tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post949344353287398883..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: The ninth or tenth resurgence of SNLBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-54759439712855571712021-11-20T05:17:44.617-08:002021-11-20T05:17:44.617-08:00two comments
1: SNL as a whole hasn't been go...two comments<br /><br />1: SNL as a whole hasn't been good in at least 20 years, and I'd say probably 25 or more at this point. it has its moments, but for an entire 90 minute show, I stand by this comment. The 1980s incarnations were so much better than the shows of the past 20 years, and I only know them from the 60 minute reruns that Comedy Central used to show circa 1993 when I was getting into SNL. I also don't bother watching the new shows for more than the cold open and haven't in a long long time (save for one or two hosts I wanted to see).<br /><br />2: your line "Side note: Is it just me or is Kate McKinnon’s act getting tiresome? I used to love Kate McKinnon and now I don’t." this is exactly why the actors cycle in and out and usually don't stay more than a couple years, regardless of moving to bigger and better things.<br /><br />But here's a Friday Question for you (if you haven't already addressed it). Could you and your writing partner write sketch comedy week in and week out (forget about being consistently funny), given your skills and talents? Or is it not necessarily the same skill set as writing a short play, a movie, or regular 22 minute sitcoms?DyHrdMEThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621011643939597497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-59760685373722120892021-11-19T12:50:12.370-08:002021-11-19T12:50:12.370-08:00"Blogger Matt said...
I'd respect SNL if ...<i>"Blogger Matt said...<br />I'd respect SNL if they were equal in their political 'humor.' But it's not. It used to be, but it's not anymore. I watched SNL for decades, but I can't anymore. It's more 'Republicans are evil buttholes'."</i><br /><br />It's called "Having a Point-of-View" rather than just pandering to both the good people and the evil buttholes. The Problem is, the two sides are not equally flawed. One party is trying to save democracy, and the other party, the "Evil Butthole Party," has already put a fascist in power for four years, are working to undermine the government, and - what else? - oh yes, staged an insurrection to try to overthrow the government of the United States, committing Mass Treason.<br /><br />So should SNL do "Biden is old and nerdish" jokes, or use their satire to attack The Party Of Treason?D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13856304267508941572021-11-19T07:35:12.211-08:002021-11-19T07:35:12.211-08:00I'd respect SNL if they were equal in their po...I'd respect SNL if they were equal in their political "humor." But it's not. It used to be, but it's not anymore. I watched SNL for decades, but I can't anymore. It's more "Republicans are evil buttholes" and far less "Colonel Angus" (perhaps SNL's funniest sketch ever). <br /><br />I'm sure SNL doesn't care that I've left as a viewer, just as much as I no longer care for SNL. Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00107309396839340695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-35086915739269639112021-11-18T19:57:24.777-08:002021-11-18T19:57:24.777-08:00They seem to use guest hosts a lot more in sketche...They seem to use guest hosts a lot more in sketches and sometimes they're so stiff and flat it drags the whole thing down. But it depends on the guest, recently Owen Wilson was great. Regina King and the gummies sketch was hilarious.<br /><br />Also seems to be a trend towards sketches with larger ensembles and using more music.<br /><br />I look forward to more from new cast member Aristotle Athari, Laughingstock 3000 last week was pretty brilliant.Spike de Beauvoirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3841609043015125302021-11-18T08:06:23.060-08:002021-11-18T08:06:23.060-08:00"edricstudio said...
I hate to say it but to ...<i>"edricstudio said...<br />I hate to say it but to any one not on the left SNL is becoming the real joke."</i><br /><br />I don't hate to say it, but to anyone who still thinks staging an insurrection in our nation's capital to try and topple the government is treason, The Right has become the real joke.<br /><br />Still supporting traitors, Edricstudio? Giving aid and comfort to traitors is treason, so anyone still on The Right is committing treason.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84903763645377254032021-11-18T08:00:13.602-08:002021-11-18T08:00:13.602-08:00Sorry for being late to the post. James Austin Joh...Sorry for being late to the post. James Austin Johnson is amazing! He's like a young Darrel Hammond--an absolute wizard with impersonations and seems like a really down to Earth guy as well. I personally have been tired of Kate McKinnon's act for awhile...no offense to her, she's very funny and can do SOME characters well, but since her third or fourth season I became disillusioned...she applies deliveries to lines that will be super out of character for who she's playing nut super in-character for her...it completely under-cuts when she puts in subtle work physical work...she plays so many character similarly and it makes her "impressions" pack no punch...because they don't seem like the person at all. I'll probably get attacked for this but I really don't hate her, it's just feel relieved when people become less impressed with her act. For me Cecily Strong has always been amazing and better...sharp impression both vocally and finding subtle details, coming up with totally believable mannerisms that are unique to individual original characters, voices, accents, reactions, singing, etc...she has always become her parts and it took so many years for enough people to notice this (but hey, now she's taken over the role Lily Tomlin originated in her one woman show for this winter so)...she's also Second City trained so that's cool. With Kate I just see Kate being silly. But I look forward to seeing what the new people have to offer and maybe we'll see if the cast ever thins out, hahaAmandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879572144436442844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46358039890203723802021-11-18T06:55:25.211-08:002021-11-18T06:55:25.211-08:00Keen and witty political SNL writers from the past...Keen and witty political SNL writers from the past like Jim Downey and Al Franken are much missed. Today's writers don't have much of a grasp on the real world of politics. I fear that the current staff get most of their political 'knowledge' from cable news outlets. Big mistake.DARON72https://www.blogger.com/profile/01726705799261360259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33889246033240781542021-11-18T03:19:05.071-08:002021-11-18T03:19:05.071-08:00I can't remember the last time that I watched ...I can't remember the last time that I watched it live. I subscribe to it's YouTube channel and all of the content is there. I can skip the music act, and sometimes there's a bonus sketch from the dress rehearsal. The biggest problem is that Update is broken up into segments. It's a nice Sunday morning wake-up.Charles Bryannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-58413914210430907712021-11-17T15:05:43.923-08:002021-11-17T15:05:43.923-08:00Ken, with all due respect I strenuously disagree w...Ken, with all due respect I strenuously disagree with you about SNL. As someone who is not on the political left, I do not find their political humor even remotely funny. Not because I disagree with it. I disagree with a lot of what Chappelle and Bill Maher say but I find them witty and insightful and I appreciate having my views challenged. I just don't see this on SNL. Instead I see them taking the lazier route of telling their left-leaning audience what they already believe. They are going after "clapter", not "laughter", and confusing applause for insight. The recent abortion clown on weekend update, for example, was not remotely funny. It was just weird. And the Sesame Street bit (falsely) accusing Joe Rogan of taking horse pills also lacked any real humor that I can see. If you are going to do good political humor it has to be more than just mockery and preaching, it has to make people pause and think. SNL fails at this miserably. I hate to say it but to any one not on the left SNL is becoming the real joke.Cedricstudiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06281239965682009232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33935346234262282522021-11-17T12:14:14.859-08:002021-11-17T12:14:14.859-08:00"Leighton said...
@ McEwan
As I posted yeste...<i>"Leighton said...<br />@ McEwan<br /><br />As I posted yesterday, McKinnon has been filming "Joe Exotic" for Peacock. SNL gave her the time off, in order to keep her."</i><br /><br />So?<br /><br />How does this excuse Ken from calling "Tiresome" an act she isn't doing?<br /><br />Ken replied, "<i>(a) I only watch clips, and (b) there are so many cast members it's common that not everyone gets on every episode.</i>"<br /><br />It certainly is, but it is NOT common for their largest star performer to miss 6 consecutive episodes. When John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were making <i>1941</i> for Spielberg, they had to get on a plane to New York every Thursday and do <i>SNL</i>, and then fly back to California on Sunday. If you "Only watch clips" how can you review the show this season? You haven't seen it. It's like reviewing a movie based on the trailer. You weren't even aware Kate hasn't done the show all season.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-62055298919295035842021-11-17T10:03:37.052-08:002021-11-17T10:03:37.052-08:00I seem to remember Conan O'Brien making his TB...I seem to remember Conan O'Brien making his TBS show a half-hour, mainly because Youtube made it to where you could cherry-pick what you want to watch instead of sitting through the entire show. Don't want the monologue or sketches? Okay...here's part of an interview with Paul Rudd. Want to see the Triumph the Dog sketch, but not Paul Rudd? We got you covered there too.<br /><br />Like with SNL's sketches, you get to see what everyone's talking about, but don't have to sit through the whole 90 minutes. Like someone mentioned above, I watch mainly live for Weekend Update and catch some of the sketches the next day on Youtube.Brandon in Virginianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8672875674403524032021-11-17T08:55:36.094-08:002021-11-17T08:55:36.094-08:00@ McEwan
As I posted yesterday, McKinnon has been...@ McEwan<br /><br />As I posted yesterday, McKinnon has been filming "Joe Exotic" for Peacock. SNL gave her the time off, in order to keep her.Leightonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26785883335012966962021-11-17T04:56:44.310-08:002021-11-17T04:56:44.310-08:00Agree completely on McKinnon... and Johnson's ...Agree completely on McKinnon... and Johnson's Trump was pretty decent too, especially the voice.Tom Ashernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-41666214893409144312021-11-17T03:46:18.141-08:002021-11-17T03:46:18.141-08:00James Johnson did an absolutely spot on Trump voic...James Johnson did an absolutely spot on Trump voice, there was this one where someone put it to video of Trump, it was about Scooby Doo.. still makes me laugh every time. They call him scooby doo, but he doesn't do.. ;)Lesley Colemanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTVziOdvRn0noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-8516017118380621602021-11-17T03:06:35.503-08:002021-11-17T03:06:35.503-08:00I've watched just about every episode from the...I've watched just about every episode from the very first when they replaced the Tonight Show reruns. It's like an old friend that is somewhat mildly amusing but occasionally lets out a zinger that is talked about for years.<br /><br />I find that my wife has no time for it, except if we are up and watch it live. She often says it is much improved. Often there is alcohol involved. :) Rich Shealerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06349316644704593604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30688350662411099192021-11-16T22:11:55.545-08:002021-11-16T22:11:55.545-08:00I mean tiresome in general. Like I said, (a) I on...I mean tiresome in general. Like I said, (a) I only watch clips, and (b) there are so many cast members it's common that not everyone gets on every episode. <br /><br />By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-5323063832024369542021-11-16T21:13:43.911-08:002021-11-16T21:13:43.911-08:00What are you talking about with Kate McKinnon'...What are you talking about with Kate McKinnon's act growing tired? She has yet to appear in the show this season. She's seen in the opening credits each week, but that's it. She has not been in even one single sketch all season. Her act isn't "tired"; it's non-existent. Apparently you're really sick of the way she's not on the show.<br /><br />This season has so far included some very lame episodes. This week's was pretty good, but I still have nightmares about the Kim Khardashian episode, one of their most-shameful episodes ever.D. McEwannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90205724173405441692021-11-16T19:27:22.403-08:002021-11-16T19:27:22.403-08:00@call me mike, if you want to see more of Cecily S...@call me mike, if you want to see more of Cecily Strong, check out Schmigadoon!<br /><br />The thing with SNL is that if you look back at the full 90 minute episodes from the first five seasons, the hit/miss ratio isn't that much different than it is today.<br /><br />What I see as the problem now is that the show has become too structured. Opening political sketch, monologue, skit, filmed bit, skit, filmed bit, skit, musical guest, Weekend Update, skit, skit, musical guest, filmed bit, skit. I'm amazed they were flexible enough to let Taylor Swift do a single ten-minute song. They need to find a way to mix it up a bit. They used to do live remotes from the street, stuff like that. (Sure, that's not a great idea in 2021 but it's been essentially the same pattern for two decades now.)<br /><br />And I know this may sound like heresy, but while the new guy may do very good Biden and Trump impressions, the question is whether they're FUNNY impressions. A spot-on impression by itself is not funny, just technically impressive. If the writers don't give him good material to do in character, it's useless. All the most remembered impressions have been the comedically exaggerated ones. Think of Chevy Chase's Gerald Ford or Phil Hartman's manic Reagan. At least Alec Baldwin had a comedic take on Trump, he wasn't trying to be technically accurate.Elfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10374380298273456994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88116116976253448992021-11-16T18:08:44.746-08:002021-11-16T18:08:44.746-08:00I've never stopped watching SNL since episode ...I've never stopped watching SNL since episode 2, when Paul Simon dribbled a basketball between Connie Hawkins' legs. It's been a roller coaster of quality but there's always been something worth watching in every episode, and nearly always a laugh-out loud line. Love the current cast, though it seems a little packed this year (when you're not giving Heidi Gardner enough to do, there's too many people). Weekend Update is the most consistently funny fifteen minutes on TV each week, and they make fun of both major parties so relax, it's not all about Trump. They've had a solid run of hosts that seem to really love being on there (watch Jason Sudeikis' opening monologue) and better than average musical guests (could have done without Taylor Swift's epic dirge the other night though).austinspacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16442891248185123443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52920615533915673352021-11-16T18:01:09.098-08:002021-11-16T18:01:09.098-08:00I still find the show far more miss than hit... wi...I still find the show far more miss than hit... with most of the cast slavishly glued to cue cards, more noticeably to me at least than with earlier casts. How can there not be ways to quickly glance away from the cards on occasion, especially as guest Weekend Update commentators responding to Colin's or Michael's questions? <br /><br />The milking and doubling, tripling, quadrupling down of a sketch's premise continues to be so predictably SNLish. <br /><br />Mikey Day - Mr. One-Note. I can't picture his post-SNL career. And as good as Kenan was, I feel like I've long since seen all the tools in his toolbox. I agree that Ego Nwodim is first-rate. She breathes life into her performances. It can't just be menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-20347573590971599892021-11-16T17:55:44.980-08:002021-11-16T17:55:44.980-08:00I mostly stopped watching SNL last year, along wit...I mostly stopped watching SNL last year, along with the news, just for my mental well-being. But I still like to catch a clip of the show now and then. Weekend Update is usually dependable.<br /><br />Nothing against Kate McKinnon, but I'm still hoping to see a movie or TV series that gives Cecily Strong a starring role. She always makes me laugh, and it was baffling to see her in the Ghostbusters from a few years ago in a bit part. What a waste.Call Me Mikehttps://www.instagram.com/postercereal/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44575503904665825652021-11-16T17:35:58.723-08:002021-11-16T17:35:58.723-08:00I have a couple of Friday questions about FRASIER ...I have a couple of Friday questions about FRASIER and Lilith. I'm watching one of Bebe Neuwirth's appearances as Lilith on FRASIER on Cozi TV. It was such a great performance (this is the one where she slept with Niles and almost slept with Frasier in the same hotel room). Was it hard coming up with reasons to have her appear? Was it hard to convince her to reprise that character so often? Was it hard not to over-use her? Was there ever a thought of giving her a spinoff series?DyHrdMEThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07621011643939597497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-34440835535017437072021-11-16T17:13:47.262-08:002021-11-16T17:13:47.262-08:00"Fat orange f***"? Amazing how he lives ..."Fat orange f***"? Amazing how he lives in your head rent free. Give it a rest and move on.Peter Apariciohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596277518646771811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-25462841912473500382021-11-16T17:12:31.247-08:002021-11-16T17:12:31.247-08:00I personally haven't been impressed by this Ja...I personally haven't been impressed by this James Johnson guy so far. His Biden is alright but nowhere near as funny as Jason Sudeikis. To me the main problems with SNL these days start and end with Lorne Michaels.Fat Basterd Inc.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06542161446743033089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-69430659847947679112021-11-16T17:12:06.752-08:002021-11-16T17:12:06.752-08:00SNL is my favorite show of all time (called it tha...SNL is my favorite show of all time (called it that ever since the mid-80s when I noticed I was getting more into Late Night with David Letterman then-current time). Since January '76, first Buck Henry ep. Been a fan all this time. The original era's my favorite, esp. season 1. A real rollercoaster of quality through the years (sometimes through an episode!). Only time I seriously doubted SNL fully was during the last of the 3 worst seasons, the one that ended the "Bad Boy era" of the early '90s.<br /><br />Kate McKinnon is my favorite cast member, since Bill Hader left. I see her as similar to Kristen Wiig: Wiig started great with all sorts of subtle business in her performances, which Kate does as well. Increasingly, Wiig went more and more over-the-top (her early characters Target Lady and Aunt Linda should've been a warning), and it ruined her presence on the show. But, for me at least, when Kate does *that*, It still works. But anything on excess will annoy some people more than others.<br /><br />I will say that Kate being absent from the 1st half of this season is readying me for when she leaves. There are so many excellent performers there now that it'll be the 1st time in a long time I don't have just one #1 favorite SNL performer in the current cast/supporting players.Mibbitmakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17649369314906738690noreply@blogger.com