Saturday Night Live Fantasy League: Episode 40x08: James Franco & Nicki Minaj
December 08, 2014
Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL
PROBLEMATIC: Hi, I'm Rob Moden. You may know me from such podcasts as the Deep Thoughts on SNL Podcast! Your regular host Russel Harder can't be here this week, so you're stuck with me. Problematic, right?
QUALITY: As much as James Franco *can* throw himself into something - there's always an aura of Franco-ness no matter how in-character he gets - he proved a game host, willing to do voices, wear dumb costumes, or wear almost nothing at all.
PROBLEMATIC: Except maybe that Walken impression.
QUALITY: The weird streak evident and sometimes-a-problem throughout this season resulted in some solid sketches, with such highlights as Pete Davidson's brain full of 90's references, James Franco trash-talking a child mayor in an attack ad, and potential masterpiece Grow a Guy. Speaking of...
QUALITY: "A Mike O'Brien Picture"! Truly, he is our generation's moppy-haired Albert Brooks.
PROBLEMATIC: A week and a half of lead time and the best the show can do about an increasingly-rare cultural touchstone like the Star Wars 7 trailer is... the cast is old?
QUALITY: It wasn't perfect, but Colin Jost and Michael Che's tag-teaming on the Eric Garner case let each anchor have a clear but complementary voice. Furthermore, tackling one issue from multiple angles before moving on to other topics felt like Weekend Update inching its way into the Daily Show/John Oliver era. Baby steps?
QUALITY: Trivia Club would LOVE to hear feedback on the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League! Comment in the blog's comment section, on Trivia Club's Facebook page or in our Twitter feed. We want to hear from you, as we make our way through Season 40! Also, do you like games? This month, Deep Thoughts is experimenting with its format, and even dipping its toe into trivia contests! LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Subscribe to us on iTUNES! Do the same on YouTube!
REPERTORY CAST
Taran Killam - 52 points
- 5 points - sketch (Peter Pan Live)
- 5 points - singing/dancing
- 7 points - pre-tape (Star Wars)
- 5 points - recurring (Harrison Ford)
- 5 points - sketch (Jingle Ballerz)
- 5 points - recurring (Eminem)
- 5 points - rapping
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
- 5 points - singing
- 5 points - multiple characters
Kenan Thompson - 46 points
- 7 points - cold open
- 5 points - recurring (Sharpton)
- 2 points - swearing (damn)
- 5 points - sketch (Peter Pan Live)
- 5 points - singing/dancing
- 7 points - pre-tape (Star Wars)
- 5 points - sketch (Jingle Ballerz)
- 5 points - rapping
- 5 points - recurring (Rick Ross)
- 7 points - cold open
- 7 points - pre-tape (Star Wars)
- 5 points - sketch (Jingle Ballerz)
- 5 points - recurring (Kanye)
- 5 points - rapping/dancing
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
- 5 points - singing
- 5 points - recurring (Will Smith)
Bobby Moynihan - 41 points
- 7 points - cold open
- 5 points - sketch (Peter Pan Live)
- 7 points - pre-tape (Star Wars)
- 5 points - recurring (Princess Leia)
- 7 points - Update
- 5 points - recurring (Anthony Crispino)
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
Cecily Strong - 43 points
- 5 points - promos
- 5 points - sketch (Peter Pan Live)
- 5 points - recurring (Alison Williams)
- 5 points - singing
- 5 points - sketch (Troll)
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
- 3 points - PSS sketch (Ex Porn Stars)
- 5 points - recurring
- 5 points - alongside former host (Rogen)
Vanessa Bayer - 25 points
- 7 points - pre-tape (Grow a Guy)
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
- 3 points - PSS sketch (Ex Porn Stars)
- 5 points - recurring
- 5 points - alongside former host (Rogen)
- 5 points - sketch (Peter Pan Live)
- 5 points - recurring (Tonkerbell)
- 5 points - dancing
- 5 points - sketch (Troll)
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
Kate McKinnon - 25 points
- 5 points - sketch (Peter Pan Live)
- 5 points - sketch (Jingle Ballerz)
- 5 points - recurring (Justin Bieber)
- 5 points - singing
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
FEATURED CAST
Kyle Mooney - 35 points
- 5 points - cold open NPC
- 5 points - sketch (Peter Pan Live)
- 5 points - sketch (Troll)
- 10 points - open mouth kissing
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
- 5 points - dancing
Pete Davidson - 27 points
- 5 points - sketch (Jingle Ballerz)
- 7 points - pre-tape (Grow a Guy)
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
- 5 points - singing
- 5 points - first hug
Beck Bennett - 22 points
- 5 points - sketch (Peter Pan Live)
- 7 points - pre-tape (Grow a Guy)
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
- 5 points - singing
Sasheer Zamata - 22 points
- 5 points - sketch (Jingle Ballerz)
- 5 points - recurring (Rihanna)
- 5 points - singing
- 7 points - pre-tape (Grow a Guy)
Leslie Jones - 19 points
- 7 points - pre-tape (Star Wars)
- 7 points - Update
- 5 points - herself
HOST / GUESTS
James Franco - 77 points
- 5 points - alongside former host (Rogen)
- 5 points - sketch (Peter Pan Live)
- 10 points - pre-tape (Star Wars)
- 5 points - sketch (Jingle Ballerz)
- 5 points - rapping
- 10 points - pre-tape (Grow a Guy)
- 5 points - sketch (Troll)
- 10 points - open mouth kissing
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
- 5 points - sketch (Kid Mayor)
- 4 points - swearing (bitch, dickhead)
- -2 points - breaking
- 5 points - sketch (Ex Porn Stars)
- 5 points - alongside former host (Rogen)
Nicki Minaj - 45 points
- 5 points - sketch (Jingle Ballerz)
- 5 points - singing/dancing
- 20 points - blurred nudity
- 5 points - sketch (Brain)
- 5 points - herself
- 5 points - singing
- 10 points - monologue
- 5 points - sketch (Ex Porn Stars)
REPERTORY LEAGUE
PARDO GROUP
THE TEAM YOU WISH YOU HADN'T STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH AT A PARTY - Brian
Jay Pharoah - 44
Bobby Moynihan - 41
Pete Davidson - 27
James Franco - 77
James Franco - 77
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 191
KEYROCK, KHAN, & ASSOCIATES - Saad
Vanessa Bayer - 25
Aidy Bryant - 25
Kyle Mooney - 35
Nicki Minaj - 45
Nicki Minaj - 45
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) All Things Go & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 132
ISOLATED ARCHIPELAGO - Rob
Taran Killam - 52
Kenan Thompson - 46
Pete Davidson - 27
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 127
THE NOT READY FOR FIRST PLACE PLAYERS - Kevin M
Jay Pharoah - 44
Cecily Strong - 43
Beck Bennett - 22
Seth Rogen - 15
Seth Rogen - 15
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 126
THE FUTURE MRS. RANDY GOLDMAN - Leah
BILLION DOLLAR MURRAYS - Russel
Cecily Strong - 43
Kenan Thompson - 46
Leslie Jones - 19
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
2 points - Beyonce impersonation
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 1122 points - Beyonce impersonation
THE FUTURE MRS. RANDY GOLDMAN - Leah
Taran Killam - 52
Sasheer Zamata - 22
Aidy Bryant - 25
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 101
NATALIE PORTMAN'S DRY CLEANING - Sarah R
Kate McKinnon - 25
Bobby Moynihan - 41
Kyle Mooney - 35
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Moment 4 Life & 2) Anaconda
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 101
THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt
Kate McKinnon - 25
Vanessa Bayer - 25
Beck Bennett - 22
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Bed of Lies & 2) Only
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 87
FEATURED LEAGUE
MCKAY GROUP
THE NIGHT CRAWLERZ - Kevin K
Taran Killam - 52
Jay Pharoah - 44
Beck Bennett - 22
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Bed of Lies & 2) Only
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
10 points - second song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 133
FALLON IN LOVE - Johnny
Kenan Thompson - 46
Bobby Moynihan - 41
Pete Davidson - 27
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda & 2) All Things Go
10 points - second song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 124
PARDO ME - Hannah
Taran Killam - 52
Aidy Bryant - 25
Kyle Mooney - 35
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: No songs chosen.
2 points - Beyonce impersonation
2 points - Beyonce impersonation
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 114
THE VONDRUKES - Samantha
Jay Pharoah - 44
Leslie Jones - 19
Cecily Strong - 43
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 108
DAN AKROYD RAGE - Mark
DAMIAN AND THE FELINE SOCIOPATHS - Andrew
Kate McKinnon - 25
Vanessa Bayer - 25
Kenan Thompson - 46
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) All Things Go & 2) Anaconda
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 98
SKANKY LITTLE PROSTITUTES - Mike
Aidy Bryant - 25
Cecily Strong - 43
Sasheer Zamata - 22
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Feeling Myself & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 92DAN AKROYD RAGE - Mark
Kate McKinnon - 25
Bobby Moynihan - 41
Beck Bennett - 22
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 88
FEY GROUP
THE LAND SHARKS - Jason
Kate McKinnon - 25
Kyle Mooney - 35
Aidy Bryant - 25
James Franco - 77
Seth Rogen - 15
James Franco - 77
Seth Rogen - 15
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 177
THREE LEGGED JEANS - Lori
Kate McKinnon - 25
Bobby Moynihan - 41
Kenan Thompson - 46
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Bed of Lies & 2) Only
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
10 points - second song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 127
SANTA'S MY BOYFRIEND - Megan
Taran Killam - 52
Cecily Strong - 43
Aidy Bryant - 25
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 122
MY DOLL'S NAME IS JENNY - Doug
Vanessa Bayer - 25
Bobby Moynihan - 41
Kyle Mooney - 35
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Bed of Lies & 2) Only
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
10 points - second song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 116
SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah C
Jay Pharoah - 44
Cecily Strong - 43
Beck Bennett - 22
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Anaconda & 2) Bed of Lies
2 points - song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 111
Taran Killam - 52
Vanessa Bayer - 25
Sasheer Zamata - 22
MUSICAL GUEST - Nicki Minaj - SONGS: 1) Bed of Lies & 2) Anaconda
5 points - first song
EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 104
PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY STANDINGS (after Episode 40x08)
- The Ignorant Sluts - 1059
- The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman - 993
- The Team You Wish You Hadn't Started A Conversation With At A Party - 977
- The Not Ready For First Place Players - 976
- Isolated Archipelago - 950
- Billion Dollar Murrays - 900
- Natalie Portman's Dry Cleaning - 875
- Keyrock, Khan, & Associates - 839
FEATURED LEAGUE STANDINGS
- Santa's My Boyfriend - 1026
- The Night Crawlerz - 1013
- Three Legged Jeans - 1011
- Martha Stewart's Home for the Holidays: Topless Christmas Special - 965
- The Vondrukes - 960
- Pardo Me - 951
- Dan Akroyd Rage - 944
- Damian and the Feline Sociopaths - 932
- Suck It Trebek - 932
- The Land Sharks – 917
- Fallon In Love - 885
- My Doll's Name is Jenny - 873
- Skanky Little Prostitutes - 835
ANARCHY REIGNS SUPREME as a Franco-assisted The Team You Wish You Hadn't Started A Conversation With At a Party vaults from 6th to 3rd in the Phil Hartman league. Meanwhile, The Ignorant Sluts sits high on top despite this week's lowest team score, an 87. (And that was in spite of getting both songs right. I really want to emphasize that Matt did badly this week, because I'm upset at how he's killing it overall.)
Meanwhile, the Featured League approaches the end of the year as a nail-biter, with a neck-and-neck-and-neck race for first as three teams cross the 1000 point milestone. WHO WILL BABY JESUS BLESS THIS HOLIDAY WITH SWEET, SWEET SKETCH COMEDY AIRTIME?!?
James Franco, in his third time hosting, brought his Renaissance stoner vibe once again. Luckily, his carefree-but-agreeable attitude helped curb and soften the weirdness that has pervaded season 40's writing and can feel overwhelming in the hands of hosts with more aggressive energies (Jim Carrey, Chris Rock). The result was enjoyable, with a few high points that overshadowed the one or two sketches that overstayed their welcome (cough Troll cough Star Wars cough). Rogen and Minaj especially were also fun, as their 5 cameos between them were usually short, landing a couple of solid lines before the show moved along. Online consensus seems to be that Minaj should return as host next time, and I can't disagree.
Next week sees the exciting hosting debut of one Mr. Martin Freeman, an actor who has parlayed his initial Jim-on-that-weird-other-version-of-The Office fame into a career of always being the small, frail-looking guy who ends up surrounded by horrific violence. WILL IT MEAN AN ALL-OUT STREET BRAWL AMONG THE LEAGUE? WILL ITS MEMBERS EVER RETURN TO A NORMAL LIFE IN THEIR HOBBIT HOLE? WILL BILLY BOB THORNTON SHOW UP?
 |
| Oh, gosh, I hope not. |
Stay in the conversation! Trivia Club would LOVE to hear feedback on the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League and how we could even improve on it all! Comment in the blog's comment section, on Trivia Club's Facebook page or in our Twitter feed. We want to hear from you, as we make our way through Season 40! LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Subscribe to us on iTUNES! Do the same on YouTube!
Russel Harder, who did not write this post but is still a decent actor/poet/artist/dude, hosts Trivia Club at Cardinal Rule (5 Roncesvalles Ave) every WEDNESDAY, at Hitch (1216 Queen St East) every SECOND and FOURTH MONDAY of the month, and Lou Dawg's (76 Gerrard St E) on every other TUESDAY!
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