Yesterday, just a few hours before making his premiere as the host of
<p> Saturday Night Live </p>
, Louis C.K. sent out this missive to his fans to discuss his desire to do a good job as the first time host of the long-running sketch comedy show.
Before that bitch hurricane Sandy blew all over the New England area this was an important night for the show and the first time host. Louis is currently at the peak of his comedic power on the final 2012 Election Episode of season. Add onto the potentially resonant tone the show could have just days after the destruction that hit the area. Everyone (with power) would be watching. The night felt important. Would
<p> Lorne Michaels </p>
and Co. and Louis rise to the occasion?
The answer is a yes. The night gave us an instant classic sketch and tackled the spirit of the storm recovery efforts with the right amount of humor. There were only a few low points but for the most part it’s one of the most solid episodes of
<p> Saturday Night Live </p>
delivered in a long time.
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<p> Cold Opening: Bloomberg’s Hurricane Sandy Address </p>
</p>
People that don’t live in the NYC area might not realize how ridiculously worth of a mock this is. NYC Mayor Michael Bloomerberg’s animated sign language lady Lydia Callis sometimes steals the show when the mayor addresses the public. In fact she’s even had tributes like this made for her. Bloomberg then usually says something in Spanish (enter Miguel Bloombito ) and laughs are had all around. With the constant barrage of press conferences the last few days it’s pretty terrific of a mocking if we’ve ever seen one.
NJ
<p>
Governer Chris Christie’s press conferences have been pretty great as well. With the Gov tossing out his no B.S. style of leading at times like this. Adding the play on a very Jersey sign language person is just perfect. And for the record, I’m starting a petition to force Bobby Moynihan to portray Christie at least once an episode.
And yes, white people do love their
<p> Homeland </p>
.
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<p>
<p> Monologue </p>
</p>
Louis C.K. has always worn a pretty simple uniform. Black shirt and jeans. So it was no surprised he took the stage wearing pretty much that but ya know, with a collar.
The last time I remembered a straight stand-up monologue was when Dane Cook hosted the show a few years back. C.K. was obviously in his element and took the mic and proceeded to tell the audience about an encounter with an old woman in an airport. It was about halfway through the 6 minute monologue that I thought the most radical thing SNL could do during the show was to let C.K. just do 90 minutes of stand-up.
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<p>
<p> Fox & Friends: Hurricane Sandy </p>
</p>
I always enjoy the SNL send up of the Fox News morning show. Mainly because the real show is so ridiculous that the only way to mock it is to go even more over the top than you’d think it would be. No matter how over the top you can play it, it could always use more. Jason Sudeikis’ Donald Trump isn’t as great as Darrell Hammond’s but still a worthy successor.
Louis speaking with a voice is weird. Huzzuh.
<p>
<p> </p>
By the way, since it was so ridiculous, I took the liberty of transcribing all the retractions ran at the end of this sketch.
Transition Lenses do not reverse the gender of your eyes.
Sandy Duncan did not “sponsor” the hurricane.
There are many black people, not just one who is a master of disguise.
Brian Kilmead did not invent the term “smoke ’em if you got ’em.”
Not all pigs are born with human feet.
Angela Merkel is not the female version of Steve Urkel.
It is permissible to say the word “Mexian” on television.
There is no celebrity named Rape Romanao.
Condoms work every day of the week. Not just Tuesdays.
Trees do not have bones.
There are a finite number of people in China.
Burritos are not “male tacos.”
The Constitution is a living document, but cannot walk around.
Chef Boyardee is not the Prime Minister of Italy. He is the Vice President.
Paul Ryan is not faster than a cheetah.
FEMA is not slang for female.
Man Hispanics own their own cars.
The Statue of Liberty was not a gift from Santa.
At no point has Dorf been the number one golfer in the world.
Lance Armstrong did not trade a testicle for steroids.
Michael J. Fox does not have “multiple sandwiches.”
Apple Maps is not a map showing where the apples are.
8 is a multiple of 4.
Women’s vaginas are below their waists.
“Kris Krostie” is not Chris Christie with his pants on backwards.
Afi Komen was never the U.N. Secretary General.
Haitian does not mean “half-Asian.”
Last Wednesday was Halloween. Not a “ghost invasion.”
Mr. Met has never announced a preference for any religion over the other.
Chef Boyardee is not the Vice President of Italy.
<p>
<p> Lincoln </p>
</p>
Wow! There was no way I coulda laughed harder at one sketch than I did this one. It was a fantastic send up of C.K.’s show
<p> Louie </p>
but instead of Louis being the sad self-loathing bastard it was re-imagined with President Lincoln as the central character. I didn’t really see it coming when Lincoln first interacted with Keenan Thompson and things could’ve ended there and it woulda been a funny clip. But once they rolled into the music of “Brother Louie” and we watch Lincoln emerge from the West 4th St. Subway station this clip just became the best of not only the night but of the season to date. It’s a shot for shot intro recreation down to the eating pizza at Ben’s ( complete with passerby giving the finger ) as he makes his way around the corner to the Comedy Cellar . The stand-up in between acted sketches and credits were spot on.
Music by Tad Hamilton.
<p>
<p> </p>
And why not a director’s cut of the clip that ran during dress rehearsal.
<p>
<p> </p>
<p>
<p> Screen Legends </p>
</p>
The entire time I watched this clip I just kept hearing the voice of another comedian in my head… Robert Kelly who is constantly mocking the awfulness of the Australian accent on his podcast , which also happens to have an Aussie co-host Kelly Fastuca .
This clip was the acted out realization of that concept and as soon as Kate McKinnon bellowed out “look at your boner” in the Aussie accent, everything was confirmed. The accent truly stinks.
<p>
<p> </p>
<p>
<p> Fun. “Some Nights‚Äö√Ñ√π </p>
</p>
I’ve always dug the band Fun., I’ve even considered myself a fan of their previous bands. But their latest album
<p> Some Nights </p>
has launched the band into superstardom. With three hit singles including the title track the band performed first. Oh and is it me or does Fun. frontman Nate Reuss bear more than a striking resemblance to SNL writer and comedian John Mulaney?
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<p> </p>
<p>
<p> Weekend Update </p>
</p>
Weekend Update is always a strong moment of the show for me.
<p>
<p> </p>
I found it interesting that Mitt Romney’s appearance on W.U. was the first politically tinged moment of the night. Especially considering the Election is this Tuesday. But I think this was the most I enjoyed Sudeikis’ Romney character. The line “When I said I would get rid of FEMA, it was sunny” is perfect. Will this be the last we see of Jason Sudeikis as Mitt Romney? Depends what the country does this Tuesday.
<p>
<p> </p>
Aidy Bryant introduced her social media guru Kourtney Barnes which allowed for the setup of the line, “Juggle my nuts handsome Grandpa!” So that’s a win.
<p>
<p> </p>
<p> Cecily Strong </p>
reprised Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party. A character she rolled out during Weekend Update Thursday. Is it just me or is this character a close relative to Bobby Moynihan’s Drunk Uncle?
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<p> </p>
<p>
<p> Mountain Pass </p>
</p>
This is pretty much the first dud sketch of the night. Louis had mentioned on
<p> Late Night with Jimmy Fallon </p>
that there was a sketch he begged not to be cut because he was kinda dreaded to do it in a good way. We’re thinking this might’ve been that sketch. It’s one I can’t imagine making it past the dress rehearsal. There were chuckles to be had in it but not for the right reasons. Some of the cast seemed to kinda give up on it while Louis struggled to synch his horn blowing with the audio. In general it was a pretty unremarkable sketch.
<p>
<p> </p>
<p>
<p> Hotel Fees </p>
</p>
Here we go with a simple sketch that’s completely word-heavy. The Twitterverse mentioned that it felt Python-esque, replacing the dead parrot with a 12 cent bobcat. I’d have to agree it didn’t have normal SNL trappings and was simple but heavy on the dialogue.
<p>
<p> </p>
<p>
<p> Fun. “Carry On‚Äö√Ñ√π </p>
</p>
This is the band’s latest single and it has an uplifting message to it. Good call on ending a pretty intense week with some promise. With that being said, I don’t think I can ever pull off the high-rolled up jeans look these guys are pulling off.
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<p> </p>
<p>
<p> Last Call </p>
</p>
Woah! Well, I think this is the sketch that solidified Kate McKinnon (who had a pretty great night) as the next Kristen Wiig. This sketch was littered with reminders of the Wiig-isms (if that’s a thing) but McKinnon is definitely becoming a strong female player. The two just went for it with the full on makeout, tongue sucking, forehead licking of the evening. It was hilarious!
<p>
<p> </p>
That’s a wrap folks! I’m calling Kate McKinnon, Bill Hader, Bobby Moynihan, Jason Sudeikis the big winners of the night while we didn’t catch much of Tim Robbins, Jay Pharoah, or Nasim Pedrad.
We have ourselves a fantastic evening. Louis C.K. must return as a host sooner than later. Here’s to hoping the success of his turn kicks off a string of great people hosting. Someone show me where I can place my vote for Joel McHale to host. Speaking of hosts… Anne Hathaway is rolling through town next week. She did a lot of heavy lifting during her stint hosting the Oscars. Hopefully there’s good things in store for next week.
