Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

QUALITY:  You can enjoy our Deep Thoughts on SNL podcast! Subscribe, listen, enjoy! And heck, join in on the conversation on twitter, which'll give you an inroad on getting involved in the League next year!
PROBLEMATIC: Ryan Gosling had a lot of fun! Too much fun, with all the giggling and breaking (see minus points)? Naaah, enjoying yourself is important, and honestly breaking has been sorely missed from the last two seasons of SNL Fantasy League!

QUALITY: Leon Bridges brought some heart and soul to the proceedings too, and is the kind of musical guest I enjoy! One of the best so far this season.

PROBLEMATIC: The show was uneven this week, frontloaded with quality comedy (NSA Alien Investigation, the viral sketch of the season) and interesting pre-taped sketches that took an uncharacteristic bent for SNL (Santa Baby), but falling off a cliff on the other side of Weekend Update. Overall, Gosling proved a more interesting and enjoyable host for me, then last episode’s McConaughey however!

REPERTORY CAST

Taran Killam, 71 points

Aidy Bryant, 64 points

Kate McKinnon, 62 points

Cecily Strong, 54 points

Vanessa Bayer, 49 points

Bobby Moynihan, 42 points

Jay Pharoah, 30 points

Kenan Thompson, 27 points

Sasheer Zamata, 27 points

Kyle Mooney, 24 points

Beck Bennett, 12 points

FEATURED CAST

Leslie Jones, 12 points

Pete Davidson, 7 points

Jon Rudnitsky, DID NOT PARTICIPATE

HOST

Ryan Gosling, 96 points

Mike Myers, 15 points

HARTMAN GROUP

THE NOT READY FOR FIRST PLACE PLAYERS - Kevin M.

Taran Killam - 71

Jay Pharoah - 30

Vanessa Bayer - 49

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Better Man

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 150

DESOLATE ISLE - Rob M.

Taran Killam - 71

Aidy Bryant - 64

Leslie Jones - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Better Man

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 147

MARK WAHLBERG ATE MARK WAHLBERG - Sarah R.

Cecily Strong - 54

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Vanessa Bayer - 49

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Better Man & 2) Coming Home

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 145

BILLION DOLLAR MURRAYS - Russel

Kate McKinnon - 62

Aidy Bryant - 62

Beck Bennett - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Smooth Sailin' & 2) So Long

5 points - first song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 143

WAR HORSE CAN DANCE - Megan M.

Cecily Strong - 54

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Beck Bennett - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailin'

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 110

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kenan Thompson - 27

Jay Pharoah - 30

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Smooth Sailin' & 2) Coming Home

5 points - first song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 86

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

Kate McKinnon - 62

Leslie Jones - 12

Jon Rudnitsky - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Shine

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 74

THE FUTURE MRS. RANDY GOLDMAN - Leah

Kenan Thompson - 27

Kyle Mooney - 24

Jon Rudnitsky - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailin'

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 53

Though there wasn’t a lot of movement on the surface, on a lot can be gleaned by overall standings after this episode! The Not Ready For First Place Players not are the first team in the Hartman Group to gain top score in more then one episode they’ve now done so three times! This edged them further in the lead over Desolate Isle and Billion Dollar Murrays! Mark Wahlberg Ate Mark Wahlberg gained ground as well, from fourth place, on the number three spot! The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman had a rooough week, scoring less points as a team then four individual cast members.

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY STANDINGS (after Episode 41x07)

RADNER GROUP

THE DARK, CLENCHED HOLE OF EVIL - Robb

Taran Killam - 71

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Cecily Strong - 54

Sasheer Zamata - 27

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Smooth Sailin' & 2) Coming Home

5 points - first song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 199

LIL BABY AIDY - Will

Aidy Bryant - 64

Taran Killam - 71

Beck Bennett - 12

Vanessa Bayer - 49

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Lisa Sawyer

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 196

SKANKY LITTLE PROSTITUTES - Mike

Kate McKinnon - 62

Cecily Strong - 54

Jay Pharoah - 30

Pete Davidson - 7

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Better Man

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 153

MY DOLL'S NAME IS JENNY - Douglas

Kate McKinnon - 67

Kyle Mooney - 24

Jay Pharoah - 30

Leslie Jones - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailin'

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 130

KEBERT XELA - Christopher

Kenan Thompson - 27

Aidy Bryant - 64

Beck Bennett - 12

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - NO SONGS CHOSEN

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 127

THREE-LEGGED JEANS - Lori

Kenan Thompson - 27

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Leslie Jones - 12

Pete Davidson - 7

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailin'

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 90

It doesn’t look like Three-Legged Jeans will be repeating as winners of the Gilded Radner, as they are now more then 100 points behind the next team. Lil Baby Aidy continue to lead this season’s Group rivals in The Dark, Clenched Hole of Evil and Skanky Little Prostitutes. Aidy and the Prostitutes have a leg up on The Dark, Clenched Hole of Evil however, as both teams will be garnering points from the Tina & Amy co-hosted episode!

GILDED RADNER STANDINGS (after Episode 41x07)

MYERS GROUP

DAN AKROYD RAGE - Mark

Kate McKinnon - 62

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Aidy Bryant - 64

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Twistin' and Groovin'

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 168

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah C.

Taran Killam - 71

Kenan Thompson - 27

Aidy Bryant - 64

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - NO SONGS CHOSEN

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 162

NOT A STRONG SWIMMER - Krissy

Cecily Strong - 54

Kenan Thompson - 27

Vanessa Bayer - 49

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Smooth Sailin' & 2) So Long

5 points - first song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 135

ORGANIC WIFI - Andrew K.

Kate McKinnon - 62

Jay Pharoah - 30

Leslie Jones - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) River

10 points - second song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 114

COLIN JOST'S GHOSTS - Colm

Taran Killam - 71

Kyle Mooney - 24

Jon Rudnitsky - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Wake Me Up

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 95

SPOOKY BEHAVIOR - Emily

Cecily Strong - 54

Beck Bennett - 12

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Better Man

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 90

THE VONDRUKES - Samantha B.

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Jay Pharoah - 30

Leslie Jones - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - NO SONGS CHOSEN

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 84

ANTHONY'S JOE PESCI SHOWMANSHIP - Anthony

Pete Davidson - 7

Vanessa Bayer - 49

Beck Bennett - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Wake Me Up

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 68

A monster showing by their team, gives Dan Akroyd Rage the biggest jump of any team this week! The Rumble for the Wayne’s World Championship is quickly becoming the fight to watch in the Saturday Night Live Championship League, as four teams have a great chance at winning the Myers Group. Though Suck It Trebek continues to hold onto the top spot, Dan Akroyd Rage has vaulted back into the fight, Not A Strong Swimmer continues to compete and compete well, and Organic Wifi is waiting in the wings with not one but TWO hosts announced (also of note, Organic Wifi were the only team this week to guess the correct second Song Choice, though no team got both)! Anthony’s Joe Pesci Showmanship also has a silver-lining to look forward to, with Chris Hemsworth hosting next week for the second time in 2015, giving the current last-place team in the Myers Group a welcome boost! Speaking of Anthony’s Joe Pesci Showmanship, they stand as the last team not to lead an episode of SNL for the Myers Group, showing an impressive amount of parity in the Group!

WAYNE’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (after Episode 41x07)

FARLEY GROUP

BILL BRASKY'S DRINKING BUDDIES - Saad

Taran Killam - 71

Aidy Bryant  - 64

Jay Pharoah - 30

Sasheer Zamata - 27

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - NO SONGS CHOSEN

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 192

EFFIE VILLALOPOLUS' PROFESSIONAL COMPLAINERS - David S.

Taran Killam - 71

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Vanessa Bayer - 49

Pete Davidson - 7

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailin'

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 171

DRUNCLE - Mick

Kate McKinnon - 62

Kenan Thompson - 27

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Sasheer Zamata - 27

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - NO SONGS CHOSEN

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 158

MISS SWAN'S LOWERED EXPECTATIONS - Patrick

Cecily Strong - 54

Kenan Thompson - 27

Vanessa Bayer - 49

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) So Long

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 154

MURRY'D WITH CHILDREN - Johnny

Kate McKinnon - 62

Cecily Strong - 54

Beck Bennett - 12

Leslie Jones - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - NO SONGS CHOSEN

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 140

THIS TEAM HAS EVERYTHING - Sarah S.

Beck Bennett - 12

Kyle Mooney - 24

Aidy Bryant - 64

Jay Pharoah - 30

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) So Long

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 130

Also a group of parity, the Farley Group! Thanks to Song Choice points that almost-double every other team save for This Team Has Everything, Miss Swan’s Lowered Expectations hold onto first place in the Farley Group by three points over Druncle! Those three points aren’t even the closest margin in the Group however, as Murry’d With Children leads Effie Villalopolus’ Professional Complainers by a single point for third place!

FARLEY GROUP STANDINGS (after Episode 41x07)

BELUSHI GROUP

THE NIGHT CRAWLERZ - Kevin K.

Taran Killam - 71

Cecily Strong - 54

Kenan Thompson - 27

Jay Pharoah - 30

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailin'

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 184

NUNI AND THE HAIR CHAIR - Megan R.M.

Aidy Bryant - 64

Taran Killam - 71

Leslie Jones - 12

Beck Bennett - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) So Long

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 159

TOTAL BASTARD AIRLINES - Andrew R.

Kate McKinnon - 62

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Kyle Mooney - 24

Sasheer Zamata - 27

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) My Love Stays

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 155

HARRY CARAY'S BBQ MOON RIBS - Ian

Kenan Thompson - 27

Vanessa Bayer - 49

Aidy Bryant - 64

Pete Davidson - 7

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Better Man

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 147

CRISIS OF CONFORMITY - David W.

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Jay Pharoah - 30

Kyle Mooney - 24

Vanessa Bayer - 49

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - NO SONGS CHOSEN

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 145

COLOMBIAN DECAFFEINATED COFFEE CRYSTALS - Dylan

Kate McKinnon - 62

Beck Bennett - 12

Cecily Strong - 54

Pete Davidson - 7

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Twisting and Grooving & 2) Coming Home

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 135

The Night Crawlerz got the Group high-score for the Ryan Gosling, making this the fourth time they’ve topped the Belushi Group! This not only furthered their lead overall, but also gives The Night Crawlerz more then a 100 points more then any other G6 Group team!

BELUSHI GROUP STANDINGS (after Episode 41x07)

INTERNATIONAL NASTY GIRL$ - Abby

Kate McKinnon - 62

Vanessa Bayer - 49

Aidy Bryant - 64

Sasheer Zamata - 27

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailing

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 204

HEATHER FROM WORK - Lauren

Cecily Strong - 54

Taran Killam - 71

Beck Bennett - 12

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) So Long & 2) Coming Home

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 161

HADERS TO THE LEFT - Samantha L.

Kate McKinnon - 62

Taran Killam - 71

Pete Davidson - 7

Leslie Jones - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailin'

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 154

BOYFRIENDS TALK SHOW - Andrew E.

Jay Pharoah - 30

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Aidy Bryant - 64

Leslie Jones - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailin'

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 150

THE WEEKENDERS - Justin

Kenan Thompson - 27

Bobby Moynihan - 42

Vanessa Bayer - 49

Jay Pharoah - 30

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - NO SONGS CHOSEN

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 148

LAZY SUNFEYS - Meg

Kenan Thompson - 27

Cecily Strong - 54

Beck Bennett - 12

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Leon Bridges - SONGS: 1) Coming Home & 2) Smooth Sailing

2 points - song

EPISODE SEVEN TOTAL 119

If this commissioner was to be believe, the Poehler Group had a two team race at the top, but with the resurgence of International Nasty Girl$ to the top spot WITHOUT a host, the Poehler Group has blown wide open! A second 200+ point episode for the Nasty Girl$ give them the lead over Heather From Work (lacking neccesary support from the Good Neighbors) and Haders to the Left (which seems to be a tail of two teams)!

POEHLER GROUP STANDINGS (after Episode 41x07)

I don't know if we've talked about this, but Chris Hemsworth is hosting Saturday Night Live again. For the second time this year. As the host and producer of Trivia Club, I should probably know the last time that happened. Get back to me in seven days. And it's nothing against the guy either, Chris Hemsworth has the kind of easy charm and handsome charisma that makes him the only Hemsworth brother worth hosting this show (Liam, bad news, your time has passed) and even if he isn't in the next Marvel movie... he's still the second to latest Sexiest Man Alive!

David Beckham is the reigning Sexiest Man Alive, by the way.

I don't get it either. I guess they wanted to wait until he owned a Major League Soccer team?

Hemsworth is hosting NEXT WEEK, December 12th, with musical guest Chance The Rapper! I'm looking forward, though not as much as I would be for Tyler the Creator. STILL... congrats to Anthony's Joe Pesci Showmanship for being the only team out of The 40 to nab Chris Hemsworth as a Prospective Host!

Russel Harder hosts Trivia Club at Hitch (1216 Queen St East) every other MONDAY, at Lou Dawg's near Ryerson (76 Gerrard St E) every TUESDAY, and Cardinal Rule (5 Roncesvalles Ave) every WEDNESDAY!