Saturday, November 2, 2013

"Saturday Night Live" Review: Edward Norton Hosts on October 26th, 2013


Cold Opening- A Message from Kathleen Sebelius

This was a humorous opening, as well as one of the couple of high points from this past weekend's show. It was nice to see Kate McKinnon star a cold opening, and she didn't disappoint at all. Her performance as Kathleen Sebelius was funny and her tips regarding how to deal with the technical difficulties plaguing the Obamacare website were very funny. Highlights included McKinnon's Sebelius advising users to switch to the Icelandic site if the English page isn't working as well as suggesting links to other websites if Healthcare.gov isn't working-- such as bitTorrent- where users can downlad movies pertaining to healthcare, such as “Patch Adams.” I also got a laugh at the loading graphic appearing on screen; interrupting McKinnon's Sebelius' most important piece of advice towards dealing with the website. Lastly, it should be mentioned that Bobby Moynihan gave me a chuckle when he was playing an IT worker simply hitting Sebelius' computer monitor when it froze. With the combination of good writing and Kate McKinnon's performance, this cold opening was quite humorous.


Image of Kate McKinnon as Kathleen Sebelius taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/13/13dhealth.phtml
Monologue- Edward Norton

For the most part, this monologue wasn't bad. Edward Norton seemed comfortable on the “Saturday Night Live” stage for his first time and I liked his joke saying that he would need thirteen years to prepare for his first hosting stint; as he was originally asked to be on the show back in 2000. Alec Baldwin made a nice surprise appearance to see if Norton was, in fact, ready to host the show. Norton and Baldwin had good chemistry and I enjoyed seeing the latter challenging out host with the task of performing different celebrity impressions. Norton proved to be quite capable of doing so; as he demonstrated some good imitations of Woody Allen and Woody Harrelson. However, a sudden appearance of Miley Cyrus, who actually hosted the show a mere three weeks ago, felt tacked on and unnecessary. She added nothing funny at all and didn't seem to fit in with the likes of Baldwin and Norton. Cyrus' pointless appearance ruined what could have been an entirely good monologue.

Sketch- Stranger Danger

This was the first bad sketch of this very weak episode. In this sketch, Edward Norton played “Officer Rosen”; who was trying to educate schoolkids on how to keep aware of strangers offering them candy. Unfortunately for Norton's character, rambunctious schoolgirl “Shalon”, played by Nasim Pedrad, kept interrupting him to keep exclaiming about how much she wants candy as well as enthusiastically asking if there is said food item in a person's van. The antics of Pedrad's character quickly enticed her fellow students to constantly ask if they could all go to a van in the school's parking lot to see if it had any candy inside. Nasim Pedrad's character became quickly annoying right at the start of the sketch, and her performance caused its entire duration to drag. It should also be said that Nasim Pedrad played her character in a manner that resembled the way she portrayed other characters of this particular age. I fact, there was nothing at all special about this new character. I should point out, however, that Edward Norton handled his role of the sketch's straightman quite well. Unfortunately, the weak writing as well as Nasim Pedrad's over-the-top performance truly made tarred the quality of this sketch.



Image of Nasim Pedrad as "Shalon" and Edward Norton as "Officer Rosen" taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/13/13dstranger.phtml

Sketch- “The Steve Harvey Show”


And, here is bad sketch #2. I'm getting tired of Kenan Thompson portraying talk-how host Steve Harvey as a clueless idiot. The whole idea of Harvey not being able to identify the simplest home-made costumes wasn't funny at all. The joke grew tiresome quickly and Thompson's performance just grew tiresome. But, what really annoys me is that, as I've said before in previous reviews, is that Kenan Thompson has been made into the new star of the show. These “Steve Harvey Show” sketches have grown old quickly and the writers need to realize that Thompson doesn't have the acting chops to be the star of the show. This was just a very bland sketch that only was slightly saved by Edward Norton's performance as the presenter of the costumes. Just another bad sketch.

Commercial - "The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders"

Now, THIS was a creative film-trailer spoof! The very idea of a horror film meshing with the quirkiness of Wes Anderson's film style was an inspired one. I really liked the idea of various characters from his 2001 film “The Royal Tenebaums” being represented as the murderers. Also, Edward Norton's impression of Owen Wilson was spot-on; as he had both of the actor's appearance and voice down-pact. Furthermore, Featured Player Noel Wells bared a st
riking appearance to Gwenyth Paltrow's “Margot Tenebaum”; who was meant to serve as the wife of Norton's Owen-Wilson-portrayed character, character In addition, I liked the references to Wes Anderson's “Fantastic Mr. Fox”; with Nasim Pedrad and Featured Player John Milhiser playing the parents' children (who bore a strong resemblance to the young fox children from Anderson's 2009 stop-motion film). Other highlights included the list of the film's supporting players; all of whom are regularly cast in Anderson's movies. Lastly, the inclusions of of Alec Baldwin as “The Narrator”, which was another good reference aimed at 'The Royal Tenebaums”, as well as a “stop-motion mouse” (another reference to “Fantastic Mr. Fox”) were also hilarious. In other words, this whole segment was great as well-as the last entirely well-written segment of the night.

Image of Edward Norton as Owen Wilson taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/13/13dintruders.phtml

Sketch- Critter Control Interrupts a Business Meeting

I have mixed feelings about this sketch, On one hand, I'm glad to see Featured Player Brooks Wheelan get a starring role after his amusing first commentary on “Weekend Update” from two weeks ago. However, it should be said that his performance as an inept animal control worker was a bit over-the-top-- in a moderate way. Some of his shocked exclamations did make me chuckle, but his overall acting just seemed a bit high-strung for my taste. I did get a few other chuckles from the sketch; particularly from Edward Norton's performance as a friend of Wheelan's character; who was offering some assistance. I also did like the camera angles when both characters were inside ine air vents, gazing and commenting on the unusual antics of the possums that had made their way inside. I also did laugh when Featured Player Back Bennett, who was playing a business worker, stated that he wanted to stick around to see how everything ended, when when his fellow workers wanted to leave. However, the whole, sketch just felt a little strange to me; but, nevertheless, at least it was an original sketch and that Wheelan did get the main role. However, I will admit, that I liked his his “Update” commentary more.

Sketch- Hank the Sevant

I don't know what to make of this sketch. First, I will focus on the positives. Edward Norton did a good job with his performance as the “Rain Man”-like numbers guy; who was supposed to count the money money made from a drug deal with two other dealers; played by Kenan tHompson and Taran Killam. Norton did a good job of mimicking the voice and mannerisms of Dustin Hoffman as “Raymond Babbitt”; the main character from Director Barry Levinson's 1988 film. It should also be mentioned that Featured Player Mike O'Brien did a decent job playing the organizer of the drug deal as well as the boss of Norton's character. His body composure seemed a bit more relaxed than his first on-screen appearance in the “First Used -Car Sale Commercial” from the season premier. Now I will fay the following comments. This sketch did not really go anywhere. The whole point that Norton's character was only a bit player from the “Transformers” movie from 2007 and was not involved with the movie “Rain Man” at all was not at all funny. Also, the joke of him not being able to tally high numbers immediately wasn't humorous at all. The whole sketch itself seemed to be rushed and the ending just seemed kind of abrupt. I feel this sketch could have been better if more time was given to its execution-- thus enabling it to play out in a seamless manner. In all honesty, this sketch wasn't terrible. But, at the same time, I feel that a tiny bit more could have been added to it.

“Weekend Update”

Well, this was a particularly short edition of the weekly news segment. That being said, it was hardly funny as well. The only sincere laugh I got was Seth Meyers' quip regarding Kanye West's marriage proposal to Kim Kardashian-- asking “would she make herself the luckiest woman on Earth?” Othan that that, this edition of “update” was pretty darn forgettable. While her delivery wasn't bad, Cecily Strong's jokes weren't funny. In addition, I've become very tired of Bobby Moynihan's second-hand news character “Anthony Crispino” and his comments weren't at all humorous. In fact, Moynihan seemed to truly ham up his performance for this particular appearance, and the entire bit dragged/ Bottom line, aside from Meyers' joke about Kanye West's marriage proposal, this wasn't funny at all.

Sketch- “12 Years Not a Slave”

This was another sketch that was a victim of weak writing. Jay Pharoah played a slave that had been recently released following the Emancipation Proclamation. Pharoah's character was visiting a bar and explaining to a friend of his, played by Edward Norton, his confusion as to why everyone was not sharing in his excitement. First I will say that Pharoah played his part finely and did a good job carrying the sketch. It's clear that he's gained more confidence as a sketch comedy performer, and it is nice to see that his acting has improved. That being said, the sketch itself didn't really go anywhere and the constant cold looks that Pharoah's character was getting by most of those in attendance at the bar wasn't funny at all. Edward Norton did a fine job playing the friend of Pharoah's character and he interacted well with the “Saturday Night Live” castmember. It should also be mentioned that the jokes Norton's character pleading to his friend that he shouldn't dance in front of white people because they would try to dance like him weren't at all humorous; as the humor felf forced. In addition, the quick shot of the female “Saturday Night Live” female castmembers as well as Miley Cyrus twerking wasn't funny at a and just seemed like a poor attempt to skewer the latter's appearance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Overall, despite the fine performances of Edward Norton and Jay Pharoah, the sketch's attempts at humor just felt too forced.

Sketch- Restaurant Virgins

And, here was another poorly-written sketch. In this segment, Edward Norton, Cecily Strong, Nasim Pedrad, and Mike O'Brien played four teenage waiters who were busy laying out their plans for having sex foe all of their first times. The sketch itself was poorly written; as of the performers were basically just describing their planned moves as well as acting them out. The segment just went on too long and Aidy Bryant's character asking if they are all virgins wasn't funny either. The only laugh I got from this sketch was when Bennett, as a customer, asked the waiters if he could have a seat as far away from them as possible. Just the way Bennett delivered his line made me laugh. When seeing him in this as well as the critter control sketch from earlier in the show, I have to say that Beck Bennett reminds me of previous castmembers like Tim Meadows and Chris Parnell; both of whom were adept at playing straightmen in sketches who were able to get chuckles just by delivering the simplest of lines in an easygoing manner, In addition, I will say that, as we have seen earlier in the show, Mike O'Brien has improved as a sketch performer and he did decently keeping up with the acting of Norton, Pedrad, and Strong. Nevertheless, the whole premise of this sketch just fell flat and was just plain ridiculous.

Sketch- Halloween Candy

First, let me say the following: the premise of this sketch, which happened to be Edward Norton playing a homeowner giving bizarre descriptions about the types of candies he will be giving trick or theaters, was basically a rehash of a holiday sketch with Steve Buscemi from December 2011; which featured the actor giving bizarre descriptions of Christmas tree ornaments. In addition, Bobby Moynihan, who was playing the eccentric son of Norton's character, was being used as a replacement for Kristen Wiig's character; who happened to be the clueless wife of Buscemi's character. That being said, I did get a laugh when Norton's character showed off an empty “Cars 2” DVD case; which he planned to be one of the treats he was going to be giving out. Other than that, I didn't like the sheer fact that, while the holiday of Halloween was being used as a substitute for Christmas, the entire concept of the sketch was basically just a rehash of a creative idea from two years ago. Just a weak way of ending the show.

Image of Edward Norton in the "Halloween Candy" sketch taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/13/13dcandy.phtml

And, that's all the sketches. I am disappointed that Edward Norton, a talented actor, was subjected to many badly-written sketches. Norton really did the best he could with the weak material and he turned in some meorable impressions as well-- particularly his portrayal of Owen Wilson and his depiction of Dustin Hoffman's “Raymond Babbitt.” Norton handled himself well interacting with the cast in sketches. It's just a shame he had to work with sketches that either poorly-written or featured bad premises. I'd like to see him host again when the writing has greatly improved.

And, that's my review. Hopefully, tonight's show, featuring Guest Host Kerry washington and Musical Guest Eminem, is much better. Though, in all honesty, I don't have a lot of faith-- considering that the writing is so bad. As the best sketch of last week's show was basically just a three-minute parody of a film trailer, the state of “Saturday Night Live”'s writing is grave. I don't know why many of the show's writers are purposely coming up with many poor sketches, considering the fact that they are capable of creating good work (such as the parody-trailer “The Midnight Coterie of Sinister Intruders” from last week's show).It's just beyond me that “Saturday Night Live” cannot create an entirely funny ninety minute comedy show.

Nevertheless, beginning at 11:30pm I will be I will be commenting on the sketches, the writing, the performances, and anything else that comes to mind. And in a couple days, I will be posting a review that features my opinions in greater detail.

Be sure to have your televisions set to NBC and have my blog on your computers. Be sure to keep refreshing your computer screens throughout the show so you can view my latest comments. Feel free to share your own thoughts by clicking the “Comment” link underneath any of my posts. Your feedback means a lot and I look forward to seeing your opinions.

So stay tuned. Thank you all for following my blog and I will see you all at 11:30pm!

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