Saturday Night Live Fantasy League: Episode 39x11: Drake
January 19, 2014
Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL
QUALITY: Started from the bottom, now we here… SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE FANTASY LEAGUE now has its own PODCAST! Have you heard it? You
should hear it. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you’ll be able to enjoy
not only the Deep Thoughts on SNL from this episode, but all the way to the
mid-season of Season 39! Yes, last week. Thank you to Rob Moden of Reclusive
Peninsula the producer and host of this venture, along with Leah Sueko of Five
Timers Club, and Brian Edwards of The Team You Wish… who are doin’ pretty well.
ENJOY! There is more to come.
PROMLEMATIC: Of Taran Killam’s varied talents, I don’t
think his accents are the strongest. Still, what he lacks in the phonetics of
it he certainly gives Pierce Morgan an air of British twittiness, that he’s
earned. This opener is no different, but like all hosts not named Steve Harvey,
Killem’s Morgan isn’t the big joke he’s only in supply of the joke.
QUALITY: Bobby Moynihan as Chris Christie (New Jersey’s Rob
Ford, everyone!). THAT was one you knew you were going to see.
QUALITY: “I’m suing Jackie Robinson for breaking into the
Major Leagues, which really led to this whole situation, in the first place.”
Drake as Alex Rodriquez! The lips, well done with the lips. Promising detail
work in the cold open.
QUALITY: I didn’t know I needed Kate McKinnon as Justin
Bieber, until now. Sweet Jesus, that was amazing. You earned that “LIVE FROM
NEW YORK”, after a long break, Ms. McKinnon!
QUALITY: Speaking of the “LIVE FROM NEW YORK”, points for switching
it up and diving right into it without warning! Though it didn’t give the
audience much time to react I liked the quick shot from around Bieber poses.
QUALITY: This…
PROBLEMATIC: There’s something about this show, and the time
off, that I feel a LOT of QUALITY nods coming on tonight.
QUALITY: It’s small, but the pump in celebration of Degrassi
is weirdly fantastic.
PROBLEMATIC: YOLO. But thank you for the apology, Aubrey.
QUALITY: Opening monologue sketch! Wait, does this mean that
Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boy and Drake are brothers?
QUALITY: You have to enjoy the pride he takes not only in
Toronto, but also in his Judaism.
PROBLEMATIC: Wait, with a set-up like it had… Vanessa
Bayer’s representation of a Jewish mother was the most clichéd?
QUALITY: Speaking of surprising constraint, Sasheer makes
her first SNL appearance as quietly as possible, as Drake’s “Auntie” Ronda from
Memphis on the arm of Kenan (instead of Auntie Kim).
QUALITY: RAP SONG COUNT: 1! Extolling the greatness of being
both Jewish and Black, well played King of Castle YOLO.
PROBLEMATIC: Wait, I DO know that hat. Damn.
QUALITY: Hip Hop Classics: Before They Were Stars was an
interesting mix of video and sketch. It’s a fun concept, putting known rappers
(like Drake) into known shows of our youth, like Degrassi (shout out to
WHEELCHAIR JIMMY). Drake as Lil’ Wayne as Urkel was probably the best in a
slate of very good impression, wrapped within some on-point design and
production. Excellent sketch, especially for something that had the potential
for being overly long. Kyle Mooney as Joey Lawerence was suitably gonzo as
well.
QUALITY: Without saying a word, Sasheer Zamata killed it as
Rihanna while reaffirming my crush on her. For her humor and talent, of course. Also, that finger flick thing.
QUALITY: “Give her your coat, give her your coat,
giveheryourcoat…”
QUALITY: “Who’s taking care of the babies?” Noel Wells as
Nancy Grace! I’m not as much excited about it being Nancy Grace, as I am Noel’s
strong impersonation skills already putting her in this position to be a talk
show host with a good potential reoccurring character (or, the Saturday Night
Live Special). Not bad for a Featured Player.
PROBLEMATIC: McKinnon’s “I am the one who knocks” has
diminishing returns the second
time around this season.
QUALITY: Wells’ Grace was pretty nicely formed, but it led
to even better character work from Drake with the Katt Williams character…
because WOW, that’s how I’m able to not only stand but be entertained by
Williams. When he’s played by Drake.
QUALITY: The slick cool production of the
“Resolution/Revolution” digital short continues Sasheer Zamata’s on-point introduction to the show. She may have the highest point total of any Featured
Player yet this season, in a single episode, when all is said and done toni—
QUALITY: Donuts.
QUALITY: RAP SONG COUNT: 2! Aside from the 2014 time stamp
at the start of this video, this sketch turned itself into one of those
ever-green classics and damn it’s catchy as heeeell. Hurray for smashed Drake!
PROBLEMATIC: Wait, no more cosplay? But it looks like so
much fun! “Lightning strike!”
QUALITY: Oh hey Cecily Strong and Baby Aidy! I was wondering
if you were here! Aidy Bryant how I’ve missed your style of comedy, that is
only yours on this show.
QUALITY: “Okay, my dad is 78 and he looks like a hamburger
with eyes.” The ever quotable Aidy Bryant!
PROBLEMATIC: And only problematic because I can’t properly
put into words what happened on that beanbag chair. “Yeah, take me for a ride!”
QUALITY: RAP SONG COUNT: 4! The double-feature for the first
song position was an interesting use of all those singles, Drizzy. Also, points
for a simple production values while giving us something new, going RED and
adding a swooping camera angle.
QUALITY/PROBLEMATIC: A good Weekend Update, nothing
stand-out, but otherwise entertaining. Seriously though, suck it Missouri.
QUALITY: I will say, thinking that it was going to be Kate
McKinnon, I enjoyed Vanessa Bayer’s really slowly moving, overly-touchy,
Jaqueline Bisset. Quality joke.
QUALITY: As the bus boy said to the waiter, “Chris Christy
is already finished!”
QUALITY: The dog’s half-smoked cigarette might be my sleeper
highlight of the night, bravo SNL photoshop crew!
PROBLEMATIC: Damn it, now I can’t stop thinking about Mike O’Brien’s penis after that mountain bike shout-out!
PROBLEMATIC: More worrisome? That was O’Brien’s screen-time
tonight, ladies and gents!
QUALITY: Drake’s energy is amazing, he’s been on-point,
really jumping into each sketch. Especially when it comes to this Indiana Jones
sketch, featuring Nasim Pedrad’d Rahad.
QUALITY: Balls in the face, never not funny.
QUALITY: Oh wait, there’s Mike! Nice… beard?
QUALITY: Nasim is SELLING it on the physicality, even if she
missed the timing on that bolder.
PROBLEMATIC: Still not sure what to think about Vanessa
Bayer’s poetry teacher, okay? Is she alright? And this is only one of a FEW
similarities between Drake’s episode and the Cyrus episode!
QUALITY: I can’t stay meh on this sketch, when it DOES sound
like someone is punching a dolphin! Way to power through to the end, O’Brien!
QUALITY: RAP SONG COUNT: 6! That certainly killed the over
of the night’s over/under, with all of them considerably entertaining. Dark
blue on the all-black background doesn’t have the same kick as the first song
compilation, but our second double-feature of the night still had a great
slowed-down charm to it. Drake knows it’s near past 1am and you’re watching
this in bed, folks.
QUALITY: “Tell Lorne he can cut to commercial break love…”
SO MUCH QUALITY: Mornin’ Miami is back! Seriously, there’s
nothing I can write that will add to this, just watch it.
QUALITY: The Good Neighbor team brings us another weird, yet
curiously heart-felt digital short. They’re far too strange to ever reach the
heights of Lonely Island, but entertaining none the less.
QUALITY: DRAKE! Giving the hug to Sasheer at the end of the
night, deservedly as she had an excellent first show, caps off an excellent
show for Drizzy. A lot of really great sketches tonight, with no real sour
spots. Drake, as the host, was high energy, and was always game throughout the
night. I may be riding the high of thoroughly enjoying tonight’s festivities
but October’s Very Own is getting the number ONE spot on the host Power
Rankings this season. Bravo, to the Toronto Raptor’s Global Ambassador!
REPARATORY CAST
Kate McKinnon, 77 points
- 15 points - cold open
- 20 points - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK"
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 5 points - singing
- 5 points - sketch (Nancy Grace)
- 5 points - sketch (DILF)
- 5 points - dancing
- 2 points - sketch post-second song (Mornin' Miami)
- 5 points - reoccurring (Lena)
- 5 points - singing/twerking
Vanessa Bayer, 64 points
- 10 points - opening monologue
- 5 points - dancing
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 5 points - sketch (DILF)
- 10 points - Weekend Update
- 5 points - sketch (Detention Poetry)
- 5 points - reoccurring (Ms. Meadows)
- 5 points - causes breaking
- 2 points - musical guest intro
- 2 points - sketch, post-second song (Mornin' Miami)
- 5 points - reoccurring (Producer)
Taran Killam, 50 points
- 15 points - cold open
- 5 points - reoccurring (Pierce Morgan)
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 5 points - reoccurring (Eminem)
- 10 points - digital short (Resolution/Revolution)
- 5 points - singing/dancing
Kenan Thompson, 49 points
- 10 points - opening monologue
- 5 points - dancing
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 5 points - reoccurring (Sway, Rick Ross, Flava Fav)
- 5 points - dancing
- 2 points - musical guest intro
- 2 points - sketch NPC (Indiana Rahad)
- 5 points - sketch (Detention Poetry)
- 5 points - reoccurring
Jay Pharoah, 47 points
- 5 points - promos
- 10 points - opening monologue
- 5 points - dancing
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 2 points - swearing
- 10 points - digital short (Resolution/Revolution)
- 5 points - singing/dancing
Nasim Pedrad, 45 points
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 5 points - dancing
- 5 points - sketch (DILF)
- 5 points - dancing
- 10 points - Weekend Update
- 5 points - reoccurring (Arianna Huffington)
- 5 points - sketch (Indiana Rahad)
Bobby Moynihan, 34 points
- 5 points - promos
- 15 points - cold open
- 5 points - reoccurring (Chris Christie)
- 2 points - sketch post-second song (Mornin' Miami)
- 5 points - reoccurring (B.F.)
- 2 points - Swearing "Go shove it up your ass..."
Aidy Bryant, 24 points
- 5 points - sketch (DILF)
- 4 points - swearing ("My mom's a bitch!" x2)
- 5 points - dancing
- 5 points - sketch (Detention Poetry)
- 5 points - reoccurring
Cecily Strong, 20 points
- 5 points - sketch (DILF)
- 5 points - dancing
- 10 points - Weekend Update
FEATURED CAST
Sasheer Zamata, 65 points
- 10 points - opening monologue
- 5 points - dancing
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 5 points - dancing
- 10 points - digital short (Resolution/Revolution)
- 5 points - singing/dancing
- 5 points - sketch (DILF)
- 5 points - dancing
- 5 points - sketch (Detention Poetry)
- 5 points - host hug
Kyle Mooney, 35 points
- 10 points - opening monologue
- 5 points - dancing
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 5 points - dancing
- 5 points - digital short post-second song (i know)
Noel Wells, 30 points
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 5 points - singing
- 5 points - sketch (Nancy Grace)
- 5 points - sketch (DILF)
- 5 points - dancing
Brooks Wheelan, 25 points
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 5 points - sketch (Indiana Rahad)
- 5 points - sketch (Detention Poetry)
- 5 points - reoccurring
Beck Bennett, 17 points
- 10 points - sketch/video (Hip Hop Classics)
- 2 points - sketch NPC (Indiana Rahad)
- 5 points - digital short post-second song (i know)
Mike O'Brien, 10 points
- 2 points - sketch NPC (Indiana Rahad)
- 5 points - sketch (Detention Poetry)
- 5 points - reoccurring
- -2 points - breaking
John Milhiser, 5 points
- 5 points - sketch (Detention Poetry)
EBERSOL GROUP
DAN AYKROYD RAGE - Mark
Vanessa Bayer - 64
Bobby Moynihan - 34
Kyle Mooney - 35
Noel Wells - 30
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) Wu Tang Forever & 2)
Hold On, We're Going Home
10 points - second song
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 173
EXTREME CLOSE-UP! - Jack
Jay Pharoah - 47
Brooks Wheelan - 25
Noel Wells - 30
John Mihiser - 5
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) Started From The Bottom
& 2) Hold On, We're Going Home
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 122
FIVE TIMERS CLUB - Leah
Kenan Thompson - 49
Nasim Pedrad - 45
Mike O'Brien - 10
Beck Bennet - 17
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) Hold On, We're Going Home
& 2) Wu Tang Forever
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 121
THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt
Kate McKinnon - 77
Cecily Strong - 20
Beck Bennett - 17
John Mihiser - 5
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) Hold On, We're Going Home
& 2) Too Much
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 119
RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - Rob
Taran Killam - 50
Aidy Bryant - 24
Mike O' Brien - 10
Kyle Mooney - 35
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) Hold On, We're Going
Home & 2) The Language
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 119
DOUMANIAN GROUP
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE TEAM THE HIGH-WASITED MIDGETS THAT HAVE,
LIKE, THE RED PANTS AND THE BIG ASS - Kevin
Nasim Pedrad - 45
Vanessa Bayer - 64
Beck Bennett - 17
John Mihiser - 5
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) Started From The Bottom
& 2) Hold On, We're Going Home
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 146
SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah
Kenan Thompson - 49
Brooks Wheelan - 25
Noel Wells - 30
Kyle Mooney - 30
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) Hold On, We're Going Home
& 2) From Time
10 points - second song
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 144
MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - Russel
Bobby Moynihan - 34
Jay Pharoah - 47
Kyle Mooney - 35
Beck Bennett - 17
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) Pound Cake & 2) Hold
On, We're Going Home
10 points - second song
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 143
THE TEAM YOU WISH YOU HADN'T STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH AT
A PARTY - Brian
Kate McKinnon - 77
Cecily Strong - 20
Mike O' Brien - 10
Noel Wells - 30
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) The Language & 2) Too
Much
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 137
BILL BRASKY - Saad
Taran Killam - 50
Aidy Bryant - 24
Mike O'Brien - 10
John Mihiser - 5
MUSICAL GUEST - Drake - SONGS: 1) Wu Tang Forever & 2)
Hold On, We're Going Home
10 points - second song
EPISODE ELEVEN TOTAL 99
IT'S SATURDAY NIIIGHT QUOTES with the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League
“Moynihan as Chris Christie is fantastic. McKinnon as Bieber
is PERFECTION.” – THE TEAM YOU WISH…’s Brian
“The bar mitzvah is great. DJ Mordecai Jones. haha” – THE
TEAM YOU WISH…’s Brian
“Drake is so friggin charming!!” – FIVE-TIMERS CLUB’s Leah
“Shouldn't Keenan be better at reading cue cards? He's super
stilted.” – THE TEAM YOU WISH…’s Brian
“B'Lossom needs to be full sketch.” – THE TEAM YOU WISH…’s
Brian
“Drake's won me over already. His Katt Williams is energetic.”
– RECLUSIVE PENINSULA’s Rob
“Yes! An all girl sketch. Exactly what I hoped for.” – THE
TEAM YOU WISH…’s Brian
“Shout out to Mike O'Brien's penis.” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA’s
Rob
“Halloween costume idea: Indiana Rahan.”
“Prize for most obscure costume of the decade would be yours
in a lock.”
“I’ll take it!” – THE TEAM YOU WISH’s Brian & RECLUSIVE
PENINSULA’s Rob
“I’d pay good money to hear Kate McKinnon’s rendition of
Total Eclipse of the Heart.” – BILL BRASKY’s Saad
PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY OVERALL STANDINGS (after Episode 39x11)
- THE TEAM YOU WISH YOU HADN'T STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH AT A PARTY - 1, 620
- THE IGNORANT SLUTS - 1, 600
- MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - 1, 579
- DAN AKROYD RAGE - 1, 520
- SUCK IT TREBEK - 1, 504
- RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - 1, 470
- BILL BRASKY - 1, 438
- FIVE TIMERS CLUB - 1, 344
- EXTREME CLOSE-UP - 1, 211
- YOU KNOW IT'S THE TEAM WITH THE HIGH-WAISTED MIDGETS THAT HAVE, LIKE, THE RED PANTS AND BIG ASS - 1, 195
The Team You Wish…
continues to lead the pints standings, in the race for the Phil Hartman Trophy,
having taken the lead on the Christmas show, only to widen there lead on
tonight’s episode with the continued impressively consistently performance of
Kate McKinnon, and a strong Featured roster.
Speaking of strong Featured Cast, Sasheer Zamata in her
first show, takes the crown as the highest point getting Featured Cast member in a single episode so far this season. Heck, she was #2 OVERALL for this entire show! Whether this will continue to be the case remains to be
seen, as all of the Featured Cast members who were new at the top of the season
had a higher then average first show. This isn’t to take away from the strong
performance from Zamata who was also exceptionally watchable in this episode,
even proving to have a habit for wearing shorts (a stray observation).
Next week has Jonah Hill as the host, who is hosting ONCE
AGAIN after he’s been nominated for an Oscar. I have nothing else to add on
Bastille, as Musical Guest. Though I’m sure they’ll be fun. Jonah Hill looks to
be a enjoyable, well-meaning individual whose sincerity is up for debate if
This Is The End was to be believed, then again… well you know what happened
during the movie I suspect (if you’re here) so believability is a on a sliding
scale and Jonah Hill has proven to be an affable host who will no doubt rank
somewhere between Rudd and Goodman this season.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Have you heard about it, we’re doing
a podcast for the SNL Fantasy League now! And by we I mean championed by, and
hosted by, the wonderful Rob Moden, alongside Brian Edwards and Leah Sueko. I
will be popping in from time-to-time, but Trivia Club’s is a growing empire and
I trust Rob, Brian, and Leah, so enjoy your time with THEM most of all. The
episode of Deep Thoughts on SNL talking about Drake’s hosting appearance will
be up quite soon indeed.
See you next week, where I can only expect a big show from Kyle Mooney after THIS happened last time...
We still don't know who the monkey man is (yes we do)... |
Russel Harder hosts Trivia Club at Cardinal Rule (5 Roncesvalles Ave) every WEDNESDAY, at Hitch (1216 Queen St East) every SECOND and FOURTH MONDAY of the month, and Handlebar (159 Augusta Ave) on the FIRST TUESDAY of every month!
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