ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR: Any sketch that makes fun of the NCAA’s ridiculous student-athlete policies is great in my book (everyone, go watch John Oliver’s takedown of the NCAA from Last Week Tonight). This one’s pretty entertaining, especially coming right after Wisconsin’s win over Kentucky (yes!!), and Bobby Moynihan showing up as Jahlil Okafor’s replacement is a pretty fun image. “I majored in volcanoes!” GRADE: B+
MONOLOGUE: I normally dislike musical monologues, but this one is so damn fun to watch. The bit with the cheap Keaton footage is priceless, and Moynihan’s “I have six weeks to live” joke is sublime; also, Keaton actually gives in at the end, and it’s as awesome as we could’ve expected. GRADE: A-
CNN NEWSROOM: We’ve seen CNN parodies so many times before, but this is easily one of the best; it makes a wonderful use of visual comedy, specifically when Keaton enters as part of a Reenactment Dance Troupe, and the puppets are hilarious. GRADE: A-
A MIKE O’BRIEN PICTURE: This is a nice little sketch that tells a funny, yet also surprisingly poignant, story about a kid who takes his teacher to prom. Keaton and O’Brien are both wonderful throughout, and the hidden gem of the sketch is easily Vanessa Bayer’s character. GRADE: A-
GRANDMOTHER CALL LINE: Finally, Sasheer Zamata gets something to do. She’s hilarious in this sketch, and as important as the kids’/grandparents’ bits are, Zamata’s attempts to turn the conversations into something sexy are essential. GRADE: B+
AD PITCH: Okay, this whole ad pitching scene is getting me really excited for tomorrow’s Mad Men premiere. Anyway, this is Michael Keaton’s sketch, and he is phenomenal. He’s just so fun to watch, and the insertion of a random bloody belly button piercing subplot is so weird that I love it. GRADE: B+
CHURCH OF NEUROTOLOGY: Any dig at scientology is good in my book. This is a great follow-up to HBO’s Going Clear, and the constant updates that pop up on the screen are really funny. Also, the song is pretty damn catchy. GRADE: A-
WEEKEND UPDATE: This is the best Weekend Update I’ve seen in a long time. Not only are the Update jokes great–“To the Jews, nice try”, “It was only twice”, “Sneaker factory”, etc.–but so are the guests. Norman Reedus shows up, but the best part of Update is easily Jebediah Atkinson’s bit about television shows. He burns SNL, makes a Joe Paterno joke, and brings so much energy that you can’t help but laugh. It’s awesome. GRADE: A-
SMART HOUSE: This episode is so, so bizarre, and I’m loving it so far. This one gets off to a weak start, but once Kate McKinnon goes “We left our baby in the tub”, the sketch takes off. Keaton and Strong are fantastic here, and they help carry a sketch that might be a little lacking in laughs otherwise. GRADE: B
CARLY RAE JEPSEN: “I Really Like You” is a catchy song, not gonna lie.
AN EASTER MESSAGE FROM MICHAEL KEATON AND PORTIA: “Unlike Jesus, it doesn’t rise. Jesus 1, Bread 0.” “How would you get your little wiener in there?” This episode, man. This is like the cherry on top of an episode of weirdness, and Michael Keaton gives his best performance of the night here. GRADE: A
OVERALL: A-
My favorite episode of the season. Next week: Taraji P. Henson (from Person of Interest, obviously, not Empire) and Mumford and Sons.
Photo credit: NBC, Saturday Night Live
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I loved the Scientology film/skit! Stellar stuff especially with Going Clear doing so well and starting many conversations. And I loved Jebediah Atkinson’s part on Weekend Update, I really like that character of Taran Killam’s he does it so well! 🙂
My least favourite is that Pete Davidson guy, he does not make me laugh, when I look at him all I see is the love child of Steve Buscemi ( who I like) and a bag of flour. 😛
I was hoping that Keaton would have been funnier as he can be and is but I felt a tad let down by the show. I stopped watching it and decided to read instead.
I am looking forward to next week for Taraji P. Henson and Mumford and Sons!
I miss Taraji on PoI but all everyone is talking about is her Empire character Cookie, I do not watch Empire for me it is just an “Urban” Dallas, or Dynasty, and I could not abide those shows. It is too bad that people do not know the great work that she has done on Person of Interest. 😦
Have a good rest of the week! 🙂
I liked some of it..but I think you liked it more than me. I found some of the sketches dragging.. but for the most part..yes, it was a good one! 🙂