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

“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)

Stay in the conversation! Trivia Club would LOVE to hear feedback on Saturday Night Live Fantasy so far, either in the blogs comment section, on Trivia Club's facebook page or in our twitter feed. For now we'll be taking a week away to discuss, debate, and possibly trade amongst ourselves.

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...

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!