Saturday, February 1, 2014

A "That's Nater-Tainment!" Special Mini-Report: Melissa McCarthy Hosts "Saturday Night Live" For Her Third Time Tonight as well as A Brief Look at Seth Meyers' Tenure On The Show

 
Tonight at 11:30pm, Melissa McCarthy returns to host “Saturday Night Live” for her third time. Joining her as thre show's musical guest will be Imagine Dragons; who are performing on the long-running variety series for their first time. I have mixed feeling about tonight's show. Now, don't get me wrong. I think that Melissa McCarthy is a very funny actress and she brings a lot of energy whenever she hosts; which is very helpful. However, when she hosted last year, her show suffered due to very weak writing. It seemed as if the writers hadn't taken the proper time to thoroughly craft the show; as almost all of the sketches has flimsy premises and not enough material. I remember one sketch featured Melissa McCarthy as a contestant in a meat cook-off in a carnival who wanted to perform a dance number in order to introduce her entry. While McCarthy gave a very good performance, it seemed as if the entire sketch dragged on until the punchline-- which ultimately turned out to be a rather abrupt way to end the piece. Another sketch featured a parody of “Wheel of Fortune”, where McCarthy played a Vanna White-like personality who kept revealing the hidden letters in a word challenge. Just like in the previously-described sketch, Melissa McCarthy gave a humorous performance. However, the joke of the sketch came off very obvious just as soon as McCarthy's character started revealing the letters. Basically, McCarthy was just running back-and-forth and turning over the letters in the puzzle. The sketch went on a bit too long as well; and that was another fault of the writers. The only really good sketch of the night centered around a businessperson, played by McCarthy, who wanted funding from a loan officer, played by then-castmember Jason Sudeikis, in order to start up her pizza-eating career. However, what made the sketch very good was the fun chemistry between McCarthy and Sudeikis; as their interactions were enriched by their keen comedic timing. Nevertheless, it seemed as if the writers weren't trying very hard to create good pieces for that show, and I am really hoping that Melissa McCarthy gets really good sketches for her third time hosting.


However, what's most important about tonight's “Saturday Night Live” is that it's Seth Meyers' last show before he hosts NBC's "Late Night" beginning on February 24th. Having first appeared on the show as a featured player on September 29th, 2001, Meyers has spent thirteen years on the long-running variety program; one year short of breaking former castmember Darrell Hammond's fourteen season run. Seth Meyers didn't really get to do much during his first two seasons on the show; often playing supporting roles to castmembers like Will Ferrell (during the 2001-2002 season), Jimmy Fallon, and even Amy Poehler-- who actually joined the show the same year he did. It wasn't until Jimmy Fallon left that Seth Meyers started getting key roles in sketches; as from 2004-2006, he got more opportunities to interact with the show's shows and play characters. It was at this point that he and Amy Poehler paired-up for a reoccurring sketch where they played “The Needlers”-- a married couple who would constantly argue with each other over the most trivial matters. Even though the sketch practically featured the same set-up each time it took place on the show, the chemistry between Meyers and Poehler made everything worthwhile. The performers had great comedic chemistry and they played off each other very well.


 Image of Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler as "The Needlers" taken from  http://snltranscripts.jt.org/05/05aneedlers.phtml

And it was Seth Meyers' and Amy Poehler's comedic chemistry that would eventually lead them to be paired-up to be co-anchors on the show's iconic “Weekend Update” segment. From September 30th, 2006 to December 13th, 2008 (the night of Amy Poehler's last show), both performers would deliver jokes and featured segment with fun energy. Their most well-known segment was one called “Really??”; in which Meyers and Poehler would mockingly-question the ridiculous actions committed by certain people in the news. The segment would keep appearing after Poehler left; as Seth Meyers would do it either by himself, or with a special guest-- like Jerry Seinfeld (on March 13th, 2010) and Kevin Hart (on March 2nd, 2013). However, Seth Meyers would keep doing the segment with Amy Poehler whenever she was on the show-- even if she would be appearing on “Update” just to do the one segment. Needless to say, I would not be surprised if Amy Poehler would appear tonight ; even if it is just to do one last “Really??” with Seth Meyers.


Image of Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers on "Weekend Update" taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/08/08vupdate.phtml

Starting this season, which would ultimately be his last, Seth Meyers was paired-up with Cecily Strong; who joined the show this past season as a featured player. Unlike Amy Poehler, Cecily
 Strong hasn't been a great fit for “Weekend Update”; as her joke deli very seems more forced and it seems as if she lacks significant comedic timing. What's more, I haven;t noticed any good comedic chemistry between her and Seth Meyers; as she seems to be more focused on rushing through her jokes. And with Seth Meyers leaving the show after tonight, I am truly unsure how Cecily Strong will fare on “Weekend Update.” It should be mentioned that Strong will be getting a co-anchor when the show returns on March 1st; following a three-week hiatus due to the 2014 Winter Olympics. Cecily Strong will be joined by Current Head Writer Colin Jost; who will be added to the show as a featured player when “Saturday Night Live” returns next month. I haven't seen any of Colin Jost's stand-up. I haven't seen him in any interviews. I just hope he and Cecily Strong will work well together every “Weekend Update.” In short terms, I just want them to be funny together.


So, tonight we say good bye to Seth Meyers. While he hasn't been my favorite “Weekend Update anchor, he has still managed to make me laugh. Not all of his jokes have been great over the years, but I do feel that he has made an effort to save bad ones. Also, he had a decent delivery when telling his jokes which has kept my interest over the years. I will also say that he is a good straightman to all of the guest characters who have all appeared on “Weekend Update” over the years-- like Bobby Moynihan's “Drunk Uncle”, Fred Armisen's portrayal of Former New York Governor David Paterson, and all of Krsiten Wiig's characters. However, of course, I have most enjoyed seeing Seth Meyers interact with Bill Hadrer's popular reoccurring character “Stefon”: “Weekend Update” city corespondent who would always describe the many bizarre nightclubs he would patron as well as win the affections of the “Weekend Update” anchor; with whom he was in love with. Watching Meyers comically react to Hader's character was always fun and I enjoyed their segments very much. The combination of Bill Hader's performance as “Stefon” and Seth Meyers' as the straightman was always a treat and I loved their segments together-- which, until now, went on until this past season's finale. During which, Seth Meyers and Bill Hader's character finally “wed” as part of a grand send-off to the latter performer. I am just wondering if, as part of Seth Meyers' inevitable send-off tonight (which could hopefully included a possible appearance from Amy Poehler), Bill Hader will return to play “Stefon” just one last time. That would make for a great closure for Seth Meyers' time on “Saturday Night Live.”


Image of (from left to right) Cecily Strong as "The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With At a Party", Nasim Pedrad as Arianna Huffington, Kenan Thompson as "Jean K. Jean, Fred Armisen as Governor David Paterson, Kate McKinnon as Ann Romney, Vanessa Bayer as "Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy", Amy Poehler, Bobby Moynihan as "Drunk Uncle", Jason Sudeikis as "The Devil", Seth Meyers and Bill Hader as "Stefon" taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/12/12uupdate.phtml

But, no matter what happens tonight, I just want a good show.
Beginning at 11:30pm, will be commenting on the sketches, the writing, the performances of the cast and Guest Host Melissa McCarthy and Musical Guest Imagine Dragons.

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!
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