Saturday, December 14, 2013

"Saturday Night Live" Review: Paul Rudd Hosts on December 7, 2013




Cold Opening- "The Sound of Music"

This wasn't a bad opening. I'm glad to see “Saturday Night Live” take on the live performance of “The Sound of Music” that NBC aired on December 4th. “Saturday Night Live” Castmember Kate McKinnon did well portraying Carrie Underwood's performance as the musical's main character 'Maria von Trapp.” I was surprised to see “Saturday Night Live” Castmember Kristen Wiig return to portray her well-known reoccurring character “Dooneese”- the baby-handed and unusual dancer from the well-known sketch-spoofs of “The Lawrence Welk Show.” Kristen Wiig's reoccurring characterw as meant to be a member of the Von Trapp Family's children; and her performance throughout the sketch made me laugh. I loved seeing Kristen Wiig amongst the “Saturday Night Live” castmembers once again and I got a kick out of her character lip-synching to the musical's popular song “Climb Every Mountain” only to go back to her goofy singing at the drop of a hat. Fellow Former “Saturday Night Live” Castmember Fred Armisen made a surprise appearance as well-- portraying Lawrence Welk at the conclusion of the performance. I loved seeing Kristen Wiig and Fred Armisen on the show together and this whole opening was fun.

Monologue- Paul Rudd.

This...was...GREAT!!!! First of all, I was happy to see Paul Rudd acknowledge the fact that he's been over0shadowed by his musical guests for each of his first two times hosting the sketch comedy program. And I loved to see his happiness when declaring that evening's episode as “The Paul Rudd Show” only to be slightly disappointed when seeing Musical Guest One Direction behind him soaking up the cheers of the audience members. Then, Paul Rudd, in order to steal the thunder away from One Direction, brought on his “Man Band”-- Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, and David Koechner. It was wonderful to see all four stars of “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” on stage together and I laughed when hearing their comedic quips aimed at One Direction. The best being Will Ferrell's “Just beat it, Menudo!.” The monologue got even better when the cast of “Anchorman” engage in a performance of “Afternoon Delight”-- with One Direction offering supporting vocals. The whole monologue was wonderful and I'm glad the show's musical guest didn't hog too much of the spotlight. Just an enjoyable monologue.



Sketch- "Politics Nation with Al Sharpton"

This was a rather forgettable sketch. I've grown tired of Kenan Thompson's impression of Rev. Al Sharpton; which, in all honesty, isn't really anything special. There really wasn't anything that stood out at all in this sketch, and Paud Rudd was practically wasted here with a very bland role as Huffington Post contributor Peter Douchet. In all honesty, there isn't even important to say about this sketch; seeing as nothing really happened; as Thompson's portrayal of Rev. Al Sharpton mainly discussed the Obamacare website with Rudd's Peter Douchet in a uneventful discussion. What's more, this sketch was just too short. This sketch was just rather undeveloped and Paul Rudd wasn't really given anything to do here.

Filmed Piece- "Dan Charles:  One Direction's #1 Fan" 

Now, THIS was an enjoyable filmed piece. Paul Rudd played “Dan Charles”, a married man with a family, who was as equally just as thrilled as all the young girls outside online waiting for One Direction to appear after a concert. I loved seeing Rudd's character interacting with all the little girls in attendance and basically making fun of them over the fact that he knows more about the boy band than all of the young fans. Highlights of the piece included Rudd's character receiving a call from his wife who had just given birth and telling her over the phone that they should name their new son “Niall” after One Direction bandmember Niall Horan (just because he was being playful following the birth). I also got a huge laugh when watching Paul Rudd's “Dan Charles” pushing his way through all the young girls in order to get One Direction's attention and have them sign something for him. The whole short filmed piece was very funny and the segment demonstrated just how good of a sport Paul Rudd can be. Just a fun short filmed piece.

Sketch- Divorce Meeting

This wasn't a bad sketch. Though it feels like it could be funnier. Paul Rudd and “Saturday Night Live” Castmember Vanessa Bayer play a couple who were meeting with their lawyers in order to settle the terms of their divorce. As the group of worked out their negotiations at a restaurant, Paul Rudd's and Vanessa Bayer's characters would keep getting up and dancing together whenever hearing Fleetwood Mac's “I Don't Want to Know”; which seemed to be going off every couple minutes. The sketch was pretty much had a one-joke premise, but the performances of Paul Rudd and Vanessa Bayer made this worth watching. The joke that even though they strongly claimed that they wanted a divorce, Rudd's and Bayer's characters still enjoyed dancing to the same song felt a little too obious to be completely humorous. The revelation at the end that the song was actually the ring tone of one of the lawyers, played by Kenan Thompson, wasn't much of a humorous punch line at all. In short terms, this sketch wasn't bad but I feel that more could have been done to make it funnier.

"Weekend Update"

There wasn't very much to say about this edition of “Weekend Update.” None of Seth Meyers' and Cecily Strong’s' jokes were particularly funny. In addition, I wasn't too thrilled to see the return of Vanessa Bayer's “Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy”; as the main point of the reoccurring segment is that the character basically roasts the members of his family when delivering a speech about a specific Jewish holiday. Bayer's schtick as “Jacob” has officially gotten old and the whole segment just dragged on and on. Furthermore, I was VERY surprised to see Taran Killam bring back his 18th century speech critic character “Jebidiah Atkinson” back after only a few weeks. But, in all honesty, I still got laughs from Killam's performance of; particularly from each ever-increasingly furious time he said “Next” whenever going frome one review to the next. I also like how the writers kept the segment fresh by having Killam's character harshly review well-known Christmas television specials; even though the writing wasn't great at all. Though I did like how Killam's character acknowledged the fact that he's been on the show three weeks ago and I laughed when he commented “Run things into the ground, much?” to Seth Meyers; basically referencing “Saturday Night Live”'s habit of bringing back characters way too much. I've really been enjoying Taran Killam's performances on the show; as he's been able to improve poorly-written sketches just through his comedic timing and humorous delivery. I'm glad that he's being used more often in sketches and I look forward to seeing him more in sketches this season. Aside from Taran Killam's humrous performance, this was a rather lackluster edition of “Weekend Update.”

Sketch- Micheangelo Unveils His David

This was another one-note sketch. Only this time, the material, was just plain too juvenile for my taste. Taran Killam played the famous sculptor whose model for his well known statue was very humiliated when seeing the tiny size of the statue's penis. Paul Rudd starred as the male model for the statue and he did alright with the weak material he was given. In fact, the performances in this sketch weren't bad. It was just the writing that wasn't up to par. I wasn't crazy about the “jokes” about the size of the statue's genitalia and the whole sketch just seemed to be a bit rushed as well.

Film Trailer- "White Christmas"

First let me just say that the writing wasn't great for this film ad spoof. That being said, the format was decent parody of the types of trailers for Tyler Perry's films. I will say that Paul Rudd did a good job spoofing the voice Tyler Perry uses when playing his character “Medea”. As for the rest of this piece, I don't have much to say at all. The ending of it wasn't great and it felt like the whole thing was relying on one joke. All in all, not much to say about this piece as well.

Sketch- The North Pole

Like the divorce meeting sketch, I feel like more could have been done with this. Paul Rudd played a slimmed-down Santa Claus who began to increasingly anger his elves when going over new guidelines as to how business would now be done at the North Pole. Paul Rudd did a fine job playing the very trimmed-down Sana Claus and I liked all of the castmembers' performances as the elves. Featured Players Kyle Mooney, Noel Wells, and John Milhiser did well and I liked their character's reactions to most of Rudd's Santa's new rules. Though I did not like the bit about the realization that Rudd's Santa was now grinding up his reindeer into beef jerky. I did get a slight laugh, however, out of seeing Rudd's Santa talk while using an exercise machine at one point. Other than all this, there really wasn't a lot of funny material in this sketch. All in all, not a terrible sketch but I feel this could have been funnier.

Sketch- Memories of Past Lovers

Well, this wasn't a bad sketch. Cecily Strong played a lonely woman reminiscing about past lovers in her apartment. Strong's character was approached by some past lovers who she shared intimate moments with while Paul Rudd played a sloppy restaurant worker who desperately tried to get her to remember their sex encounter. Cecily Strong did alright with her part but I got quite a few laughs out of Paul Rudd's performance; as his on-screen persona desperately tried to get her attention amidst all her past lovers. I loved Rudd's cheery delivery when saying “What about me?” when first appearing in the sketch as well as his crawling away after giving her some food before he left. I was happy to see Paul Rudd being given many primary roles in sketches this time and he did very well with all his given roles; even though much of the writing wasn't great for this show. All in all, this wasn't a bad sketch and at least it was a creative idea.

Sketch- Tales of Bill Brasky

Wow!!! I was VERY HAPPY to see this sketch sgain. In case you didn't know, these sketches were first done when Will Ferrell and David Koechner were castmembers of “Saturday Night Live” back during Season 21; which was between the years of 1995-1996. the format of these sketches were that four extremely drunk businessmen, played by Ferrell, Koechner, Former Castmember Mark McKinney, and either Guest Host Alec Baldwin or John Goodman, would tell increasingly-bizarre stories about a very strange and foul salesman named Bill Brasky while guzzling bear at a bar or some other location. I was very happy to see that Ferrell and Koechner haven't lost their touch when playing these characters and Paul Rudd did a fine job as well playing another drunk businessman. What's more, Taran Killam did a VERY good job fitting into the sketch and he had the voice and actions down pact. I enjoyed seeing him act in the same manner as Ferrell, Koechner, and Rudd and he had great comedic chemistry with them. I will say that some of the stories got a little too over-the-top; but that is besides the point. I was just so happy to see a classic sketch from the Will Ferrell era of “Saturday Night Live” brought back and I loved the performances. Even Kenan Thompson got me a laugh with his appearance towards the end of the sketch with his comment that Bill Brasky taught him the “true meaning of Kwanzaa.” The performances were great I did get laughs. Overall, a very good way to close the show.


Image of (from left to right) of Taran Killam, Kenan Thompson, Will Ferrell, and David Koechner as the five "Bill Brasky" businessmen taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/13/13hbrasky.phtml

And, that's the show. All in all, we got a few memorable sketches (the monologue, “Dan Charles: One Direction's #1 Fan”, and “Tales of Bill Brasky”) as well as a bunch of sketches that could have been much funnier than they were-- practically everything else. Stand-out performances from the cast were mainly supplied by Taran Killam; who stole the show on “Weekend Update” with his performance as “Jebidiah Atkinson” as well as his performance in the Bill Brasky sketch. I was very happy with the job Paul Rudd did as the show's host and his performances in the weaker sketches made them slightly better. I am sisappointed that Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, and David Koechner didn't play their characters from the “Anchorman” films; as it would have been great to see “Ron Burgundy and The Channel Four Newsteam” in a sketch or even “Weekend Update.” Come on. You all know that would have been great and memorable for all in attendance. But, oh well. They were great in everything they were in.

And, that's the show.

Tonight, John Goodman will be returning to host “Saturday Night Live” for his thirteenth time. Joining him as the eving's musical guest will be Kings of Leon; who will be performing on the show for their third time.  I'm looking forward to seeing Goodman host tonight. He has always done well when hosting the show. He has been on the show twelve times before; with his most recent emceeing stint done back on November 3rd, 2001. Before then, he has hosted ELEVEN seasons in a row. From Season 15 (on December 2nd, 1989) to Season 25 (on Nay 6th, 2000), Goodman had been a reliable host. There was even a time when he kept making frequent guest appearances on the show; particularly between Seasons 24 and 25. He did very well interracting with the “Saturday Night Live” castmembers and I'm curious to see what how he works with this season's players. I just hope the writing is decent tonight.

John Goodman SNL Promo - H 2013

Image of "Saturday Night Live" Castmember Taran Killam and Guest Host John Goodman taken from http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/john-goodman-hosts-snl-5-665756#2

But, no matter what, I will be live-blogging tonight's show. Beginning at 11:30pm, I will be commenting on the sketches, the writing, the performances, and anything else that comes to mind. I will also determine just how well John Goodman is doing in acting alongside the castmembers.

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 computer screens so you can see my latest posts during the show. Feel free to share your own opinions by clicking the “comment” link underneath any of my posts, Your feedback means a lot and I look forward to seeing your opinions.

I thank you for following my blog and I appreciate your support. Stay tuned and I'll see you at 11:30pm!
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)