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Steve Martin can't save SNL

W

WMC2006

The subject says it all. I was expecting last night's SNL to hit it out of the park but I guess even Steve Martin can't get it done anymore.

The few hits:

-the opening Obama sketch
-Chewable Pampers
-Angelina Jolie popping into Weekend Update looking for more babies
-NY Governor David Patterson on Weekend Update
-MAYBE Steve Martin's banjo number
-Colby Callais looking pretty hot while singing with musical guest Jason Mraz during his second performance


The misses (amongst many):

-Martin's opening monologue (pretty quiet in that studio)
-the Bernie Madoff sketch
-the Cats digital short (tired of that theme--even Lorne Michaels looks bored with it)
-MacGruber (that series ran out of steam a long time ago and last night's insufferable 'Pepsugruber" was god-awful although it was nice to see Richard Dean Anderson there...looked a little puffy, didn't he?)
-the SNL girls falling in love with Steve --Lorne looked bored with that too
-Issues
-Gov Blagojevich on Weekend Update
 
I think the 'SNL girls falling in love with Steve' skit was clever because Steve Martin is always amusing when he plays his "conceited" self. As for Lorne, he always looks bored.

The rest of the show was awful - Armison's Obama needs serious work. Norm McDonald never really sounded like Bob Dole or Larry King, but his impressions were funny. Armison's is just embarrassing.

Not to sound like a broken record, but it all gets back to the writing, which is just atrocious.
 
WMC, I agree with almost everything you said. I had a good laugh with Chewable Pampers and Abby Elliott did a great Angelina Jolie. I thought the very beginning of the I Love Steve Martin sketch was funny, him talking into a mirror. I liked the banjo number.

Don't forget about "Michael" (hopefully that was Martin's name for the crazy wife sketch) that went way too long and the nerdy threesome which was funny the first time but not this time.

Again, it was obvious that Martin read the cue cards most of the time.

Still trying to get used to having one Weekend Update anchor. I'm waiting for the camera to switch to someone else. It'll be interesting if they stick with Myers solo next season, give him a partner, or go to new anchor(s).
 
Not to sound like a broken record, but it all gets back to the writing, which is just atrocious.

[/quote]

Remember these are the same writers that wrote all the TINA FEY impersonation's of Sara Palin.
So consider that its not always superior writing that guarentees a funny bit. It has to be the combination
of the right 'topical' character or thing to parody,and then have terrific writing.

It helps to have superior performers like a Tina Fey, or Amy Pohler as Hillary....Chevy Chase never looked like
ford,but he would just fall for the laugh....nothing else was funny about that bit. It was the topical thing to parody
at that time. I also think its going to take america a long time to laugh about "obama" things.
 
WMC2006 said:
The misses (amongst many):

-MacGruber (that series ran out of steam a long time ago and last night's insufferable 'Pepsugruber" was god-awful although it was nice to see Richard Dean Anderson there...looked a little puffy, didn't he?)
Click to expand...

When I saw these the first thing I thought was they were played at odd times between commercials. I thought there was a mistake by NBC in sticking the scetch between commercials because they didn't run them during the show and squeezed them out to keep the show's time. :)

NO! :mad:

They were not part of the show, but Pepsi commercials! I read this in a SNL review that Pepsi made the commercials with the McGruber theme. :eek:

WOW! Commercials that suck as much as SNL! :eek: How retro. 8)
 
jinglemaker said:
Not to sound like a broken record, but it all gets back to the writing, which is just atrocious.
Click to expand...
It helps to have superior performers like a Tina Fey, or Amy Pohler as Hillary....Chevy Chase never looked like
ford,but he would just fall for the laugh....nothing else was funny about that bit. It was the topical thing to parody
at that time. I also think its going to take america a long time to laugh about "obama" things.
[/quote]
I think its hard to laugh when you're worried bout things.
 
"It's hard to laugh when you're worried about things."

All the more reason the writing has got to be there. We've lived through far worse times in this country. Talk to someone over 60.

Back in the day...waaaaaaaaaay back in the day, NBC (radio) programming managed to keep the country chuckling.

But then again, we whine more today.

Get the writing done right and you will find the "actors" coming out of the woodwork.

Then again..we've all been exposed to the unlimited (language and content) potential of satellite and cable...might be that if it isnt f'n funny unless you drop the f bomb...
 
jinglemaker said:
Not to sound like a broken record, but it all gets back to the writing, which is just atrocious.
Click to expand...

Remember these are the same writers that wrote all the TINA FEY impersonation's of Sara Palin.
So consider that its not always superior writing that guarentees a funny bit. It has to be the combination
of the right 'topical' character or thing to parody,and then have terrific writing.

It helps to have superior performers like a Tina Fey, or Amy Pohler as Hillary....Chevy Chase never looked like
ford,but he would just fall for the laugh....nothing else was funny about that bit. It was the topical thing to parody
at that time. I also think its going to take america a long time to laugh about "obama" things.


[/quote]

I'll agree and disagree. I agree that most of the Sarah Palin stuff was brilliant - especially considering "I can see Russia from my house" has entered our national lexicon to such a degree. And I agree that Fey was brilliant as Palin. But that writing was focused and strong - not like most of the talky over-long skits they do.

Much of the current cast are very talented - Bill Hader, Darell Hammond, Kristin Wiig, Keenan Thompson, Will Forte, etc - are all good comic actors and deserve better material. And yes - I realize that at least some of them are writers on the show. They should stick to acting.

By the way - did anybody catch Darrell Hammond as the creepy henchman in last week's episode of Damages? He makes a convincing villain.
 
Really, part of the problem is that ever since Dana Carvey, SNL has felt they NEED to lampoon the President nearly every week. Chevy did Ford, what, six times maybe? Dan Ackroyd did Carter four times if I remember correctly. They did Reagan TWICE in eight years. Then along came Dana Carvey's George Bush, and they felt they had to do Presidential Speeches constantly.

Retire the shtick. If there's a real reason to mock Obama (and there will be, there always is) then it will present itself. Until then, don't force it.
 
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