Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

QUALITY: This episodes P’s and Q’s are going to be concise, but here are a few quick thoughts starting off with one that may not be agreed on by everyone: Keenan Thompson has his show of the SEASON tonight, in almost every sketch and consistently funny while he was at it. In multiple appearances, it wasn’t just the traditional shouted delivery but something a bit more nuanced and really quite fun.
PROBLEMATIC: The amount that Keenan was involved in sketches proved to throw off the feeling of balance to the show however, nudging out female cast members especially. I likely won’t have to worry about this, especially in January with a new cast member coming in (my money is on Sasheer Zamata). She will be left off the board for any teams, save for if the Tim Robinson Rule comes into effect again (filling in a roster spot for any team who loses a cast member before the season ends).

PROBLEMATIC: Stallone and De Niro, as former hosts it was spectacular to see you… but the reason you haven’t hosted 13 times like our friend John Goodman was baldly apparent with the Three Wise Guys sketch.
QUALITY: Cecily interviews Black Santa during Update?! Myers really IS leaving, if they're finally letting Strong interview! Additional props on the first real fist bump in WEEKS.

QUALITY: Unlike some reviewers, I’m giving tonight’s show a passing grade. I enjoyed myself, of course powered by my love for John Goodman. Even if it felt as if  the writing was weighed down by that same expectation of matching Goodman as opposed to building off the momentum gained by Rudd and especially Hutcherson.

QUALITY: Seriously though, Last Call is amazing. Don’t stop pulling that out once or twice a season as long as you have McKinnon.
QUALITY: And a final thank you to Taran Killam for being thorough in this fun little game we call SNL Fantasy League. One of the stray thoughts when you put together a project like this is that maybe those involved in the actual DOING of the thing will take note. Say suffice to say, the math (as no one will ever say again) was bitch'. And it moved one of his teams to 4th place! Making said teams precipitous fall in the rankings THIS week even more dramatic.

He sings, dances, does the funny, and will balance your spreadsheet.

REPARATORY CAST

Kenan Thompson, 104 points

Kate McKinnon, 71 points

Jay Pharoah, 50 points

Bobby Moynihan, 47 points

Taran Killam, 37 points

 Aidy Bryant, 32 points

Nasim Pedrad, 22 points

Cecily Strong, 15 points

Vanessa Bayer, 10 points

Yes, Kenan Thompson outscored five different TEAMS on tonight's episodes. FIVE! It's a disparety that becomes even more evident when you realize that Bayer was in one sketch in the beginning of the show, Strong was on Update followed by the sketch after, and Nasim made a few appearances near the end of the show... but Kenan was EVERYWHERE! It'll be interesting to see if the balance shifts, but if he keeps this kind of production up Thompson may well shift the standings on his own and otherwise has officially earned his high draft order.

FEATURED CAST

• 10 points - commercail parody (Full Throttle Christmas Special)
• 5 points - sketch (Fire Safety)
• 5 points - commercial parody post-second song (H&M)
• 5 points - sings
• 5 points - host hug

John Milhiser, 20 points

Kyle Mooney, 17 points

           

Beck Bennett, 12 points

Brooks Wheelan, 10 points

Mike O'Brien, 7 points

Milhiser did NOT play an elf again as predicted he DID play a little person... so if anything else, it was certainly in his wheel house. And yes, you read the breakdown correctly Wheelan outscored Mr. Cecily Strong with his inspired take on Kid Rock alone. Enjoy the soft feel of that writers chair again, come season 40, Mike!

HOST

John Goodman, 100 points

5 points - sings

10 points - commercail parody (Full Throttle Christmas Special)

5 points - sings

2 points  - sketch (Dearborn Community Playhouse's Holiday Pageant)

5 points - dance

2 points - sketch (Three Wise Guys)

10 points - in sketch along-side former host (Robert De Niro)

10 points - in sketch along-side former host (Sylvester Stallone)

10 points - Weekend Update

5 points - sings

2 points - sketch (Fired For Being Too Hot)

5 points - dances

2 points - sketch post-second song (Christmas Whistle)

10 points - commercial parody (H&M)

5 points - dances/sings

2 points - sketch (Last Call)

10 points - open-mouth kissing

EBERSOL GROUP

FIVE TIMERS CLUB - Leah

Kenan Thompson - 104

Nasim Pedrad - 22

Mike O'Brien - 7

Beck Bennet - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: No songs selected.

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 145

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 71

Cecily Strong - 15

Beck Bennett - 12

John Mihiser - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: 1) Supersoaker & 2) Temple

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 118

EXTREME CLOSE-UP! - Jack

Jay Pharoah - 50

Brooks Wheelan - 10

Noel Wells  - 30

John Mihiser - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: No songs selected.

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 110

DAN AYKROYD RAGE - Mark

Vanessa Bayer - 10

Bobby Moynihan - 47

Kyle Mooney - 17

Noel Wells - 30

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: 1) Beautiful War & Temple

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 104

RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - Rob

Taran Killam - 37

Aidy Bryant - 32

Mike O' Brien - 7

Kyle Mooney - 17

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: 1) Beautiful War & 2) Temple

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 94

DOUMANIAN GROUP

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah

Kenan Thompson - 104

Brooks Wheelan - 10

Noel Wells - 30

Kyle Mooney - 17

John Goodman - 100

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: 1) Temple & 2) Beautiful War

5 points for First Song

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 265

MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - Russel

Bobby Moynihan - 47

Jay Pharoah - 50

Kyle Mooney - 17

Beck Bennett - 12

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: 1) Temple & 2) Wait For Me

5 points for First Song

10 points for Second Song

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 141

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

Kate McKinnon - 71

Cecily Strong - 15

Mike O' Brien - 7

Noel Wells - 30

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: 1) Wait For Me & 2) Super Soaker

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 123

BILL BRASKY - Saad

Taran Killam - 37

Aidy Bryant - 32

Mike O'Brien - 7

John Mihiser - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: No songs selected.

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 96

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE TEAM THE HIGH-WASITED MIDGETS THAT HAVE, LIKE, THE RED PANTS AND THE BIG ASS - Kevin

Nasim Pedrad - 22

Vanessa Bayer - 10

Beck Bennett - 12

John Mihiser - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - Kings of Leon - SONGS: No songs selected.

EPISODE NINE TOTAL 64

DEEP THOUGHTS with the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League

(on the subject on what was to be done with the announced new cast member) “So to summarize what just happened, Russel and Matt just rehashed an argument from the summer, but have switched sides.” – Reclusive Peninsula’s Rob

(Mooney and/or Milhiser as Criss Angel) “Meh. Same guy.” – Ignorant Sluts’ Matt

“Commercial was a nice bizarre mix of impressions. Big Ang was disturbing.” – The Team You Wish…’s Brian

(on Seth Myers’ Update replacement/new co-host for Strong) “Bennett is the clear choice.”  – Ignorant Sluts’ Matt

“Any other characters need to come by to say goodbye? One more "Really?!" with Amy?” – The Team You Wish…’s Brian

“I don't really see one stand out sketch. The snowflake one is probably my favorite so far but I wouldn't put it on any 'best sketch' list.” – The Team You Wish…’s Brian

“By the way, let's talk about that Three Wise Guys sketch… I got nothing.” – Reclusive Peninsula’s Rob

“I think when (the Three Wise Guys sketch) was over, the show was over schedule by 17 minutes.” – Ignorant Sluts’ Matt

“For reference, last time Goodman hosted was November 2001. Three episodes post the famous Giuliani opener after September 11th. Meyers and Poehler's 4th episode. Four years before widescreen/HD.” – Reclusive Peninsula’s Rob

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY OVERALL STANDINGS (after Episode 39x09)