Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

QUALITY: SASHEER ZAMATA IS MICHELLE OBAMA! Seriously though, nice to see it finally happening (and before season 40), so we can start giving out reoccurring points NEXT time.

PROBLEMATIC: Vanessa Bayer may be the only person who could potentially do a perma-grinning Hilary Clinton, especially after Poehler’s tour de force of pent up aggression and frustration.

QUALITY: A wonderful, WEIRD episode, like the last few sketches of the night for the entire night… and a choice night of the writers too, with strong one-liners. I would put Charlize Theron in the top five hosts of the season and would even give her a look at #1, side-by-side with Drake. As the opening song went, of COURSE she can do comedy… but at least she still can’t sing.

PROBLEMATIC: You aren’t LISTENING to the Deep Thoughts on SNL podcast and you really should! The last episode was a hit, so jump on board! Connect to the Trivia Club Network and LISTEN to that Deep Thoughts on SNL podcast! LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Subscribe to us on iTUNES!

REPARATORY CAST

Cecily Strong, 70 points

Vanessa Bayer, 55 points

Taran Killam, 40 points

Kate McKinnon, 39 points

Bobby Moynihan, 35 points

Aidy Bryant, 30 points

Nasim Pedrad, 30 points

Kenan Thompson, 25 points

Jay Pharoah, 5 points

FEATURED CAST

Sasheer Zamata, 60 points

Mike O'Brien, 25 points

Beck Bennett, 20 points

Noel Wells, 20 points

Kyle Mooney, 10 points

Brooks Wheelan, 5 points

John Milhiser, DNP

EBERSOL GROUP

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 39

Cecily Strong - 70

Beck Bennett - 20

John Mihiser - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: 1) Fever & 2) Turn Blue

5 points - first song

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 134

DAN AYKROYD RAGE - Mark

Vanessa Bayer - 55

Bobby Moynihan - 35

Kyle Mooney - 10

Noel Wells - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 120

RECLUSIVE PENINSULA - Rob

Taran Killam - 40

Aidy Bryant - 30

Mike O' Brien - 25

Kyle Mooney - 10

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: 1) Fever & 2) Turn Blue

5 points - first song

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 110

FIVE TIMERS CLUB - Leah

Kenan Thompson - 25

Nasim Pedrad - 30

Mike O'Brien - 25

Beck Bennet - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: 1) Turn Blue & 2) Fever

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 100

EXTREME CLOSE-UP! - Jack

Jay Pharoah - 5

Brooks Wheelan - 5

Noel Wells  - 20

John Mihiser - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 30

DOUMANIAN GROUP

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

Kate McKinnon - 39

Cecily Strong - 70

Mike O' Brien - 25

Noel Wells - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: 1) Fever & 2) Turn Blue

5 points - first song

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 159

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 - 55

Beck Bennett - 20

John Mihiser - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: 1) Fever & 2) Turn Blue

5 points - first song

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 110

BILL BRASKY - Saad

Taran Killam - 40

Aidy Bryant - 30

Mike O'Brien - 25

John Mihiser - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 95

MILLION DOLLAR BILL MURRAYS - Russel

Bobby Moynihan - 35

Jay Pharoah - 5

Kyle Mooney - 10

Beck Bennett - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: 1) Fever & 2) Turn Blue

5 points - first song

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 75

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah

Kenan Thompson - 25

Brooks Wheelan - 5

Noel Wells - 20

Kyle Mooney - 10

MUSICAL GUEST - The Black Keys - SONGS: 1) Fever & 2) Turn Blue

5 points - first song

EPISODE TWENTY TOTAL 65

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY OVERALL STANDINGS (after Episode 39x19)

Things have gotten veeeery interesting, haven’t they? Very interesting indeed. This is the first week in recent memory where the standings didn’t change from one to ten, but what DID happen was the top three getting closer together. This is a very important point of order because, outside of another DNP (did not perform) from John Mihiser (and almost one from Jay Pharoah), The Ignorant Sluts are only 100 points away from victory AND they’ve got the final host of the season in Andy Samberg to further close on that same ground. Even The Team You Wish... is only 160 points off the of the lead, so the Million Dollar Bill Murrays could very well be in third place to end the season!

Ultimately there's something very unpredictable about Samberg the host, as he'll be the first host whose points are tallied, who is a returning cast member. This will no doubt put reoccurring characters and returning alumni at an all-time 'WATCH LIST'.

Before the Phil Hartman Trophy can be awarded next week however, we've got our ancillary championship, yes the head-to-head VERSUS CHAMPIONSHIP to award! You may have remembered that it was a battle of the underdogs, Suck It Trebek vs. Five Timers Club in the final. These two teams had defeated the entire slate of better performing overall teams... and it all came down to THIS.

Congratulations FIVE TIMERS CLUB for your expert timing and just the right amount of luck (all of it, all of the luck), that led you to the VERSUS CHAMPIONSHIP!

Next week this weird and wild experiment comes to an end, at least for Season 39. If anything I think all that has happened has proven that this is a fantasy league with legs, something that can only get better and BIGGER! But until then, next week and Andy Samberg with musical guest St. Vincent!

Well, HE seems very confident!