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Ed Helms, you guys. I never thought he was particularly funny on The Daily Show. I’m sorry, Ed Helms. Admittedly, that’s one of those opinions that’s not particularly useful. It is literally an Internet opinion. “Gay!” That being said, I have really come to enjoy Ed Helms in most of his other projects, including The Office and Very Bad Trip, and one thing that all grouchy misanthropes charged with blogging about pop-culture can agree upon is that there is nothing better than being proven wrong. Seriously! It’s the best. I was wrong about Ed Helms. He is great! Perhaps Ed Helms’s greatest strength is his banjo playing overpowering likability. So likable! In his opening monologue on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live when he said that he wasn’t married, he just looked like he was married, he was right. That’s somehow part of it. And then when he did his baton-twirling routine, it was so goofy and stupid and full of joyful silliness, and that was part of it, too. Just likable. And he lent that powerful (overpowerful?) tone to the whole episode.
The whole episode was enjoyable from start to finish with almost no duds! There was the corn syrup commercial, which was great, although according to Hulu.com it was originally aired during the Zach Galifianakis episode, although I don’t remember that. There was a decent What’s Up With That although I am starting to feel like maybe that sketch has finally run its course (then again: California Raisins) but if we’re really going to talk about this week’s episode then let’s just get right to it: the Ambiguously Gay Duo short directed by Jason Woliner (Human Giant, Parks and Recreation, Eagleheart, etc) and featuring Jon Hamm, Jimmy Fallon, Steve Carrell, and Will Ferrell. Man oh man:
The end! I mean, we could start and end this whole post with that sketch because it was the highlight of the episode, probably the highlight of the season, and might have been better suited to next week’s season finale because seriously, what are they going to do to top it? Hopefully something amazing! But so, right, that happened.
You know what else happened? Garth and Kat!
Garth and Kat!
Speaking of music, a lot of this week’s episode isn’t online because of licensing rights. Like, the monologue because of “Eye of the Tiger.” Also, that sketch where the dudes all reminisce around the poker table because of whatever that song was I don’t remember.
In addition to an over-abundance of celebrity impersonations, recent seasons of episodes of Saturday Night Live have focused on old-timey stuff (Lawrence Welk Show, those Cinema Classics sketches, etc) and this week’s episode had two, both of them very good and very odd. There was “One Take Tony”:
And “Ann Margaret Throws Away a Piece of Paper”:
Who are these sketches for? I do not know! I guess, it turns out, they are for me, because I do enjoy them. I also enjoyed (man, I am on SEGUE FIRE today!) the republican campaign ad that (basically) closed out the show:
That’s what it’s like sometimes in this crazy mixed up world! Also: Paul Simon. He is very good at music but not as good at not looking like a crazy porcelain old man troll doll with a lesbian haircut. Anyway, like I was saying: Ed Helms, you guys. So likable.
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You forgot to mention that the Ambiguously Gay duo also featured Stephen Colbert!
Technically, the lovely Mr Colbert is in every Ambiguously Gay duo but Gabe was wrong to leave him out of that dream team line-up!
Stephen Colbert looks strikingly like Larry David with that (lack of) hair.
no mention for steve carell? seeing them together made me long for another “even steven”
Carell is also in every episode of Ambiguously Gay Duo because he voices Ace.
I would just like to point out that Godsauce and I both went to high school with Ed Helms. Discuss.
That is awesome! He went to the same college as me… but not at the same time. So that is not as cool. What was he like in high school?!
Hacksaw Jim Duggan went to my high school. Not at the same time as me, but he still holds the shotput record. True story.
I’m going to become the famous person that all the people I went to high school with went to high school with…that’s the plan… i heard once that if you believe in yourself, and with a tiny pinch of magic, all your dreams will come true!
(Couldn’t help myself…)
zomg i almost picked that one
Steve Carrell looked like Tom Cruise in that getup.
It took me a minute to figure out it was him!
Holy fuck, that must have either been a. A great show b. A great vacation or c. Some great coke
Sorry, that came out weird. Gabe does not do coke. Or does he? (he doesn’t)
This episode further proves my theory on how to make anything better: Just add Hamm.
That’s funny, because in the food world, they say “Everything is better with Bacon”. They are all huge Footloose fans.
Also: pretty good episode. Loved the second-hand news segment, the Obama as a stand-up comedian opening was pretty funny, the Republican candidate thing was short and sweet and while What’s Up With That got a little convuluted, Jason Sudeikis dancing. Keep it up, SNL!
For some reason the poker sketch reminded me of Bill Brasky, which was a very good sketch. Apparently that had also been done before but I have not seen the first one.
Weekend update was just like a three strikes kind of thing. Three overdone, overused bits that seemed just phoned in, in preparation for the finale next week. Second Hand News is getting a bit dull, Jay Pharaoh bores the hell out of me, and Garth and Kat are just ugh. Seth Meyers, you save any episode, but you had a lot of bad guests Saturday…
I just liked knowing that Jay Pharaoh is still there, I mean it must be hard having 4 new people who are all really good and giving them the spotlight they deserve, but Jay pretty much disappeared for like half this season
It seems like they all take turns. Like, Terran was all over the jam a few weeks ago, now he wasn’t even in his show. Same with Paul Brittan. I feel like Jay Pharaoh is a one trick pony though: he impersonates black celebrities and, more often then not, he oversells it (especially with Will Smith). I get that that’s kind of the point, but… like “WHOOOO!” after everything you say? We’ll tell you when to dial it back Jay; DIAL IT BACK, JAY.
Garth and Kat are the worst. Well that and the Target lady. Or Gillie. Or the stupid baby hands singer girl. Or any crappy Kristin Wiig character that isn’t 2 A-holes. I don’t dislike Kristin Wiig, but I hate it when she’s shakey voiced gimmick bleaugh.
I like the stupid baby hands singer character but agree with you on the other stuff. HATED this episode by the way except for the anonymously gay duo or whatever it is
So I was off work last week and my internet access at home (basically dial-up speed) did not allow me my v-gum fix at ALL, so I’m SO happy to be back!
Having said that–don’t hate me—- I thought SNL was kind of hit-or-miss! I LOVE Ed Helms in all his endeavors, but I felt he wasn’t featured enough in this episode! Although I liked all the sketches that Gabe has pointed out, I don’t know why but I kinda just felt like something was missing…maybe the timing was just a bit off for me? Or maybe I shouldn’t have watched it after waking up from one of those weird naps where you fall asleep and it’s daylight and then you wake up and it’s nighttime? Who knows…who cares?I’m just so glad to be baaaaaack!!
I hate you so much for your opinion.
J/Ks!! I didn’t watch the show and this is a place where people can have opinions that differ, unless they’re about racism, in which case we absolutely all have to agree on that.
Welcome back! Maybe you should check our back catalog, some of the posts you missed, while you were gone. No reason, specifically. Just a thought. Maybe Friday? Fridays are cool…. (also all last week because some of the other butt heads were good, too.)
hahahaha, I’m playing catch-up now, reading all the posts from last week. You did an awesome job guest-blogging!!! Hilarz!
Wow, Helms looks just like that English actor from Swingtown and then later that stupid ABC show where everyone forgets something for 5 minutes. Blackout?
Flashforward is the show you’re looking for. Well, you’re probably not looking for it… but you know what I mean.
Nard-Dog!
Think we can take them Ace?
I think we can-can.
This sketch was totally for me too:
Me too. Loved it.
Though that gif is kinda crazy–it looks like half the house is moving!
Sal, the Patio people just called. They have a new idea for the campaign.
“the Ambiguously Gay Duo short directed by Jason Woliner (Human Giant, Parks and Recreation, Eagleheart, etc) and featuring Jon Hamm, Jimmy Fallon, Steve Carrell, and Will Ferrell.”
By Will Ferrell do you mean Stephen Colbert. Cuz Will Ferrell was definitely not there.
I guess that’s why they call Will Ferrell THE MAN OF TWO FACES
remember the character Man-E-Faces from he-man? you spin the thing on his head he goes from being human, to robot to monster
Did anyone else think the monologue was very weird? The timing was awful, like he had never told a joke before. Maybe it was nerves? On the other hand, any episode that contains both Jon Hamm AND Lindsay Buckingham is alright with me!
I thought it was just kinda badly written. It was a really long set-up for his batton bit, but the jokes in the build-up weren’t that funny. But I do think he was also clearly not familiar with doing a monologue/ doing stand-up, because that timing is different from sit-com timing. I wish they had just slapped shades on Jason Sudeikis and a beard on Bobby Moynahan and did a Hangover spoof instead of that weird monologue. Or having E-Helmz rock out on the banjo, one of the two.
Ed Helms was a stand-up comic before he landed his gig with The Daily Show. Your theory is invalid!
Really? Because I was listening to his interview on the Nerdist and I though he was doing sketch comedy, not stand-up. Maybe he didn’t believe in the jokes then, because I still agree with Gina that the monolgue didn’t flow naturally.
I’ve read in several places that he did both stand-up and sketch/ improv, but I guess I’m not certain of it.
I agree the monologue was a little awkward, but I also think it was the best part of a pretty abysmal episode. Watching SNL just makes me tired now. I was an apologist towards the beginning of the season, but the current show is just consistently uninspired. Like most talented guests, Helms was underutilized (possibly locked inside his dressing room midway through?). It’s a shame because he’s great. Cedar Rapids, anyone?
I agree with this “pickpocket” character, SNL sucks
Wow, Gabe must have watched this show in an alternate universe. This is the first time in years that I’ve actually watched the show in real time and it was painful. With the exception of the Ambiguously Gay Duo (not live), the Corn Syrup spot (not live and already used) and the Ann-Margret “sketch”, this show was dead on arrival. The cold open was cold as usual (we get it Lorne: you’re a Republican). I actually like Ed Helms but he muffed every single scene he was in. His monologue was full of crickets and didn’t click until the payoff (which is a pretty tired concept — who in the audience didn’t think he had a goofy outfit on under his shirt and pants?). In fairness to Ed, I think he was underused (but maybe because he kept muffing everything up in rehearsal?) — I actually felt sorry for him. I think he went into witness protection for half of the show after What’s Up With That (which is seriously played out). And finally, I’m pretty sure that Weekend Update didn’t contain a single joke. Back to watching Sundays on the DVR!
Correct assessment.
Agreed! I normally just watch the best clips on Hulu on Sunday, but this time I watched it live. I don’t think I’ll be doing that again…
I enjoyed the Ambiguously Gay Duo episode, but mostly because of all the awesome cameos (btw, Fred Armisen was the lizard-looking guy). I enjoyed the baton twirling and silly spandex. One-Take Tony was fun and I loved Keenan’s fake Louie Armstrong trumpet-playing. Which leads me to what I loved the most— Ann-Margaret Tries to Throw a Wad of Paper Into a Trash Can. LET’S MAKE THIS HAPPEN! Uh oh. Someone’s at the door…
I was pretty disappointed at the Ambiguously Gay Duo sketch. I guess I just felt like its time had long passed. I don’t mean to argue that it’s homophobic or offensive really, (it’s obviously satire, and I think it’s well established that all of the participants have the proper open-minded stances on the subject) just that, if that’s not it, I don’t really get the joke? Is it really, as I have heard it expressed, just a mock-up of 50′s comic book tropes? If so, is that really a thing that needs to be lampooned these days?
I get that the joke isn’t on gay people exactly, but simply stated, the joke is, “they’re gay!”, right? “Dicks! Butts! They’re gaaaaaay, get it?” I’m fine with that, I just don’t see why its funny.
(tl;dr, obv.)
Ah, I’m so upset they can’t post his monologue online! I’m a competitive baton twirler (I know, you all are wondering how that’s a thing, but it is) and any mention of twirling is awesome, even if it’s bad/stupid/negative…which it always is (Miss Congeniality, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, anything and everything that mentions twirling ever, etc.).