I didn't realize this until I read this New York Times article, but Alec Baldwin's hosting stint on this week's Saturday Night Live will be his 12th, putting him tied with John Goodman and one behind all-time champ Steve Martin. He definitely has been a go-to guy for many years, starring in some of the most memorable SNL sketches in the show's history (You remember the "Canteen Boy" sketch, right? If not, there's a refresher to the right).One of the reasons why Alec is such a great host is that he doesn't put himself above the rest of the cast; he becomes a cast member for a week, pitching ideas, acting in sketches that can potentially make him look stupid, definitely trying to not look like he's blankly reading off the cue cards. Every one of the classic hosts, from Baldwin to Martin, Goodman to Tom Hanks, always gave the viewer the feeling that any one of them would have made great regulars if the cards fell differently. That's a rare feeling, and I wish it happened more than once or twice a season.
By the way, the Times article had a few more interesting tidbits:
- Writer Jacques Steinberg saw fit to point out that John Goodman was eating chicken pot pie while he was being interviewed for the piece. Yes, Jacques, Goodman's grotesquely fat. We've known that for seventeen years. Can we move on now?
- It looks like some SNL "mainstays" will be leaving after this season, according to Lorne Michaels. The names will be announced in early 2006. Can we start taking bets on who's leaving?
- This Tina Fey quote about Alec's presence truly bothers me: "We just feel the pressure to have better ideas for him." Seriously, Tina? So, when, say, Dane Cook is the host, the pressure isn't on? Are they not doing their A-work when someone other than one of the pantheon hosts is on?
- Steve Martin, either in an effort to keep his record alive -- or to promote Cheaper By The Dozen XXII -- will be hosting SNL in February. This will be his first hosting stint since 1994.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-09-2005 @ 10:28AM
jay said...
steve martin has "the pink panther" out in feb...
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12-09-2005 @ 10:30AM
Joel Keller said...
Ah, yes. Another bomb from Steve. What was the last movie he did that was a hit? Bowfinger?
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12-09-2005 @ 10:43AM
Elliott said...
I liked Shopgirl, even if it was the 'Lost in Translation' of 05.
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12-09-2005 @ 12:18PM
Big Al said...
SNL is so hit and miss anymore, and usually a miss. I find myself watching out of habit more than anything else. But when someone like Alec Baldwin or Christopher Walken host, SNL becomes a must see. Their episodes are usually the best shows of the season.
Mainstays are leaving? Please let one be Horatio Sanz. Please.
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12-09-2005 @ 11:31AM
mike schleifstein said...
side note about john goodman... did you know his permanent home is new orleans... maybe he was munching down to relieve a little storm stress...
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12-09-2005 @ 11:36AM
SamMalone said...
The Schweity Balls bit from his last time (or was it 2 times ago) was hilarious. Nobody wanted to laugh because it was so juvenile, but they just kept on coming with it, so you couldn't help but laugh.
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12-09-2005 @ 12:04PM
Clint said...
SNL mainstays "leaving" or "being pushed out"? I'm kind of hoping its the latter because that signals a shake-up, not just one or two cast members calling it quits.
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12-09-2005 @ 11:50AM
zander106 said...
I just found out on Amazon that they'll finally be releasing the Alec Baldwin best-of SNL DVD in January! I saw the best-of episode they aired last spring and it was great. I think the Zing...Burn! bit was awesome. Lots of other good stuff in there too -- finally glad to see him get his due.
Anyone know how many times Christopher Walken has been on? Seems to have been a lot in recent years....
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12-09-2005 @ 1:08PM
Benjamin Buttocks said...
I am dissapointed with SNL this season. They've had great guest: Jason Lee, Jon Heder, Dane Cook, Steve Carrell but horrible writing. They needed these guests four years ago when they had Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Joshua Jackson and Scott Wolf hosting but they had decent writers and Will Ferrell.
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12-09-2005 @ 2:18PM
Jamie said...
I'm betting Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz, and Darrell Hammond are out for next season. Seth Miers hasn't been featured much this season. Disguntled and on his way out, too?
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12-09-2005 @ 3:07PM
Person182 said...
Why waste your time on a no talent like Dane Cook, when you have a proven performer, like Alec Baldwin.
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12-11-2005 @ 3:55AM
Goon said...
the gay prospector sketch from tonight was an easy laugh, but it was great... Baldwin and Forte were great together. I liked the Elf Glengarry Glenross sketch, but was sad when Baldwin messed up the 'ABC' thing, because it was on its way to being one of those sketches that makes the holiday special. now it either has to be edited or forgotten. too bad.
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12-13-2005 @ 4:47PM
ErricZ said...
I think Alec pulled the "ABC" ok, even if he did mess-up. His sketch with Carol was interesting, but I hate the Carol character, one of the more pointless repeat characters these days. He only looked like he hated the one "gay" sketch as that was the sketch you could tell he wasn't giving his all.
I have to admit, this is the funniest SNL I have seen in years. Shakira was pretty hot but I'm very annoyed that it seems like no one can come on and NOT lip-sync! It was horrible watching her attempt to lip-sync and sound completely different when she said "Thank you".
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