Minding the P’s & Q’s of SNL

QUALITY: Trivia Club would LOVE to hear feedback on the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League! Comment in the blog's comment section, on Trivia Club's facebook page or in our twitter feed. We want to hear from you, as we make our way through Season 40! LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Subscribe to us on iTUNES! Do the same on YouTube!

QUALITY: Mike Myers is never more at home, then when he’s on Saturday Night Live. Wayne’s World was seminal for a generation, and yes Austin Powers (more or less a character too big to simply be in a three minute sketch) is still a damn classic, realized even more when you see Dr. Evil after what feels like 20 years. It’s been too long you Dutch bastard!

PROBLEMATIC: No Kristen, put away the hat. No, not maracas. NO, DON’T DO THE SPLITS FOR A SECOND TIME! Also, Garth and Kat make me do this:

PROBLEMATIC: Why don’t we have an Amy Adams and Kate McKinnon romantic comedy out yet?! Something is wrong with the world!

PROBLEMATIC: One Direction, you are sorely lacking dance moves! I kid. Though they continue to not be my bag in the least, it’s at least reasonable to see why they’re as popular as they all, with their hair and tattoos and seemingly heart felt delivery. Keep up the… work work.

QUALITY: They do get into this more on our Deep Thoughts on SNL podcast but HOLY SHIT, that Serial parody though! Have we come so far that Fred Armisen famously (to me) wasn’t able to do his Ira Glass impersonation because Glass wasn’t famous enough but SERIAL is made into a beautifully rendered documentary show that makes you want to see that TV show?!

QUALITY: After we made that Adams/McKinnon rom-com, I need Rhys Thomas (Christmas Serial’s director) on a Serial documentary program, stat!

QUALITY: With very few flat spots (I’m looking at you weirdly long and over-stuffed Cuban Christmas, puppet Fidel won’t save you!), and not an awful lot of awkwardly past her SNL prime Kristin Wiig, a strong night of writing on the back end of a third show in a row (UNHEARD OF!) helps put Amy Adams in the top half of the season’s hosts so far! If you’re keeping score at home, it goes Bill Hader, Chris Pratt, Woody Harrelson, Martin Freeman, Amy Adams, Sarah Silverman, Jim Carrey, Cameron Diaz, James Franco, and Chris Rock in the Unofficial Host Power Rankings, or UHPR for short!

REPERTORY CAST

Taran Killam, 77 points

Kate McKinnon, 72 points

Kenan Thompson, 61 points

Bobby Moynihan, 52 points

Cecily Strong, 45 points

Aidy Bryant, 32 points

Jay Pharoah, 29 points

Vanessa Bayer, 14 points

FEATURED CAST

Kyle Mooney, 42 points

Sasheer Zamata, 20 points

Pete Davidson, 19 points

Beck Bennett, 15 points

Leslie Jones, 7 points

HOST

Amy Adams, 77 points

Kristen Wiig, 37 points

Mike Myers, 32 points

Fred Armisen, 30 points

REPERTORY LEAGUE

PARDO GROUP

THE FUTURE MRS. RANDY GOLDMAN - Leah

Taran Killam - 77

Sasheer Zamata - 20

Aidy Bryant - 32

Kristen Wiig - 37

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Night Changes & 2) Stockholm Syndrome

5 points - first song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 171

NATALIE PORTMAN'S DRY CLEANING - Sarah R

Kate McKinnon - 72

Bobby Moynihan - 52

Kyle Mooney - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 166

ISOLATE ARCHIPELAGO - Rob

Taran Killam - 77

Kenan Thompson - 61

Pete Davidson - 19

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Steal My Girl & 2) Night Changes

2 points - song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 159

BILLION DOLLAR MURRAYS - Russel

Cecily Strong - 45

Kenan Thompson - 61

Leslie Jones - 7

Fred Armisen - 30

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Night Changes & 2) Steal My Girl

5 points - first song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 148

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

Jay Pharoah - 29

Bobby Moynihan - 52

Pete Davidson - 19

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Night Changes & 2) Fool's Gold

5 points - first song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 105

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 72

Vanessa Bayer - 14

Beck Bennett - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Steal My Girl & 2) Night Changes

2 points - song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 103

THE NOT READY FOR FIRST PLACE PLAYERS - Kevin M

Jay Pharoah - 29

Cecily Strong - 45

Beck Bennett - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: No songs chosen.

2 points - Seth Rogen impersonation

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 91

KEYROCK, KHAN, & ASSOCIATES - Saad

Vanessa Bayer - 14

Aidy Bryant - 32

Kyle Mooney - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Steal My Girl & 2) Night Changes

2 points - song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 90

FEATURED LEAGUE

MCKAY GROUP

THE NIGHT CRAWLERZ - Kevin K

Taran Killam - 77

Jay Pharoah - 29

Beck Bennett - 15

Fred Armisen - 30

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Steal My Girl & 2) Night Changes

2 points - song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 153

PARDO ME - Hannah

Taran Killam - 77

Aidy Bryant - 32

Kyle Mooney - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 151

DAMIAN AND THE FELINE SOCIOPATHS - Andrew

Kate McKinnon - 72

Vanessa Bayer - 14

Kenan Thompson - 61

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Steal My Girl & 2) Night Changes

2 points - song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 149

DAN AKROYD RAGE - Mark

Kate McKinnon - 72

Bobby Moynihan - 52

Beck Bennett - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Night Changes & 2) Steal My Girl

5 points - first song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 144

FALLON IN LOVE - Johnny

Kenan Thompson - 61

Bobby Moynihan - 52

Pete Davidson - 19

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Night Changes & 2) Steal My Girl

5 points - first song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 137

SKANKY LITTLE PROSTITUTES - Mike

Aidy Bryant - 32

Cecily Strong - 45

Sasheer Zamata - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Steal My Girl & 2) Night Changes

2 points - song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 99

THE VONDRUKES - Samantha

Jay Pharoah - 29

Leslie Jones - 7

Cecily Strong - 45

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 81

FEY GROUP

THREE LEGGED JEANS - Lori

Kate McKinnon - 72

Bobby Moynihan - 52

Kenan Thompson - 61

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Night Changes & 2) Midnight Memories

5 points - first song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 190

SANTA'S MY BOYFRIEND - Megan

Taran Killam - 77

Cecily Strong - 45

Aidy Bryant - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Steal My Girl & 2) Night Changes

2 points - song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 156

MARTHA STEWART'S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: TOPLESS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - Robb

Taran Killam - 77

Vanessa Bayer - 14

Sasheer Zamata - 20

Kristen Wiig - 37

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Night Changes & 2) Steal My Girl

5 points - first song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 153

THE LAND SHARKS - Jason

Kate McKinnon - 72

Kyle Mooney - 42

Aidy Bryant - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: No songs chosen.

2 points - Seth Rogen impersonation

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 148

MY DOLL'S NAME IS JENNY - Doug

Vanessa Bayer - 14

Bobby Moynihan - 52

Kyle Mooney - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Night Changes & 2) Steal My Girl

5 points - first song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 113

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah C

Jay Pharoah - 29

Cecily Strong - 45

Beck Bennett - 15

MUSICAL GUEST - One Direction - SONGS: 1) Steal My Girl & 2) Night Changes

2 points - song

EPISODE TEN TOTAL 91

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY STANDINGS (after Episode 40x10)

FEATURED LEAGUE STANDINGS

Yes, the Featured League remains steady (though much tighter), with Fallon In Love making a two spot leap up the board an—

WHA, The Ignorant Sluts are no longer in first place in the Race for the Phil Hartman Trophy?! By the beard of Zeeeeus! Yes, with a strong night from her entire cast, as well as the second Kristen Wiig appearance of the season, The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman takes the lead atop the standings! Natalie Portman’s Dry Cleaning also continues a steady climb, into THIRD PLACE now! The Isolated Archipelago became the sole team this week without a host even being impersonated, let alone cameoing, or being picked, yet still stays in the hunt at fourth!

And SPEAKING of Host picks, The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman may only have until January 17^th to enjoy that top spot because our reigning Phil Hartman Trophy winner, The Ignorant Sluts, has attained a THIRD correct pick with Kevin Hart’s hosting being announced during this last episode! Congrats to The Ignorant Sluts, as well as Fallon In Love of the Featured League, on that Kevin Hart pick!

As noted above we will return in FOUR WEEKS time for more Saturday Night Live Fantasy League goodness, when Kevin Hart hosts joined by a Musical Guest to be determined! Check out Time Capsle, a new podcast by the people behind Deep Thoughts on SNL, which will touch on big moments of note happening in the world of pop culture! The first two episodes are on the finale of the Colbert Report and Sony Cancelling The Interview (featuring someone who has seen the film!), respectively.

You can also look forward to the year end Quarterly Awards from Trivia Club, catching up on all four quarters of 2014 and the excellent and interesting things you should be reading, watching, and listening to. And lastly, be on the look out for the first annual Trivia Club Comedy 100 finally debuting in January, and celebrating the best and brightest in the world of funny!

MERRY HO HO HO and a HAPPY NEW HART!

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 Lou Dawg's (76 Gerrard St E) on every other TUESDAY!