Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

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QUALITY: The use of Kevin Hart’s size opposed to an otherwise very tall cast works wonderfully, as always. If there’s one thing that Hart does better then being high energy it’s making fun of his size.

PROBLEMATIC: That opening monologue. Sure, there were fun points within the monologue, like not staying with his wife if she were attacked by a mountain lion, but it sounded like a stand-up bit that hadn’t quite been work shopped enough for time.

QUALITY: Kate McKinnon KILLED it with the Justin Bieber runner. You could tell that it must have been a HELL of a lot of fun to shoot, and it also gave Cecily Strong a  chance to be pretty damn funny as well, as the straight woman in the sketch. More of that!

QUALITY: Kevin Hart is a game host, not afraid to make fun of himself, the fact that he’s a comedian gives him advantage in hosting, making his second hosting gig in three seasons no surprise. I would even put him above Martin Freeman at least, so far this season, as the episode’s weakest sketches (Nancy, farts are funny but they aren’t that funny) didn’t heavily involve Hart.

Kate McKinnon, 48 points

• 5 points - promos
• 7 points - cold open
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Justin Bieber for Calvin Klein)
• 5 points - recurring (Justin Beiber)
• 5 points - sketch (Nancy)
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Justin Bieber for Calvin Klein 2)
• 7 points - Weekend Update
• 5 points - host hug

Kenan Thompson, 42 points

• 7 points - cold open
• 5 points - recurring (MLK)
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Bushwick, Brooklyn)
• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 5 points - sketch (Dragon Attack)
• 5 points - singing
• 3 points - post-songs sketch (Rap Secrets)

Cecily Strong, 40 points

• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Justin Bieber for Calvin Klein)
• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 5 points - (Nancy)
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Justin Bieber for Calvin Klein 2)
• 5 points - sketch (Dragon Attack)
• 5 points - singing
• 3 points - post-songs sketch (Rap Secrets)

Jay Pharoah, 37 points

• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Bushwick, Brooklyn)
• 5 points - dancing
• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 5 points - sketch (Kevin's Son)
• 3 points - post-songs sketch (Rap Secrets)
• 5 points - dancing
• 2 points - in costume during goodnights

Taran Killam, 30 points

• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 5 points - sketch (Nancy)
• 5 points - sketch (Dragon Attack)
• 5 points - singing
• 3 points - post-songs sketch (Rap Secrets)
• 2 points - in costume during goodnights

Vanessa Bayer, 17 points

• 5 points - sketch (Why'd You Post That?!)
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Bushwick, Brooklyn)
• 5 points - sketch (Nancy)

Aidy Bryant, 15 points

• 5 points - promos
• 5 points - sketch (Why'd You Post That?!)
• 5 points - sketch (Nancy)

Bobby Moynihan, 13 points

• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 3 points - post-songs sketch (Rap Secrets)

Leslie Jones, 29 points

• 5 points - sketch (Dragon Attack)
• 5 points - singing
• 4 points - swearing ("ass" x2)
• 5 points - sketch (Kevin's Son)
• 3 points - post-songs sketch (Rap Secrets)
• 5 points - dancing
• 2 points - in costume during goodnights

Sasheer Zamata, 25 points

• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 5 points - sketch (Nancy)
• 5 points - sketch (Dragon Attack)
• 5 points - singing

Pete Davidson, 20 points

• 7 points - cold open
• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 3 points - post-songs sketch (Rap Secrets)

Beck Bennett, 15 points

• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 3 points - post-songs sketch (Rap Secrets)
• 2 points - in costume during goodnights

Kyle Mooney, 15 points

• 5 points - sketch (Why'd You Post That?!)
• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing

Kevin Hart, 77 points

• 10 points - swearing ("bitch", x2 "ass", "jackass", "drunk ass")
• 5 points - sketch (Why'd You Post That?!)
• 10 points - pre-taped sketch (Bushwick, Brooklyn)
• 5 points - sketch (Get On Up)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 5 points - sketch (Nancy)
• 5 points - dancing
• 5 points - sketch (Dragon Attack)
• 5 points - sketch (Kevin's Son)
• 5 points - post-songs sketch (Rap Secrets)
• 5 points - rapping/dancing
• 2 points - swearing ("dumb bitch!")
• 10 points - hugs cast first

REPERTORY LEAGUE

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 48

Vanessa Bayer - 17

Beck Bennett - 15

Kevin Hart - 77

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Chandelier & 2) Elastic Heart

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 161

BILLION DOLLAR MURRAYS - Russel

Cecily Strong - 40

Kenan Thompson - 42

Leslie Jones - 29

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Chandelier

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 126

ISOLATE ARCHIPELAGO - Rob

Taran Killam - 30

Kenan Thompson - 42

Pete Davidson - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Chandelier

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 107

THE NOT READY FOR FIRST PLACE PLAYERS - Kevin M

Jay Pharoah - 37

Cecily Strong - 40

Beck Bennett -15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Chandelier

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 107

NATALIE PORTMAN'S DRY CLEANING - Sarah R

Kate McKinnon - 48

Bobby Moynihan - 13

Kyle Mooney - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Chandelier

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 91

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

Jay Pharoah - 37

Bobby Moynihan - 13

Pete Davidson - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Eye of the Needle

5 points - first song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 75

THE FUTURE MRS. RANDY GOLDMAN - Leah

Taran Killam - 30

Sasheer Zamata - 25

Aidy Bryant - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Chandelier & 2) Elastic Heart

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 74

KEYROCK, KHAN, & ASSOCIATES - Saad

Vanessa Bayer - 17

Aidy Bryant - 15

Kyle Mooney - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Opportunity

5 points - first song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 52

FEATURED LEAGUE

FALLON IN LOVE - Johnny

Kenan Thompson - 42

Bobby Moynihan - 13

Pete Davidson - 20

Kevin Hart - 77

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 152

DAMIAN AND THE FELINE SOCIOPATHS - Andrew

Kate McKinnon - 48

Vanessa Bayer - 17

Kenan Thompson - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Chandelier

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 122

THE VONDRUKES - Samantha

Jay Pharoah - 37

Leslie Jones - 29

Cecily Strong - 40

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 106

THE NIGHT CRAWLERZ - Kevin K

Taran Killam - 30

Jay Pharoah - 37

Beck Bennett - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Chandelier & 2) Elastic Heart

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 86

SKANKY LITTLE PROSTITUTES - Mike

Aidy Bryant - 15

Cecily Strong - 40

Sasheer Zamata - 25

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile

5 points - first song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 85

DAN AKROYD RAGE - Mark

Kate McKinnon - 48

Bobby Moynihan - 13

Beck Bennett - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 76

PARDO ME - Hannah

Taran Killam - 30

Aidy Bryant - 15

Kyle Mooney - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 60

THREE LEGGED JEANS - Lori

Kate McKinnon - 48

Bobby Moynihan - 13

Kenan Thompson - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Chandelier

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 118

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah C

Jay Pharoah - 37

Cecily Strong - 40

Beck Bennett - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Chandelier

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 107

SANTA'S MY BOYFRIEND - Megan

Taran Killam - 30

Cecily Strong - 40

Aidy Bryant - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Chandelier & 2) Elastic Heart

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 89

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

Taran Killam - 30

Vanessa Bayer - 17

Sasheer Zamata - 25

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Chandelier & 2) Elastic Heart

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 76

THE LAND SHARKS - Jason

Kate McKinnon - 48

Kyle Mooney - 15

Aidy Bryant - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 78

MY DOLL'S NAME IS JENNY - Doug

Vanessa Bayer - 17

Bobby Moynihan - 13

Kyle Mooney - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - SIA - SONGS: 1) Elastic Heart & 2) Chandelier

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 60

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY STANDINGS (after Episode 40x11)

1. The Ignorant Sluts - 1, 440
2. The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman - 1, 378
3. Isolated Archipelago - 1, 353
4. Natalie Portman's Dry Cleaning - 1, 339
5. Billion Dollar Murrays - 1, 278
6. The Not Ready For First Place Players - 1, 278
7. The Team You Wish You Hadn't Started A Conversation With At A Party - 1, 256
8. Keyrock, Khan, & Associates - 1, 110

FEATURED LEAGUE STANDINGS

1. Three Legged Jeans - 1, 452
2. Santa's My Boyfriend - 1, 430
3. The Night Crawlerz - 1, 381
4. Dan Akroyd Rage - 1, 351
5. Damian and the Feline Sociopaths - 1, 340
6. Martha Stewat's Home for the Holidays: Topless Christmas Special - 1, 336
7. Pardo Me - 1, 326
8. The Land Sharks - 1, 282
9. Fallon In Love - 1, 280
10. Suck It Trebek - 1, 234
11. The Vondrukes - 1, 229
12. My Doll's Name is Jenny - 1, 173
13. Skanky Little Prostitutes - 1, 125

The top of the standings in BOTH Leagues changed, as we returned from the holidays with a Kevin Hart hosted episode.

As expected, The Ignorant Sluts were propelled by Hart’s strong point take in, especially in proportion to an otherwise quiet night from half the cast, gaining more points from Hart alone then from the total points of three other Rep League teams, including other again second place team, The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman.

A strong night from Kate McKinnon didn’t hurt the Featured League’s Three Legged Jeans, who after weeks of fighting their way up the standings have finally taken the number one spot from Santa’s My Boyfriend. Has the passing of Christmas taken away Santa’s My Boyfriend’s mojo?! We’ll have to see!

We’ll see you next week with Musical Guest Blake Shelton and Host… wait, really?! Well okay, it’s The Voices third most interesting personality… Blake Shelton! Get ready for the 40th season’s answer to the first season’s Ron Nessen!