As some one you might have noticed, I couldn’t cover the last three-week SNL stint due to personal matters but I was able to watch those episodes and they were pretty amazing. From Keaton amazing monologue to Henson’s baseball sketch to Johnson’s hilarious Wrestlemania skit (which was top 5 of the whole season), SNL’s had a really great run. Tonight, we have Scarlett Johansson, an SNL veteran who has always proved game in past episodes.
Like I always do, I’ll be writing the recaps “live,” meaning I’ll watch a sketch and immediately write a short blurb reviewing and recapping it. For each segment, I’ll rate it on a scale of 0-5 stars. At the end of the piece, I’ll share some quick overall thoughts and the best/worst sketch of the night.
--
Mayweather-Pacquiao Cold Open: * * *
I’m not a boxing person and truthfully only know about the fight since last my usually-sportless Twitter was dominated by Mayweather/Pacquiao discussions. I totally get that SNL wanted to address the fight but I’m also fairly certain that the SNL writers had no idea how. There wasn’t a lot of comedy here, except having Bryant play Pacquiao for some unknown reason. Let’s move on, shall we?
Opening Monologue: * * *
Scarlett Johansson is here to talk about her new baby and sing an inappropriate ‘90s slow jam that she’s trying to pass as a lullaby. That’s about it. Johansson is a good host, she’s proved that over three good episodes, but this was just OK.
Right Side of the Bed: * * *
Wow, I didn’t expect to see this clunker come back. The good news is, I found is a bit more tolerable than the first go-around. The repartee between Killam and Strong is strong and their energy is so high it (almost) hides the lazy writing. Johansson is fine here as a caterer, but she’s doing a variation of her Long Island princess character that she’s done in all her previous SNL episodes. You know what was great, though, McKinnon playing Hozier. What can she not do?
Orioles: * * * *
There was a great cut sketch this fall about local news anchors trying to carry on a normal show during the Ferguson riots. You can watch it here. This felt like a retred of that earlier sketch, which I guess is valid since the Ferguson one never made it to air. This one had some really funny moments, although I wish they had pushed it a little further. Going for Kiss Cam humor here seemed amiss when they could delve a little deeper. But that being said, perhaps if I hadn’t seen the superior Ferguson sketch, I would have liked this even more.
Black Widow Trailer: * * * * ½
This superhero movie/chick flick mash-up is pretty darn great. It has a really solid premise and, for the first time in the show, Johansson feels in control and comfortable. There’s not a ton to dissect here, it’s a pretty straight Rom-Com parody (only in Avengers costumes) but it’s expected wonderfully. My favorite part might just be the on-point soundtrack from Regina Spektor to James Blunt.
Girlfriends Talk Show: * ½
These used to be funny. They are not anymore, no matter how many times they use the words “Ratchet” and “Basic.”
Weekend Update: * * * * ½
We all know McKinnon is a national treasure and it’s clear she loves doing Ginsburg. But I don’t quite get why Ginsburg is played as an aging insult comic and I wish the material was just a little funnier. The same thing goes for Thompson/Pharaoh’s Barkly/Shaq in that, while the jokes weren’t that memorable, Pharaoh’s Shaq is so infectious and weird, he made me laugh just with his physicality alone. What I did love, though, was the Bruce Jenner material and the Samwell interview. Sam has always been my favorite and most relatable Game of Thrones character and Moynihan’s version is just great.
Dino Bones: ½
Did someone along the line think this was funny? It’s not. At all.
Blazer: * * * * ½
Like Dyke & Fats last year, this was a short, pretaped police sketch with a clear message. The set up was strong and, more importantly, it knew not to drag out the short too long. It’s hard to do comedy skits about police brutality, but Blazer found the right tone and message.
Virgin Flight: * * ½
I like the idea of this sketch much more then the execution. Sure, Johansson’s line reading of “Little Red Riding Hood from ‘Into The Woods’” was pure brilliance but the sketch never quite went anywhere.
Jingle Writers: * * * ½
In a way, this reminded me of Bryant’s “waterbeds are the best!” sketch and, as with that one, Jingle Writers used Bryant really well. I can’t quite tell why this one didn’t work as well, though. My guess is that it went on too long. This has been a weird episode, so I can’t be too harsh about this one, but it most definitely wasn’t great.
--
Best Sketch:Blazer Worst Sketch: Dino Bones…so random
Musical Guest: Wiz Khalifa
I’m no big fan of Wiz’s, he just isn’t my genre, but I quite like “See You Again.” Charlie Puth’s pretty, Sam Smith-esque hook elevates the rapper’s material. His second was more typical Wiz and less my style. Truthfully, I spent most of “Dem Boys” wondering if he was wearing a shirt or if that pattern under his jacket was pure tattoo…
Overall Thoughts:
After a few great shows, Johansson’s outing felt vey timid and lazy, except for the racially charged humor. Let’s hope they finish up the season stronger than this.