QUALITY: Norton’s weird (self-serious or high strung, maybe) energy works, he’s not a relaxed sort but he works excellently within the sketch show. Some really nice strange work this week, Edward Norton is, no surprise here, a gamer and flung himself into some great character moments. He also flung himself into an air duct. Respect. 

 QUALITY: Norton might not be promoting anything (two for two, SNL, well DONE) but at least he isn’t promoting The Counselor. BURN!

 PROBLEMATIC: Blinding one of the stars, much? The shrapnel in the cold opening made me worry for McKinnon’s eyes and face for a hot sec.

PROBLEMATIC: Beck Bennet had a week of walking past when they needed a straight guy to be serious. It's an necessary role, and don't worry, Beckheads (that's a thing right?) Mr. Olivia Wilde once wore it well.

 QUALITY: Multiple Alec Baldwin sightings? Yes please!

 PROBLEMATIC: Multiple Miley Cyrus sightings? Yours was the best episode of the opening three shows, but don’t push it.

 PROBLEMATIC: They are a great way to highlight an exceptional female cast, but urg, another feminine product parody?

 QUALITY: Pedrad with a spotlight sketch! It took forward episodes for her to get into shape, but Nasim Pedrad is starting to look like the cast member that people drafted! The only PROBLEMATIC part of that now is the long-term outlook of Mulaney at FOX. Enjoy it while it lasts!

 QUALITY: Seriously, VANS!

 QUALITY: It’s no surprise that, the morning after, the Wes Anderson horror movie spoof is the much talked about part of the show. It was an excellently made spoof, with ON POINT design elements. The list of quality moments are endless, but let’s at least give high points to Ed Norton’s Owen Wilson impersonation (thank you Tom Hiddleston for the pointers), a much better impersonation then anything he pulled out during the opening monologue.

 QUALITY: “I am not a licensed critter control specialist, however I am Mitchell’s best friend and he knows I like this kind of funky junk. However I have been informed that a meeting is taking place and I am not to disturb you. In conclusion just work harder not smarter and we’ll geterdone and my name is Russel.”

 QUALITY/PROBLEMATIC: Mike O’Brien was a 0.0 on the LeBell Bad-Ass Scale in the Rain Man Money Counting sketch, which left the set-up to the sketch punch less if not for the other cast members, especially Killam and Moynihan doing there best to look and sound at least slightly dangerous. When it came to the “When I do it…” segment though, Mikey was by FAR the most natural as the most awkward. So there is THAT. Welcome to world of sketches before the second song, O'Brien!

 PROBLEMATIC: As you’ll see, the first good night for John Milhiser equals a noticeably quiet night for Taran Killam. Best not to get burnt out on SNL’s new leading man… or to make that so much of a thing, at that.

 QUALITY: Never stop dancing Janelle Monae. My infinite crush on this woman somehow grew three sizes tonight. Of course, I was not alone.

 QUALITY: Wait, how long has SNL been available on iTunes? Have I just missed these ads, previously?

 QUALITY: Anthony Crispino is further proof that Bobby Moynihan may have more fun then any other cast member, on this show.

 PROBLEMATIC: I appreciate you tried going in that direction, SNL but UNCOMFORTABLE thy name is the 12 Days Not a Slave sketch!

 QUALITY: I appreciate you went ALL OUT, post-second song SNL writers. That was so very strange, and pushed the limits more then most other sketches, from Adult Ruth to “What would I do for a Klondike Bar?”. Especially so late in the show.  Added points for Moynihan not taking off the Diego costume during the Good-nights!

 QUALITY: Jared fuckin’ Schraff with the guitar solo! Filling up time? Times like these, I don’t mind.

REPARATORY CAST

A quieter week overall for the cast, in terms of post. This could be reflective of the show, though in flavor of flash or heavily relying on the pre-tape they certainly enjoyed the use of wigs, prosthetics, in-camera effects and sight gags. Something to keep in mind for future points. Now... let us see how the teams did this week!

EPISODE FOUR TOTAL 160

SEASON 39 OVERALL STANDINGS (after Episode 39x04)

Next week Kerry Washington is hosting SNL, and promoting something for a change, because talented black women CAN be live from New York! Maybe we'll even get lucky, and one of our predicted hosts will participate in an upcoming edition of SNL! Hazard the thought.

Also Eminem will be the musical guest, so watch as our SNL Fantasy team owners try to listen to him for the first time since high school/college. Happy Halloween everyone!