Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

QUALITY: In the cold open, Taren Killam becomes the fourth cast member to do a Charlie Rose impression after Mark McKinney, Daryl Hammond, and Jeff Richards. Which, yes, makes him the second cast member of both Mad TV and SNL to do that impression. It’s what you learn along the way!

PROBLEMATIC: Also what you learn along the way? There are NINETEEN ways to skin a cat.

PROBLEMATIC: Even with a grey-suited Haim as her backing band, Charli XCX has gotten WAAAAY far past singing the hook and if her live performances are any indication, that’s probably where she should have stayed.

PROBLEMATIC: The Weekend Update desk took a step back this week, with even Jacob’s appearance feeling like a warmed up version of when the character visited Seth Myers at the desk.

QUALITY: The beginning of the episode really was a high point of the season so far, with the only potential downfall of the episode being the pointless sketches that almost felt like filler, I’m look at you Right Side of the Bed! That’s more a commentary of the strength-to-weakness ratio of the writers room, however. Martin Freeman was an incredibly likeable and very good host. Better then Franco (I just like him more, what can I say), in that Jim Carrey-range in the Host Power Rankings.
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! LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Subscribe to us on iTUNES! Do the same on YouTube!

REPERTORY CAST

Taran Killam, 74 points

Kate McKinnon, 49 points

Bobby Moynihan, 43 points

Aidy Bryant, 42 points

Kenan Thompson, 39 points

Cecily Strong, 38 points

Vanessa Bayer, 34 points

Jay Pharoah, 22 points

FEATURED CAST

Kyle Mooney, 48 points

Beck Bennett, 29 points

Sasheer Zamata, 24 points

Leslie Jones, 22 points

Pete Davidson, 19 points

HOST

Martin Freeman, 62 points

REPERTORY LEAGUE

PARDO GROUP

NATALIE PORTMAN'S DRY CLEANING - Sarah R

Kate McKinnon - 49

Bobby Moynihan - 43

Kyle Mooney - 48

Martin Freeman - 62

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Breaking Up

5 points - first song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 207

THE FUTURE MRS. RANDY GOLDMAN - Leah

Taran Killam - 74

Sasheer Zamata - 24

Aidy Bryant - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 140

ISOLATE ARCHIPELAGO - Rob

Taran Killam - 74

Kenan Thompson - 39

Pete Davidson - 19

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Breaking Up

5 points - first song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 137

KEYROCK, KHAN, & ASSOCIATES - Saad

Vanessa Bayer - 34

Aidy Bryant - 42

Kyle Mooney - 48

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Breaking Up

5 points - first song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 129

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 49

Vanessa Bayer - 34

Beck Bennett - 29

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Breaking Up

5 points - first song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 117

BILLION DOLLAR MURRAYS - Russel

Cecily Strong - 38

Kenan Thompson - 39

Leslie Jones - 22

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Breaking Up

5 points - first song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 104

THE NOT READY FOR FIRST PLACE PLAYERS - Kevin M

Jay Pharoah - 22

Cecily Strong - 38

Beck Bennett - 29

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Break the Rules

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 104

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

Jay Pharoah - 22

Bobby Moynihan - 43

Pete Davidson - 19

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Break the Rules

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 99

FEATURED LEAGUE

MCKAY GROUP

DAN AKROYD RAGE - Mark

Kate McKinnon - 49

Bobby Moynihan - 43

Beck Bennett - 29

Martin Freeman - 62

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Break the Rules & 2) Boom Clap

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 187

PARDO ME - Hannah

Taran Killam - 74

Aidy Bryant - 42

Kyle Mooney - 48

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 164

DAMIAN AND THE FELINE SOCIOPATHS - Andrew

Kate McKinnon - 49

Vanessa Bayer - 34

Kenan Thompson - 39

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Break the Rules

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 137

THE NIGHT CRAWLERZ - Kevin K

Taran Killam - 74

Jay Pharoah - 22

Beck Bennett - 29

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Break the Rules & 2) Boom Clap

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 129

FALLON IN LOVE - Johnny

Kenan Thompson - 39

Bobby Moynihan - 43

Pete Davidson - 19

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Breaking Up

5 points - first song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 106

SKANKY LITTLE PROSTITUTES - Mike

Aidy Bryant - 42

Cecily Strong - 38

Sasheer Zamata - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Breaking Up & 2) Boom Clap

2 points - song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 106

THE VONDRUKES - Samantha

Jay Pharoah - 22

Leslie Jones - 22

Cecily Strong - 38

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 82

FEY GROUP

SANTA'S MY BOYFRIEND - Megan

Taran Killam - 74

Cecily Strong - 38

Aidy Bryant - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Breaking Up

5 points - first song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 159

MARTHA STEWART'S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: TOPLESS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - Robb

Taran Killam - 74

Vanessa Bayer - 34

Sasheer Zamata - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Breaking Up & 2) Break The Rules

10 points - second song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 142

THE LAND SHARKS - Jason

Kate McKinnon - 49

Kyle Mooney - 48

Aidy Bryant - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 139

THREE LEGGED JEANS - Lori

Kate McKinnon - 49

Bobby Moynihan - 43

Kenan Thompson - 39

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Breaking Up & 2) Boom Clap

2 points - song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 133

MY DOLL'S NAME IS JENNY - Doug

Vanessa Bayer - 34

Bobby Moynihan - 43

Kyle Mooney - 48

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Break the Rules & 2) Breaking Up

2 points - song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 127

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah C

Jay Pharoah - 22

Cecily Strong - 38

Beck Bennett - 29

MUSICAL GUEST - Charli XCX - SONGS: 1) Boom Clap & 2) Break the Rules

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE EIGHT TOTAL 104

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY STANDINGS (after Episode 40x09)

FEATURED LEAGUE STANDINGS

The top of both the Repertory and Featured League held tight this week, but thanks to a boost from Martin Freeman both Dan Akroyd Rage and Natalie Portman’s Dry Cleaning took big steps into the top five of their respective leagues!

Keyrock, Khan, & Associates’ Saad and The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman’s Leah joined Isolated Archipelago’s Rob on the Deep Thoughts on SNL podcast this week to talk about all things Martin Freeman and Charli XCX!

Next week we’ll have our last Saturday Night Live of 2014 before the mid-season Christmas break! Yes, Amy Adams will be hosting and One Direction as the musical guests!

Hope you like Amy Adams!

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!