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« Saturday Night Live
Amy Adams Hosts, Vampire Weekend Performs
Hello everyone. Happy rainy Saturday night. I had a nap today just so I could rally myself to write you the recap of your lives. Actually I just ate too much sugar and passed out. You might only get a half-conscious recap now. Maybe that's for the best considering last week's terrible show with Ellen Page.
So, let's just jump into the show, shall we?
Cold Opening
Amy Poehler is Hillary once again. Did you expect anything else? "She approves of this message," which is actually a spoof of her "Who will answer the phone," campaign commercial. Black and white stills of Hillary in cold cream and a shower cap cut to black and white sills of Obama in the White House as president. He's been calling her every two seconds for advice on everything from foreign policy to finding the heating reset button in the basement. There's a lot of swearing on Obama's side, and he's smoking, which is supposed to be funny but is just kind of strange.
Roll opening credits....
Monologue
Amy Adams is so damn pretty it makes me want to hurl. She brings out Kristen Wiig because they look so much a like (sorta...); they pretend to be as close as sisters, and then burst out into song about loathing each other. It's very Disney/musical theater. What it's not: funny. But it's OK for now because she's so damn cute.
ABC Family Sketch:
Kristen and Amy A. play kids on a show called Mirror Image. "Haley" has a twin and they try to swap places to get away with doing half the work in school. The problem: Haley's twin is way fatter and stupid with a strange accent. When Haley winks to the camera and a little chime sounds, her twin winks to the camera and a fart sounds loudly. Because my husband and I think bathroom humor is funny, this is the only part that makes us laugh.
Couples Therapy Sketch:
Amy Adams plays a marriage counselor, Amy Poehler plays a haggard Russian bride, and Will Forte is the husband. All the bride wants is her citizen papers signed because she "gave the sex" on her wedding night. The therapist keeps pressing the couple to share feelings, and role play. It ends with, "You sign forms, I give one more sex." It goes on way too long and isn't that funny.
SNL Digital Short
Samberg is out it again. With short hair, in a shirt and tie singing above the city... it's a cheesy ballad making fun of someone but I can't really figure out who at this point. Suddenly he's in a super hero outfit but is still singing. He tries to stop a mugger, but gets the crap beaten out of him instead. Kinda satisfying actually. Speaking going on too long... the beating happens for a solid minute. Ugh.
Bravo Commercial
Amy P. plays the Project Runway winner/ fashion expert from Bravo on a makeover show. All she keeps saying is "You're fierce, you're a tranny, you're a hot mess," over and over again. If I watched Project Runway, I might think it was funny. Who am I kidding, no I wouldn't.
Vampire Weekend Performs
Preppy and poppy. Do I care? Nope.
Weekend Update
Chuckles but no big laughs so far. Will Forte comes on at Tim Calhoun who is running for president. He's quiet and stiff and this is so random and too long. I actually just fast forwarded through this. Not a good sign. It's mostly political jokes that are just so-so, and a pretty tasteless Nazi joke about fat German soldiers. Amy does a whole riff on a ghostbusters commercial and is pretty committed to it. Seth looks annoyed. Now Keenan is on as a French comedian Jean K. Jean... but he's totally sporting a ghetto accent and looks scarily like Re-Run in that beret. I have no idea what he's talking about. The writers were gone way too long to return with this kind of crappy material.
Traffic School Sketch
Amy A. plays the teacher and Kristen reprises her role as Penelope the famous one-upper who speaks really fast and then trails off. This is one of those classic sketches that's funny for literally 1.2 seconds, but they insist on dragging it out for 3 minutes.
Dr. Uncle Jimmy's Smokehouse and Outpatient Surgical Facility Sketch
Will plays a Mark Twain-esque creepy guy who owns the rib joint/surgery center. They've done some weird sketches before but this ranks up there with the weirdest... and lamest. Boo.
Roger Clemens Presents Sketch
Jason Sudeikis plays a 'roided out Clemens who's written a play called, "Guess What Dingbats? Steroids Are Good for Baseball." Amy A. plays a ballplayer that's gone off the juice and is now a scrawny weakling. Amy P. enters, also "tiny and useless" according to Roger. Jason plays Roger crazy and yells all his lines. Where's my mute button?
Tookie Styles Show on DVD Sketch
Keenan plays a cheeseball ghetto talk show host... kinda in the style of a local access shows. This poor guy doesn't get to do anything but the stupid stereotypical ghetto characters. Come on writers? Are you all still on vacation?
The Band Performs Again....
Celebrations Club Sketch
Amy P., Amy A., Casey and Kristen are all dolled up for a night on the town and enter the newly remodeled Celebrations club (that's playing "Celebration" in the background). They bust out in an old-school 8th grade dance routine to Rhianna's "Umbrella." Then they do it again to "It's the End of the World" by REM. You can see where this is going... they keep doing the dance to attract all the men that will be "all over them." I'm just over it all together.
Well, that's it for this week my friends. Let's hope next week's show with Jonah Hill from Superbad will wake me up from this awful nightmare (otherwise known as the last two episodes of SNL).
Watch better episodes of SNL at our Online Video Guide.
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Mar 9, 2008 1:34 AM
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Wow. Negative much? Sure, some of the sketches did drag out a bit, but I thought the show was pretty good, especially the Bravo sketch.
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Mar 9, 2008 9:36 AM
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Sorry for not posting earlier. You can thank my sickness and Daylight Savings Time for that. 
Of course, there wasn't a single redeeming quality of the episode, so it didn't really matter. The episode makes the previous two look like "cowbell"-quality humor.
Cold Opening: Way, way too long. When Hillary mentioned the "flashing red button," I thought she was refering to the nuke button. That would have been funny.
Monologue: I had to Google Amy Adams to find out she was in Wicked. Cute, not funny.
ABC Family Sketch: Bathroom humor, really, NBC? This isn't MadTV; I thought you actually had some class. However, I love how blatantly Bill Hader was reading off the cue cards.
Couples Therapy Sketch: It had potential for wit due to the ridiculousness of going to therapy with a mail-order bride...but it was flatter than Amy P's accent. NBC needs to learn that a little bit of hyperbole is good, and not be so serious all the time.
SNL Digital Short: Compared to Samburg's other Shorts, this was odd. Normally, he does the hyperbole. (D*ck in a box, anyone?) I was expecting a pink-clad superhero with bunny slippers listening to Hannah Montana. Instead, he does the cliche, hubristic hero-gets-beaten-up. For a minute. Sigh.
Bravo Commercial: I never watched Project Runaway, so I don't know too much about Cristian. This was the first skit where Casey had a substantial role...and she sucked.
Weekend Update: Hey, I thought Ralph Nader was running for president! Who's this Tim Calhoun guy? If Ralph Nader was on the show (instead of the expected McCain), that would have been the biggest surprise in SNL history. And when they mentioned the "European Comedian" Jean K. Jean, I thought for a second they meant Jean Valjean. (A character in Les Miserables). That might have actually been funnier.
Traffic School Sketch: I don't know a single person who likes the Penelope sketches. Notice how the only line in the entire episode that drew big laughs was "My father is George Washington...he's on the $1 dollar bill...so am I...I'm the eye on the pyramid..."? Not funny, but it was somewhat witty.
Dr. Uncle Jimmy's Smokehouse and Outpatient Surgical Facility Sketch: Amy A does a good Ellen Pompeo. I guess.
Roger Clemens Presents Sketch: I thought it was mysoginist at first, implying with Amy A that girls are as weak as men without steroids. But in reality, the skit sucked.
Tookie Styles Show on DVD Sketch: No comment.
Celebrations Club Sketch: I thought it would have been like the other skits in the past few seasons, where 4 men talk about bad events while singing a happy tune (then taking out guns a tthe end). However, it was a trippy, melodramatic skit. (Notice how Casey was out of sync during the dance, while Amy A was in perfect sync? Hmm.)
There was a severe lack of Fred Armisten in the episode. He's probably the most underated cast member, while Kenan is the most overrated. (way too typecasted)
But I'm just a loser who has no life and spends time commenting on every single SNL scene. 
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Mar 9, 2008 10:50 AM
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I'm always amazed when people don't hate the show as much as me. It makes me wonder if they're watching the funny seasons on syndication...or just into mediocrity.
I don't know WHY I continue to watch. I think I'm just always hoping I'll catch the next D*ck in a Box sketch (even though I wasn't on the list of people who found that hilarious--though it's probably the best one they've done).
The cast and writers joke about their own skits ("they don't end!") so they KNOW what people say yet don't do anything about it. Is it really working that well the way it is now? Do people gush about each episode? Are there no new writers to hire? Are there none you can FIRE for this inanity!
You mentioned the "awful nightmare known as the last 2 episodes..." I would change that to last few seasons.
I miss the 90s! (which, in full disclosure, is when I was growing up so I didn't know the early seasons). I haven't been happy with this show for a long time. There were better moments a few years ago but even then I knew it wasn't great. And now? Ugh.
Again, I don't know why I watch (and I don't need to hear from the people who like it that I should stop watching if I hate it so much). I guess I watch because I'm still up anyway, I might as well see if they'll bring the funny. Been disappointed a lot lately! I do like (most of) the cast--but I just don't like the material they're given on the show.
I don't mind the negativity in the blog because I'm just glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks it's crap. I wish it were better...but since it's not...negativity where it's due.
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Mar 9, 2008 11:48 AM
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Can TVGuide please get a recapper who
A) Has a sense of humor or
B) Actually likes SNL
Didn't think that was too much to ask for. Thanks.
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Mar 9, 2008 12:57 PM
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SNL should just pack it in and do a ninety minute commercial for Hillary Clinton every week. That's all this season has become anyway.
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Mar 9, 2008 1:00 PM
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Hey Zinger314, Amy Adams is NOT nor has she ever been in Wicked. She'd like to be, but hasn't. So you need to reGoogle that one.
Also I too am sick of TVGuid having someone review SNL that doesn't really seem to like it! Sure it wasn't the best ever, but it's by far the best this season! Amy Adams can do no wrong!
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Mar 9, 2008 1:36 PM
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I hope I am one of thousands who hate the Jim Calhoun bit on the Update. I don't have the patience for that crapola...it's not funny or clever in any way. How can Lorne Michaels think that we would want to sit through it. So disappointed in last night's show just watched on my DVR which is a blessing not to have to watch the music and other boring "lack of comedy".
Where are the crazy, wacky, funny sketches like in the very past (the golden old dayts) that involved the entire cast? How is there NOT a Black female actress in this show....a real shame. Yes the new girl has big boobs which is at least enjoyable to look at but is she that funny. Wiig is proving to be pretty good but that Penelope sketch did go a little too long. I too thought the "pyramid" comment in the dollar bill one of the cleverest of the night. Can Keenan get something original character to create and not those same tired racial ones? Amy seems to be in nearly every sketch. They must be trying to save money. I never waste time on watching the many commercials. I hope they improve next week. I didn't know much about Amy Adams (got her confused with Amy Ryan) but she sure is adorable.
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Mar 9, 2008 1:49 PM
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If SNL had been a one-woman show performed and written by Amy Adams, that might be legitimate. Did it ever occur to FishRockette, mla1698 and arabella84, that no one at TV Guide thinks SNL is much good and that Erin Fox is the only one who thinks it's worth writing about? Personally, I'm surprised she and her husband didn't choose something better to do on a Saturday night.
Hang in there, Fox. Maybe you'll have sugar-induced hallucinations next weekend and it'll all seem like gumdrops and rainbows of funny.
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Mar 9, 2008 1:57 PM
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Hey guys, Erin Fox here. Just wanted to clarify something for those who think I hate SNL or am too negative. I actually love SNL... that's why I stay up until 2AM blogging it on a Saturday night (when I could be out partying... OK, I'd probably be sleeping, but it's still supposed to be a night off). I've watched this show through the good, the bad and the ugly since I was a kid. Some of my favorite TV memories are from SNL (Wayne and Garth, Opera Man, Canteen Boy, Schweaty Balls, The Cheerleaders, the Church Lady, Celebrity Jeopardy, Chippendales with Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze, and a million more). The only reason I'm snarky and negative now is because it's just not the show it used to be.... So, I'll continue to watch it as always, and hope for the best. So haters, don't hate the messenger. I said I laughed at the fart jokes!
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Mar 9, 2008 2:02 PM
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its a shame you don't watch Project Runway, Erin, b/c not only is the show amazingly fun, that Christian spoof was SPOT-ON. I laughed my ass off. The end of the skit was lame, but Amy nailed Christian.
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Mar 9, 2008 2:17 PM
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"its a shame you don't watch Project Runway, Erin, b/c not only is the show amazingly fun, that Christian spoof was SPOT-ON. I laughed my ass off. The end of the skit was lame, but Amy nailed Christian."
THANK YOU! I'm glad someone else agrees! I really haven't laughed that hard at an SNL moment in a very long time.
I also can't believe that you didn't even mention that Kristen Wiig actually held her own singing-wise against Amy Adams. Add that to the list of the reasons I love her.
I actually agree with most of your posting Erin (that German soldier joke was incredibly tasteless), but I actually thought the Celebration Club sketch was funny.
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Mar 9, 2008 2:32 PM
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I have been a fan of SNL for a long time--but last night's episode was very unfunny. And Erin's blog can't gush over the funny--when the funny isn't there. I switched during "Tookie Styles", come on--like that skit hasn't been seen before? Maybe different characters but very similar act. When I can't even muster up a chuckle--I throw in the towel and change channels. And one other thing--will all the opening bits be about Hillary and Obama--or will we finally see a 'fresh' opening for a change--three weeks in a row, people! It was truly funny the first time--but it is losing it's funny.
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Edited by PatMc at 03/09/2008 1:14 PM
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Mar 9, 2008 4:13 PM
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As a fan of both SNL and Project Runway, the Christian Siriano sketch was a little taste of heaven. Amy Poehler WAS that tiny little piece of sass. How badly do I want her Christian and Bill Hader's Tim Gunn to have spin-off of adventures in a recurring sketch now? That skit was worth the whole episode, which did fall flat, even though Amy Adams showed a couple shreds of talent here and there.
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Mar 9, 2008 6:19 PM
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I guess I watched a totally different show than the reviewer and some other bloggers here b/c this show was funny to me. As others have stated, if you watch Project Runway, you would have laughed for days at that sketch. I watched it twice and have saved it on my Tivo to watch again when I need a good chuckle. I also laughed at the couple's therapy bit and the last sketch at the end with the Celebration Club was very funny to me. The monologue/singing duet was also very good as far as the singing was concerned. I think maybe we should all catch an episode of this past season's Project Runway to get it b/c it's a shame if you missed the humor.
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Mar 9, 2008 7:41 PM
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