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This weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live was both the season finale and Kristen Wiig’s final episode, and man, it was great! All killer no filler, except for the weird blues song about Mitt Romney or whatever that Mick Jagger performed with Jeff Beck, which I thought was a sketch at first but turned out to be not a sketch at all. That was so weird! But other than that the episode was great. Kristen Wiig got to bring out a few of her old pals one last time (Lawrence Welk, The Californians, Secret Word), and they were all funnier than they have been in recent history. (Secret Word especially.) Mick Jagger was a surprisingly great host. Jon Hamm was there, obviously, as was Steve Martin. The musical performances with The Arcade Fire and Foo Fighters acting as Mick Jagger’s backup bands were all exciting to see. Overall it was great, just wonderful. Enjoyable from cold open to goodbye waving. There wasn’t really a sketch I’d point out as particularly not great, so let’s review some of the ones that were particularly SO great.
The “Lawrence Welk” cold open was very good, no duh, as every “Lawrence Welk” sketch has ever been. One of those sketches you just get excited about at the moment you realize what the sketch is going to be. (Like “Gilly” sketches.) (Everyone agrees!) The immediate Jon Hamm cameo was funny just because OF COURSE there was an immediate Jon Hamm cameo. Can’t wait for next season when the entire cast is replaced by Jon Hamm and Justin Timberlake. That’s gonna be a blast. Goodbye, “Lawrence Welk” girl with tiny hands! We’ll miss you!
The Mick Jagger karaoke sketch was so good. Mick Jagger reminded me of Neil from the Young Ones a lot during it, if you understand what that means, though it is totally fine if you do not. He was so great! Who knew Mick Jagger knew how to play a funny, upset, shy guy in a comedy sketch! That guy. Full of surprises.
“Secret Word” is a sketch that is almost never that good. Mostly, I think, because you know what the joke is going to be right away and then it never really goes anywhere from there. BUT! This edition of “Secret Word” was actually very enjoyable! And I think, again, it’s due in big part to Mick Jagger being an apt host, and a good sport. Though Kristin Wiig’s actress character did not disappoint, either. Great gal.
“Lazy Sunday 2″ was great, obviously. I hope no one is going to complain about how it’s disappointing that in order to do a great Digital Short lately it seems that they just have to recycle old Digital Short ideas, because even if that is maybe true, which I think it maybe is, and is probably worth complaining about at some other point, this was a VERY GOOD recycling of an old Digital Short idea. And it’s the season finale! NO COMPLAINING ALLOWED!
And, finally, the big Kristen Wiig goodbye. So sad. When she hugged Bill Hader for a long time and WE ALL started crying? Give me a break. This video is actually maybe NSFW, unless your work is ok with you crying about a person you’ll never meet leaving a weekly sketch comedy show while Mick Jagger and the Arcade Fire sing at her. If your work is cool with that though then go ahead!
You can watch the musical clips — as well as a clip of the weird blues song that we already spoke about — over at Stereogum.
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I think this was Samburg’s last episode too. Nobody’s mentioning his “paul-is-dead-like” final line in Lazy Sunday 2. Also, bringing back the gang for Digital Short 100? To me, it’s his swan song to the show as well.
Kristin Wiig, you will be missed. Best all-around talent on SNL since Jan Hooks. Sorry Tina and Amy, but Wiig was better and was a multi-threat. From a show-only perspective, Wiig was awesome regardless of her post-show success/failure.
Yeah I think it was and it was Sudeikis’ last episode too. Samberg and Wiig both got some kind of send-off but Sudeikis got nothing, which may explain why he looked absolutely crushed during the graduation finale dance and just stood at the back not singing along or anything. Or maybe he just really loves working with Kristin Wiig and couldn’t handle it, I’m not sure. Either way, my room got very dusty after I saw his reaction!
What?? Those three are leaving? Ugh. I mean it’s not like I’ve really been keeping up with SNL lately, and I didn’t watch this episode, but that still bums me out. And how unfair for Jason not to get a proper sendoff. What gives, Lorne Michaels/SNL writers?
I think Sudeikis might be back next year a lot to play Romney, so if he’s leaving, he’s not REALLY leaving just yet.
I felt weird getting teary-eyed for someone I don’t know Kelly, then I felt silly. Then I started to cry because Mick Jagger will NEVER sing Ruby Tuesday for me on live TV.
Guys, kind of off topic, but I fell down a Videogum rabbit hole last night while procrastinating and discovered that a year ago last Friday Kelly was introduced to us.
http://videogum.com/306041/please-help-us-welcome-videogums-new-associate-editor-kelly-conaboy/top-stories/
So, I just wanted to say yay! You’ve been awesome KelCo, and to celebrate I grew you a cat.
The traditional 1 year anniversary gift is paper, so everyone fax Kelly a printout of your favorite posts.
That one post about a cow
“That one post about a cow,” he said, slightly more loudly.
Oh jeeze! Thanks guys! I didn’t even realize! WHAT A YEAR IT’S BEEN!
Hello, Ruby Tuesday. (*** tears up a little bit ***)
Heads up for the super fans, but there are some pretty good web exclusives that were probably cut from dress so Mick and Jeff could stick it to the Tea Party with blues.
Our old friends the comedy tour!
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/web-exclusive-comedy-tour-3/1402560
Jay Pharaoh as our new friend Stephen A. Smith talking about basketball! PER! Hoosiers! Cheese doodles!
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/web-exclusives-jay-as-stephen-a-smith/1402553
RIP Jay Pharaoh
Um, the comedy tour with Mick Jagger playing Denny Cumberbatch? Sounds like the SNL crew has been watching Sherlock!! Amazing.
It was surprisingly emotional when Kristen Wiig did her goodbye because doy everyone loves her, but I was a bit distracted by that insane flesh-colored Star Trek outfit.
A gif of Bobby Moynihan as the stoner dancer would be very much appreciated. Thanks. I don’t ask for much. That skit was TBS Very Funny TM.
Loved that skit. Best of the night.
I think they cut this sketch out on Hulu, but I keep seeing people say how great it was. That doesn’t seem like a good editing decision!
The reason things get cut from Hulu is music licensing. I assume that sketch featured a bunch of actual songs that NBC didn’t want to shell out for re-broadcast.
Got cen-tral heat-ingggg. And I’m al-rightttt.
Yes. College. Thank you Dave Matthews.
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I thought I was the only one with a crush on Chris Parnell. Every time I say that everyone looks at me like I have two heads.
I also find that people either love Kristen or hate her. I adore her. But I can see your point – she’s not for everyone.
It’s an election year. I don’t see the guy who plays Biden or Romney leaving…yet.
The rumor mill is saying that he’s out as a cast member, but will come back from time to time to do guest spots in political sketches when needed. Didn’t Tina Fey do something similar after she left?
Tina Fey left SNL in 2006. Her return as Palin was unplanned but came about due to the strong likeness.
I can see that I guess. I just don’t think of Sudeikis as Darrell Hammond. Once we get to September, every week will have some kind of political sketch. And I’m guessing in 2/3 of those, you’ll have to have Romney or Biden.
I heard tell, (so who knows) that he will do a half year contract until the election much like Amy did a half year contract until her baby popped. But again, how good is tell as intel anyway?
Oh no… Chris Parnell is so cute. And when he raps? Sooooo cute. Love him as a creepy perv, love him as Dr. Spaceman (which is an odd variation on his Merv the Perv character), love him in Suburgatory… Love him in everything. He is in my top 5 of SNL dudes, even edging out Sudakis and Samberg. Honestly when I get that same look, I’m cool with it. Less competition for me. Except you. I will fight you for Parnell’s love. I will fight you like we are Highlanders. There can be only one. (Me.)
“Hey Parnell, let’s Gather! You’re giving me a raging Quickening!” – you.
Would anybody like to know why Arcade Fire was wearing Red Squares, hint: ITS POLITICAL
Any ‘Young Ones’ reference is a great reference.
If all 3 of those featured stars are leaving, 3 of the current 4 featured performers should be bumped to a full cast member. Kate McKinnon just joined a few episodes ago, so theoretically, it should be Vanessa Bayer, Tara Killam and Jay Pharaoh, although something tells me they’re going to screw over Jay.
What would colour your opinion that way?
They barely use Jay in sketches to begin with. He does some great impressions and would be nice if they gave him more material to work with.
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Nope.
(White privilege is white privilege, no matter what part of Europe your ancestors hail from. I’m Irish by the way, and Irish stereotypes don’t bother me because I don’t get pulled over because of them.)
I’m half-Italian and no. Perhaps if this were 1912 – maybe I’d be offended…
Yes, Lawrence Welk being a show in olden-timey days that often played up their performer’s ethnic (you can;t be racist against Italians btw they’re white people) stereotypes for cutesy song, that is, as we commonly refer to it, the humor in this joke. And do tell, how was the dock in Ellis Island, very crwoded or just nice and fun?
How dare a comedy show that’s live on Saturday night’s at 11:30 p.m. EST have a bit of sterotyping in it! Every character impression should be performed as though that person were there on the stage themself!
ACTING!
Italian Stereotypes?? SHUT-A YO FACE!
He likes Italian people. He doesn’t want to hurt them. He was just trying his best..
Also, Hamm saying “Does everyone get that I’m Italian?” was pretty much the wink that let us all know that he was IN FACT making fun of the ridiculous stereotype.
I laughed, I cried, I cringed at the Tea Party blues. Poor Jeff Beck
But oh dear, Sudeikis looked like he was going to absolutely lose it the whole time he was out there. Go make a movie together guys! No one’s dying. Aaawww……
I am a straight married man, but I have to say Jon Hamm is rocking that casual outfit in the far right of the pic.
After seeing this episode I, like Ke$ha, will now kick potential suitors to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger.
Also, why the hell did it take me until NOW to realize Chris Parnell is my dream man?
Hello? Is this thing on?