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Or is it the other way around? This weekend’s episode was more like Saturday Night Live with your host Paul McCartney and comedy guest, Paul Rudd. Fair enough. Dude was a Beatle. (“Fair enough. Dude was a Beatle.” – Paul McCartney’s tombstone.) Four songs seems like a lot of songs, but as I have already pointed out, dude was a Beatle, and also he was a good sport about the whole thing. Lord knows, HE CAN AFFORD TO BE. But lots of people can afford to be good sports and are not good sports, and he was a good sport, so it’s worth noting, I guess. Paul McCartney in the opening monologue, Paul McCartney in the Digital Short, Paul McCartney on Weekend Update. If anything he was TOO good of a sport. Ease up, Paul McCartney. Anyway, Paul McCartney aside, it was kind of a disappointing episode, mostly just because Paul Rudd is so winning and charming and funny that he should handily make for the best episode of the season. Oh, it was much better than, say, Mrs. Ryan Reynolds or Robert De Niro, obviously, but it wasn’t a Zach Galifianakis or even a Charles Barkley. Oh well.
Anyway:
I’m not trying to ruffle any feathers, but the political top-of-show opening sketch has got to go. Why do they insist on that? It never seems to work, and if it’s an issue of political or topical relevance, they have Weekend Update, so how about starting the show with something fun and enjoyable? I’m not sure if it’s the writing or the casting or what is even going on but these sketches are such painful duds week in and week out. I would not be surprised if they cause a lot of people who are on the fence about Saturday Night Live but thought they’d give it a try this week to not be on the fence anymore and to not give it any more tries on any more weeks. Work it out, pros. That’s why you’re pros.
As far as topical material went, Bill Hader’s Julian Assange impersonation is very good.
(And on the note of impersonations, I did not love the School Assembly sketch, but I did like seeing Jay Pharoah do something other than a Denzel Washington impression.)
One of the best sketches of the night was the always great Sexually Speaking recurring sketch.
So good. Really just very very good.
Also good, the new game show, What’s That Name:
And this Cat Cuisine fake ad just seems like Classic Saturday Night Live. You could imagine it airing during any season, couldn’t you? Yes, you could.
But I guess the major highlight of the entire evening was when Stefon gave his report to Seth Myers on Weekend Update, and I know this because I was watching the show by myself with no one to impress or even just talk to (oh boo hoo, I’m sure) and/but when Stefon came out I APPLAUDED. So, there you go. HI, STEFON!
Puke people. Tolerance. Glimpse into Seth Meyers.
Kills me.
And, ladies and gentlemen, Dame PAUL MCCARTNEY!
The Digital Short isn’t available on-line yet, but even if it were, the only reason to post it would be to ask what was up with it. Also, there was the Meryl Streep on Ice thing, which either proved to or reminded us that Abby Elliot does a really good Meryl Streep (it was really good!) but I thought we all agreed to retire “on Ice” jokes in 1999, make a fresh start of it in Y2K. Speaking of, you guys all threw your computers in the garbage, right? I’m just saying, New Year’s Eve is coming up, and you never know what might happen. Y2K11!!!
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This week’s SNL with Paul McCartney reminded me of this classic Chris Farley sketch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNBIyGxV7Ek
I ended up watching a 30 Rock Marathon instead.
December+Manhattan Rain= “Everything is the worst.”
Last night, Tina Fey saved my life on the dance floor.
On a completely unrelated note:
I just wanted to say a big thanks to everybody who came out to Austin monster karaoke over the weekend. Seeing as how I’m leaving Austin in a few weeks to live somewhere much, much colder, it was wonderful to be able to see all of you at your absolute worst. Although I do not admit to having participated in any singing, it was a great time, and a wonderful way to say goodbye to Austin. Now Michigan monsters need to get ready, because I’ll be there in a few weeks, and we can all get loaded and go to visit Gabe’s family and watch Nothing But Trouble, because everybody knows that is what you do when you are visiting Gabe’s family.
I wish I could have been there! Some Monsters have all the fun.
I think our little meet up will blow the Austin meet up out of the water!
A Michigan Monster happy hour with Gabe’s mom as the guest of honor would be amazing. Michigan Monsters, show yourselves and make this happen, please!
FERNDALE REPRESENT.
Here to represent FERNDALIENS (like amberto said to)
I live in Farmington!
Come to karaoke tues night at third street saloon!
Yeah! G-rap is excited to have you!
I thought all of Weekend Update was hilarious this week. I mean, Stefon aside, the snowman joke! So great! And I fell out of my chair listening to Paul and Seth do the Audio Caption.
But, really, Tranderson Cooper.
Oh my god, THANK YOU for saying that the politics open has to go. It’s tired and blarg. My bf and I were so excited last week when Bill Hader came in with his Julian Assange and broke up the thing.
Speaking of things I’m over: Fred Armisen. As a whole. I don’t find him that funny. His Obama is waning, and I don’t find those “the host is sick, I’m the producer” sketches funny. So yeah.
LOVED the “What’s My Name” sketch. And of course, Stefon was fantastic. I hypothesize that he actually doesn’t get the script beforehand and those are his live reactions. That would be fun. Yeah.
Stefon could honestly not get any better. I just love it when Bill Hader starts to lose it and just has to cover his whole face. It never gets old.
Parking Cone People.
They’re skating close to over-saturation with Stefon, but for now, it’s still super funny!
Good point, it won’t last forever. But at this point I’m not sick of it yet.
I never get to post in these early threads because I live in California and thus usually asleep at 6:30 am PST, but I’m in the middle of an all-nighter for a final I have to take in an hour and a half. What’s my point again? Uh…hello early comments! COFFEE. STAT!
Also, like Thomas Murphy, I did a 30 Rock marathon in order to get me through this.
Good luck on your final! Remember, the answer is ALWAYS C.
Thanks Teach! Good luck making your students uncomfortable!
Luck has nothing to do with it.
Really, SNL writers, it’s time to kiss the Vogelcheck family sketches goodbye. But otherwise, very good show!
I see what you did there.
They did this sketch the last time Paul Rudd was on! I think it’s because he’s the only dude willing to make out with Bill Hader and Fred Armisen.
there is something very un-clever about calling yourself the Clever Guy
I thought we agreed to end the “on ice” jokes in 1997.
Maybe that was just my miceunderstandiceng.
Dude, you need to chill with the ice puns.
Gabe’s sense of humor has become so frigid.
That’s just cold, dude.
I would respond with some kind of ice pun, but it’s currently 8F outside and feels like -8F (or thereabouts). Too cold to make ice puns!
I really liked the Soft Gabe impression though:
Pictured :The best thing this guy will ever do.
So, I didn’t see the episode, but these clips are hilarious! It was disappointing?
I disagree, I thought Paul Rudd was underutilized but overall a very good episode. Just my Sampinion. I really enjoyed the Cabaret sketch, look that shit up!
I thought Gabe did a good job as the musical guest. Jet!
Please oh please end the opening political skit too!!!
Last year I really wasn’t on Team Hader. But this year, ESPECIALLY with Stefon, I am absolutely loving this guy. Not to mention he really does make a good game show host.
BIll Hader deserves his own show.
Imagine a show just following Stefon around the city? That would be sooo sooo awesome.
I’ve seen Jay Pharaoh’s Obama impression and its quite good, so I think its time that he take that over and hopefully inject some life into it. I liked his whole Principal bit in this episode, especially the joke about horse rape, because, you know, comedy.
It’s nice that they let Jay Pharoah perform as an original character and not a celebrity impression.
I don’t know why, but I hate everything Jay Pharoah does. I thought his character sketch was just plain terrible. I guess his sense of humor and my sense of humor just do not gel, but I want him to go away very badly.
He’s way too cocky too, I was saw him on Letterman and he is more confident in his stupid impressions than a freshman cast member should be. He has potential to not be totally awful though. I feel it.
And his head looks like a jellybean.
I agree 100%. I can’t stand that dude.
That principal thing was awful. I’m sure he’s a nice kid and all, but I wouldn’t mind if he was put out of our misery.
For anyone that loves Stefon as much as I do, this is from an interview with Bill Hader about how he created the character (with John Mulaney, yay!):
“I went to a coffee shop, in my neighborhood [and] a guy working there looked like Stefon and talked like that. And I would wait for my coffee every morning and just try to engage him in conversation, because I thought he was really funny. And I remember one time he was freaked out, because his mom was in town and his mom was staying with him. And I go, ‘Oh, where do you live?’ And he goes, (adopting the Stefon voice) ‘I live on the Lower, Lower East Side.’ And I just was like, ‘Oh my God!’”
I just like thinking that there is a real live Stefon out there in the world.
Must. Find. This. Coffee. Shop.
Videogum meet-up field trip!
Is there anything Bill Hader can’t do? You guys, I want to hang out with Bill Hader. Do any of you know him? If you do, tell him “teacherman” from the internet site Videogum wants to hang out. He’ll know what it means.
I bet you could fax him something….Does anyone have Bill Hader’s fax number? Teacherman just needs to ask him something real quick.
Oh, man! Saturday was this past weekend? I totally forgot.
12 jacked albinos, 11 Little Richards, 10 pierce eared babies, 9 Asian Balkys, 8 gay Aladdins, 7 psychos swearing, 6 Puerto screechers (Puerto Rican screechers), 5 homeless Elmos, 4 coked-up frogs, 3 French hens, Taylor Negron and a human parking cone
It was the 9 Asian Balkys that killed me. LOVED Perfect Strangers!
Wait, I thought it was 6 Puerto Screeches, as in Puerto Rican Screech/Dustin Diamonds.
Best cold open OF ALL TIME:
…is apparently unable to be embedded: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImCWjbAOXKo
Man, Hader was a trooper this week! He was in practically every sketch!
And I don’t really like the Vogelchek sketches. But I DO like them when Paul Rudd is on. Because I like watching him make out with Bill Hader for so long that it becomes uncomfortable and then gets even more so when Hader tweaks his nipple.
Basically, I like Paul Rudd. He’s pretty. He and Jon Hamm should star in a romantic comedy where they are both handsome and winning (maybe they’re brothers) and there’s some sort of high concept plot line that doesn’t matter because handsome! Maybe their best friends Timothy Olyphant and Ryan Reynolds coms over to hang out without their shirts on. I don’t know. Also, some actress I don’t hate would be charming. The end.
Yeah. I would own that and put it on the shelf next to Sliding Doors, 13 Going on 30, While You Were Sleeping and, um, Just Like Heaven.
I would Fandango the hell out of such a movie.
I’m glad I’m not alone. I like watching James Franco kiss himself and I certainly like watching Paul Rudd kiss Bill Hader.
Paul Rudd, Jon Hamm are the two universally attractive men today. Handsome beyond the limits of space and time.
Everyone mentioned here? Yeah, I’d hit that.
This part: “He and Jon Hamm should star in a romantic comedy where they are both handsome and winning” made me think this was a romantic comedy about a relationship between Paul Rudd and Jon Hamm. Then I got here: “(maybe they’re brothers)” and despite (because of?) the incest, it was still a sexy thought.
Paul McCartney didn’t perform “Let It Be” on the show out of respect for Malcolm Jamal-Warner.
I went on a Stefon bender after this week’s episode–I just could not get enough Stefon.
I liked the digital short…? But I don’t know if that’s because I enjoy the hook of both “9 to 5″ and “Take My Breath Away.” I also liked the weird sketch at the end with Jason Sudeikis as a disgruntled light guy. Basically, I am a dedicated SNL watcher and I got into a heated argument with someone recently who doesn’t even watch it. I’m about SNL the way people are about their younger siblings–I can make fun of it but others can’t.
Dear Lorne, Can we please have MORE Jason Sudeikis? There just isn’t enough of him these days. Love, Sota
Oops completely wrong gif
I love how I didn’t scroll down for a good 60 seconds because I was busy trying to figure out how I had offended you. I feel much, much better now–those gifs are the BEST.
One thing I liked about this episode was that, due to Paul McCartney playing four songs, all of the sketches were really short. There wasn’t a single episode that I felt should have ended 4 minutes earlier and that is something I usually end up thinking every episode. I just wish they had put some new sketch ideas into the show. It seemed almost everything Paul Rudd was in was a rehashed sketch idea.
i don’t know why i’m admitting this but the stumblin’ digital short reminded me of the friends episode all about how phoebe runs. anyone? anoyone? kristin smith, 7th grade best friend, who would do the “phoebe’s goofy run” with me in gym class?
I was just upset that Paul McCartney mentioned Paul Rudd’s wonderful ROLE MODELS during the monologue, but then he didn’t perform the Wings song “Love Take Me Down (to the Streets)” that was featured so prominently in the film.
major missed opportunity…but I don’t think that’s Wings
I was extremely disappointed with the under-utilization of Paul Rudd this week. He totally got gypped in the opening monologue!
And here’s a link to the digital short if anyone didn’t see it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/13/stumblin-snl-digital-short_n_795720.html
“He totally got gypped in the opening monologue!”
Accidental racism yikes?
I thought about that for a second, but I was like, No one’s going to give me shit about that. Guess I was wrong. This is Videogum after all — it’s nothing if not politically correct.
Did no one else cringe at the horrible back up Oooh’s during Jet? Sounded like howling dogs set ablaze.
Not to mention the sound mixer decided that no one wanted to actually hear McCartney’s voice?
my thoughts exactly. But in their defense, they were NOT Beatles.
Yup. My wife and I were glancing at each other questioningly about that too. Sounded like Cthulhu’s minions howling from the Stygian depths.
“I would not be surprised if they cause a lot of people who are on the fence about Saturday Night Live but thought they’d give it a try this week to not be on the fence anymore and to not give it any more tries on any more weeks” is a surprisingly grammatically correct sentence.
In other news, I have officially given up on SNL and will no longer be watching. I just think it’s very hubris-y of Lorne Michaels to insist on keeping the show running this long.
Paul Rudd – I am so underwhelmed !!!!
am I the only one who really enjoyed this ep? I mean not amazing in the long run but I would say best of the season so far? (not that there’s much to compete against maybe jon hamm ep?)… helped along by the fact that hey it’s fucking paul mccartney and paul rudd makes anything hilarious simply by being paul rudd
like “stumblin” was fucking ridiculous and had it been any other actor I’m pretty sure I would have felt meh about it or worse but paul rudd and mccartney’s cameo made it just absurd enough to be fantastic
I dunno sometimes I feel like Gabe is just being overly hard on it… maybe I’ve just lowered my expectations for snl, or ya know differences in opinion and all that (I hate the sexually speaking sketch every time – overdone, maybe funny the first time…)