So when the critics say that The Jay Leno Show is too similar to Leno on The Tonight Show, they really just mean that it’s also not funny, right? Who cares if it’s the same format (minus a desk during interviews), the important thing is to produce an entertaining 60 minutes. And that didn’t happen.
And your first guest was The Dan Band. Not a great start, Jay.*
Filed under Count Bleh, Good Humor
In a feature I’ve been meaning to link to for days, NY Mag’s Vulture blog slideshowed “The Michaela Watkins Club,” a gallery of other not yet ready for prime time players who had blink and you missed it stints on SNL. When researching for my post analyzing the dismissal of Watkins and Casey Wilson, I noted these brief tenures, and it’s a fun piece. It’s also interesting (And encouraging. And simultaneously defeating.) that the roster of comedians who quickly got the hook varies from stars like Ben Stiller, Damon Wayans and Janeane Garafalo to others who faded into obscurity like Patrick Weathers, Dan Vitale and Emily Prager (who never actually appeared in a sketch, so I guess she also started in obscurity). And I also enjoy that Paul Schaffer moved over from the SNL band and had a brief turn as a featured cast member,
One gripe, however: the inclusion on this list of veteran SNL writers Jim Downey (James to you), Alan Zweibel and Tom Schiller. Sure, their appearances as cast members might have been relative failures, but between the three of them they amass writing credits for 742 SNL episodes, not including specials. Citing Downey seems particularly egregious considering that by himself he boasts 488 SNL writing credits (and counting) and is one of if not the main voice for political humor at SNL . The feature also notes that Downey, “might be best known for penning the majority of Norm MacDonald’s jokes during his controversial reign as anchor of Weekend Update.” While he did he did receive some attention for this, I would argue that after 22 years of working on the show (with a few gaps in there) he had his most visible and acclaimed run last season, penning the Democratic Presidential Debates sketches that received so much press. There’s no denying that the show was lauded last season for its election year sketches, and with Downey at the heart of the political commentary it seems silly to include him on a list of all-time SNL casting miscues. And, at the very least, he might be better known as Andy Samberg’s Dad (and Jonah Hill’s boyfriend).
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Quick Jim Downey trivia:
And speaking of Paul Schaffer, you got any gum?
Filed under Analysis, Saturday Night Live, Yvonne Hudson
I returned home late last night after absorbing a brutal pub trivia loss, compounded (or alleviated) by the fact that the winning team included Thom Yorke. Yes, that Thom Yorke. I mean, I don’t see how we could have won when out of three categories one was a music round and we were competing against a team with Thom Yorke. Yes, that Thom Yorke. From Radiohead. And another round centered on world geography, and everyone knows Americans have no concept of the world outside of the US (and not much within it). And Thom Yorke has probably been to more countries than I can name. So yeah, it was unfair. Cause they had Thom Yorke. You know. Kid A. OK Computer. Hail to the Thief. In Rainbows. The Eraser. Yes! That Thom Yorke (not to be confused with Theodoric of York).
ANYWAY, I came among to find the blogosphere aflutter with talk of Kanye West and his villainous deeds. I had remembered that the NFL started yesterday, but totally forgot about the VMAs. But, apparently, by ripping the microphone from a frozen Taylor Swift, Kanye made the show relevant again. After reading the litany of comments on Facebook and Twitter, I decided to turn on MTV to see if I could catch the replay. Luckily I tuned in just in time to see Lada Gaga’s brilliant?/tramautizing/bloody/WTF? performance.
However, it was after the next commercial break when my favorite moment arrived. Coming out to introduce Taylor Swift’s defiant musical performance were Miranda Cosgrove and a previously unknown to me adolescent Canadian singer named Justin Bieber (Dylan and/or Cole Sprouse must have been busy). What I didn’t know was that Bieber, with the sleeves of his Members Only jacket pushed up past his elbows, was about to defend the honor of Miss Swift:
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Got to give the kid credit, he demonstrated some courage, calling out Kanye like that. I just fear that this will start a beef, and it’s only a matter of time before Kanye strikes back in rap form, backed by fellow stage crasher Lil’ Mama (then again, maybe they’ll bond over the way they both like to wear their circa 1980s jackets). Something tells me that young Master Bieber is hoping his chivalry will pay off with a kiss from the damsel in distress. Or at least an opening slot on her sold out next tour.
And then Swift, still no doubt trying to figure out what the hell happened earlier in the show, belted out her VMA winning song in an F line subway car. After riding that train to and from Manhattan for 3 years I can tell you that never happens. To be honest, it was kind of a cool performance, but you just know there was some guy at the 57th Street Station wondering where the F was the F train.
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Oh, and Lady Gaga and Kermit the Frog on the red carpet. I honestly don’t know what to make of this.
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Oh, I guess the joke is “Who is more fake?”
I’ll let you decide.
Filed under Analysis, Muppets, Tyranasaurus Sex
Jumped The Snark 
