Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

QUALITY: We’re sticking with the compact format because ultimately, what are you hear for? FANTASY LEAGUE STATS! So we’re going to be giving you some quality quick hits and a general overview of the show and then jumping RIGHT into the numbers. For a more in-depth breakdown of the happenings from some quality personalities? LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Subscribe to us on iTUNES!

QUALITY: Seriously, are you listening to Deep Thoughts on SNL? You should. You really should. Rob and his cast of co-horts, Matt, Brian, Leah, and sometimes myself, Russel Harder (with the bow-tie and a smile), are big fans of quality comedy!

PROBLEMATIC: Listening to the great interview that Bobby Moynihan had with Andy Greenwald, I am legitimately worried about the health of Mr. Moynihan. He was an ACE in the Fantasy League earlier this year, and has dropped off ever since the Rob Ford sketch. BOBBY take care of yourself! I want you to be on SNL for as forever as you would like!

QUALITY: Louis C.K. as host, and the general writing of the show, was in the Top 3 with Drake and Jimmy Fallon, if not the best of the season so far! This is the Fantasy League approved opinion as well. The adventurous and fearless style of C.K.’s comedy certainly had something to do with both the wonderful (Black Jeopardy) and wonderfully weird (Pah-Ja-Mas) of the night. The only thing that suffered? Weekend Update. Though that’s just as much Jost still needing the rest of the this season to get into game shape, as it was Louis’s opening monologue taking a good five minutes or so from the show that Update might have otherwise used.

PROBLEMATIC: Tying a few things together, Moynihan brings up a very good point with the fact that Weekend Update is much like stand-up comedy. For the interviewees and for the hosts that interview them as well. That’s why Sandler and Fallon shone, why Norm was so good and why Colin Quinn wasn’t. And it’s why Jost is still a ways away from being a good Weekend Update host.

Jay Pharoah, 70 points

• 15 points - cold open
• 5 points - reoccurring (Obama)
• 5 points - dancing
• 5 points - kiss
• 20 points - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK...!"
• 5 points - sketch (Black Jeopardy)
• 10 points - Weekend Update
• 5 points - reoccurring (Stephen A. Smith)

Kate McKinnon, 65 points

• 15 points - cold open
• 5 points - reoccurring (Justin Beiber)
• 5 points - kiss
• 20 points - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK...!"
• 5 points - sketch (Mr. Big Stuff)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 10 points - digital short (Dyke & Fats)

Aidy Bryant, 52 points

• 15 points - cold open
• 5 points - sketch (Baby Boss)
• 5 points - sketch (Mr. Big Stuff)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 10 points - digital short (It's Better To Know)
• 10 points - digital short (Dyke & Fats)
• 2 points - sketch post-second song (Three Minutes)

Taran Killam, 45 points

• 15 points - cold open
• 20 points - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK...!"
• 10 points - commercial parody (Jos. A. Bank)

Nasim Pedrad, 30 points

• 5 points - promos
• 15 points - cold open
• 5 points - reoccurring (Kim Kardashian)
• 5 points - digital short NPC (Dyke & Fats)

Cecily Strong, 20 points

• 10 points - Weekend Update
• 5 points - sketch (Mr. Big Stuff)
• 5 points - singing/dancing

Kenan Thompson, 20 points

• 5 points - promos
• 5 points - sketch (Black Jeopardy)
• 10 points - digital short (It's Better To Know)

Vanessa Bayer, 15 points

• 10 points - commercial parody (Jos. A. Bank)
• 5 points - sketch (Pah-Ja-Mas)

Bobby Moynihan, 7 points

• 5 points - sketch (Pah-Ja-Mas)
• 2 points - sketch post-second song (Three Minutes)

Noel Wells, 45 points

• 15 points - cold open
• 20 points - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK...!"
• 10 points - commercial parody (Jos. A. Bank)

Kyle Mooney, 35 points

• 15 points - cold open
• 5 points - dancing
• 10 points - commercial parody (Jos. A. Bank)
• 5 points - post-second song digital short (Chris Fitz for Class Pres)

Beck Bennett, 25 points

• 5 points - sketch (Baby Boss)
• 5 points - reoccurring (Mr. Patterson)
• 10 points - digital short (It's Better To Know)
• 5 points - first cast member hugged

Brooks Wheelan, 20 points

• 15 points - cold open
• 5 points - sketch (Baby Boss)

Sasheer Zamata, 15 points

• 5 points - sketch (Black Jeopardy)
• 5 points - sketch (Mr. Big Stuff)
• 5 points - singing/dancing

Mike O'Brien, 10 points

• 10 points - digital short (It's Better To Know)

John Milhiser, 7 points

• 7 points - cold open NPC

Louis C.K., 43 points

• 2 points - sketch (Black Jeopardy)
• 2 points - sketch (Baby Boss)
• 2 points - sketch (Mr. Big Stuff)
• 5 points - dancing
• 10 points - digital short (It's Better To Know)
• 2 points - sketch (Pah-Ja-Mas)
• minus 2 points - breaks
• 10 points - digital short (Dyke & Fats)
• 2 points - sketch (Three Minutes)
• 10 points - hugs cast member first

EXTREME CLOSE-UP! - Jack

Jay Pharoah - 70

Brooks Wheelan - 20

Noel Wells - 45

John Mihiser - 7

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 142

RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - Rob

Taran Killam - 45

Aidy Bryant - 52

Mike O' Brien - 10

Kyle Mooney - 35

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 142

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 65

Cecily Strong - 20

Beck Bennett - 25

John Mihiser - 7

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS: 1) Money On My Mind & 2) Lay Me Down

10 points - second song

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 127

DAN AYKROYD RAGE - Mark

Vanessa Bayer - 15

Bobby Moynihan - 7

Kyle Mooney - 35

Noel Wells - 45

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS: 1) Money On My Mind & 2) Stay With Me

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 102

FIVE TIMERS CLUB - Leah

Kenan Thompson - 20

Nasim Pedrad - 30

Mike O'Brien - 10

Beck Bennet - 25

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 85

MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - Russel

Bobby Moynihan - 7

Jay Pharoah - 70

Kyle Mooney - 35

Beck Bennett - 25

Louis C.K. - 43

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 180

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

Kate McKinnon - 65

Cecily Strong - 20

Mike O' Brien - 10

Noel Wells - 45

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 140

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah

Kenan Thompson - 20

Brooks Wheelan - 20

Noel Wells - 45

Kyle Mooney - 35

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS:  1) Money On My Mind & 2) Lay Me Down

10 points - second song

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 130

BILL BRASKY - Saad

Taran Killam - 45

Aidy Bryant - 52

Mike O'Brien - 10

John Mihiser - 7

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS:  1) Money On My Mind & 2) Latch

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 114

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

Nasim Pedrad - 30

Vanessa Bayer - 15

Beck Bennett - 25

John Mihiser - 7

MUSICAL GUEST - Sam Smith - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE SIXTEEN TOTAL 77

IT’S SAAAATURDAY NIIIGHT QUOTES with the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League

“If we have to watch the same shitty commercial 75 times during the Super Bowl, the tradeoff is them not fucking this stuff up.” – IGNORANT SLUT’s Matt (on Global TV giving us Saturday Night Live sans audio)

“That’ll be one Russel quotes.”

“And now he’ll quote that too. And possibly this.”

“This is like those shitty jokes on sitcoms…” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA’s Rob & IGNORANT SLUT’s Matt

“That sketch had potential if you ignore the fact it depended on Kenan's ability to keep it moving.” – IGNORANT SLUT’s Matt (on Black Jeopardy)

“I'm just so glad it's back. Louis eating the cake bits. Nice touch.” – THE TEAM YOU WISH…’s Brian (on Baby Boss)

“So this song is gonna be in a bazillion romantic movies, right? Or at least the trailers?” – THE TEAM YOU WISH...'s Rob (on Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me”)

“Maybe it's just me, but for me this is the longest segment ever.”

“… shortest update ever?” – THE TEAM YOU WISH…’s Brian & RECLUSIVE PENINSULA’s Rob

“I did love that he set up "You're mopping carpet..."” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA’s Rob

“I don’t know what this is, but I love it. Arguing with myself whether just to name this sketch "Pa-jah-mas" in my notes.” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA’s Rob

“This is absolutely something Lorne probably said "I don't get this, but you guys can play this."” – RECLUSIVE PENINSULA’s Rob (on Chris Fitzpatrick)

“His enthusiasm at the closing! Infectious.” – THE TEAM YOU WISH…’s Brian

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY OVERALL STANDINGS (after Episode 39x16)

1. MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - 2, 444
2. THE IGNORANT SLUTS - 2, 318
3. THE TEAM YOU WISH YOU HADN'T STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH AT A PARTY - 2, 294
4. RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - 2, 153
5. BILL BRASKY - 2, 048
6. SUCK IT TREBEK - 2, 47
7. DAN AKROYD RAGE - 2, 041
8. FIVE TIMERS CLUB - 1, 936
9. YOU KNOW IT'S THE TEAM WITH THE HIGH-WAISTED MIDGETS THAT HAVE, LIKE, THE RED PANTS AND BIG ASS - 1, 744
10. EXTREME CLOSE-UP - 1, 737

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. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! 

The Million Dollar Bill Murrays expand their lead, due to the solid core of the roster that makes up for the second quiet week in a row for Bobby Moynihan. Kyle Mooney continues to prove wonderfully unpredictable and surprisingly able as an impressionist (the Pope?!), while Beck Bennett has nailed down his first classic character with Baby Boss, a perfect mix of strange physicality and his commanding voice.

Mihiser continues his quiet end to March, inevitably being the left out cast member in this the biggest cast of the show’s history. Thanks in part to Mihiser’s second quiet week, the Ignorant Sluts are STILL in second and our current third-place team The Team You Wish… seems to be gaining some ground. It looks like, with four to five episodes remaining in the season, either the Ignorant Sluts or The Team You Wish… (or with an outside chance, Reclusive Peninsula) will have to have one or more of their host prediction’s come through to take home the Phil Hartman Trophy.

Though seriously, I want it, it’s a thing of beauty.

On the topic of hosts, the next TWO weeks of show have been announced! Dan Akroyd Rage has the ability to jump into at LEAST fifth place with his host pick Anna Kendrick hosting on the April 5^th episode. This also gives me a chance to end an Anna Kendrick drought on the Trivia Club blog, that’s been a thing since the second edition of Ask Trivia Club! The week after that, on April 12^th is host Seth Rogen! Picked by no one, sure, but most assuredly enjoyed by everyone!