Hey, guys, so I’m in LA today, meaning this live blog will begin at 11:30 Pacific time.
WRAPPINGVILLE: These are fun; there’s no question about that. The thing is, I’m already past the point of caring about them because they aren’t fun enough to scrape by on nostalgia. This specific one puts a nice spin on things with Fallon and Timberlake and has some pretty clever wordplay, but I just don’t enjoy it as much. GRADE: B-
MONOLOGUE: This is a perfectly good monologue that allows Fallon to sing, do some impressions of David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Bob Dylan, and bring in Paul McCartney as our first guest of the night. It’s not anything original, but it’s absolutely enjoyable, and it allows Fallon to do what he does best. GRADE: B+
FAMILY FEUD: The “impressions” premise is fine enough, and I’m a sucker for these kinds of sketches. Fallon and Timberlake seem to have some kind of unique relationship that’s endearing to watch, and it’s no different when they crack up here. Taran Killam’s Ashton Kutcher is great and Fallon does a good Sheldon Cooper–Sheldon Cooper, not Jim Parsons. Thompson is also as enjoyable as ever, and oh, there’s something about Brooks Whelan not getting enough screen time. GRADE: B+
LET’S DO IT IN MY TWIN BED: And the pre-recorded segments strike again. My, this is fantastic, if only for allowing the women of SNL to shine. The song is catchy, the visual touches are amazing, and the premise is creative. Also, we get to see pictures of the cast members as seven year olds! GRADE: A-
THE BARRY GIBB TALK SHOW: Well, I’m surprised to see this sketch again. Still, it’s fairly enjoyable, and Fallon’s energy is what keeps it going; it’s also great to see Killam’s Paul Ryan back. Out of our two guests here, Barry Gibb makes more of an impression; Madonna is fairly superfluous, to be honest with you. Also, it seems like Timberlake’s a co-host. GRADE: B-
WEEKEND UPDATE: This is a nice send-off to Seth Meyers without being overly sentimental. Michael Bloomberg brings a nice dynamic to the Fallon-Meyers interactions, and I have to say, I will miss Meyers. He could get grating at times, but he was a solid weekend update host with some nice relationships with certain guests. As for the rest of the update, it’s fairly middling, even with McKinnon’s Billie Jean King, but hey, it’s solid. GRADE: B
WAKING UP WITH KIMYE: I like this sketch, and Pharoah’s Kanye is the highlight; the dynamic between him and Pedrad is fantastic, and there are some really hilarious lines in there. Oh, and of course we get a Bound 2 parody. GRADE: B-
NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS: Well, here’s another impression sketch, and it’s very solid; Fallon’s impressions are all very good, Cecily Strong is great as Alanis Morrisette, and Kate McKinnon nails Shakira. GRADE: B
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: This brings a string of good sketches to a screeching halt. The main takeaway is that Ebenezer Scrooge was gay, and I just don’t find any of it funny at all. Not even Killam’s energy can save this sketch. GRADE: D+
BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE: This is great. Fallon and Strong have amazing chemistry, and the concept is excellent; it’s a very sweet sketch that showcases some great singing voices and the ability of the writers to tell a whole story in such a short time. GRADE: A-
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: I like Justin Timberlake, but I feel like he got caught up by the visual aspect in the first performance. However, the second performance shows off his skill in a much more impressive way, and it’s a solid ending to the night. GRADE: B+
OVERALL: B+
This is a very good finisher to the year that utilizes Fallon and Timberlake very well, as well as incorporating some guest stars into the proceedings. It also manages to provide a send-off to Seth Meyers, and there really is only one dud in this episode. I’m impressed, SNL.
Anyway, that does it for SNL live blogs for the year. Have a safe and happy holiday season, everyone.
Photo credit: NBC, Saturday Night Live
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I dunno. I don’t doubt that Fallon and Timberlake are talented, but I do think that together on SNL they’re a bit overhyped, especially with that screaming girl during the cold opening. To me, if Fallon is hosting, it’s as if there has to be a cavalcade of guest stars and appearances to make up for Fallon. After all, not too long ago people got on Fallon’s case for laughing during sketches all the time with Horatio Sanz. Had Timberlake not been the musical guest or we’d gotten the cameos by McCartney and so on, this episode would not have gotten the hype that it did. Probably wouldn’t have been as well received, either, since I hear folks saying it’s the best of the season. I liked parts of it, but it definitely felt overblown to me.