Minding the P's & Q's of SNL
PROBLEMATIC: It’s a bad
sign that I’m already tired of the Donald Trump-featured cold open, and it’s
the Season 43 premiere, right? Alec Baldwin got an Emmy for the role so they’re
likely to match or surpass the twelve episodes and eleven cold opens he was in
last season… but maybe because of the time distortion field that IRL-Trump puts
up, by Saturday I’m not sure I want to experience that 34 weeks of disgust and
despair that we’re forced to cycle through every six days.
QUALITY: Jeff
Sessions being the bright spot of the cold open further proves the all-time
status of Kate McKinnon on this show.
QUALITY: FEATURING…
between the bright shining colorful Gardner, Luke Null hitting the high notes, and Chris Redd visibly happy to finally be here, I’ll say that the new cast members are already a
welcome addition to the opening credits at the very least.
QUALITY/PROBLEMATIC: What
began as a wonderfully repeated gag of “saving jazz” in the cold open that
featured music but no singing (thank you, baby Jesus), the gag reached the point of not being
funny and was cut off before cycling around to being funny again (if it could
be), putting Emma Stone in a tough position of being a welcome surprise in an
ultimately flat joke. A solid six out of ten on that opening opening monologue!
QUALITY: Jumping
right into the initial sketch being a return to the Alien Abduction sketch was
a smart idea. It was a surprise hit from Gosling’s first hosting gig and a
great mix of performers. Kate McKinnon’s weird and wonderful combination of
jeans and a hair cut got in a few more pinker/stinker jokes, while also very much having her way
with Gosling’s backside. He had zero chance of not breaking. Fun start
everyone!
QUALITY: Levi’s
Woke pre-taped was amazing, on top of being a nice intro for a couple of cast
members, it also had a couple of highlights including the pocket claps and the
uni-fly. “180 degrees of gender non-conformity.”
QUALITY: “I’m
Tristan, and when our parents divorced I was the only one that went to live
with our dad.” Also, fun fact there is a third Property Brother. He
decided to be an illusionist. After being an Adam Lambert impersonator in Las Vegas.
PROBLEMATIC: I
wouldn’t worry to much, but a decisive lack of Kyle Mooney or perspective
number one Cast pick Beck Bennett (after the McKinnon Rule went into effect)
before Weekend Update probably made a few teams sweat…
QUALITY: High
quality Colin K jersey, HOV.
QUALITY: Not to
pile on the cold open, but the on-point jokes made by Weekend Update in its
first minute… nailing the same material that they used for the cold open… makes
the cold open that much more unnecessary right? I should just breath deeply,
knowing how much Alec Baldwin’s portrayal frustrates Donald Trump personally
and just be cool with it.
PROBLEMATIC: Though
the concept didn’t completely land, points for difficulty AND for style on the
“Henrietta & The Fugitive” sketch… and for being just plain weird. Moral of
the story is, always try to make a
chicken handle a gun. Hours of entertainment!
QUALITY: Also,
I’ve got to say… that’s the most romantic
kiss in, at very least, the last five seasons of Saturday Night Live.
PROBLEMATIC: Always be
wary of a restaurant establishing shot. It may have been the shallow premise
stretched, douchebags as a
character choice, or the product
place but “Terezzano’s Hut” didn’t work for me.
QUALITY: Points
for the twist ending though.
QUALITY: I really
appreciated just how long the writer for “Papyrus” has been thinking of this,
especially with four new movies coming in the Avapapytar universe. And once
more tonight, wonderful attention paid with the comic sans font used to cap off
the pre-tape.
QUALITY: “Did they
get my good jeans?!”
PROBLEMATIC: Matt
Smith quote about Null. Aaaaand after a premiere episode DNP… well, that
happened quickly.
QUALITY: “Mickey’s
Endzone” played like “What’s Up With That?” in a sports bar, an odd but
acceptable detail.
QUALITY: More highs then lows, with memorable
pre-taped sketches, including the early contender for viral hit of Season 43 in
“Papyrus”, Ryan Gosling’s second hosted episode and our first of SNL43 started
things off on the right step!
QUALITY: For more thoughts
on Saturday Night Live, join Brian Edwards, of the SNL Fantasy League team The Team You Wish You Hadn’t Started A
Conversation With At A Party, on the
Deep Thoughts on SNL podcast!
Subscribe, listen, enjoy! Deep Thoughts, when they can, also tweets during the
show, so join in on twitter!
REPERTORY CAST
Kate McKinnon, 62
points
- 7 points – cold open
- 5 points – reoccurring (Jeff Sessions)
- 5 points - kiss
- 3 points – “LIVE FROM NEW YORK…!”
- 5 points – sketch (Alien Abduction)
- 5 points – reoccurring
- 10 points – causes break x2 (Ryan Gosling, Aidy Bryant)
- 7 points – pre-taped sketch (Levi ‘s Woke)
- 7 points – Weekend Update
- 5 points – reoccurring (Angela Merkel)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Papyrus)
Aidy Bryant, 28
points
- 7 points – cold open
- 5 points – reoccurring (Sarah Huckabee)
- 5 points – sketch (Alien Abduction)
- 5 points – reoccurring (Agent Morris)
- minus 2 points - breaking
- 5 points – sketch (Henrietta & The Fugitive)
- minus 2 points – breaking
- 5 points – kiss
Kenan Thompson, 28
points
- 10 points – monologue
- 7 points – pre-taped sketch (Levi’s Woke)
- 5 points – sketch (Henrietta & The Fugitive)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Mickey’s Endzone)
- 5 points – singing/dancing
- minus 2 points - breaking
Kyle Mooney, 21
points
- 5 points – sketch (Terrezano’s)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Papyrus)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Mickey’s Endzone)
- 5 points – dancing
- 5 points – causes break (Kenan Thompson)
Cecily Strong, 16
points
- 5 points – sketch (Alien Abduction)
- 5 points – reoccurring
- 3 points – sketch V/O (Levi’s Woke)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Papyrus)
Alec Baldwin, 15
points
- 7 points – cold open
- 5 points – reoccurring (Trump)
- 3 points – “LIVE FROM NEW YORK…!”
Beck Bennett, 13
points
- 5 points – sketch (Henrietta & The Fugitive)
- 5 points – sketch (Terrezano’s)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Mickey’s Endzone)
Leslie Jones, 8
points
- 7 points – pre-taped sketch (Levi’s Woke)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Mickey’s Endzone)
- minus 2 points - breaking
Pete Davidson, 7
points
- 7 points – pre-taped sketch (Levi’s Woke)
FEATURED CAST
Alex Moffat, 36
points
- 7 points – cold open
- 3 points – “LIVE FROM NEW YORK…!”
- 5 points – sketch (The Fliplets)
- 7 points – Weekend
- 5 points – reoccurring (Guy Who Just Bought A Boat)
- 5 points – sketch (Henrietta & The Fugitive)
- 2 points – swearing (“son of a bitch”)
Mikey Day, 22
points
- 5 points – sketch (Alien Abduction)
- 7 points – pre-taped sketch (Levi’s Woke)
- 5 points – sketch (The Fliplets)
- 5 points – sketch (Terrezano’s)
Heidi Gardner, 18
points
- 7 points – pre-taped sketch (Levi’s Woke)
- 5 points – sketch (Terrezano’s)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Papyrus)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Mickey’s Endzone)
Chris Redd 15
points
- 7 points – pre-taped sketch (Levi’s Wokes
- 5 points – sketch (Terrezano’s)
- 3 points – 10 to 1 sketch (Papyrus)
Melissa Villaseñor,
12 points
- 7 points – cold open
- 5 points – sketch (Terrezano’s)
Luke Null, DNP –
Did Not Participate
HOST
Ryan Gosling, 71
points
- 5 points – singing/dancing/jazzing
- 5 points – sketch (Alien Abduction)
- 5 points – reoccurring
- 2 points – swear (bitchin’)
- minus 2 points - breaking
- 10 points – pre-taped sketch (Levi’s Woke)
- 5 points – sketch (The Fliplets)
- 10 points – Weekend Update
- 5 points – sketch (Henrietta & The Fugitive)
- minus 2 points – breaking
- 5 points – kiss
- 5 points – sketch (Terrezano’s)
- 10 points – pre-taped sketch (Papyrus)
- 5 points – sketch (Mickey’s Endzone)
- 5 points - dancing
- minus 2 points - breaking
Emma Stone, 15
points
- 10 points – monologue
- 5 points - dancing
Billion Dollar Murrays – Russel
H.
Kate McKinnon – 62
Mikey Day - 22
MUSICAL GUEST – Jay-Z - SONGS: 1) The Story of O.J. & 2) 4:44
10 points – second song
EPISODE ONE TOTAL 94
The Ignorant Sluts – Matthew S.
Kate McKinnon - 62
Alec Baldwin - 15
MUSICAL GUEST – Jay-Z - SONGS: 1) Bam & 2) 4:44
5 points – first song
10 points – second song
EPISODE ONE TOTAL 92
The Team You Wish
You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With At A Party – Brian
E.
Cecily Strong - 16
Mikey Day - 22
Alex Moffat - 36
MUSICAL GUEST – Jay-Z – NO SONGS CHOSEN
EPISODE ONE TOTAL 89
The Not Ready For
First Place Players – Kevin M.
Kenan Thompson - 28
Aidy Bryant - 28
Kyle Mooney - 21
MUSICAL GUEST – Jay-Z - SONGS: 1) The Story of O.J. & 2)
Moonlight
EPISODE ONE TOTAL 77
The Party Andersons – Rob M.
Beck Bennett - 13
Aidy Bryant - 28
Kenan Thompson - 28
MUSICAL GUEST – Jay-Z - SONGS: 1) 4:44 & 2) Holy Grail
2 points - song
EPISODE ONE TOTAL 71
War Horse Can Dance – Megan
M.
Cecily Strong - 16
Alex Moffat - 36
Leslie Jones - 8
MUSICAL GUEST – Jay-Z – NO SONGS CHOSEN
EPISODE ONE TOTAL 60
Holtzwomenn – Sarah R.
Beck Bennett - 13
Alec Baldwin – 15
Kyle Mooney - 21
MUSICAL GUEST – Jay-Z - SONGS: 1) The Story of O.J. & 2) 4:44
10 points – second song
EPISODE ONE TOTAL 59
| # | TEAM NAME | ∧∨-- | HIGH[EP] | HOST | SONG | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billion Dollar Murrays | -- | 94 [01] | 0 | 10 | 94 |
| 2 | The Ignorant Sluts | -- | 92 [01] | 0 | 15 | 92 |
| 3 | The Team You Wish You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With At A Party |
-- | 89 [01] | 15 | 0 | 89 |
| 4 | Not Ready For First Place Players | -- | 77 [01] | 0 | 0 | 77 |
| 5 | The Party Andersons | -- | 71 [01] | 0 | 2 | 71 |
| 6 | War Horse Can Dance | -- | 60 [01] | 0 | 10 | 60 |
| 7 | Holtzwomenn | -- | 59 [01] | 0 | 10 | 59 |
I do believe Season 43 has started off on the right foot! So where does that leave us for the FIFTH season of the Saturday Night Live Fantasy? First off, welcome, and thank you for reading all the way to the bottom! You have have noticed that the Fantasy League is smaller then it has ever been, since we began with ten teams in season one. This was by choice. Ultimately it would have been great to bring it back for another round of expansion, and pushed for one-hundred teams or more in our fifth year of comedy sabermetrics... but with expanded live events in Toronto for Trivia Club I decided to pivot things in another direction.
Last season it became evident that people want to run their own League, so instead of having my hand in piloting every Group I decided it would be easier for myself and even more entertaining for those in their own Groups... to use the Hartman folks as an example, and then become their own commishs. So that's what Fantasy SNL on the Trivia Club website will become, for the forseeable future. An example for how to, home to an updated Scoring System, and with a Points Breakdown for every episode as well for you to follow if you'd rather not break down each episode (though I know at least Rob, Brian, and Matt have taken that for a spin).
I look forward to hearing Groups, as they draft, and as teams win or lose ground along the way!
Last season it became evident that people want to run their own League, so instead of having my hand in piloting every Group I decided it would be easier for myself and even more entertaining for those in their own Groups... to use the Hartman folks as an example, and then become their own commishs. So that's what Fantasy SNL on the Trivia Club website will become, for the forseeable future. An example for how to, home to an updated Scoring System, and with a Points Breakdown for every episode as well for you to follow if you'd rather not break down each episode (though I know at least Rob, Brian, and Matt have taken that for a spin).
I look forward to hearing Groups, as they draft, and as teams win or lose ground along the way!
 |
| I hadn't noticed until now, that this is obviously a Toronto sports bar... |
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