Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

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PROBLEMATIC: It’s okay; I didn’t need any free time.
QUALITY: Overall I enjoyed the show, Dunham was an able host especially when the sketch played to her strengths. Be they a fan of television (Scandal) or being gifted at awkward comedy (Oooh Child). They show fell apart closer to the end, but that's why we have garbage time, ladies and gents. So yes, certainly a quality passing grade, from the SNL P's and Q's.

Taran Killam, 80 points

• 5 points - promos
• 10 points - digital short (Oooh Child)
• 5 points - singing
• 5 points - sketch (Scandal)
• 10 points - digital short (GIRL)
• 5 points - reoccurring (Adam Driver)
• 20 points - nudity (full frontal)
• 10 points - Weekend Update
• 5 points - singing
• 5 points - sketch (Pimpin' Pimpin' Pimpin')

Jay Pharoah, 65 points

• 15 points - cold open
• 5 points - reoccurring (Obama)
• 10 points - in sketch w/ former SNL host (Liam Neeson)
• 20 points - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK...!"
• 5 points - sketch (Scandal)
• 5 points - sketch (What's Poppin')
• 5 points - sketch (Pimpin' Pimpin' Pimpin')
• 10 points - swear ("Just into his bitch...", "Efron lookin' SOB", x3 "Bitch")

Cecily Strong, 50 points

• 10 points - digital short (Oooh Child)
• 5 points - singing
• 5 points - sketch (Scandal)
• 5 points - sketch (What's Poppin')
• 5 points - dancing/singing
• 10 points - Weekend Update
• 5 points - in sketch w/ former SNL cast member (Fred Armisen)
• 5 points - sketch (Jewlery Party)

Vanessa Bayer, 50 points

• 10 points - monologue
• 10 points - digital short (GIRL)
• 5 points - reoccurring (Shoshanna)
• 10 points - Weekend Update
• 5 points - reoccurring (Friends of Putin)
• 5 points - in sketch w/ former SNL cast member (Fred Armisen)
• 5 points - sketch (Jewelry Party)

Bobby Moynihan, 25 points

• 10 points - monologue
• 5 points - sketch (What're You Even Doing?)
• 10 points - in sketch w/ former SNL host (Jon Hamm)

Aidy Bryant, 25 points

• 10 points - monologue
• 5 points - sketch (What's Poppin')
• 5 points - dancing/singing
• 5 points - sketch (Jewelry Party)

Kate McKinnon, 20 points

• 5 points - promos
• 10 points - monologue
• 5 points - sketch (Scandal)

Nasim Pedrad, 20 points

• 5 points - sketch (What're You Even Doing?)
• 10 points - in sketch w/ former SNL host (Jon Hamm)
• 5 points - sketch (Jewelry Party)

Kenan Thompson, 20 points

• 10 points - digital short (Oooh Child)
• 5 points - singing
• 5 points - sketch (What's Poppin')

Kyle Mooney, 25 points

• 5 points - sketch (What're You Even Doing?)
• 10 points - in sketch w/ former SNL host (Jon Hamm)
• 5 points - digital short post-second song (Will Smith Concert)
• 5 points - first cast member hugged

Beck Bennett, 20 points

• 5 points - sketch (Scandal)
• 10 points - digital short (GIRL)
• 5 points - digital short post-second song (Will Smith Concert)

Brooks Wheelan, 20 points

• 10 points - digital short (Oooh Child)
• 5 points - sketch (Pimpin' Pimpin' Pimpin')
• 5 points - digital short post-second song (Will Smith Concert)

Mike O'Brien, 15 points

• 5 points - sketch (What's Poppin')
• 5 points - dancing/singing
• 5 points - sketch (Jewelry Party)

Noel Wells, 10 points

• 5 points - sketch (Pimpin' Pimpin' Pimpin')
• 5 points - reoccurring (Lena Dunham)

Sasheer Zamata, 10 points

• 5 points - sketch (Scandal)
• 5 points - sketch (What's Poppin')

Lena Dunham - 77 points

• 10 points - digital short (Oooh Child)
• 5 points - singing
• 2 points - sketch (Scandal)
• 2 points - sketch (What's Poppin')
• 5 points - dancing/singing
• 10 points - digital short (GIRL)
• 20 points - nudity (full frontal)
• 5 points - dancing
• 2 points - sketch (What're You Even Doing?)
• 10 points - in sketch w/ former SNL host (Jon Hamm)
• 2 points - sketch (Jewelry Party)
• 2 points - sketch (Pimpin' Pimpin' Pimpin')
• 5 points - dancing
• 2 points - embraces guest first
• minus 5 points - did NOT thank cast

RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - Rob

Taran Killam - 80

Aidy Bryant - 25

Mike O' Brien - 15

Kyle Mooney - 25

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: 1) I Need My Girl & 2) Graceless

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 145

DAN AYKROYD RAGE - Mark

Vanessa Bayer - 50

Bobby Moynihan - 25

Kyle Mooney - 25

Noel Wells - 10

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: 1) I Need My Girl & 2) Graceless

2 points - Jon Hamm appearance

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 112

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 20

Cecily Strong - 50

Beck Bennett - 20

John Mihiser - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: 1) Sea of Love & 2) I Need My Girl

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 100

EXTREME CLOSE-UP! - Jack

Jay Pharoah - 65

Brooks Wheelan - 20

Noel Wells - 10

John Mihiser - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 95

FIVE TIMERS CLUB - Leah

Kenan Thompson - 20

Nasim Pedrad - 20

Mike O'Brien - 15

Beck Bennet - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: 1) Don't Swallow the Cap & 2) I Need My Girl

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 85

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE TEAM THE HIGH-WASITED MIDGETS THAT HAVE, LIKE, THE RED PANTS AND THE BIG ASS - Kevin

Nasim Pedrad - 20

Vanessa Bayer - 50

Beck Bennett - 20

John Mihiser - 0

Lena Dunham - 77

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 167

MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - Russel

Bobby Moynihan - 25

Jay Pharoah - 65

Kyle Mooney - 25

Beck Bennett - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: 1) I Need My Girl & 2) Sea of Love

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 135

BILL BRASKY - Saad

Taran Killam - 80

Aidy Bryant - 25

Mike O'Brien - 15

John Mihiser - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 120

THE TEAM YOU WISH YOU HADN'T STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH AT A PARTY - Brian

Kate McKinnon - 20

Cecily Strong - 50

Mike O' Brien - 15

Noel Wells - 10

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: 1) I Need My Girl & 2) Demons

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 95

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah

Kenan Thompson - 20

Brooks Wheelan - 20

Noel Wells - 10

Kyle Mooney - 25

MUSICAL GUEST - The National - SONGS: 1) I Need My Girl & 2) Sea of Love

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 75

IT’S SAAAATURDAY NIIIGHT QUOTES with the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League

“Maybe Kenan will come in and help her out.” – FIVE TIMERS CLUB's Leah (on Lena’s monologue)

“I hardly think this episode will be as good as me rewatching the Hunger Games.” – FIVE TIMERS CLUB's Leah

“Contrast Thompson yelling his lyrics versus Killam and Strong, even though they're in the same car singing to the same song.” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA's Rob

“Host and musical guest Louie CK!” – IGNORANT SLUT's Matt

“You have CK? Go fuck yourself. Utter bullshit.” – IGNORANT SLUT's Matt (having found out that Million Dollar Bill Murrays drafted CK)

“Know who looks nothing like Matthew McConaughey?”

“This is an amazing impression everything except physically.” – IGNORANT SLUT's Matt & RECLUSIVE PENINSULA's Rob

“Oh god, the inspector gadget killed me. Made me laugh so loud that roommate asked what the hell happened.” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA's Rob

“Still don’t love Jost’s delivery. I’ll give him time.” – IGNORANT SLUT's Matt

“I think he'll still be the best Colin to ever host Update.” – IGNORANT SLUT's Matt

“There’s a weird meta textual level to her saying she would never really go for dating O'Brien, normally.” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA's Rob

“The internet will not react well to this sketch.”

“Not the part of the internet I ever want to go to anyway.” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA's Rob & IGNORANT SLUT's Matt

“Is Katt Williams suddenly doing a lot of stuff to explain why SNL's impersonated him twice in two months?”

“Needs more Drake.” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA's Rob & IGNORANT SLUT's Matt

“Who wears Old Navy pants and a shirt to a job interview at a legal firm?” – IGNORANT SLUT's Matt (THIS Amy Poehler commercial)

“So what are you guys wearing to John Milhiser's career's funeral?”

“A frown.” – IGNORANT SLUT's Matt & FIVE TIMERS CLUB's Leah

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY OVERALL STANDINGS (after Episode 39x14)

1. MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - 2, 264
2. THE IGNORANT SLUTS - 2, 191
3. THE TEAM YOU WISH YOU HADN'T STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH AT A PARTY - 2, 154
4. RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - 2, 011
5. DAN AKROYD RAGE - 1, 939
6. BILL BRASKY - 1, 934
7. SUCK IT TREBEK - 1, 917
8. FIVE TIMERS CLUB - 1, 851
9. YOU KNOW IT'S THE TEAM WITH THE HIGH-WAISTED MIDGETS THAT HAVE, LIKE, THE RED PANTS AND BIG ASS - 1, 667
10. EXTREME CLOSE-UP - 1, 595

Stay in the conversation! Trivia Club would LOVE to hear feedback on Saturday Night Live Fantasy so far, either in the blogs comment section, on Trivia Club's facebook page or in our twitter feed. For now we'll be taking a week away to discuss, debate, and possibly trade amongst ourselves.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Have you heard about it, we’re doing a podcast for the SNL Fantasy League now! And by we I mean championed by, and hosted by, the wonderful Rob Moden, alongside Matt Smith and Leah Sueko (and sometimes Brian Edwards). I will be popping in from time-to-time, but Trivia Club’s is a growing empire and I trust Rob, Brian, and Leah, so enjoy your time with THEM most of all.

It was a strong night tonight for a number of cast members, chief amoung them was Taran Killem and his fifteen impersonations on the night, chief among them a marvelous Matthew McConaneghay! Jay Pharoah also had a strong night on the push of a Liam Neeson-guested cold open. Brooks Wheelan and Mike O'Brien (his second strong show, in terms of sketch appearances) also had near career nights up to this point.

A word on John Mihiser, he comes the first cast member to be shut out completely, not even getting the chance to fill in as an NPC in a sketch. With something close to five shows left in the season, one has to think that doesn't bode well for his return next season within this giant cast of comedians.

SPEAKING of comedians, the next host has been announced! In THREE WEEKS, Louis C.K. will be taking the reigns (with a musical guest yet to be announced), making this his second time hosting in as many years. This almost makes the second host as a group, predicted correctly, which almost matches our run of prognostication leading up to the Christmas show. I quite enjoyed the last time Louis hosted, so I'm excited to see what he brings to the table again. Also, I'm biased, because he was a host that I chose for the Million Dollar Bill Murrays.

... with musical guest, Louis CK!