SNL Just The Funny Parts: Steve Martin Played A Banjo For A Very Long Time
Is it just me, or did Saturday's SNL seem aimed at our parent's generation? Aside from the digital short, pretty much 100% of the show was (gulp), kind of, um, "Dad-humor." Nobody loves Steve Martin more than me (I'll even forgive him that "Hey look, I can play the banjo" segment), but if Paul Rudd's episode last fall was coined "The Gay Episode," this week's was definitely "The Old Episode." There were still a few funny parts, however (and the real McGyver!) So those are after the jump.
5. The State Of The Economy with Fred Armisen as Barack Obama.
Fred Armisen looks nothing like Barack Obama, but he's starting to get the cadence down. "The white guy Oprah was crying on?":
4. Ecstasy Mints
I don't know what the first half of this sketch was about, other than eating up 3 minutes of our lives, so here's the second half, which you will definitely find funny (if you're stoned.):
3. McGruber
Look, I know this was an ad for Pepsi. But the return of Richard Dean Anderson to TV as McGyver is something that must be celebrated. (Did you know that you can Netflix every season of McGyver?)
2. Chewable Pampers:
1. Laser Cats 4 (duh):
And guess who's going to be hosting on February 14? ALEC BALDWIN! Best Valentine's Day ever!
Posted by Lindsay at 1:00 PM in Late Night, Sketch Comedy
Tags: Andy Samberg | Bill Hader | Fred Armisen | Kristen Wiig | Saturday Night Live | Steve Martin | Will Forte
Steve Martin's banjo song was sub-par Raffi.
Score = 2
That was by far the worst episode of SNL in recent memory. Is Steve Martin even funny? Between this and those Pink Panther previews, I can't be so sure...
Score = -2
This season has been so tragically unfunny with one exception (Paul Rudd ftw). Even an awesome McGruber and DiGi Short couldn't solve it. They just need to make Shaffer/Taccone co-head writers and not let the hosts do anything but just sit their and plug their movie once.
Score = 1
are you (collectively we) excited for Bradley Cooper? McKinley's a fag... with Ben.
Score = -3
a few years back i used to go to ASSSCAT all the time and thought Kristi Wiig was a great improviser really funny. what happened?
sure that ad up there was ok, and she's had some good roles in films recently, but her annoying characters on SNL are absolutely god-awful. i just don't get the appeal.
Score = 2
oh, weird. i thought this episode was great. that banjo thing was totally weird but otherwise i loved it. as soon as steve martin said 'but enough with the silly comedy jokes' in his monologue i gave my tv a thumbs up and knew i was gonna like this one. i guess i am a dad.
Score = 2
All bad. I think I liked the later "Ladies love Steve" sketch and the one with Kristen Wiig as Steve's character's wife, but I'll own up to knowing that those were bad. This one cemented the fears I've long laid aside about SNL's lack of quality. It's a shame that Steve Martin was such a disappointment this time. I blame Jason Mraz, personally.
Score = 1
Oh god, Kristen Wiig as the make-up counter guy's wife was TERRIBLE. It was even more annoying and going-nowhere than Gilly. It's pretty sad that the funniest part of SNL when someone as great (or used to be great?) as Steve Martin is hosting is a Pepsi commercial. Besides the digital short, which was funny too.
Seriously though, I'm upset about this Steve Martin business. I love him, but the whole Pink Panther thing is embarrassing.
Score = 2
I thought the ESPN Classics sketch was really good. I seem to be the only one, at least on the internet.
Score = 2
ESPN sketch was the only highlight of the night. it seemed like a john mulaney creation. i think a lot of people probably gave up on this episode and missed it.
Score = 3
when a pepsi ad is easily the first or second funniest bit of your show, you are in trouble. i sat through the whole banjo thing because i honestly thought he was going to break character and the whole thing was going to be some tremendous mindfuck. i was either really wrong or really right. i still can't tell.
Score = 2
Steve Martin, to me, seemed to make every poorly written sketch he was in watchable, which is a lot more than I can say for most of SNL the past few years. I also agree that the ESPN Classic / NFL Films sketch was probably the best of the season. It was both superbly written (yeah, Mulaney? Simon Rich?) and acted by Martin: http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/nfl-films/981382/
Score = 2
....godamnit i hate your country. i hate your country with it's goddamn copyright protection and its "You can't watch this, Canada! U.K.! Etc.!"
It's like... television is 50 years old, NBC. Maybe it's time to cut the cord and let it out into the world.
Score = 2
Wow, that ESPN sketch was awesome. I don't get why it's not on here.
Score = 2
I want to watch the clips! I live in Canada and I just want to see the banjo! Fuck you Hulu! You too NBC.
Score = -2
The only thing I liked was the crushing on Steve bit the girls did.
Score = 1
How can you not have the David Patterson Weekend Update? I love it when Armisen does that. It's offensive and totally awesome.
Score = 1