portrayal of Steven Tyler; though his allotted dialogue wasn't very funny. The dancing portions weren't very funny; and I felt they were pretty rushed. In all honesty, the whole sketch felt too short and the ending was very abrupt. Not a great sketch at all.
I have nothing to say about The Californians. The sketch wasn't funny the first time it took place during the Josh Brolin episode and it wasn't funny now. I felt terrible for the cast, Mick Jagger, and very surprise guest Steve Martin (what was he doing in that sketch???); as they were given such terrible material. I don't understand why Lorne Michaels wanted this sketch to come back. And I also wonder why Steve Martin would agree to make a guest appearance in this sketch anyway. I wish he would have been given a better sketch; perhaps one that starred him, Mick Jagger and Kristen Wiig. Now that could have been good. But no. The writers and Lorne decided to bring back a sketch that wasn't funny at all the first time it occurred. What a disappointment.
All of the evening's musical performances were very good. Mick Jagger is one of the world's best performers; and I enjoyed all his collaborations tonight. He sounded very good with Arcade Fire; but it was his performance with The Foo Fighters that made the night. The Foo Fighters are a GREAT rock band and they sounded great with Mick Jagger. Jeff Beck was also very good; and the combination of his guitarring with Mick Jagger's singing was great. Simply put, the musical performances tonight are probably tied with The Black Keys and Coldplay as being the best of the season.
The farewell sketch for Kristen Wiig was very nice and sweet. Mick Jagger singing "She's Like a Rainbow" fit perfectly with the farewell. I really liked seeing the castmembers dance with Kristen Wiig along with Lorne Michaels. You could tell they all enjoyed working with her these seven years and I'm really sad to see Kristen Wiig leave. She may have been given bad skits, but she is an adept performer. She has saved allot of sketches throughout her tenure as a castmember due to her great comedic skills and acting. I'm going to miss seeing her on the show and I wish her the best of luck.
I'm a little uncertain if this was Jason Sudeikis' final show. His small part in the Al Sharpton sketch and his introducing of Mick Jagger and The Foo Fighters was all he did tonight. If this was his last show, I'd be VERY DISAPPOINTED. Sudeikis was a great performer and, just like Kristen Wiig, he was able to save sketches thanks to his top-notch comedic skills. I have a small feeling that he will be back at the start of next season to play Mitt Romney in all the political sketches. And then after the debates and election sketches, he will formally leave. Other that that, I just don't know. I'm just disappointed that Jason Sudeikis didn't get to do all that much tonight for the season finale.
As for Andy Samberg, I have a feeling that this was it. Last week, he and his fellow Lonely Island cohorts got to celebrate their 100th digital short; and this week, he got to re-team with Chris Parnell once again for a follow-up to "Lazy Sunday." I don't think there is much more he could do; so I wouldn't be surprised if tonight was his last show as well. He was a good sketch comedy performer throughout his tenure on the show; but he wasn't as great as Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis. I will miss him a little he's not back next season; but I think it's time for him to move on.
And that's my review. I enjoyed live-blogging many of this season's episodes as well as reviewing other episodes. Sometime this week, I will be posting a review of the 2011-212 season on my blog for your reading enjoyment, I am looking forward to writing this; as I will be sharing my overall thoughts about the season as a whole.
Until then, thank you all for following me and stay tuned for more Nater-Tainment! Good night everybody!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
The musical performances have been the best part of the show tonight
The sketches have all been very weak. The performances by Mick Jagger and the cast couldn't help anything. They were good but the writers just ruin everything due to their laziness in creating jokes
I guess they';ll just be one more musical performance tonight
Since that might be all they have time for.
WHAT THE HECK IS STEVE MARTIN DOING IN THIS SKETCH????
Couldn't he had been given a better sketch to be in? What a waste!!!!
The writing is TERRIBLE in this sketcg
This isn't funny at all. I feel bad for Mick Jagger and the cast for being in this terrible sketch
They' brought back The Californians????
This sketch wasn't funny the first time they did it when Josh Brolin hosted.
I think that the musical pervformances have been the best part of the show so far tonight
TAside from the performances given by Mick Jagger and Kristen Wiig; the skits have been pretty lackluster tonight.
Now they're performing "I Know it's Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It")
This performance is even better than his one with Arcade Fire. The Foo Fighters are REALLY good performers.
This is a GREAT performance of "19th Nervous Breakdown"
Mick Jagger and The Foo Fighters sound GREAT together!
Another musical performance coming up
They are obviously trying to cram A LOT of skits and performances into tonight's show
Mick Jagger has been doing very well tonight
But it's more-than-clear that the writers rushed the putting together of this show.
Bill Hader's Stefon!
I should have predicted an appearance by this character. Hader always performs well as this character; but it's almost always the same thing every time he does this character
It just seems to me that Seth Meyers is just rushing through Update now
His jokes aren't that hilarious
Mick Jagger is a GREAT performer!
And he's singing "This May Be The Last Time;" a very good song. He's one of the best musicians of our time
Not an entirely funny show so far
Mick Jagger is performing very well in sketches. But the writing, once again, is lazy and not very humorous at all
Kenan is just not very funny as Rev. Al Sharpton
He isn't a very good impressionist.
That wasn't a great sketch at all
That wasn't a great sketch at all
I'm happy to see Mick Jagger being involved with sketches.
I thought that he would just be performing songs. This isn't a very funny sketch. Fred Armisen's Michael Bloomberg impression is very weak.
Good to see Chris Parnell again
If this is Samberg's last show, this is a good send-off for him. But it isn't as fuinny as the original sadly
Now he's purposely performing a poor rendition of "Satisfaction"
Nick Jagger is doing very well in this sketch but the writing isn't very funny
Could this not be a reoccurring sketch
Good to see Mick Jagger in another sketch. Is this going to feature a whole bunch of Rolling Stones covers?
I have a feeling that the writers are going to stuff the show with many short skits
So there's time for more musical performances
That was the whoke skit?
That went too fast and it could have been better. I also wish that Mick Jagger would have done more
Kristen Wiig always does well when playing this character
But this sketch usually follows the same format each time it's done
Really early commercial break
And Secret Word is coming up. Third time it will have been done this season
I'm a little disappointed that he didn't perform a song during his monologue
Decent monologue otherwise
They are definitely going to be going all out tonight
Which just leads me to think this might be Kristen Wiig's last show
It's Almost That Time
In just over ninety minutes, my live-blogging coverage of tonight's Season Finale of "Saturday Night Live" will begin. Throughout the show, I will be commenting on all the performances of the cast, Mick Jagger, and the show's other musical acts: The Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, and Jeff beck. I will also be commenting on any surprises that take place during the show; which will most likely center on any special guests that appear during the show.
So be sure to keep refreshing your screens so you can see my latest updates. Please feel free to post your own thoughts by clicking the "comment" link underneath my posts. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
So get ready. This is the final episode of SNL's 37th season. Let's make tonight exciting. Thank you all for following me and I'll see you at 11:30pm!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
So be sure to keep refreshing your screens so you can see my latest updates. Please feel free to post your own thoughts by clicking the "comment" link underneath my posts. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
So get ready. This is the final episode of SNL's 37th season. Let's make tonight exciting. Thank you all for following me and I'll see you at 11:30pm!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
A "That's Nater-Tainment" Mini-Writing: My Thoughts Regarding Tonight's Season Finale of "Saturday Night Live"
Tonight is the Season Finale for the current 2011-2012 year. Rolling Stones' Frontman Mick Jagger is serving as the evening's host and musical guest. Along for the ride are The Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, and Jeff Beck; who will be performing with Jagger at different times during the night. In addition, there are several unconfirmed rumors that tonight will be the final show for Jason Sudeikis (who joined the cast in May 2005), as well as Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig; both of whom joined the cast during the show's Thirty-First Season. Henceforth, tonight could make for a very special episode. To mark tonight's episode, I thought I'd make some logical guesses for tonight's broadcast. So, without further ado, I now present my:
Predictions as to What I could See Take Place During Tonight's Season Finale of “Saturday Night Live”
- A parody of the fourth hour of “Today.” Since this is rumored to be Kristen Wiig's final episode, I wouldn't be surprised to see her impression of Kathy Lee Gifford tonight. What's more, I could see the real Kathy Lee Gifford make a surprise appearance. “Saturday night Live” has a habit of having a castmember perform their impression alongside the actual celebrity for a long time now; so I wouldn't be surprised if Gifford makes a surprise appearance. And, if it turns out that tonight is not Kristen Wiig's final show, I could still see Kathy Lee Gifford showing up; considering that it is the season finale anyway.
- Since this is also rumored to be Andy Samberg's final season, I am guessing there will be some reference to his most famous digital short “Lazy Sunday.” Perhaps Former Castmember Chris Parnell could show up for a live performance of the song. And with The Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, and Jeff Beck as well as Mick Jagger in the building, maybe some or all of them could join in the performance. This could serve as a great farewell to Andy Samberg, if he is indeed leaving the show after tonight, and it would be a memorable addition to the show.
- In addition, since this is also rumored to be Jason Sudeikis' final episode as a castmember, I wouldn't be surprised if he does his impression of Sen. Gov. Mitt Romney one more time. I always like his earnest impression of the 2012 Republican Nominee and it would be appropriate for Jason Sudeikis to open the show. However, I wouldn't be surprised if he stays for the first few episodes of the 2012-2013 season; just so he can portray Gov. Romney for all the debate sketches in the fall. Nevertheless, I am predicting that Sudeikis will portray the presidential candidate at either the start of the show or sometime later on during the night.
- This does have to do with Jason Sudeiks, Kristen Wiig, or Andy Samberg; but, I could see the surfacing of Featured Player Taran Killam's breakout sketch “Les Junes De Paris.” Since his well-known sketch has proven to be experimental with different genres of music, as the previous installment in Zooey Decshanel's episode featured music akin to the time period of “The Artist”, and that the sketch proved to be tribute to the film as well, I wouldn't be surprised if a sampling of Mick Jagger's music was provided for the segment. In addition, seeing as this could be an episode for which “Saturday Night Live” might choose to make extra special (seeing as it is the season finale), I could see a cameo by either Deschanel or Emma Stone; the latter of whom has been in this sketch twice. Henceforth, I could see a new edition of “Les Junes De Paris” take place at some point during the night.
- Finally, and once again if this is her last episode,I could see a big farewell sketch dedicated to Kristen Wiig; during which everyone shares memories of performing alongside her throughout these past seven years. They did a sketch like this during the Twenty-Seventh season finale in 2002 when Will Ferrell left; and seeing as she has accomplished a lot during her tenure on “Saturday Night Live;” I could definitely see a sketch like this take place. In addition, there could also be cameos by Former Castmembers Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph; both of whom have starred in sketches alongside Kristen Wiig. Perhaps even previous hosts like Jon Hamm, Justin Timberlake, and Melissa McCarthy could appear as well to share their memories. I only say this because Kristen Wiig has been a big part of “Saturday Night Live” and has proven to be the most talented female castmember on the show for the past 3-4 years due to her great comedic timing and keen acting skills. “Saturday Night Live” is truly going to lose A LOT of its comedy when Wiig leaves/.
So there you go. I predict that these listed scenarios will take place during the evening. And throughout the whole show, I will be commenting on the performances and writing as well as anything else that comes to mind. And following the broadcast, I will have a review posted on my blog for you to read. In addition, sometime during the week, I will have a serious review of the 2011-2012 season available as well; complete with my full opinions on what the show will be like in the event that Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis, and Andy Samberg leave. Needless to say, it will feel like a completely different show.
So be sure to have your televisions set to NBC by 11:30pm and have my blog on your computers,. Be sure to keep refreshing your screens so you can see my latest updates. Please feel free to post your thoughts underneath any of remarks by clicking the “comment” link underneath my comments.
So thank you all and I'll see you at 11:30pm!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Friday, May 18, 2012
A Reminder About Tomorrow Night
Tomorrow night beginning at 11:30pm, I will be live-blogging the Season Finale of "Saturday Night Live;" which will be hosted by Rock and Roll Legend Mick Jagger; who will perform with The Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, and Jeff Beck. Throughout the broadcast, I will be commenting on all the sketches, performances by the cast, Mick Jagger, and the other performing artists. Since this will be the season finale, expect my coverage to be VERY critical; as there will be no more new episodes until Season Thirty-Eight starts in September.
Before the show, I will be posting some quick predictions as to what sketches could possibly take place during the show. Since this is the season finale, as well as it being rumored to be the final episode for Castmembers Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis, and Kristen Wiig, I am guessing we'll be seeing some of their most well-known sketches throughout the night.
So be sure you have your televisions set to NBC tomorrow night by 11:30pm and have my blog on your computers. Be sure to keep refreshing your screens in order to see my latest updates. Feel free to opine on any of my comments by clicking the "comment" link underneath my posts. Your feedback is very important.
So thank you all and stay tuned for more Nater-Tainment!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Before the show, I will be posting some quick predictions as to what sketches could possibly take place during the show. Since this is the season finale, as well as it being rumored to be the final episode for Castmembers Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis, and Kristen Wiig, I am guessing we'll be seeing some of their most well-known sketches throughout the night.
So be sure you have your televisions set to NBC tomorrow night by 11:30pm and have my blog on your computers. Be sure to keep refreshing your screens in order to see my latest updates. Feel free to opine on any of my comments by clicking the "comment" link underneath my posts. Your feedback is very important.
So thank you all and stay tuned for more Nater-Tainment!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
A "That's Nater-Tainment" Special Article: A Critique of Will Ferrell's Return to "Saturday Night Live" on May 12, 2012
The following is a review of the sketches and performances that took place when Will Ferrell hosted "Saturday Night Live" this past Saturday. I was very excited to see Former Catmember Will Ferrell host "Saturday Night Live" for his third time. His last appearance on May 16th, 2009 was incredible; as it featured a tremendous installment of "Celebrity Jeopardy" that featured guest appearances by Tom Hanks, playing a clueless version of himself, as well as Norm Mac Donald; who reprised his hilarious portrayal of Burt Reynolds. The show also featured a star-studded performance of Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon;" which featured appearances Anne Hathaway, Paul Rudd, and Elizabeth Moss. I was truly hoping for this past week's episode to be completely memorable. Unfortunately, this was not the case; as most of the sketches were lazily-written or rehashed. In other words, this episode was a complete letdown. Fortunately, Ferrell provided many good performances throughout the show; therefore slightly improving the quality of the show. Thus, I can say without hesitation:
Will Ferrell's Return to "Saturday Night Live" This Past Weekend was Strongly Marred by the Show's Inadequate Writing.
For the show's cold opening, Castmember Fred Armisen portrayed President Barack Obama; who visits Vice President Joe Biden, played by fellow castmember Jason Sudeikis, who was upset over all the attention the Commander in Chief was receiving over his declaration of support for same-sex marriage. Throughout their interactions, Sudeikis' Biden was seen playing with trains and behaving in the style of a young boy. The dynamic between Armisen's Obama and Sudeikis' Biden resembled a typical father-son relationship; complete with the latter pouting and not paying complete attention to his superior. Jason sudeikis' Joe Biden impression is always hilarious; and I'm glad we got to see it possibly one more time before the season ends. Fred Armisen, meanwhile, once again brought us his ineffective portrayal of President Barack Obama; and fortunately, it wasn't the main focus of the sketch. As the opening progressed, Sudeikis' Joe Biden said that he wanted to hang out with his imaginary friend “George;” who, after emerging from the closet following the departure of Armisen's Obama, turned out to be Former President George W. Bush; played once again by Former Castmember and the evening's host, Will Ferrell. Ferrell's impression of the Former Commander-In-Chief is always great; and I'm so happy to see him portray him once again. Will Ferrell and Jason Sudeikis possessed great chemistry; and their interactions were amusing. Will Ferrell's enthusiastic performance was great and I was very happy to see him open the show.
For his monologue, Will Ferrell brought out his actual mother to wish her a Happy Mother's Day. And, in order to make his greeting completely genuine, Ferrell told the cue card handler to drop the cards and let him speak on his own. The result was a greeting that was completely all over the place. I got a chuckle out of Ferrell insulting the piano player when the given background music started getting too loud; but the segment could have been a little more humorous. But I'm glad that Ferrell got to do his own monologue without any interruptions from the cast; as they have done those types of monologues a lot this season, All in all, a decent monologue and a welcome return by Will Ferrell.
The first official sketch of the show featured the return of Middle School music teachers Marty Culp, played by Will Ferrell, and Bobbi Mohan-Culp; played by Returning Castmember Ana Gasteyer. Ferrel and Gasteyer used to portray these characters when they in the cast together from 1996 up to 2002. This time, their characters were filling in for a Lady Gaga impersonator at a LGBT prom. I never really minded these sketches; mainly because the earnest performances of Ferrell and Gasteyer made-up for the fact that the basic set-up of these sketches followed the same pattern during each installment. And every one of these sketches basically featured the two characters performing a medley of popular songs of the time period; and tonight's sketch was no exception. I did get a strong laugh out of Ferrell and Gasteyer performing exnthusiastic renditions of Nikki Minaj's “Superbass” and LMFAO's “I'm Sexy and I Know It.” In all honesty, I was surprised that , out of all Ferrell's reoccurring sketches, they bought this one back tonight. Perhaps Former Castmember Darrell Hammond was unavailable to partake in a new installment of “Celebrity Jeopardy.” Nevertheless, Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer gave strong performances; but I turly would have liked to see a more special sketch following the first commercial break.
Following this sketch, we got to witness the return of yje reoccurring ESPN Classic sketches. For this installment, Jason Sudeikis' sportscaster Pete Twinkle was joined by his fellow reporter Greg Stink, played by Returning Former Castmember Will Forte in a surprise appearance, were covering a Woman's Golf Championship. The sketch was apparently meant to take place in 1994; right when OJ Simpson's infamous car chase was taking place, Sudeiks' and Forte's characters would constantly switch from their coverage to a news reporter, played by Will Ferrell, who seemed less-than-interested in the whole affair. These ESPN Classic sketches have been executed four times during the 2009-2010 season as well as in April 2011. Jasoon Sudeikis and Will Forte demonstrated keen chemistry throughout the sketch; and the latter's over-enthusiastic performance provided some good laughs. However, the constant references to maxipads went on a bit too long; though Sudeikis' performance did improve the sketch a bit as well. In addition, I was greatly disappointed to see that Ferrell was barley used at all during the sketch; and he only got the opportunity to deliver a few comical lines. I really wished he got to do more during the sketch; but alas, this wasn't the case. And as the rest of the show unfolded, it saddened me to witness Will Ferrell only contribute supporting roles in the sketches.
The evening's digital short followed next; and it happened to be the 100th pre-filmed segment created by Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island co-horts Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaeffer. Only in this case, the latter was portrayed by Justin Beiber for a majority of the sketch-- which I found to be slightly strange. Throughout the piece, the trio sang about many of the shorts that have aired since they began airing on “Saturday Night Live” in 2005. We got to see the return of some characters that have appeared in the shorts; such as Jon Hamm's under-wearing, saxophone-playing Sergio, Kristen Wiig's body-fuzion lady, and “Crazy” Natalie Portman. We even got to see Andy Samberg and Special Guest Justin Timberlake bring back their R & B singers who were famous for their special boxes. It was pretty impressive to see the referencing to many previous shorts and characters; but the excessive self-pleasuring jokes were very inappropriate and grew old very fast. Will Ferrell as well as the evening's musical guest Usher made small appearances during the short; but I truly with that our host for the evening got more to do. Nevertheless, it was a creative short and it shows just how much The Lonely Island have contributed to “Saturday Night Live” for the past seven years. I do think, however, that this piece should have been saved for next week's season finale; considering the fact that it's rumored to be Andy Samberg's final show.
The evening's edition of “Weekend Update” proved to be very unmemorable. None of Seth Meyers' jokes were funny at all and his “Really” segment concerning Time Magazine's breast-feeding cover appeared forced. Seth Meyers' performance seemed rushed throughout the segment ; as were previous editions this season. He just seems to be phoning in his recitals week after week now. We also got “treated” to another edition of “Get in the Cage;” in Which Andy Samberg impersonates Nicholas Cage and interviews a different celebrity about their soon-to-be-released film. This time, Liam Neeson appeared to promote the May 18th release of “Battleship.” Samberg and Neeson didn't seem to possess great chemistry and the latter wasn't very humorous at all, In all honesty, Samberg should have stopped doing this segment after doing it with the real Nicholas Cage this past February. In short terms, this whole edition of “Weekend Update” wasn't very enjoyable and the mere fact that Will Ferrell didn't appear at all didn't help at all. All in all, a major disappoint and I'm hoping thatnext week is much better; as it will be the season finale.
The next two sketches turned out to be very disappointing as well. The first was a vignette entitled “The 2012 Funkytown Debates;” which featured Will Ferrell and Castmember Kenan Thompson portraying two 70's-era characters that were outlining their political views and goals in a manner reflective of the time period. Will Ferrell portrayed Captain Catfish; who went on to introduce the members of his political cabinet; which were played by various members of the cast as well as Musical Guest Usher. Ferrell did his best to save the sketch; but unfortunately, not much could have been done. Kenan Thompson's Doctor Silky Delicious just appeared to be a variant of his “What Up With That” character and his overall performance just came off as annoying. Even Featured Player Taran Killam, who portrayed the moderator of the debate, couldn't improve the quality of the segment. This is a very big shame; considering the fact that he's had a great season so far and has proven to be a truly versatile performer; just like Will Ferrell himself. All in all a, a very lackluster sketch.
The next sketch proved to be even more disappointing. The segment, entitled “Broadway Sizzle,” starred Castmembers Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader as two theater veterans that were auditioning performers. Both Wiig and Hader had nothing to work with; as their dialogue wasn't funny At all the sketch seemed to be hastily put together. Will Ferrel portrayed an aspiring singer who kept mistakenly performing songs that were meant to be crooned by women, Despite Ferrell's admirable performance, the sketch itself could not be saved. Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, and Will Ferrell are great performers, and to see them given weak material is very disappointing. Simply put, it seems as if the writers of “Saturday Night Live” just don't care who hosts the show anymore. They just want to get paid for their work. That is completely saddening;as the writers of this show used to care about making audiences laugh. There's hardly any genuine effort on their part to make the sketches completely hilarious. They are just relying on the cast and the show's host to make things better just by bestowing their performances to the viewers. I could go into more detail about this topic; but I'll save it for my end-of-the-season review.
The final sketch of the night wasn't entirely great. Jason Sudeikis played a son who was commemorating his parents' 25th wedding anniversary. However, he kept getting interrupted by various distant cousins and strangers who also prepared toasts of their own. This sketch was actually first done in December 2008 when Hugh Laurie hosted as well as on May 16, 2009 when Will Ferrell last emceed the programs. Some of the toasts were amusing; particularly the one turned in by Ferrell's character; who was meant to be a psychic-for-hire and promoted his services to those in attendance. Taran Killam also provided some comedy as an aspiring model who wanted to create awareness about himself. Other that that, Fred Armisen, Kristen Wiig, and Bobby Moynihan portrayed characters they did in previous installments of the sketch; but their performances alone weren't enough to improve the lackluster writing. Even Will forte, who brought back his blond-haired, sun-glassed creep Hamilton wasn't able to salvage things, Jason Sudeikis did a good job as the sketch's designated straightman; though his performance slightly mirrored those he has given in previous incarnations of this sketch. All in all, a very disappointing ending to a very disappointing episode.
As this episode came to an end, I shook my head in a state of serious disapproval. This was the best the writers could come up with for Will Ferrell; who spent seven years at “Saturday Night Live” and bestowed many memorable performances throughout his tenure? Why wasn't he the focus of many of the sketches? Why, aside from George W. Bush and Marty Culp, didn't Ferrell get to reprise any of his popular characters and sketches? Why didn't he get to reprise his dead-on impression of James Lipton for a surely hilarious and memorable spoof of “Inside the Actors' Studio”? Where was Former Castmember Cheri Oteri for a possible return of the Spartan Cheerleaders or the reprisal of the early-morning talk-show spoof “Morning Latte”? I would have even welcomed the return of Fellow Former Castmember Chris Kattan for a resurfacing of the head-bopping Roxbury Guys. Aside from the return of Ana Gasteyer, there wasn't a single appearance of anyone from Will Ferrell's cast. Why couldn't the show go all out for him like it did when Jimmy Fallon hosted this past December? That episode we got to see the returns of many former castmembers: Amy Poehler, Rachael Dratch, Tina Fey, Horatio Sanz,
Tracy Morgan, and even Kattan. What's Lorne Michaels' problem? This episode could have been the best show of the season. But no. We got a rushed and sloppily-put together episode with Will Ferrell hardly getting to demonstrate plenty of his trademark comedy. Chalk this episode up as being the most disappointing episode of the season.
And that's my review. I'm looking forward to live-blogging this week's season finale; which will be hosted by Mick Jagger-- who is also serving as the show's musical guest; along with The Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, and Jeff Beck. Hopefully we get a halfway-decent finale to a truly imperfect season. See you then!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Saturday, May 5, 2012
All in all, not an entirely great show
Eli Manning did an alright job as the show's host. But he appeared very stiff during the night. He interacted well with the cast but I also feel that he wasn't given very funny material.
The Fox and Friends opening seemed ro possess humor that's been previously done before in past instalments. Nevertheless the performances were good and I liked Jason Sudeikis' impression of Rupert Murdoch.
Eli Manning's monologue started out alright; but then it just dived into typical questions-from-the-audience scenario. What's more, the idea of Eli Manning not knowning much about New York City has been done with previous hosts. Not an original opening at all.
The green sketch was alright but the joke of Eli Manning not conducting himself properly during the shoot grew old. I liked the sight of him wearing the corny motion-capture outfit; but unfortunately, his bodily motions grew pretty old. Though I do have to admit that the idea of him dribbling a ball was actually humorous. In addition, Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis were very funny as the hapless production staff. And Kenan Thompsons's and Andy Samberg's quick appearances were funny as well. IAll in all, not a terrible sketch; but it could have been funnier.
The courtroom sketch was alright; but Eli Manning's performance wasn't that great. He appeared very stiff and his delivery seemed a little restrained. Jason Sudeikis' performance as the lawyer was very good; and the manner in which he read the text message's of Manning's character was very funny. I did chuckle at Manning's coy childish laughter and his first facial expression. But other than that, I didn't find his performance that entirely memorable.
Bill Hader once again brought us his elderly news reporter character Herb Welsh; but unfortunately, the sketch was very rushed as well as very formulaic. Though Hader performed well, his constant hitting people with his microphone has gotten old. What's more, the concept of his character dying and coming back to life has been done everytime this sketch has been done; and thus, there is no surprise at all. This reoccurring sketch has to have its format changed. Otherwise, it's time to retire this sketch.
Weekend Update was a mixed bag. Seth's jokes weren't very funny and he seemed to be in a rush to get the segment over with. Kristen Wiig did a decent job portraying an over-tanned mother; but the writing wasn't great.
I got a good laugh seeing Sacha Baron Cohen make a surprise appearance as his character from his upcoming movie "The Dictator." And when Martin Scorsece came out, I was further surprised. Both Baron Cohen and Scirsese interacted well together. I liked seeing him poke fun at "Hugo;" as I read that Baron Cohen appeared in the movie. All in all, it was an interesting and unexpected segment.
The game show sketch was alright; but the jokes in the sketch grew old fast. Abby Elliot did a fine job portraying the host; but her anger towards her boyfriend, played by Eli Manning, became slightly redundant. Bill Hader was also very funny as an over-jovial contestant; and his delivery was very humorous. I wish that he got to be in the sketch longer. I also feel that Eli Manning came off as very stiff in the sketch; and he seemed to deliver his lines in a very awkward manner. All in all, not a great sketch, but it wasn't very terrible.
The sketch featuring a Swedish version of Chelsea Handler's talk show wasn't very humorous either. It was just an excuse for the castmembers to portray Swedish versions of some minor celebrities. The performances, however, were very good; except for Eli Manning's. He seemed stiff in this sketch as well and his mock-Swedish accent wasn't humorous at all-- unlike Taran Killiam's; whose portrayal of a Swedish version of Andy Cohen was very funny. Dinally, it was nice to see Featured Player Kate McKannon get the lead role in the sketch as the Swedish version of Chelsea Handler. She carried the sketch well and she exhibited good acting. All in all, not a terrible sketch. It had good performances but not a lot of hilarious moments.
I have nothing to say abot the Drag Queen sketch. It was just an excise for male castmembers and Eli Manning to dress up in women's clothing. Eli Manning's outbursts grew very annoying and the sketch just dragged. Just a poor sketch.
The TCM Essentails sketch was alright. I always like Jason Sudeikis' cheerful impression of host Robert Osborne and the subject of Cheech and Chong films was interesting. Fred Armisen and Bill Hader portrayed Cheech and Chong very finely. Eli Manning was alright; though the joke about him always getting out of the car and leaving the film in the half-way mark grew a tad old. Though the ending I must say was funny. Jason Sudeikis' Robert Osborne smoking the marijuana joint and saying how Eli Manning's character changed his name to Mitt Romney was funny. This was an okay sketch as well as an alright way to end the night.
In short terms, this wasn't a terrible show; but it wasn't the best show of the season. I'm surprised that Peyton Manning didn't appear during the night at all; but that's alright. I wish that Eli Manning was given more funny stuff to do and say; and he came off as being very stiff during a lot of the show. I blame the writers for not using him properly.
As for Rhianna, her performances weren't at all special. Her songs were forgettable and her melodies weren't catchy at all. Her performances just weren't memorable at all.
And that's the show. I'm looking forward to seeing Will Ferrell host next week. His last show was very good and I have a feeling that the writers won't give him bad material at all. Because let's face it. He's Will Ferrell.
Thanks for following me tonight and I look forward to posting my next review.
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
The Fox and Friends opening seemed ro possess humor that's been previously done before in past instalments. Nevertheless the performances were good and I liked Jason Sudeikis' impression of Rupert Murdoch.
Eli Manning's monologue started out alright; but then it just dived into typical questions-from-the-audience scenario. What's more, the idea of Eli Manning not knowning much about New York City has been done with previous hosts. Not an original opening at all.
The green sketch was alright but the joke of Eli Manning not conducting himself properly during the shoot grew old. I liked the sight of him wearing the corny motion-capture outfit; but unfortunately, his bodily motions grew pretty old. Though I do have to admit that the idea of him dribbling a ball was actually humorous. In addition, Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis were very funny as the hapless production staff. And Kenan Thompsons's and Andy Samberg's quick appearances were funny as well. IAll in all, not a terrible sketch; but it could have been funnier.
The courtroom sketch was alright; but Eli Manning's performance wasn't that great. He appeared very stiff and his delivery seemed a little restrained. Jason Sudeikis' performance as the lawyer was very good; and the manner in which he read the text message's of Manning's character was very funny. I did chuckle at Manning's coy childish laughter and his first facial expression. But other than that, I didn't find his performance that entirely memorable.
Bill Hader once again brought us his elderly news reporter character Herb Welsh; but unfortunately, the sketch was very rushed as well as very formulaic. Though Hader performed well, his constant hitting people with his microphone has gotten old. What's more, the concept of his character dying and coming back to life has been done everytime this sketch has been done; and thus, there is no surprise at all. This reoccurring sketch has to have its format changed. Otherwise, it's time to retire this sketch.
Weekend Update was a mixed bag. Seth's jokes weren't very funny and he seemed to be in a rush to get the segment over with. Kristen Wiig did a decent job portraying an over-tanned mother; but the writing wasn't great.
I got a good laugh seeing Sacha Baron Cohen make a surprise appearance as his character from his upcoming movie "The Dictator." And when Martin Scorsece came out, I was further surprised. Both Baron Cohen and Scirsese interacted well together. I liked seeing him poke fun at "Hugo;" as I read that Baron Cohen appeared in the movie. All in all, it was an interesting and unexpected segment.
The game show sketch was alright; but the jokes in the sketch grew old fast. Abby Elliot did a fine job portraying the host; but her anger towards her boyfriend, played by Eli Manning, became slightly redundant. Bill Hader was also very funny as an over-jovial contestant; and his delivery was very humorous. I wish that he got to be in the sketch longer. I also feel that Eli Manning came off as very stiff in the sketch; and he seemed to deliver his lines in a very awkward manner. All in all, not a great sketch, but it wasn't very terrible.
The sketch featuring a Swedish version of Chelsea Handler's talk show wasn't very humorous either. It was just an excuse for the castmembers to portray Swedish versions of some minor celebrities. The performances, however, were very good; except for Eli Manning's. He seemed stiff in this sketch as well and his mock-Swedish accent wasn't humorous at all-- unlike Taran Killiam's; whose portrayal of a Swedish version of Andy Cohen was very funny. Dinally, it was nice to see Featured Player Kate McKannon get the lead role in the sketch as the Swedish version of Chelsea Handler. She carried the sketch well and she exhibited good acting. All in all, not a terrible sketch. It had good performances but not a lot of hilarious moments.
I have nothing to say abot the Drag Queen sketch. It was just an excise for male castmembers and Eli Manning to dress up in women's clothing. Eli Manning's outbursts grew very annoying and the sketch just dragged. Just a poor sketch.
The TCM Essentails sketch was alright. I always like Jason Sudeikis' cheerful impression of host Robert Osborne and the subject of Cheech and Chong films was interesting. Fred Armisen and Bill Hader portrayed Cheech and Chong very finely. Eli Manning was alright; though the joke about him always getting out of the car and leaving the film in the half-way mark grew a tad old. Though the ending I must say was funny. Jason Sudeikis' Robert Osborne smoking the marijuana joint and saying how Eli Manning's character changed his name to Mitt Romney was funny. This was an okay sketch as well as an alright way to end the night.
In short terms, this wasn't a terrible show; but it wasn't the best show of the season. I'm surprised that Peyton Manning didn't appear during the night at all; but that's alright. I wish that Eli Manning was given more funny stuff to do and say; and he came off as being very stiff during a lot of the show. I blame the writers for not using him properly.
As for Rhianna, her performances weren't at all special. Her songs were forgettable and her melodies weren't catchy at all. Her performances just weren't memorable at all.
And that's the show. I'm looking forward to seeing Will Ferrell host next week. His last show was very good and I have a feeling that the writers won't give him bad material at all. Because let's face it. He's Will Ferrell.
Thanks for following me tonight and I look forward to posting my next review.
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Cheech and Chong parodyFred Armisen and Bill Hader's impressions are okay
But Eli Manning wasn't very funny as his straight-faced character. The joke of Manning's character leaving during the film clips isn't that humorous. That was a veru rushed ending. Though the Mitt Romney joke was actually funny
This song isn't that grear. In fact, it sounds very repettative
I feel that Rhianna's performances tonight just aren't that particularly catchy or exciting.
That was an abrupt ending to her song
That was an abrupt ending to her song
A Swedish version of Chease Handler
I see. Everyone's basically portraying a Swedisj version of a celebrity. And Swedish versions of the Kardashians. This isn't a very funny sketch. The joke is that everyone is doing mock-Swedish accents.
And Eli Manning portraying a Swedish version of himself. This isn't very funny at all. The joke has gotten old.
And Eli Manning portraying a Swedish version of himself. This isn't very funny at all. The joke has gotten old.
Abby Elliot is giving a decent performance
But her material isn't that great. Bill Hader was the only truly funny perfon in that sketch
Bill Hader's good in this sketch though
He's always aable to save a sketch just by his performance and delivery
It's good to see Abby Elliot star in a sketch
But this segment isn't very funny. Eli Manning seems a little stiff in this sketch
I wasn't expecting to see him tonight
Wow!!! I'm looking forward to seeing his new movie. AND MARTING SCORCESE!!!!
Good to see Kristen Wiig on Update again
She's giving a good performance. Her acting is saving the bit; as the writing isn't that spectacular
Not so great jokes so far
The jokes seem rather forced tonight. In addition, it seems as if Seth is rushing through the jokes as well
Everytime they do this sketch, it ends the same way
with Hader's character assumed to be dead but then coming back to life. It isn't unpredictable anymore. In addition, that sketch seemed very rushed and devoid of much unexpected jokes.
I wish that they would have Bill Hader's Herb Welch meet an equally-elderly news reporter for a sketch
That way, they would be changing up the sketch in another manner.
Bill Hader's Kerb Welsh character
This sketch basically follows the same format everytime. His performance is always good though
That was a funny visual joke
Eli Manning is doing alright with the material but it is Jason Sudeikis that is giving the better performance
That was a strange ending
Will Ferrell is a GREAT choice to host the second-to-last episod4e of the season, His season finale episode in 2009 was AMAZING!!!!!!
Typical question-answer monologue
This type of monologue is kind of old by now. And the joke of Eli Manning not truly knowing a lot about New York City isn't that original either. I've seen previous monologue like this before
I like Jason Sudeikis' Rupert Murdoch impression
He's always good. Though the writing isn't very funny
It's Almost That Time
In just over an hour-and-a-half, my live coverage of tonight's "Saturday Night Live" will begin. I'm looking forward to blogging tonight's show and I'm hoping it's a funny episode, The writers and cast had some good time off and now they only have three more episodes to put together before the 2011-2012 season comes to an end.
I'll be commenting on the sketches, performances, and anything else that;s worth mentioning. I'll also be opining on Eli Manning's performance as the show's host and how he's interacting with the cast. I'm hoping he does a good job as I've read that he's excited to be hosting the show. I'm wondering if his brother Peyton Manning, who previously hosted the show in April 2007, will make a cameo appearance. It would be interesting to see him make an appearance during a sketch or even the monologue; allowing him to engage in comic banter with his brother.
So be sure to have your televisions set to NBC by 11:30pm and have my blog set on your computers. Please feel free to comment on any of my posts as your feedback is very important, I'm looking forward to covering the show as well as hearing your thoughts. I'm hoping tonight tonight's show will be very exciting!
Thank you all for following me and I'll see you at 11:30pm!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
I'll be commenting on the sketches, performances, and anything else that;s worth mentioning. I'll also be opining on Eli Manning's performance as the show's host and how he's interacting with the cast. I'm hoping he does a good job as I've read that he's excited to be hosting the show. I'm wondering if his brother Peyton Manning, who previously hosted the show in April 2007, will make a cameo appearance. It would be interesting to see him make an appearance during a sketch or even the monologue; allowing him to engage in comic banter with his brother.
So be sure to have your televisions set to NBC by 11:30pm and have my blog set on your computers. Please feel free to comment on any of my posts as your feedback is very important, I'm looking forward to covering the show as well as hearing your thoughts. I'm hoping tonight tonight's show will be very exciting!
Thank you all for following me and I'll see you at 11:30pm!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Tonight I'll be Live-Blogging "Saturday Night Live"!
Beginning right at 11:30pm, I'll be covering tonight's episode of "Saturday Night Live;" which is being hosted by Professional Football Player Eli Manning. Joing Manning as the show's musical guest is Rhianna; who is performing on the show for the third time. I'm looking forward to this evening's episode; mainly due to the fact that this week's show is the first in the final set of episodes for the season.
Throughout the show, I'll be posting my opinions on the performances, writing, and anything else that comes to mind during the evening. And feel free to post your own thoughts underneath my posts; as your feedback is very importamt!
So be sure to have your televisions set to NBC by 11:30pm and have my blog on your computers. Be sure to keep refreshing your screens so you can read my latest comments. Thank you all for following me and I'll see you at 11:30pm!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Throughout the show, I'll be posting my opinions on the performances, writing, and anything else that comes to mind during the evening. And feel free to post your own thoughts underneath my posts; as your feedback is very importamt!
So be sure to have your televisions set to NBC by 11:30pm and have my blog on your computers. Be sure to keep refreshing your screens so you can read my latest comments. Thank you all for following me and I'll see you at 11:30pm!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Here is the Latest Trailer for "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Here is the newest trailer for “The Amazing Spider-Man;” Director Mark Webb’s much-anticipated reboot of the original film that opened ten years ago and starred Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker; the high school students who eventually becomes the iconic superhero after getting bit by a radioactive spider-- thus gaining incredible superpowers. This new movie will open on July 3; and will star Andrew Garfield as the titular protagonist. Also starring is Emma Stone as Peter Parker's love interest Gwen Stacy and Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Conners; who transforms into The Lizard following an experiment gone wrong. I am looking forward to seeing this movie; as I'm sure it will hopefully spin a new web of excitement on the legacy of Spider-Man!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Here is the Trailer for "The Dark Knight Rises"
Here is the trailer for “The Dark Knight Rises;” the last, but DEFINITELY not least, duperhero film opening this summer. I am once again looking forward to seeing Christian Bale portray Bruce Wayne; who protects the street of Gotham City from the forces of evil as the masked vigilante known as Batman. This time, he's facing the extremely muscular and intelligent adversary Bane; portrayed by Tom Hardy. In addition, Christian Bale's hero will also encounter the mysterious Selina Kyle, played by Anne Hathaway, who prowls the streets as the seductive Catwoman. “The Dark Knight Rises” is the last chapter in Director Christopher Nolan's immensely popular film series. Just like 2008's “The Dark Knight” as well as 2010's “Inception,” I'm sure that Nolan is going to be enthralling audiences with an extremely exciting epic!
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
From the Mind of Nate: My Views of Three of 2012's Biggest Upcoming Movies
By now, you all know that I'm a humor buff. I do love laughing loudly and honestly during a cleverly-written and well-performed comedy film being showcased on a movie screen at the local theater. However, it should be made clear that I do happen to enjoy the films depicting popular comic book superheroes that constantly battle super-powered villains on a regular basis. And this upcoming summer, we, the movie-going public, will be treated to three blockbusters; each designated to one or several superheroes who commit themselves to protecting all life on Earth. Henceforth, I can say with all sincerity:
I Am Looking Forward to Seeing This Summer's Biggest Superhero Films
Blasting into theaters tomorrow to start off the Summer movie season is “The Avengers;” which happens to be the ultimate crossover film. Directed by Joss Whedon, this super-powered blockbuster features the combination of some of the biggest superheroes of the past few years. This movie features the teaming-up of a good amount of superheroes that have been featured in Marvel' superhero films since May 2008. “The Avengers” features Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark; the billionaire-philanthropist, who, when equipped with a metallic suit, is known as “Iron Man.” The film will also feature Chris Hemsorth's Thor, a god-warrior from the interstellar world known as Asgard; as well as Chris Evans' super-soldier Steve Rogers; better known as “Captain America. Both Thor and “Captain America” were featured in their own movies last year; and now, they team up with Robert Downey Jr.'s on-screen persona for this exciting and inevitable action megahit. Joning them will be Black Widow, played by Scarleet Johansson, who was introduced in 2010's “Iron Man 2;” as well as Hawkeye, an expert marksman played by Jeremy Renner-- as well as Bruce Banner, played by Mark Ruffalo; who, as a result of an experiment, turns into the powerful Hulk whenever he is angered. Assembling the team in Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson, who has served as the connection device between the “Iron Man” films as well as “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Together, they will fight the wrath of Thor's adoptive brother Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston, who plans to take over the world with his massive army. What's interesting is that Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, Chris Hemsworth's Thor, and Chris Evans' Steve Rogers have either fought evil separately or when leading their own forces. Now, the they are going to have to get used to working with each other; despite any friction that comes into play. I'm looking forward to seeing these character work together; and as a result, seeing all their respective performers interact with each other. I just hope that everyone gets their fair share of screen time during the movie. That way, everyone gets a chance to shine and we will be treated to an exciting film that is rich in quality acting and engrossing storytelling. However, “The Avengers” is not the only superhero film I look forward to seeing during the summer of 2012.
Swinging into theaters on July 3 is “The Amazing Spider-Man;” which happens to be the next superhero movie I look forward to seeing this summer. Directed by Mark Webb, this is the much-anticipated reboot of the original film,; which actually opened up in theaters back in 2002 and starred Tobey Maguire as the iconic hero. Thus time Andrew Garfield, who portrayed Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin in 2010's “The Social Network,” plays Peter Parker; the sixteen-year-old high school student that gets bit by a radioactive spider-- turning him into the wall-climbing, web-slinging superhero known as Spider-Man. In this film, Director Mark Webb and Screenwriters Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves focus on Peter Parker's search to find out the truth about his missing parents; a subject the original films didn't focus on, Joining Andrew Garfield in the upcoming blockbuster is Emma Stone; who portrays Gwen Stacy-- Peter Parker's first true love. From what I've read in various articles, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone worked very well together when making the film; so much so, that they are now dating in real life. And from what I've seen in the film's trailers, Garfield and Stone interact very well-- and I'm looking forward to seeing the two young actors work alongside each other in the sure-to-be exciting escapade. In addition, Rhys Ifans will be portraying Dr. Curt Connors; a former partner of Peter Parker's father, who eventually transforms into The Lizard; a menacing reptilian foe that is bent on unleashing havoc in New York City. I am hoping that “The Amazing Spider-Ma” proves to be a memorable comic-book film that possesses plenty of passionate performances and quality writing; thus establishing it as one of this summer's biggest hits. This will prove to be a mighty challenge; especially when taking into consideration the equally anticipated blockbuster which will hit theaters nationwide seventeen days later.
On July 20, “The Dark Knight Rises,” which happens to be Director Christopher Nolan's sequel to his 2008 hit “The Dark Knight,” will finally be released. The movie, which happens to be the final installment in Nolan's franchise, will once again star Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne; the billionaire by day who happens to be the caped crusader known as Batman by night. This time, Bale's hero will face the extremely muscular and intelligent Bane; who will be played by Tom Hardy-- who also starred in Christopher Nolan's 2010 blockbuster “Inception.” Judging by the trailer for “The Dark Knight Rises,” Tom Hardy will be supplying a very intense performance to his character; one that could end up being as memorable as Heath Ledger's portrayal of The Joker in 2008's “The Dark Knight.” addition, Anne Hathaway will be portraying the mysterious Selina Kyle; who, in skin-tight leather, becomes fellow enemy Cat-Woman. I am looking forward to seeing Anne Hathaway turn in a performance that is unlike many of her past roles; seeing as she usually stars in romantic comedies like 2006's “The Devil Wears Prada” and 2010's “Valentine's Day.” However, I am most excited about seeing Christian Bale once again don the outfit and showcase his brilliantly-powerful portrayal of Batman. Seeing Bale never once lose grasp of his steadfast performance is wonderful; seeing as the actor takes his role very seriously. And, in this particular installment of Christopher Nolan's franchise, which happens to be the last, Bale's hero will also be facing the wrath of the Gotham City Police; who are out to bring in the caped crusader after he took responsibility for the death of attorney Harvey Dent; Aaron Eckhart's on-screen persona from the previous film-- who became corrupted by Heath Ledger's The Joker following the death of Maggie Gyllenhall's Rachel Dawes. In other words, this movie's going to feature A LOT of gravity and action. And seeing as Christopher Nolan is helming the movie, I know that this movie will surely not disappoint!
So there you go! These three movies I am very excited to be seeing in the weeks ahead. But which one will be the best? “The Avengers,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” and “The Dark Knight Rises” all have great casts and exciting potential in their plotlines. I just hope the movies' writers present us with well-structured storylines and strong character development. After all, the writers are the true brains behind the films. They have the assignment not to rely on just special effects to enthrall audiences. Every character must be appropriately developed; thus enabling us to cheer for our heroes and not and be fearful of the villains, That way, every character is human in mind and spirit; regardless of any interstellar society they come from. The writers were given all the requirements for presenting us with truly great stories. Thus, they must not let us down. In the words of Peter Parker's wise Uncle Ben: “With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility.” I couldn't have put it better myself.
E-mail me at thatsnatertainment@gmx.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)