“Pardon me ma’am, I just had sex with a bicycle”
Cold Open: The Situation Room
3 Stars
Obama takes a victory lap after killing Bin Laden turning a political speech into a standup comedy routine. I loved the bit about white presidents being unable to find Bin Laden while black presidents shoot him dead. Although it’s not the last Fredbama, since I’ve already covered Season 37 it’s the last for me as Jay thankfully takes over in 38. Shall we play a clip package of all my favorite Fredbama moments? It may just be this cold open and the one where he played Obama as Bill Cosby. Fred’s performance is actually good here, even if he doesn’t look or sound anything like the man he’s portraying.
Ed Helms Monologue
Ed tells a story about being inspired to enter show business at a young age when he saw a baton twirler. He then rips off his clothes to reveal a blue jumpsuit and do his own twirling routine set to Eye Of The Tiger.
Rerun of Corn Syrup Producers Of America
What Up With That?
Paul Simon, Chris Colfer, and Lindsay Buckingham join Diondre for a music edition of the show. They’re later joined by the California Raisins, Ed as Captain Sexy Banjo, and the real Lindsay Buckingham. Gotta say, this is one of the weaker ones. This sketch has a tendency to boost the energy but it was mostly a banjo solo and a guitar solo and a noticeable lack of craziness.
The Ambiguously Gay Duo
A TV Funhouse? That’s a blast from the past, and The Ambiguously Gay Duo to boot. Bighead is once again trying to out our dynamic duo and a flesh ray turns everyone into live-action. Jon Hamm and Jimmy Fallon play Ace and Gary and Bighead and Dr. Brainio are played by their voice actors Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert, so we get a small glimpse of an alternate universe where they were hired as cast members. The novelty of live action is fun but this apparently had something to do with a conceived movie that I don’t think would have worked. A little goes a long way but seeing real life Ace and Gary stretching, fighting criminals with their buttocks, and wrestling a giant eel between their legs was a blast.
Paul Simon
"Rewrite"
Weekend Update
Will Smith talks about the size of his trailer. Not sure if this was a real story or just an excuse to trot out Jay’s impression again so we remember he’s in the cast.
And Garth and Kat show up to waste a few precious minutes of my life.
Song Memories
Wild World by Cat Stevens plays as old friends share stories. I always love these although I will admit this isn’t one of the best ones. Jason carries his grandfather’s ashes in a Jamba Juice cup which is then drank by Ed, Bill’s dad was Osama Bin Laden, Andy has been performing prostate exams on his female patients, and Ed enjoys taking pictures of people using porta-potties. It ends with the four of them building a human centipede so it’s got that going for it.
One Take Tony
Andy plays the famous One Take Tony who doesn’t live up to his nickname. A pretty stupid sketch but it knows it.
Paul Simon returns with "So Beautiful Or So What"
Ann-Margret Tries To Throw Away A Wad Of Paper Into A Trashcan
Exactly as advertised, Ann-Margret dances around while attempting to throw away some trash. Another intentionally stupid sketch, even more so than the last one. A very fun performance from Kristen. We’ll see this same premise again next season when Liza Minnelli tries to turn off a lamp.
Republican Candidate
Ed plays a generic white guy running for President. You don’t know his name but you’re sure he’s not Newt Gingrich. Short, straightforward, and fairly forgettable.
FINAL ANALYSIS
“We finally killed Oksana Baiul!”
Average
3.1 Stars
MVP
Jason Sudeikis
The Situation Room, What Up With That?, Song Memories
Best Sketch
The Ambiguously Gay Duo
Worst Sketch
Republican Candidate
How I Would Have Lorne Michaels-ed It
The front half only had two sketches with What Up With That? and TV Funhouse, I would put Republican Candidate in between mostly just to give Ed something before Update. Then you can end with Ann-Margret which is a better 10-1 anyway.
Host Analysis
Serviceable but nothing special. His humor is a little on the dry side so they used him in mostly straight man roles which was probably the right call. He got to show off his banjo skills though.
Final Thoughts
A pretty fun episode hampered by a too long Weekend Update and less than exciting musical guest. A lot better than the last 3 and the best episode since Ed’s Hangover costar Zach Galifianakis hosted. There was a silly attitude that I appreciated starting with Ed’s baton twirling then leading into dueling Lindsay Buckinghams, accentuated bulges, human centipedes, and Ann-Margret. It was nice to have an episode that didn’t give too many shits before the finale. I remember this one being a dud from when I watched it live but I think I was just slightly let down by Ed Helms. I had been a fan of his from The Daily Show and then The Hangover and felt they didn’t give him enough. It would have been nice to see him play one crazy character that was out of his wheelhouse.
Up Next
Our season finale (finally?) hosted by Justin Timberlake with musical guest Lady Gaga
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