From the Mind of Nate: My Opinions on the Upcoming New Season of "Saturday Night Live"

Well, the new season of NBC's long-running variety series “Saturday Night Live” starts this Saturday night at 11:30pm. And as the thirty-ninth year approaches, we are reminded of the significant departures that have occurred since the previous season. For instance, Bill Hader, who has treated audiences to an array of hilarious-yet-spot-on impressions of well known personalities, such as Hollywood Actors like Al Pacino and Alan Alda, and also and humorous characters;like flamboyant City Corespondent “Stefon”, started out on the program as a featured player at the start of the 2005-2006 season, and then moved up to regular castmember status at the beginning of Season Thirty-Two, announced his leaving a few days before this past season's finale-- thus totaling a full eight years on the weekly late-night program. Also leaving is fellow longtime castmember Fred Armisen; who joined the cast as a Featured Player Fall of 2002, becoming a regular repertory castmember Fall of 2004-- thus acting in sketches for a total of eleven year; impersonating President Barack Obama, partaking in reoccurring sketches like “The Californians”, and playing offbeat musicians in various sketches. Finally, Jason Sudeikis, who joined the show as a Featured Player May of 2005 and joined Hader in reaching regular castmember status the Fall of 2006; bestowing humorous performances as likable straightmen in sketches as well as a zany portrayal of Vice President Joe Biden. All three castmembers have left their mark throughout their duration on the late-night program and their presence will be missed. And as Season Thirty-Nine approaches, we are now faced with a cast that mostly consists of performers who have been on the show since Fall of 2008; with the exceptions of Kenan Thompson, who has been on the show since Fall of 2003, and Seth Meyers; who has been on the show since September 2001-- but will only be serving as the anchor of “Weekend Update”; which he's been doing since September of 2006, and will continue to until he leaves midseason so he could host “Late Night.”. Nevertheless, with the exception of Meyers and Thompson, we must prepare ourselves for an all-new era of “Saturday Night Live.”

Image of Bill Hader as "Stefon" taken from http://snl.jt.org/char.php?i=758

When looking at the castmembers for the upcoming season, it is important to note that, for the first time in a while, there is not a big-name star in the cast. In recent years, we had Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis. All of whom has achieved a level of fame that made it easy for viewers identify them on the show and enjoy their sketch comedy performances. And from the point of view of the series, the network was able to advertise “Saturday Night Live” simply by either showing a picture or sampling some of their sketch work in commercials. Now, with the exception of Seth Meyers, who has gained his own level of fame, thanks to his anchoring of “Weekend Update,” viewers might find it difficult to keep track of who's left in the cast. For instance, Bobby Moynihan, who has been a castmember on the show since Fall of 2008, hasn't appeared in a lot of Hollywood films.

Furthermore, while in past years, we had Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Kristen Wiig-- and since leaving, they have all gone on to star in movies and television shows. At this point in time, it could be said that “Saturday Night Live” does not have a Leading Lady. However, there has apparently been a revelation that could change this concept. A week and a half ago, it was announced that Catsmember Cecily Strong, who joined the show this past season as a Featured Performer, will be serving as Seth Meyers' co-anchor on “Weekend Update.” I do have some mixed views about this. On the negative side, I was not a big fan of some of Strong's reoccurring characters. For example, this past season Strong brought forward “The Girl You You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation with at a Party”; a tipsy female party guest who would be constantly rambling and checking her Blackberry for text messages. Strong's character reappeared throughout the season; and her constant babbling grew old very quickly. In addition, there was a twice-occurring sketch in which Cecily Strong and Bobby Moynihan portrayed two obnoxious employees who would constantly joke around in an insulting way towards their co-workers during a staff meeting. Strong's delivery, as well as Moynihan's, was very loud and obnoxious on both instances of the sketch; enough for the sketches to drag slowly. I will say, however, when playing grounded characters, Cecily Strong is a more enjoyable performer. For instance, on February 16^th, Strong and Jason Jason Sudeikis starred in a cold opening two Triumph Cruise directors. Who were trying to calm down passengers amidst various problems. Throughout the piece, Cecily Strong possessed good chemistry with Sudeikis and her performances proved to be quite engaging. Thus, perhaps when anchoring “Weekend Update” with Seth Meyers, Cecily Strong will bestow a naturally performance.

Image of Cecily Strong as "The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party" and Seth Meyers taken from http://www.google.com/imgres?sa=X&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS473US477&biw=1382&bih=710&tbm=isch&tbnid=wxy0VfsHbDDhfM:&imgrefurl=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/09/saturday-night-live-cecily-strong-seth-meyers-to-co-anchor-weekend-update.html&docid=15v_AZll9o1GcM&imgurl=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/snl-weekend-update-cecily-strong-seth-meyers.jpg&w=560&h=327&ei=FjRDUomiPJW34AOR8IH4CQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=337&vpy=135&dur=1218&hovh=171&hovw=294&tx=128&ty=93&page=1&tbnh=137&tbnw=232&start=0&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:87

But while Cecily Strong has gained attention this past season, there is a different castmember that I have found to be very engaging every time she's on screen. Kate McKinnon, who joined the show as a featured player Spring of 2012, has been a very engaging performer throughout her duration on the show so far. For one thing, McKinnon has presented viewers with some spot-on impressions; such as Scarlett Johansson and Ellen DeGenerous; the later being perfected in a sharp parody of her talk show. During which, Kate McKinnon perfected the comedian's fast-paced dialogue as well as her method of dancing. In addition, Kate McKinnon has done well portraying characters; particularly in a piece during which she played a patron at a bar; hooking up with the last male patron during last call. The first sketch took place on November 3^rd, with special Guest Host Louis C.K., and again on April 13^th; with Guest Host Vince Vaughn. When playing her character, Kate McKinnon possessed keen chemistry with the guest host; both performers bouncing one line after another off each other with ease. And when the sketch involved physical comedy, specifically getting intimate with the guest host's character, Kate McKinnon displayed a naturally funny comedic performance. All in all, I have enjoyed Kate McKinnon's performances in sketches on “Saturday Night Live” so far, and I'm hoping that she gets more opportunities this upcoming season.

Image of Kate McKinnon taken from http://snl.jt.org/detail.php?i=201211109

As for the male castmembers, I have mixed thoughts as well. For instance, Jay Pharaoh, who joined the cast as a featured player Fall of 2010 and has become a regular castmember this past season, is an adept impressionist; as he's done quite well impersonating President Barack Obama-- finely mimicking his voice and his mannerisms. Pharaoh has also brought forward some more enjoyable impressions; such as Oscar Winner Denzel Washington and Stand-Up Comic Katt Williams. Other than impressions, however, Jay Pharaoh hasn't dome much else on the program; often times speaking only one or two lines in sketches. There have even been a few times this season where he his only role in sketches was to react to the action taking place. Hopefully, in his fourth year on the show, Jay Pharoah steps up to the plate a bit more and brings us some original and creative sketches and characters. Otherwise, I'm not going to have a lot of hope for him as a castmember.

Image of Jay Pharoah as President Barack Obama taken from
http://snl.jt.org/detail.php?i=201209151

Another “Saturday Night Live” castmember I have mixed feelings about is Bobby Moynihan. In his five years on the show, I haven't been that impressed by Moynihan's characters. Most of them come off as being one-note and over-the-top. For instance, I haven't been too crazy about his somehow popular reoccurring character “Drunk Uncle”; a sloshed family member who appears on “Weekend Update” with the intention of making a commentary; only to spend up to five minuets rambling about any topic that comes to mind. Each “Update” segment featuring the character basically feels like a rehash; as there are hardly any differences to previous appearances. What's more, a typical “Dunk Uncle” segment also seems an excuse to fill time on “Weekend Update.” However, while characters might not be Moynihan's strong suit, I will say that the five-year castmember does a fine job playing the straightman of a sketch. Whenever playing the unfortunate foil to the main character of the sketch, Moynihan's straightforward delivery makes for some good laughs. An example of this took place takes the form of a dating game show entitled “It's a Date”; which aired on March 9^th with Guest Host Justin Timberlake. In the sketch, Moynihan played a hapless contestant competing against Timberlake's and Andy Samberg's R & B Duo and, in a blast from the past, The Festrunk Brothers; Steve Martin's and Dan Aykroyd's swinging foreign brothers. Watching Moynihan's character casually state that he know he's going to lose was humorous; primarily due to the actor's casual delivery. The idea of Moynihan playing a contestant who obviously knew he didn't stand a chance against two duos was a great one; and hopefully, the “Saturday Night Live” castmember can have more opportunities to play more characters like this in the upcoming season.

Image of Bobby Moynihan as "Drunk Uncle" taken from
http://snl.jt.org/char.php?i=877

But while I have mixed feelings about Jay Pharaoh and Bobby Moynihan, it has to be said that I am looking forward to seeing Castmember Taran Killam get more screentime. Since joining the show in September of 2010, Killam has demonstrated a knack for truly humorous impressions; among which include actors like Michael Cera, Brad Pitt, and Ashton Kutcher; as well as other figures like Piers Morgan, Rush Limbaugh, and Jon Huntsman. In addition, Taran Killam has managed to improve the quality of poorly-written sketch by showcasing enjoyably funny performances. One sketch this past season featured Killam as the obnoxious older brother of a young woman, played by Castmember Nasim Pedrad, who was dating a college boy; played by Guest Host Justin Bieber. Though the jokes in the sketch weren't very funny, as the main bit was centered around Killam's character going on about Bieber's on-stage persona's misspoken words, the “Saturday Night Live” castmember's antics and his over-the-top delivery brought out honest laughter. In addition, Taran Killam has exhibited keen comedic chemistry with his fellow castmembers; especially Bobby Moynihan. Whenever starring in sketches together, Moynihan and Killam interact well and they display energy that improves the quality of poorly-written sketches. It could possibly be said that Taran Killam can bring out better comedic performances from Bobby Moynihan. But needless to say, I am looking forward to see Killam get more screentime this season; especially as this will be his fourth year as a castmember.

Image of (from left to right) Taran Killam, Justin Bieber and Nasim Pedrad taken from http://snl.jt.org/detail.php?i=2013020910

But what really has me excited about this upcoming season of “Saturday Night Live” is that, for the first time since Fall of 2010, we are getting a significant group of new performers. Coming this weekend, “Saturday Night Live” will be getting a total of SIX new castmembers! I'm glad to see that Lorne Michaels and company are bring in a fresh batch of talent to bring new energy to the show. Joining the show are Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney; two members of the Internet sketch Comedy group “GoodNeighborstuff.” I have seem some of the troop's videos, and I interested in seeing their comedic chemistry live on the “Saturday Night Live” stage. Also, judging by some of their videos, I'm guessing that Beckett will serve as the straightman to most of Mooney's characters. Also, seeing as though these guys were part of an Internet comedy troupe, I'm guessing that Lorne Michaels and company are going to make these guys into the new “The Lonely Island”; the comedy group that Andy Samberg was a part of and the threesome responsible for creating the SNL Digital Shorts. Also joining the show is Noel Wells; who seems to specialize in celebrity impressions. I have seen some of Wells' work online and, I have to admit, she does some good impressions of actresses like Zooey Deschanel and Lena Dunham as well as musicians like Alanis Morissette and Adele. So needless to say, I'm looking forward to seeing Noel Wells bring her arsenal of impressions to “Saturday Night

Live.”

Image of (From top let to bottom right) Beck Bennett, Brooks Wheelan, John Milhiser, Nichael O'Brien, Noel Wells, and Kyle mooney taken from  http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/saturday-night-live-adds-6-new-cast-members-which-is-nice-but-whats-wrong-w-this-picture

In addition, stand-up comedian Brooks Wheelan will be joining the cast. I have seen two videos of his stand-up comedy; and, while his own stand-up comedy isn't that great, Wheelan has an energetic stage presence that could work well on the show. If he tones down his material for live television, perhaps Wheelan could bring bring some new life to “Saturday Night Live.” In addition, Lorne Michaels has promoted writer Michael O'Brien to the group of new featured players. O'Brien has been starring in a series of Internet videos entitled “7 Minuets in Heaven”; in which he interviews celebrities like Tina Fey and Paul Rudd in a wardrobe closet. Judging from the videos I have seen, Michael O'Brien has sort of a jovial attitude similar to that of Jimmy Fallon. From his interview shorts, I could see Michael O'Brien as a frequent commentator on “Weekend Update.” And, perhaps, a successor to Seth Meyers; once he leaves the show to take over the hosting position of NBC's “Late Night.” And finally, a comedian named John Milhiser has been added as a new featured player. Unfortunately, I haven't seen much of Milhiser's videos to have an opinion yet, but, I have read online that he does a good impression of John Cryer. Nevertheless, I am VERY excited to see what these six new performers contribute to “Saturday Night Live” in the upcoming season. And even though there will end up being a total of SIXTEEN castmembers for Season Thirty-Nine, I'm not TOO worried; as Lorne Michaels needs to do whatever he can to fill the void left by Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Jason Sudeikis. After all, A LOT of talent has left the show after this past season; and Michaels needs to do whatever he can to ke
ep audiences laughing! Especially with the departure of Bill Hader.

But no matter what, the iconic sketch-comedy series returns for its thirty-ninth season this Saturday night at 11:30pm; with Former Castmember Tina Fey hosting for her fourth time. I have to say, in all honesty, Fey is a good choice to host the premier episode. Considering that three longtime and successful castmembers have left the show after this past season as well as the fact that we are getting a lot of new performers, it is a good idea to have Tina Fey, who has achieved much success since leaving the show in May of 2006, host the season opener. It will be nice to see her back on the show and performing in skits once again. And, seeing as she used to co-host “Weekend Update from Fall of 2000 to Spring of 2004 with Former Castmember and Fellow Alum Jimmy Fallon, as well as from September of 2004 to May of 2006 with Amy Poehler, another successful alum, it would be nice to see Tina Fey appear on the weekly news segment as a way to introduce Cecily Strong as Seth Meyers' new co-anchor. In addition, I'm sure Tina Fey will interact very well with the new “Saturday Night Live” cast and it will be interesting to see how the sketches will unfold, Who knows? Maybe she'll even help out with some of the writing for this show. Nevertheless, I'm sure that Tina Fey will help get the thirty-ninth season of “Saturday Night Live” off on the right foot.

Image of Tina Fey and "SDaturday Night Live" Castmember Kenan Thompson taken from http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2013/09/25/lorne_michaels_brings_back_tina_fey_to_launch_new_snl_season.html

Now, as I said in a earlier post, I will not be live-blogging this week's episode; as I will be going away for the weekend. Upon returning, I will be watching the show online and then I will be posting an in-depth review of the show that features my strong opinions the sketches, the writing, the performances of the cast (especially those of the new performers), and other important matters.

So stay tuned. Enjoy watching the season premier of “Saturday Night Live” and stay tuned for my review. See you next week

Coming Soon to My Blog: Fall 2013 Edition

Welcome Back, Everybody! I hope you all had a wonderful Summer. It's September 2013, so you know what that means: More Nater-Tainment!!!

I took some time off from blogging; but nowI'm fully rested and I'm ready to blog once again. Here's what you can look forward to in the upcoming months:

1. New film reviews! I've only seen one movie in the past two months. You can expect a newreview up hopefully by the end of the week.
2. With the month of September underway, Season 39 of NBC's “Saturday Night Live” is around the corner-- kicking off on September 28^th at 11:30pm with Former Castmember Tina Fey taking center stage for her fourth time. Prior to the premier, I will be posting an article that lists my opinions on the current state of the show as well as sharing some more thoughts on the departures of longtime castmembers Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Jason Sudeikis. I will also be sharing my views on the rumored hiring of five new castmembers. And throughout the season, I will be posting comments throughout each episode; opining on the performances of the hosts and the cast well as the quality of the writing of the sketches as well as anything else that comes to mind during the broadcast. I do want to mention though that I will not be live-blogging the premier on September 28^th; as I have plans for that particular weekend. Upon returning, I will be viewing the premier online and then posting an in-depth review entailing my opinions on the quality of the writing as well as the performances. Needless to say, A LOT of my blogging this Fall will be about NBC's “Saturday Night Live.”
3. In addition, I have more articles in store for the upcoming weeks. I don't want to poil anything; as I want to surprise you all with some exciting writings. I will say this though: now that “The Office” has ended, a different NBC sitcom will be the subject of my critiquing. I don't want to reveal anything, but I promise you you can all expect some truly exciting articles.

So stay tuned, everyone. The upcoming weeks are going to be quite busy. I appreciate you all following my blog and I thank you for your patience. The Fall 2013 season is about to kick off!!! Welcome back, everyone, to “That's Nater-Tainment!”

Film Review: "The Internship"

There are several key components that make up a memorable comedy. First of all, the plot of the story must be very well-written and contain enough surprises that keep audiences members wanting to see what happens next. Second of all, the central characters need to be likeable and sympathetic enough in order to get viewers to root for them throughout the film. But, most all, in order to be completely successful, there needs to be a strong sense of comedic chemistry between the lead performers. Watching two or more performers interact in a naturally funny manner can make a movie enjoyable; even if the screenplay isn't great. Fortunately, however, if the audience is presented with a comedy that is cleverly written and is rich in pure comedic chemistry, than the complete experience can is truly memorable. And in the case of the June 7^th release of “The Internship,” the audience is treated to an pleasant time at the theaters; thanks to an honest screenplay and pure comedic chemistry between stats Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson-- together again after their 2005 comedy hit “Wedding Crashers.” Thus, I can say with utmost optimism:

“The Internship” is a Successful Big-Screen Reunion for Vince Vaughn and Own Wilson

In Director Shawn Levy's 2013 comedy, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson stars as Billy McMahon and Nick Campbell; two watch salesman who are let go after their boss Sammy Boscoe, played by John Goodman, informs them that he's out of business. With no other options, Billy convinces Nick to sit down for an online interview for a potential internship at Google, that could hopefully lead them to getting new full-time jobs. Even though they lack much experience, the pair are accepted into the internship program. After arriving at Google, our protagonists learn that they will be competing in teams for the full-time position. But more interestingly, Vaughn's Billy and Wilson's Billy learn that they are the only adult applicants in attendance. After being ahut out of every group, Billy and Nick join up with a group of accepted interns that have also been rejected from the other groups: phone-obsessed Stuart, played by Dylan O'Brien, home-schooled Yo-Yo, played by Tobit Raphael, and tech-savy Neha- played by Tiya Sircar. The group is led by Lyle, played by Josh Brener, an upbeat young Google employee who possesses his own share of insecurities. While Billy and Nick have difficulty understanding modern-day computer lingo as well as the latest trends in technology, they get the group of young applicants to work together as a team. And throughout the film, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson truly shine thanks to their hilarious banter as well as their own comedic styles.

Image of Owen Wilson as Nick Campbell and Vince Vaughn as Billy McMahon taken from http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS473US477&biw=1050&bih=542&tbm=isch&tbnid=ZBs_yz9BG6F-MM:&imgrefurl=http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/1

Of course, the funniest parts of “The Internship” come from Vince Vaughn's engaging performance as Billy McMahon. Vaughn's signature rapid-fire delivery is as sharp as ever; as he mouthing off many humorous lines in a matter of minutes. The actor has many humorous scenes in the film; including sequences in which his character tries to connect with the internship program's head organizer Mr. Chetty; played by Aasif Mandavi. Watching Billy's playful attempts to invite the unswerving official to go out to a bar for drinks are enjpyable; mainly due to Vince Vaughn’s genuine charisma. And Vaughn interacts quite well with the young actors playing his fellow interns; particularly with Josh Brener's Lyle-- who Billy tries to make more confident with approaching a professor he has romantic feelings for. Brener emerges as a good straight-man to Vaughn, and the pair play-off each other finely. In other words, just as we have seen with his character in “Wedding Crashers,” Vince Vaughn's comedic performance is a significant source of most of the comedy in “The Internship”.

But what's so great about Vince Vaughn, as an actor, is that he enables audiences to feel the exact same emotions his characters are experiencing. He does this in a completely flawless manner; due to his believable performance. For instance, when applying over the computer with Owen Wilson's Nick Campbell, Vaughn's Billy goes from joking around with the questions he's being asked by the interviewers,played by B.J. Novak and Karen Ceesay, to making an honest statement about how he and his friend are out of options and want a chance to prove themselves worthy of the internship that will hopefully lead to full-time employment. When Vaughn's character is pleading his case, the audience can truly understand just how determined our protagonists are and how far they are willing to go when working at Google. Another example of Vince Vaughn's ability to connect with the audience takes place later in the film, when he and his teammates are competing in a crucial event in the competition. As the event unfolds, it appears that Vaughn's Billy knows exactly how he is doing; as his character is seen playing around during the competition; as it's clear as day that he knows what he's taking about and he figures he can have some fun while performing his tasks. However, once the competition is over, it is revealed that Vaughn's character made an error so critical, that it could greatly affect the team's chances at winning. The audience can see just how shocked Vaughn's character is when realizing the mistake; and are fully aware of the weight of the situation. What's more, the audience goes from laughing at the character's humorous comments to slowly understanding the negative consequences of his mistake. And as the film unfolds, the audience hopes that everything will end up alright and that Vaughn's Billy succeeds in the end. Simply put, the actor's performance throughout “The Internship” is wholeheartedly believable and we can root for him all of the way. Vince Vaughn is a very talented performer!

While Vince Vaughn's performance as Billy McMahon is indeed memorable, it is also important to highlight Owen Wilson's role of Nick Campbell. Throughout the film, Wilson's on-screen persona mainly serves as the essential straightman to Vaughn's character. Vaughn's primarily serves as the catalyst for the plot of the film; whereas Wilson does a fine job being Billy's staightman. Though, while Billy serves as the idea's man, Wilson's Nick proves to be the more responsible one; being the first of the pair to get a full grasp on the technology class material. Also, much like his protagonist in “Wedding Crashers,” Wilson serve's as the film's romantic lead; as his protagonist falls for Google administrator Dana; played by Rose Byrne. Wilson and Byrne possess good chemistry; especially during a sequence when they go out for dinner. Watching the two interact is enjpyable, and, like with Vaughn, Wilson's engaging performance allows his character to be very likable.

But while Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn perform very well on their own, it is their scenes together that greatly make “The Internship” a great comedy film. Just as we've seen in “Wedding Crashers,” the comedic chemistry between the two performers is omnipresent. In fact, right at the start of the film, the Vaughn and Wilson engage in a cheery sequence that gets the audience smiling right away. It's the perfect scene to show viewers just what they are in store for. In addition, when our protagonists start working with their teammates on a task centered around debugging, it is a treat to watch Vaughn and Wilson come up with various methods in hopes of figuring some calculations. In addition, when the competing in a game of Quiddich with the other groups of interns, Vaughn and Wilson are hilarious as they try to motivate their teammates to work together; as they deliver one humorous line after another. The duo's comedic chemistry is still sharp,leading to them keeping the audience's attention throughout the film. Simply put, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson posses great comedic chemistry and their performances throughout “The Internship” are terrific!

It is also important to mention that the screenplay of “The Internship” proves to be just as memorable as the performances of the film's leading actors. The screenplay, co-written by Vince Vaughn and Jared Stern basically tells the honest story of two guys who work for nothing in hopes of gaining full-time employment. Thanks to the screenplay written by Vaughn and Stern, we are able to observe just how far our protagonists are willing to go. Through they have difficulty understanding the latest technical breakthroughs at Google, our protagonists know that they need to stick it out. And even though Vaughn's Billy and Wilson's Nick prove to be oldest applicants, they eventually manage to get their teammates to work together. And, throughout the film, Screenwriters Vince Vaughn and Jared Stern manage to successfully balance the level of humor and seriousness; thus bestowing a believable story that keeps viewers focused the whole time; as events ultimately lead to a very satisfying ending.

Image of (from left to right) Josh Grener as Lyle Spaulding, Owen Wilson as Nick Campbell, Vince Vaughn as Billy McMahon, Tobit Raphael as Yo-Yo Santos, Dylan O'Brien as Stuart Twombly, and Tiya Sircar as Neha Patel taken from http://www.moviefanatic.com/2013/06/the-internship-review-dated-or-dead-on/

All in all, “The Internship” is an engaging film as well as a great reunification for Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. And, in a Summer filled with action films, it is nice to bask in the sheer glory of a refreshing story, engaging performances, and genuine comedy.

New Film Review will be Available Sometime Next Week

I am currently working on my next film review.  I am taking my time with it because I want it to be REALLY GOOD!!!  This review will be for a comedy I saw recently.  Expect it up sometime next week. 

I thank you all for your petience and stay tuned for my next review!

From the Mind of Nate: My Season Finale Review of Season Thirty-Eight of "Saturday Night Live" as well as My Overall Opinion on the Season as a Whole

Well, Season Thirty-Eight of NBC's “Saturday Night Live” has come to an end. On May 18^th, 2013, Ben Affleck celebrated his fifth hosting stint on the long-running variety show as well as the end of the season. It was a bittersweet finale though. Despite some not-so-great writing in certain areas, the episode was more highlighted by the fact that it was the last for long-time castmembers Fred Armisen and Bill Hader; the latter of whom will leave a significant void after making viewers laugh for eight years through hilarious impersonations and characters. As previously reported, however, it has been stated in reports that fellow longtime castmember Jason Sudeikis has not yet decided whether or not he'll be departing the show. Henceforth, there is a chance he could be back for the new season. This would be very beneficial to the long-running sketch comedy show; seeing that Sudeikis has been a reliable performer who has been able to improve the quality of sketches through his charismatic delivery and penchant for playing any kind of role; whether it be a comical character or even a likable straightman. Surely this episode would be important to watch. Nevertheless, the season finale of this season needed to be memorable; considering the departing castmembers. Fortunately, despite weak writing, we got just that.

Cold Opening- “Politic Nation with Al Sharpton”

I've never been a big fan if these reoccurring sketches; mainly because the primary joke always revolves around Al Sharpton's, played by longtime castmember Kenan Thompson, mispronunciation of words. Tonight's installment was basically the same thing as previous installments. Thompson did the best he could with the material, however, and his delivery helped improve the quality of the sketch. Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis gave humorous performances as their characters, though they didn't have much to work with. In addition, I was a little disappointed to see that neither Sudeikis or Hader got to open the show by saying “Live From New York...”; considering that the latter had publicly announced that tonight's show would be his last. Despite the good performances by Thompson. Hader, and Sudeikis, this opening turned out, unfortunately, nothing special.

Monologue- Ben Affleck

I always enjoy it when Ben Affleck hosts the long-running sketch comedy show, and I was glad to see him acknowledge the '5-Timers Club'; considering that he is now a member. However, I was wondering if they would be doing the whole '5- Timers Club' monologue again; considering that we just saw Justin Timberlake get the royal treatment this past March. Bobby Moynihan was pretty funny here; with him being the one to bare the news that they couldn't do the whole star-studded affair; seeing that everyone was there for Timberlake. I got a laugh out of Moynihan wearing the 5-Timers shirt and faintly tossing confetti into the air. The second half of the monologue was alright; with Affleck's real-life wife Jennifer Garner showing up to prove that there are no problems in their marriage; as people thought that the pair were experiencing marital problems when Affleck failed to mention her when accepting the Academy Award for “Argo.” The bit went on a bit too long; though I have to commend Affleck and Garner for going along with the bit.

Image of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/12/12umono.phtml

Sketch-- “Bengo F@@k Yourself”

This wasn't a bad sketch. Fred Armisen gave a good performance as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; who was presenting Iran's answer to Ben Affleck's “Argo”; which happened to be of the Iranian President portraying the actor pitching the idea for the film to a studio. Armisen's over-the-top fake Boston accent was very funny; as was Bill Hader's Iranian character impersonating a Hollywood executive. Ben Affleck was also very funny, with him saying that he wanted to help out so he could make a film worse than “Gigli.” Watching Affleck portray a crewmember interacting with Armisen's “impersonation” was humorous and it just goes to show just how the Hollywood actor is able to make fun of himself in completely good fun. “Saturday Night Live” needs more hosts like Ben Affleck who have no problem cutting loose in sketches.

Image of Ben Affleck playing Himself as a Cameraman and Fred Armisen as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad playing Ben Affleck taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/12/12ubengo.phtml

Sketch- Depression Scene

This was a creative sketch that Bill Hader carried very well. He is always able to pull off that old timey matter of speaking of the 1930s-1950s. All the performances in this sketch were very good; including Ben Affleck playing a businessman offering a “desperate” 'Edward Bing', played by Hader, a job at a construction company-- despite the latter not wanting to come in to work before 10:00am. The back and forth between

 Hader and Affleck was great and they possessed good chemistry. In addition, Catsmember Kate McKinnon was good as 'Prima Donna',; a woman that was preseumed by Affleck's character to be the wife of Hader's character. The sketch played out well and the end was very good. Overall, a very creative and well-written sketch.

Sketch: New Beginnings Summer Camp

I am not a fan of sketches that rely on jokes aimed at homosexuality, To me, it's a crutch the writers use to get easy laughs out of the audience. That being said, this wasn't terrible. Ben Affleck gave a solid performance as the camp counselor working at a Christian summer camp. Affleck dis what he could with the weak material; though the writing wasn't very funny. Castmember Taran Killam provided a couple chuckles with his sudden fan dance. However, this sketch just wasn't that reat.

Sketch: "Weekend Update with Seth Meyers"

Well, here we go. The final “Weekend Update” of Season Thirty-Eight of “Saturday Night Live.” Where to begin? First, I was happy to see Amy Poehler return for the season finale and engage in a new “Really??” segment with Seth Meyers; who going to be hosting “Late Night” starting next February when Jimmy Fallon goes on to host “The Tonight Show.” The “Really??” segment for this episode wasn't great, but I can't deny the fact that Meyers and Poehler have good chemistry. Their little exchanges between jokes were amusing and a good reminder of how enjoyabletheir years anchoring “Weekend Update” were.

And now we came to Bill Hader's final appearance on “Weekend Update” as his popular reoccurring character “Stefon” before leaving the “Saturday Night Live”. First, I must say that I liked the leering response Hader's character made when meeting Amy Poehler for the first time. It's interesting to note this, because Hader never played “Stefon” when she was anchoring “Weekend Update” with Seth Meyers. I enjoyed seeing Hader's character give one more bizarre nightclub description; particularly when he said that the club in question (which the character referred to as “Pants”) had, among the attractions listed, sling and mesh bladder implants as well as the table from “Charlie Rose.” Hader's performance as the character was still hilarious as usual; though I was unprepared for the surprises that followed.

First of all, I knew things were going to take an interesting turn when Hader's “Stefon” left in a huff after having enough of Seth Meyers wanting to hear more appropriate locations for families to visit in the city. And I then had a feeling we were in for something bit when Hader's “Stefon” said he was getting married. Things got even more intriguing when Meyers, in a clearly humorous manner, started crying at the possible thought of losing “Stefon” forever; leading to Amy Poehler to encourage him to go after him.

What followed now, with credit to the “Saturday Night Live” writing staff, was a humorous parody of Dustin Hoffman's 1967 film “The Graduate”; as Seth Meyers chases after “Stefon” to a lavish church where, in a pre-taped segment, Bill Hader's character was about to be married to Television Personality Anderson Cooper; in a surprise cameo. But what was even more hilarious was that most people in attendance were various characters that Hader's “Stefon” has identified as attending the various nightclubs he's described over the past few years!!! Among the outrageously-hilarious characters included “Human Traffic Cones”, “Fat Urkles,” “Gerfs” (aka “German Smurfs”), and “Puppets in Disguise” (in the form of “Alf” in a trench coat and sunglasses). The bit got even more hilarious as Seth Meyers called after “Stefon”; who responded by screaming “Seth!!!” in an extremely feminine voice). The whole thing got me laughing out loud in my chair; as I saw even more bizarre characters; including “Menorah the Explorer” and “DJ Baby Bok Choy”; who blocked off an angry mob as Seth Meyers and “Stefon” escaped together. The whole thing led up to the pair returning live to the studio; where Amy Poehler and all the “Weekend Update” characters from Seth Meyers' tenure as anchor stood throwing rice at the happy couple. The whole thing was a hilarious and beautiful way to bid farewell to Bill Hader; who, as I stated before, will be greatly missed from “Saturday night Live.”

I am also wondering if this particular installment of “Weekend Update” was meant to serve as Seth Meyers' last; considering that he's going to be assuming hosting “Late Night”. I mean, Amy Poehler was back and we got all the characters from Meyers' time on Update. This edition could clearly serve as Seth Meyers' departure from “Weekend Update”; which leaves the question.... “Who will be the next 'Weekend Update' anchor?” I guess we'll just have to wait and see. All in all, a great way to end “Weekend Update” for the season as well as a great send-off for Bill Hader!

Image of (from left to right) Cecily Strong as "Girl at a Party", Nasim Pedrad as Arianna Huffington, Kenan Thompson as "Jean K. Jean", 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

Sketch: Greg's Funeral

Now this was a sketch that was quite funny. Ben Affleck gave a very humorous performance as the “uncle” of the deceased Greg; a man greatly disliked by members of his family-- played by members of the cast. Affleck's character kept on defending his nephew, who he kept insisting he was dead, despite the fact that he was indeed Greg and that he faked his death. All the castmembers gave humorous performances the members of Greg's family; particularly Kate McKinnon, who played his angry ex-wife, and Castmember Taran Killam; whp portrayed his father's son-- going on a rant on why he clearly knows that his father his alive and faked his death. In addition, Jason Sudeikis gave a good performance as the funeral director; who earnestly tried to keep the event moving along and give everyone in attendance a chance to talk. Affleck was hilarious throughout the sketch with his over-the-top fake Mexican accent-- as he claimed he was from Mexico-- and that was why noone has heard of him before. This was a very humorous sketch.

Sketch: Hermes Handbags

I have grown tired of these sketches that feature Castmembers Vanessa Bayer and Cecily Strong as two porn stars advertising different products. Despite the decent performances from Strong and Bayer, their dialogue just came off as very ridiculous and very forced. Ben Affleck's character was the only part of this I laughed at, and the actor was funny; especially when he kept swinging into frame. Simply put, this was basically just a rehash of the first two installments.

Sketch: Shana's Engagement

This was basically just a one-note sketch that, despite good performances, it just dragged on a bit too long. That being said, Ben Affleck, Bill Hader, and Fred Armisen were funny as their tough-guy police officers getting emotional at a daughter's engagement party. Affleck, Armisen, and Hader did well with their New Jersey accents, though the obvious joke got old quick. Bobby Moynihan was humorous as well as the grandfather; though I wish his bit went on a bit longer. Jason Sudeikis' appearance at eh end as the police Sergent was humorous as well; but his inclusion felt a bit rushed as well. Good performances by all, even though the joke of all them getting more emotional as things went on went on a bit too long.

Sketch: Ian Rubbish and The Bizarros

Now this was a classy send-off for Fred Armisen. First of all, I was happy to see Armisen reprise his “Ian Rubbish” character from the “History of Punk” short film from the Vince Vaughn show from this past April. It's clear that Fred Armisen is a fan of British Punk Rock, and he and Bill Hader do well with their English accents. The song they performed (“It's a Lovely Day”) along with Jason Sudeikis on drums and Taran Killam on guitar was very catchy as well as very sentimental. You could tell that Fred Armisen is going to miss being on the show; and with all do respect, he was a good sketch comedy performers-- despite his lackluster impression of Barack Obama; which he did on the show from February 2008 to May 2012 as well as starring in the overused reoccurring sketch “The Californians.” The appearances of musicians Steve Jones, J Mascis, Kim Gordon, Aimee Mann, and Michael Penn as well as Armisen's “Portlandia” co-star Carrie Brownstein were nice touches and the whole performance was very enjoyable. Lastly, it was nice to see Bill Hader and Fred Armisen perform together on stage one last time before they go their separate ways. All in all, a good farewell for Armisen and even Hader as well as a nice way to close the 2012-2013 season of “Saturday Night Live.”

Image of Fred Armisen as "Ian Rubbish" taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/12/12urubbish.phtml

And that's the show. Ben Affleck did a fine job as host; though I'm glad he took a step back to allow Bill Hader and Fred Armisen to have their farewells. And despite the weak writing of some of the sketches, memorable performances of the cast and Affleck made the night enjoyable and memorable. As for Musical Guest Kanye West, I have nothing to say. His songs weren't catchy and all and, in all honesty, he just sounded angry when he was performing; constantly screaming into his microphone when singing.

All in all, an enjoyable season finale and a wonderful fare well for Bill Hader and Fred Armisen.

Well, that concludes the 2012-2013 season of “Saturday night Live”. And what an uneven season this was. True, longtime castmembers Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg were gone, but veteran performers Bill Hader and Jason Sudeikis were still around. Both performers continued to provide laughs for the audience; with Hader continuously showcasing top-notch impressions of well-known public figures and Sudeikis regularly turning in engaging comedic performances in sketches-- whether it be a humorous straightman to comedic characters played by hosts like Melissa McCarthy and Zach Galifianakis-- or even a humorous character-- such as a laid-back security guard to Guest Host Justin Bieber that introduced a group of body-doubles that bared hardly any resemblance to the popular musician during an episode that aired February 9^th of this year. I will also say that, despite the ridiculousness of the reoccurring sketch “The Californians”, longtime castmember Fred Armisen, who will be leaving this year, did manage to turn in memorable performances as fictional British Punk Rock Singer Ian Rubbish; who first appeared this past April in a pre-taped short film that aired on April 13^th that featured a profile on the character's fondness for the late Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. All three veteran performers have done what they could with the material they were given; and some of the best moments of the season came from them.

Image of Bill Hader as Clint Eastwood taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/12/12aeastwood.phtml

I will say that some of the newer performers have kept my attention throughout the season. For example, Jay Pharoah, who first joined the cast as a featured player back in September 2010, has done quite well taking over the important impression of President Barack Obama from Fred Armisen. Pharoah has managed to mimic the President's manner of speaking; though, unfortunately, the sketch comedy program's writers haven't created very memorable sketches for the three-year- castmember; and I'm hoping he gets better sketches that allow him to showcase his impression. I will also say that three-year castmember Taran Killam has done very well in sketches; particularly in a piece where he played the obnoxious older brother of a young woman, played by castmember Nasim Pedrad, who was dating a shy young man; played by host Justin Bieber. When Bieber's character accidentally combined the words “glad” and “nice” into a single word (“glice”), Killam's character continuously ribbed the young man on his flaw in over-the-top ways. Even though the sketch went on a bit too long, Killam's performance was humorous; mainly due to his the comical tone of his voice and fast-paced body movements. Killam also turned in a comical performance as an audience member who humored a hypnotist, played by guest host Joseph Gordon-Levitt, by pretending to go into a deep trance. Throughout the sketch, Killam's character engaged in activities like pretending to be a dinosaur as well as “revealing” a “personal secret” about his wife, played by castmember Vanessa Bayer. Though the sketch was a little ridiculous at times, Killam's performance was humorous.

Image of Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Hypnotist "Tommy Bergamont" and Taran Killam as "Curtis" taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/12/12bhypnotist.phtml

I will also say that some of the female castmembers have provided laughs'; particularly featured player Kate McKinnon; who managed to rise above some of her fellow performers when providing some truly comic performance. One such sketch, which took place on April 3^rd, McKinnon played a barfly who kept hitting on a fellow patron; played by guest host and actor-comedian Louis C.K. The two performers had great chemistry entire thing kept escalating until both performers engaged in a prolonged make-out session that went on even after they left the bar they were drinking at. The sketch was very funny due to the performances of McKinnon and Louis C.K.; and even though the sketch was executed on April 13^th,the actress' performance and chemistry with guest host Vince Vaughn made the segment humorous once again. I look forward to seeing McKinnon offer more humorous performances next season. In short terms, the cast has done what they could throughout the season; despite the weak writing that is significantly affecting the show.

Image of Louis C.K. as "Don Pants" and Kate McKinnon as "Sheila Sovage" taken from http://snltranscripts.jt.org/12/12flastcall.phtml

While the performances of the “Saturday Night Live” cast have been greatly important in regards to the season as a whole, I do want to mention that certain hosts have done their fare share to improve the quality of the show as a whole. A good amount of the hosts this have in fact been on the show before; some of which made triumphant returns, while some others didn't. For instance, Justin Timberlake, who celebrated his fifth hosting stint on March 9^th, was able to greatly improve the quality of the show through his performances and charisma. For instance, Timberlake managed to salvage his signature reoccurring sketch, which happens to be his well-known “dancing mascot” character, and make it watchable; thanks in large part to his enthusiastic performance. Dressed as a vegan cake, Timberlake engaged in humorous banter with castmember Bobby Moynihan; who was playing the hapless vendor for Sausage Depo. The exchanges between the two performer were humorous; and the segment was also highlighted by a fun spoof of the popular “Harlem Shake” viral videos. It should also be mentioned that Timberlake went on to being one of this season's best musical guests as well; as his performance of his hit song “Suit & Tie” that featured a surprise appearance of well-known rapper Jay-Z. It was also very appropriate for Timberlake to receive the red carpet treatment when commemorating his fifth hosting stint with the resurfacing of the '5-Timers Club'; complete with special appearances from fellow multi-time hosts-- such as Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, and Former Castmember Chevy Chase. Surely Justin Timberlake's show went on to be possibly the best of the season.

Image of Candance Bergen, Justin Timberlake, Tom Hanks, and Alec Baldwin taken from http://snl.jt.org/detail.php?i=201303092

As for other returning hosts, I was happy to see Fellow Former Castmember Martin Short return to host as well. Emceeing the December 15^th episode, provided enthusiastic performances alongside the cast. Particularly with Bill Hader, who, in one sketch, played a British gynecologist who received a visit from a representative for the Royal Family, played by Short, and became ever more confused by the unorthodox requirements for performing Kate Middleton's pregnancy. Martin Short and Bill Hader had great chemistry and the sketch played out flawlessly. Short continued to perform well thoughout the show; including during a piece where he and Fred Armisen played old friends who meet up at Restoration Hardware and reminisced about strange activities they engaged in years ago. The sketch was quite humorous and was also a nice break from the type of over-the-top sketches that take place in the last half hour of various episodes this season. The whole episode was fun and is the second best show of the season.

While Martin Short and Justin Timberlake were among the best returning hosts of the season, some others could be considered not so lucky. Melissa McCarthy, who hosted April 6^th, failed to recapture the glory of her previous hosting stint from the previous season. While the sketches from her first show featured a good amount of fun performances from the cast, McCarthy's show this season suffered due to the fact that every character she played was basically the same. Thanks in large part to the weak writing, every one of her characters had the same basic personality; causing them all to blend together. In addition, the castmembers, instead of getting a lot to do, were mainly relegated to simply reacting to the antics of McCarthy's characters. All in all, it was just a poorly written episode. Another returning host who failed to turn in memorable performances was Jamie Foxx; who first hosted back on January 8^th, 2000. In his December 8^th, 2012 show, Foxx turned in some not-so enjoyable performances; particularly during his monologue, in which he sang a rather unengaging song and went on to ask the question “How black is that?” regarding different topics. For most of the show, Foxx imparted some uninspired acting that wasn't at all funny; particularly during a game show sketch where he played a rather rude emcee who kept referring to his contestant as “Bitches”. The sketch wasn't funny at all and it basically relied on the same joke; a crutch the “Saturday Night Live” writers use all the time when crafting sketches. Despite a humorous performance as the bailiff in the first ever “Maine Justice” sketch, Jamie Foxx just came off as being a rather forgettable host. Hopefully, next season we get hosts who can successfully pull off memorable hosting stints.

We also got a couple of memorable performances from from some celebrities that went on to be good first-time hosts. For instance, “Family Guy” Creator Seth MacFarlane, got the ball rolling during the season premier; which aired September 15^th of this past year. Throughout the show, MacFarlane demonstrated his fine impression skills when performing a musical number for his monologue; which included imitations of Michael J. Fox as “Marty McFly” (from “Back to the Future”), classic cartoon character “Droopy Dog”, and even “Kermit the Frog.” MacFarlane also shined in a particular sketch featuring castmember Nasim Pedrad; which centered on a blind date at a restaurant in a mall. Throughout the sketch, MacFarlane and Pedrad demonstrated their ability to do different voices; and they both had keen chemistry. MacFarlane did very well throughout the show; being able to play characters as well as straightmen in sketches. His overall performance eventually led him to host this past year's Academy Awards, and I wouldn't mind seeing him appear on “Saturday night Live” again.

Another first-time host that did well was actor-comedian Louis C.K.; who was able to portray both straightmen as well as a comical character in a sketch. One such segment saw Louis C.K. Playing a clerk at a hotel who was listing the bizarre charges a visiting businessman, played by Bobby Moynihan, following a short stay. The interactions between Louis C.K. And Moynihan got more humorous as the sketch went on; particularly as the list of charges on more and more bizarre. Just the casual manner that Louis C.K. spoke in was enough to make me laugh; as he basically listed every charge much to the chagrin of Moynihan's character, Like Seth MacFarlane, I would enjoy seeing Louis C.K. Host a second time.

Image of Nasim Pedrad and Seth MacFarlane taken from http://snl.jt.org/detail.php?i=2012091512

But while there were first-time hosts I would enjoy seeing appear on the show again, there are a couple that I wasn't too fond of. For instance, on January 26^th of this year, Musician-Television personality Adam Levine hosted for his first time, and throughout the whole night, you could tell he was reading the cue cards. Furthermore, Levine hardly showed any genuine enthusiasm in the sketches, and he did not have good chemistry with the “Saturday Night Live” cast. Some sketches even ended a bit too abruptly as well; including a segment that involved Levine interacting with various musicians, played by members of the cast, at a bar; eventually leading to what was supposed to be a brawl, but instead just fizzled out by the conclusion without any real climax. Another first-time host that failed to impress for the most part was Jeremy Renner; who, for some of the evening's sketches, kept stumbling over his lines. In addition, when playing the piano during his monologue, Renner appeared uncomfortable on stage; even at one point saying the phrase “why am I doing this?” You could tell he was feeling awkward the whole time, and he hardly seemed to be giving it his all; particularly in an installment of the reoccurring sketch “The Californians”-- as he failed to properly speak in the comical manner of speaking his fellow performers were engaging. Aside from the performances of the cast during the show, Jeremy Renner just didn't work out as a comedic performer, and I'm not even sure if I could see him return to the show. Thus, I really hope that next season feature some first-time hosts that deliver sharp comedic performances that truly improve any lackluster sketches.

Image of Fred Armisen and Jeremy Renner in "The Californians" taken from http://snl.jt.org/detail.php?i=201211174

So who knows how the upcoming season will go. With the announced departures of Fred Armisen and Bill Hader; there will be a significant void left on the show; one that will clearly stand out due to the absence of the latter performer. However, it is unknown if Jason Sudeikis will be coming back; as stated before. If he sticks around for the next season, it will be a good thing; mainly because he would obviously get more screentime in sketches. With the rest of the cast hopefully returning, I will give the start of Season Thirty-Nine a fair chance to be funny. However, if the show isn't very memorable or funny at all, I might be thinking twice about live-blogging the entire season. We'll see what happens in September.

I Apologize But My Review Will Be Up By Next Week

I apologize for the delay.  It's taking me a bit longer than I expected to have my review and overall verdict of Season Thirty-Eight of "Saturday Night Live."  My article is going to be longer than I thought and I want to make sure it is REALLY GOOD!

My review should be up by next week at some point.  I promise you this:  It will be over before May 2013 is over.

Please stay tuned.  I promise you it will be worth the wait.  Have a good and safe holiday weekend and stay tuned for my article!

Well that's the season finale

That's it for my live-blogging coverage of  tonight's episode.  I'll be posting my review and my verdict on the season by Thursday aat the latest.

Thank you all for following my blog and stay tuned for more Nater-Tainment!