I've criticized Saturday Night Live for what NBC and Lorne Michaels have allowed it to become - safe and formulaic. Each week it's the exact same words, the same order, the same segments at the exact same time. The show broke ground 30 years ago with how new and different it was. It shattered stereotypes. People called it "iconoclastic." Now its a formula that the powers that be seem to be afraid to break. Lately they won't even experiment with something fresh.This was completely evident in last night's show (11/15/2008) in which Justin Timberlake made an appearance during Weekend Update. He was there saying something about being scheduled to be both the host and musical guest next week, but he has to cancel. So he was going to recap the show that would have been. He nailed it! He did the intro, the monologue, the "we've got a great show" line and everything in between to the "I had a great time" closing. Obviously he and some of the writers are aware of what a formula they have become. In around three minutes, Timberlake did an entire episode of the stale show Saturday Night Live has become. He was very funny and it was the highlight of the show. The clip is available on Hulu. Click here to watch it.
But the main reason I tuned in last night was because of all the non-stop hype this week about the show hiring two new cast members. With Amy Poehler out on maternity leave, apparently Michaels decided he needed a fill-in. Since he must feel Poehler's part would be extremely hard to replace, SNL went with two actresses instead of just one. And the NBC PR people outdid themselves with getting this story placed everywhere.
The two new cast members, Abby Elliott and Michaela Watkins, are apparently God's gift to comedy. Incredible credentials and even a direct connection to Poehler - as if comedy skills somehow rub off from one actor to another. Abby Elliott got the greater share of the hype because she's the daughter of former cast member Chris Elliott and the granddaughter of Bob Elliott of the Bob and Ray comedy team. Apparently she's great with impressions and her flaming red hair invites comparisons to Lucy. According to the press reports, Abby Elliott was going to take SNL to new height of hilarity!
So I watched...and watched...and watched...
I think I saw Watkins as a background extra in a skit about two firefighters trying to talk a suicide jumper down from a building. Maybe.
And Elliott did appear. She was the slate girl in a pretty funny sketch where three male backup dancers mess up a Beyonce music video. She steps in front of the camera with a marker slate and says:
Beyonce Single Ladies music video - take one.
They dance...Beyonce stops the filming. They talk. Elliott comes on again:
Beyonce Single Ladies music video - take two.
They dance...Beyonce stops the filming. They talk. Elliott comes on again:
Beyonce Single Ladies music video - take three.
They dance...Beyonce stops the filming They talk. End.
Wow...they sure put the incredible comedic talents of Abby Elliott to good use. So funny!
Once again, the hype and expectations that Saturday Night Live built up were totally undelivered. I certainly don't blame Elliott or Watkins, but if I was either of them I would be seriously wondering just what the heck NBC and SNL are up to. With all of the publicity, this should have been their moment to shine - to show America what they can do - to make us laugh. Something SNL has seemingly really forgotten how to do. Hey, but at least they aren't breaking format.
2 comments:
Every generation has some sort of vendetta against their Saturday Night Live. "Oh, the golden years happened X years ago," they say. "SNL hasn't been funny in years."
Errm...have you even been watching SNL? Or perhaps the better question is, are you too outdated to be viewing the show through a lens that actually allows you to see the humor in the skits? That's right, I'm calling you OLD. You're too stuck in the wake of older casts to embrace this new one. Well you know what? It's almost 2009, it's time to let go of Chevy Chase and the gang. There are some groovy new kids in town and they're damn good.
Andy Samberg's digital shorts are continually hilarious, Kristin Wigg is a total show stopper, and Bill Nader is irresistible. It's obvious that some of the new guys are going to be excellent, too. Bobby Moynihan has been great this season so far, and the few things Michaela Watkins has been in are very promising, most notably her Ariana Huffington impression.
I do fear that Abby Elliot's name may be bigger than her talent, but again, we'll see. Of course Michaela and Abby didn't get to do much their first show. The weeklong process must be an adjustment in itself, slowly but surely they will find their elements. I think you need to let go of the idea of the past and let yourself enjoy the new SNL for all it's worth.
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