TVSquad

(S34E05) First of all: It felt like Josh Brolin wasn't really hosting the show, but just kind of hanging out until Mark Wahlberg and Sarah Palin got their business done. He did a fair job with what he was given, though. Secondly: Fartface. Why? Why would they do that? I'm glad NBC.com didn't post that video, because it was so bafflingly bad that everyone that was in the room with me, watching the episode, was reeling from the effects. Please note that I am someone who still laughs at "duty," so a sketch revolving around the word "fartface" should have killed me. Instead, it just left me a little confused and wondering what stuff ends up on the SNL writing room floor. Anyway, this was a big episode, so here are some video highlights:

Cold Open: There was a whole lot going on in this sketch. Tina Fey, Sarah Palin, Alec Baldwin, and, my favorite part, Mark Wahlberg. I read about his reaction to Andy Samberg's impression of him in the Anne Hathaway episode, and immediately cracked up when he furiously showed up during the open. I really wish they had done something similar for Palin. Palin got to show she's a good sport by sitting there and taking the jokes instead of actually making them. Don't get me wrong, I think she did a fantastic job with what she was given and didn't look like an idiot up there, but they could have let her do something smarter rather than giving the best lines to everyone else around her.



Engagement Surprise: Aww, gosh. I absolutely loved this character from the Christopher Walken episode, but it wasn't different enough to make me, uh, re-love it, I guess. At least we learned that smashing through windows is funnier than smashing through paper screens.



Mark Wahlberg Backstage: This was beautiful. Simple in execution, but Wahlberg got the chance to look like the good guy. Wonderfully done. Say hi to your mother for me.



MacGruber: What a wonderful choice of wig for Josh Brolin. This week's MacGruber sketches were better than usual, not including the ping-pong jokes.



Weekend Update: Tim Calhoun! It's been quite a while since we've seen him and, I"m not gonna lie, I kind of missed him. He's pathetic enough to make even the corniest jokes wonderful. Jean K. Jean has been absent as well. I like him as well, but I often wonder if it's because A) I had to put up with over three years of French in high school and B) I grew up watching Kenan Thompson's Pierre Escargot from All That. As for Palin's appearance, I felt the same way about the Cold Open. Instead of doing anything, she showed that she's a good sport by sitting there and taking the jokes. It's definitely the safer way out, but if she had taken a little more risk, man, she'd get some major cred. Also, I was worried that Amy Poehler was going to go into labor, she was rocking so hard. That rap was spectacular.