"A crust of bread might cure me rickets"
Cold Open: A Message From Donald Trump
Cold Open: A Message From Donald Trump
1 Star
Donald Trump announces his candidacy for president
"Don't try to fight it. I'm gonna get elected. You know why? Because, I'm a winner."
I could say it's not funny in retrospect but I remember watching the show at the time and not thinking it was funny then. I said it a few episodes back, there is something about seeing Darrell Hammond addressing the camera in a cold open that makes my eyes start glazing over. Trump announces that he's running for president and introduces his running mate, John Carpenter, the first guy to win it all on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?. The only thing worse than Darrell Hammond in a cold open is some flavor of the week non-performer who seems to look bored when he's on stage. It could have been nerves but I was already over this sketch before he came out. I'm curious as to why NBC let this happen. Why are they promoting a rival network's hit show. ABC aired Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? 3, 4 or 5 nights a week and it demolished all the other shows. But on the other hand, who could resist that John Carpenter charisma.
Jennifer Aniston Monologue
4 Stars
Jennifer and the girls start a fight club
Jennifer takes a couple of questions from the audience, a pre-Update Tina Fey asks if her boyfriend, Brad Pitt, is here. He's not, he's promoting his new movie Fight Club. Jennifer gets tired of these questions and walks offstage to meet Molly. She asks Molly to hit her, Molly punches her in the boob and a choreographed fight commences. Ana and Cheri join in on the action followed by Rachel, who bears most of the abuse being a featured player. All the girls, particularly Cheri, were hilarious as they gleefully beat on each other and hit themselves with chairs, planks of wood and fire extinguishers.
Pretty Living
1 Star
Helen Madden and her new friends get interviewed
Keep an open mind, George. This is the 7th appearance of Helen Madden, licensed joylogist. You have never liked a single one of these sketches, but maybe this one will be different. Nope, less than a minute into the sketch we get Helen's catchphrase "I love it, I love it, I love it" and I'm out. Sting and Jennifer come out as a couple who run an institute to improve self esteem but seem to have troubles themselves as Sting is only in it for the ladies which upsets his wife.
Keep an open mind, George. This is the 7th appearance of Helen Madden, licensed joylogist. You have never liked a single one of these sketches, but maybe this one will be different. Nope, less than a minute into the sketch we get Helen's catchphrase "I love it, I love it, I love it" and I'm out. Sting and Jennifer come out as a couple who run an institute to improve self esteem but seem to have troubles themselves as Sting is only in it for the ladies which upsets his wife.
Nick Burns, Your Company's Computer Guy
2 Stars
A wise cracking computer tech helps office workers
People at an office are having issues with their computers. They call the IT guy, Jimmy, who helps them and then makes them feel bad for not knowing computer commands. A relatable sketch for anyone who has worked at an office or IT. I have done both, currently I work in IT and will on a daily basis assist people in rebooting their laptops. I guess I don't have a problem with the sketch so much as how they set it up. Nick Burns already has multiple catchphrases and a theme song in his first appearance, so it doesn't matter if I like him or hate him, I know I'll be seeing him numerous more times and can't stop it.
People at an office are having issues with their computers. They call the IT guy, Jimmy, who helps them and then makes them feel bad for not knowing computer commands. A relatable sketch for anyone who has worked at an office or IT. I have done both, currently I work in IT and will on a daily basis assist people in rebooting their laptops. I guess I don't have a problem with the sketch so much as how they set it up. Nick Burns already has multiple catchphrases and a theme song in his first appearance, so it doesn't matter if I like him or hate him, I know I'll be seeing him numerous more times and can't stop it.
Wayne Porter
5 Stars
The leader of a deserted island runs for re-election
After a plane crashed on an island, the survivors elected a leader in Wayne Porter. Now he wants to be leader again so he's making a campaign commercial by talking to a coconut with a hole in it. He goes over his accomplishments like building treehouses, sharpening sticks and killing the fat guy as well as his plans for the future and turning starfish into medicine. When I was casually watching the show in 2000, this was the first time I took notice of Chris Parnell. He didn't really make an impression on me until this sketch and I instantly loved his oddball delivery as he makes crazy promises to nobody.
Privolin
After a plane crashed on an island, the survivors elected a leader in Wayne Porter. Now he wants to be leader again so he's making a campaign commercial by talking to a coconut with a hole in it. He goes over his accomplishments like building treehouses, sharpening sticks and killing the fat guy as well as his plans for the future and turning starfish into medicine. When I was casually watching the show in 2000, this was the first time I took notice of Chris Parnell. He didn't really make an impression on me until this sketch and I instantly loved his oddball delivery as he makes crazy promises to nobody.
Privolin
5 Stars
A woman tries to tell us about her herpes medication, much to the chagrin of her coworkers
During an office meeting, Jennifer turns to the camera to tell us about Privolin, a genital herpes medication that can't cure herpes but can help you get on with your life. Unlike a normal commercial, the other people notice what she's doing and have no idea why.
"She's talking to the wall about herpes medicine"
The entire cast was good in this one and it was one of those short, stupid sketches I love, much like Javis Home Security Systems from the season premiere. After the sketch is over, Jennifer interrupts Lenny Pickett and the SNL band by trying to promote her genital herpes medicine.
Sex And The City
During an office meeting, Jennifer turns to the camera to tell us about Privolin, a genital herpes medication that can't cure herpes but can help you get on with your life. Unlike a normal commercial, the other people notice what she's doing and have no idea why.
"She's talking to the wall about herpes medicine"
The entire cast was good in this one and it was one of those short, stupid sketches I love, much like Javis Home Security Systems from the season premiere. After the sketch is over, Jennifer interrupts Lenny Pickett and the SNL band by trying to promote her genital herpes medicine.
Sex And The City
2 Stars
Carrie Bradshaw finds a new man
Jennifer, with a big fake nose reminiscent of her early career, plays Sarah Jessica Parker. While at a nightclub with her friends she meets Mr. Peepers. She takes him home and makes sweet love to him in an Eyes Wide Shut parody. I always respect Kattan's physicality in these sketches but there's not much you're gonna get in this Mr. Peepers sketch that you didn't in the previous 6. I did smile when he started humping the fish tank though.
Jennifer, with a big fake nose reminiscent of her early career, plays Sarah Jessica Parker. While at a nightclub with her friends she meets Mr. Peepers. She takes him home and makes sweet love to him in an Eyes Wide Shut parody. I always respect Kattan's physicality in these sketches but there's not much you're gonna get in this Mr. Peepers sketch that you didn't in the previous 6. I did smile when he started humping the fish tank though.
Weekend Update
George W. Bush is dumb, Al Gore is a boring nerd, Bill Clinton is horny, Linda Tripp is ugly. It bothers me every time Colin tells a bad joke and then calls out the audience for groaning. You could just tell better jokes.
George W. Bush is here to talk about his new autobiography. He wrote it in 2 days while he was "a little wired" and doing some partying. He gets hot, removes his jacket, tie and shirt and starts sniffing the pages of his book as if it was cocaine.
Tracy Morgan shows up as part of Weekend Update forum, where he and Colin talk about racial issues. As they speak, subtitles of how they really feel appear below. When Colin talks about alternative schooling for black students we get a subtitle of "prison" and when Tracy talks about white people we get a subtitle of "be afraid Colin, be very afraid".
Sting
Tracy Morgan shows up as part of Weekend Update forum, where he and Colin talk about racial issues. As they speak, subtitles of how they really feel appear below. When Colin talks about alternative schooling for black students we get a subtitle of "prison" and when Tracy talks about white people we get a subtitle of "be afraid Colin, be very afraid".
Sting
"Brand New Day"
I've never been a fan of Sting's solo work but this song is very pleasant. It's so inoffensive that you can immediately picture it in a commercial for Cialis.
Christmas Urchins
4 Stars
19th century urchins disrupt a Christmas meal
A family prepares for Christmas when they notice two Dickensian children on their front lawn. The father of the family rented them for the season. They are invited in for scraps of food and are so overjoyed that they sing some songs. All the songs are about how sickly they are, how many infectious diseases they have and decapitating whores so they are quickly ushered out. Rachel is really coming out strong in her first couple of episodes as she and Jennifer are both delightful in this one.
Kim Plunkett
A family prepares for Christmas when they notice two Dickensian children on their front lawn. The father of the family rented them for the season. They are invited in for scraps of food and are so overjoyed that they sing some songs. All the songs are about how sickly they are, how many infectious diseases they have and decapitating whores so they are quickly ushered out. Rachel is really coming out strong in her first couple of episodes as she and Jennifer are both delightful in this one.
Kim Plunkett
5 Stars
A rival ad for leader of the island
Wayne Porter has been island leader for too long and it's time for a change. Kim Plunkett of the Island Reform Party has been drinking sea water for 4 years and now has x-ray vision and plans for the future. He promises to catch and eat the giant hot dog that's been terrorizing the island, repair the broken airplane with sand and eat everyone and then kill himself. You could do worse said me in 2016.
Pokemon
3 Stars
Parents chastise their child for not liking Pokemon
When Jennifer and Darrell find out that their son doesn't like Pokemon they go off the deep end. They don't want him to be the weird kid in school and force him to go to his room and study Pokemon training. This sketch was a little hampered by cue card staring but it's kind of understandable. I wouldn't expect Jennifer Aniston to memorize inane minutiae about Charizard and Metapod.
When Jennifer and Darrell find out that their son doesn't like Pokemon they go off the deep end. They don't want him to be the weird kid in school and force him to go to his room and study Pokemon training. This sketch was a little hampered by cue card staring but it's kind of understandable. I wouldn't expect Jennifer Aniston to memorize inane minutiae about Charizard and Metapod.
Sting returns with "Desert Rose" featuring Cheb Mami. I always enjoyed this song and this live version is an interesting arrangement.
Thanksgiving Dinner
2 Stars
An annoying coworker joins Thanksgiving dinner
Remember the Laura Leighton episode from season 21? No? Well, why should you? Roberta was a character I never expected to see again after her first fairly dreadful outing. This is leaps and bounds better, mostly because Jennifer is a fantastic actress who sells this on her reactions. Cheri is an annoying cat lady who talks incessantly about her problems and doesn't pick up on any social cues. The family doesn't like her. This was all about Cheri's performance as this had little substance and lacked an ending. The sketch seemed to be running out the clock. Just have Cheri say annoying things until the family finally gets fed up and we can end the show.
FINAL ANALYSIS
Remember the Laura Leighton episode from season 21? No? Well, why should you? Roberta was a character I never expected to see again after her first fairly dreadful outing. This is leaps and bounds better, mostly because Jennifer is a fantastic actress who sells this on her reactions. Cheri is an annoying cat lady who talks incessantly about her problems and doesn't pick up on any social cues. The family doesn't like her. This was all about Cheri's performance as this had little substance and lacked an ending. The sketch seemed to be running out the clock. Just have Cheri say annoying things until the family finally gets fed up and we can end the show.
FINAL ANALYSIS
"I ate him and I'll eat you too"
Average
3 Stars
MVP
Rachel Dratch
Monologue, Privolin, Christmas Urchins
Best Sketch
Wayne Porter/Kim Plunkett
Worst Sketch
Pretty Living
How I Would Have Lorne Michaels-ed It
Move Wayne Porter to after the monologue for 3 reasons. 1, post monologue is where I like my commercials, 2, it wouldn't be back to back with another commercial, and 3, it would be far removed from the Kim Plunkett call back to make the companion piece more unexpected. I would have saved Kim Plunkett for the 10-1 spot, myself. Everything else was fine except for the 1-2 punch of Pretty Living and Nick Burns to open the show. This was a pretty good episode once you got pass those two sketches. Maybe swap Mango for Helen Madden. I can't tell you how bummed I was that after a Trump cold open and a good monologue my hopes for the episode were immediately dashed due to our favorite licensed joyologist.
Host Analysis
An absolute delight. I looked back over my season 29 review to refresh my memory of her second outing. I remember enjoying her episode from that season but that's just how good Jennifer Aniston is. I hated that episode, it had some of the weakest sketches of the season but Jennifer was such a strong premise that I only remember how charming she was and forgot just how bad the sketches were. I thought she was terrific here in all of her sketch appearances, even the bad ones. She's somebody who should come back more often as she just keeps getting better in her movie and TV roles. She made a cameo in 2016 to appear with Vanessa Bayer doing an impression of her but I want a well written episode starring Jennifer Aniston.
Final Thoughts
A decent episode despite a lot of crap. The Wayne Porter and Kim Plunkett political ads definitely helped the sketch average but it is also a testament to Jennifer Aniston's natural likability that I enjoyed this episode. She's so charming that I forgave Pretty Living, Mango and Nick Burns because I liked her in them. The good also outweighed the bad in this one. You have to sit through some crap at the beginning but if you stick with it you get a few nuggets of gold in the middle.
Up Next
Christina Ricci hosts. She's always been an actress that interests me but just based on personal experience with the show, episodes hosted by younger actresses are usually pretty bad. Expectations are low but, as always, hopes are high.
Christina Ricci hosts. She's always been an actress that interests me but just based on personal experience with the show, episodes hosted by younger actresses are usually pretty bad. Expectations are low but, as always, hopes are high.
I wonder why Matt Leblanc has never hosted the other friends have.
ReplyDeleteCurious to see your reaction to the upcoming bird family sketch in Marguiles episode assuming you haven't seen it already.
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