(S34E07) Although I have fond memories of Mango and Ben Who-fleck working Saturday Night Live together back in the day, I was pretty disappointed by this episode. I think someone told Ben Affleck that he's pretty all right on SNL and it got to his head, because he was trying way, way too hard. It was almost to the point where it was unbearably awkward. If not for Senator John McCain's appearances, this episode would have been wholly unremarkable. I mean, apart from its super-weakness.
I absolutely loved the fact that John McCain made jokes instead of just sitting around and taking them, like Sarah Palin during her appearance a few weeks ago, to show that he's a good sport. McCain generally does a pretty solid job when he's on SNL, and this was no exception. I was equally amused by the fleeting looks of discomfort on Tina Fey's face, doing this sketch with McCain. Maybe that's why they didn't have her actually speak directly to Governor Palin when she was on: she could have exploded. Also, it's a shame that no one from Barack Obama's team did a follow-up to his Halloween party appearance form last year, since McCain's gang has gotten a relatively hefty chunk of SNL time. Even Cindy McCain was there! I should also note that she is weirdly hot, in a plastic, Stepford-y way. There, I've said it.
"The View": This was excruciating. I was excited about an Alec Baldwin impression, but that kind of fell on its face. This sketch was just five people sitting around a table and doing barely decent, one-note impressions with no story to go along with it. That inevitably results in a disinterested audience. Doubly so, because it's The View.
"Countdown": Affleck's impression wasn't quite there, and I could barely understand him through the first few minutes. Only the last bit of this was funny, when he started spinning around and talking about living with his mother.
"Weekend Update": I know there have been only three Update teams, but it's super-weird now to see only one person behind that desk. Seth Meyers looks so lonely back there! Maybe it's because he doesn't have a distinct Update character, with or without Amy Poehler. Thinking back, all the pre-Tina Fey/Jimmy Fallon anchors had a quirky personality that they brought to the desk (Colin Quinn was rough around the edges, Norm MacDonald was extra-awkward, Kevin Nealon was subliminal and dry, etc). Maybe it's time to crank that up, Mr. Meyers.
Anyway, yet another solid performance by McCain.
"Grady Wilson's Put The Fire Back": I like to think that Kenan Thompson filmed this on his own, someone accidentally found it, and then he had to play it off like it was a sketch idea.
"Time Square Coat": This was one of the funnier sketches from the night. That should sum up how sad this episode was.
Where is that Staten Island Zoo video? I love those seizure-inducing things. I've never been so thrilled to see sloths and giraffes in my life.
Gareth David-Lloyd of Torchwood: The TV Squad Interview 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-02-2008 @ 12:17PM
Karen said...
What, no comment about David Cook's performance?
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11-02-2008 @ 12:17PM
Karen said...
Plus you didn't comment on Target Lady......
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11-02-2008 @ 12:47PM
shadowracer said...
The view impressions were spot on. So was the Baldwin. And it was making fun of how dimwitted and crazy Hasselbeck is. Finally someone is doing something about the nonsense she spits out.
Oh and the Target lady thing was hilarious, I don't like Wigg at all but "I'm going to fill the baby sneakers with cement to use as a doorstop, then paint a baby on the door so it looks like it's holding it open!"
Ben Affleck's "wigga" UPS man with the corn rows was hilarious.
The worst sketch by far was the "Giraffe" bit. I guarantee you Samberg wrote that. He's so overrated. The entire segment there was nothing but pain. The HSM thing fell flat too.
Kenans sketch was funny. It's an old man in his basement teaching people sex techniques. How can you not laugh?
Who the hell is David Cook? All in all 2 good episodes in a row.
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11-02-2008 @ 2:16PM
Zach said...
The giraffe bit was the funniest part of the night in my opinion. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
11-03-2008 @ 10:52AM
scott said...
yeah 'giraffes' was the most laugh out loud moment for my wife and I... it was killing us! and I thought affleck's olbermann got better as it went on, the opposite of a usual SNL skit.
11-11-2008 @ 12:07PM
SB said...
How can you possibly not like Kristen Wiig???? She's the only person worth watching on SNL these days, and she consistently delivers quality performances and memorable characters. She has a manic energy reminiscent of Cheri Oteri. She carries every single skit she's in. If you don't like her, who do you like??? Especially now with Amy Poehler
off the show, you're in big trouble if you don't like Kristen Wiig.
11-02-2008 @ 12:55PM
Jordan said...
Ben Affleck did a good job but David Cook was the best part of the show. McCain came off as desperate.
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11-02-2008 @ 1:16PM
0megapart!cle said...
Really? David Cook was so completely bland pop blandness I could barely even remember what he sounded like.
11-02-2008 @ 12:56PM
Pinwiz said...
I'm sorry, but your take was the exact opposite of mine. I thought it was a great episode.
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11-02-2008 @ 12:59PM
MIke said...
One of the best eps of the year. Affleck's Olbermann and Baldwin impressions were hilarious. The view sketch had me rolling.
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11-02-2008 @ 1:08PM
StillBash said...
To be honest I am totally amazed about McCain in this episode. Man the guy can act. And he's so perfect at reading from cuecards you barely even saw it. And his timing was perfect. It is kind of irritating that professional actors fare worse than he does.
If it weren't so sad that he did a complete 180 on all the things I liked him for 18 months ago which he talked about in multiple interviews on TDS, I would've loved all this.
Those empty plates were hilarious. The whole bit was expertly written and so funny... this was like "Real Time" from a conservative viewpoint. Really really good.
Olberman: the impression was good but you know in the end it's still Ben. He has more range than Keanu Reeves but then again not too much more. His Alec Baldwin wasn't that bad either.
The rest was kind of meh. But still I really laugh watching this show because I watch it with the remote in hand skipping. It's only half as long then but you aren't bored in the end.
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11-02-2008 @ 1:19PM
0megapart!cle said...
McCain was good. He certainly was a good sport. (I hope Obama makes at least a short appearance on the monday presidential bash).
The Olbermann sketch was kind of funny, but mostly ridiculous. I certainly hope they do an O'Reilly sketch soon of similar length, which would be a hell of a lot easier to write since you wouldn't even need to exaggerate that much to show what an absolute buffoon he is.
The sketches were all kind of long, weren't they? (Other than the short and unbelievably forgettable monologue)
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11-02-2008 @ 1:22PM
Michael said...
You guys are way off on the Olbermann skit. That was absolutely hilarious, a fantastic send-up of the show. If you didn't like that bit, you haven't watched "Countdown" (and, yes, I watch it all the time and a big raging liberal, too. I thought Affleck nailed him).
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11-02-2008 @ 1:39PM
james said...
I thought that it was a pretty good episode. The View was decent but fell flat by the end, and I really loved the Giraffe spot. Target Lady and Grady's video were awesome. The Olberman sketch kind of fell flat because it was anticipated; out of the blue and I think it would have had better legs. All and all a good episode with a bland musical guest. BTW the Time Square German Jacket skit was by far the worst skit of the night.
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11-02-2008 @ 4:07PM
Stace said...
David Cook's SNL performances:
http://neonlimelight.com/2008/11/02/david-cook-performs-on-saturday-night-live/
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11-02-2008 @ 11:11PM
Mich said...
omgosh thank you.
11-02-2008 @ 5:11PM
bevo said...
I watched the Countdown spoof and the McCain/Palin sketch because Saturday Night Live is completely unwatchable otherwise.
The Countdown spoof was great. If you do not watch the show frequently you miss the parody. Keith suggesting the co-op board, McCain, Bush, etc. should all resign was pitch perfect.
The McCain sketch was was very funny too especially the part about campaigns are expensive as Palin touches her blouse. However, the whole thing came off as "we are going to get our collective asses handed to us on Tuesday."
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11-02-2008 @ 5:42PM
Derek said...
Were they referring to Victoria Jackson's comment on Papa Bear Bill O's show when Afleck, as Olberman , said he had read 1984 twice?
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11-02-2008 @ 6:26PM
Jenelle said...
I thought it was a GREAT show. Ben Affleck was hilarious! David Cook sounded great and looked gorgeous. McCain was really good (maybe he can get into acting)! Really dug the Giraffes.
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11-02-2008 @ 7:01PM
Jimmy said...
Good comments this week! It's interesting to see the differing opinions on sketches. If I may break the tie on a couple: the coat sketch sucked but was not as bad as the giraffe video.
On the whole, I thought the sketches in this episode were more developed than usual (e.g. Olbermann), but not necessarily funny.
I second shadowracer's comment about the baby shoes -- funniest line of the night!
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