Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

QUALITY: Kate McKinnon’s cold open as Hillary Clinton, technically a reoccurring spot since she DID play Clinton in what was mostly Vanessa Bayer’s swan song as the defacto Democratic Presidential nominee, in the Miley Cyrus hosted episode of season 39… that not only make McKinnon the new Clinton go-to,  but locks her in for the next year or five, right?

PROBLEMATIC: Between Clinton going to Kate (who was fantastic Monday night during Toronto’s 10^th annual Sketch Fest by the way), and Bayer only showing up for 10 to 1 sketch, this really feels like the final season for the best smile in the biz, no? Here’s hoping the new Amy Schumer/Apatow joint gives her a good corner as a solid best friend casting choice in romantic comedies.

QUALITY: If you’re looking to objectify the Sexiest Man Alive with the best of ‘em, check out our podcast. Chris Hemsworth had a solid night as host, involving the requisite Thor cameo, as well as a selection of sketches that play nicely off his currently appreciated hotness. He certainly joins Pratt as another Marvel-certified Chris in the Top Five of our Unofficial Host Power Rankings in this 40^th season!
PROBLEMATIC: We can never get enough feedback! Hearing from you helps not only us improve, and feel awesome, but it also puts more eyes on the kind of things that you enjoy! 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: It was a combination of solid guests, as per usual, and finally talking with one another and acknowledging the jokes around them… and even TEAMING UP on a running joke, for the first time in their run together… but Jost and Che were better then they’ve ever been on the Weekend Update desk. Of course it helped that Jost made a memorable flub, with the now infamous ’36 inches’ line. Bravo, Season Best, so far!

Kate McKinnon, 75 points

• 5 points - promos
• 7 points - cold open
• 5 points - reoccurring (Hillary Clinton)
• 10 points - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK...!"
• 10 points - monologue
• 5 points - sketch (The Iggy Azalea Show)
• 5 points - rapping/dancing
• 18 points - swearing ("bitches" x2, "ass" x7)
• 5 points - sketch (Soap Opera)
• 5 points - crying

Cecily Strong, 50 points

• 10 points - monologue
• 3 points - sketch voice-over (American Express)
• 5 points - sketch (Brother 2 Brother)
• 5 points - sketch (Chicken Captain)
• 2 points - swearing ("such a bitch")
• 7 points - Weekend Update
• 5 points - reoccurring (The Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started A Conversation With At A Party)
• 5 points - sketch (Avengers Defeat Ultron)
• 3 points - post-song sketch (Dolce and Gabbaba)
• 5 points - reoccurring

Kenan Thompson, 27 points

• 10 points - monologue
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Empire)
• 5 points - sketch (Chicken Captain)
• 5 points - sketch (Soap Opera)

Taran Killam, 25 points

• 5 points - sketch (Brother 2 Brother)
• 5 points - crying
• 3 points - sketch voice-over (Chicken Captain)
• 5 points - sketch (Avengers Defeat Ultron)
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (So You Think You Can Live With Brian)

Jay Pharoah, 17 points

• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Empire)
• 5 points - sketch (The Iggy Azalea Show)
• 5 points - sketch (Avengers Defeat Ultron)

Bobby Moynihan, 15 points

• 10 points - monologue
• 5 points - sketch (Avengers Defeat Ultron)

Vanessa Bayer, 13 points

• 3 points - post-song sketch (Dolce and Gabbaba)
• 5 points - reoccurring
• 5 points - host hug

Aidy Bryant, 5 points

• 5 points - sketch (Brother 2 Brother)

Leslie Jones, 36 points

• 5 points - promos
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Empire)
• 2 points - swearing (blurred middle finger)
• 7 points - Weekend Update
• 5 points - reoccurring as Herself
• 10 points - swearing ("frosty ass", "killin' a bitch", "bitches" x3)

Sasheer Zamata, 34 points

• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (American Express)
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Empire)
• 5 points - sketch (Chicken Captain)
• 5 points - sketch (The Iggy Azalea Show)
• 5 points - dancing
• 5 points - sketch (Soap Opera)

Kyle Mooney, 24 points

• 10 points - monologue
• 5 points - sketch (Brother 2 Brother)
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (So You Think You Can Live With Brian)
• 2 points - swearing ("sh*t")

Beck Bennett, 14 points

• 5 points - sketch (Avengers Defeat Ultron)
• 7 points - pre-taped sketch (So You Think You Can Live With Brian)
• 2 points - swearing ("f*ck")

Pete Davidson, 10 points

• 5 points - sketch (Brother 2 Brother)
• 5 points - sketch (Avengers Defeat Ultron)

Chris Hemsworth, 86 points

• 10 points - pre-taped sketch (American Express)
• 5 points - sketch (Brother 2 Brother)
• 10 points - pre-taped sketch (Empire)
• 5 points - sketch (Chicken Captain)
• 5 points - sketch (The Iggy Azalea Show)
• 5 points - dancing/rapping
• 5 points - sketch (Avengers Defeat Ultron)
• 5 points - kiss
• 5 points - dancing
• 5 points - sketch (Soap Opera)
• 10 points - pre-taped sketch (So You Think You Can Live With Brian)
• 5 points - singing/dancing
• 4 points - swearing ("f*ck" x2)
• 5 points - sketch (Dolce and Gabbaba)
• 2 points - embraces guest first

Liam Hemsworth, 10 points

• 10 points - monologue

BILLION DOLLAR MURRAYS - Russel

Cecily Strong - 50

Kenan Thompson - 27

Leslie Jones - 36

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Heavy Is The Head

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 128

NATALIE PORTMAN'S DRY CLEANING - Sarah R

Kate McKinnon - 75

Bobby Moynihan - 15

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Heavy Is The Head & 2) Homegrown

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 118

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 75

Vanessa Bayer - 13

Beck Bennett - 14

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Heavy is the Head & 2) Homegrown

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 106

THE NOT READY FOR FIRST PLACE PLAYERS - Kevin M

Jay Pharoah - 17

Cecily Strong - 50

Beck Bennett - 14

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Heavy Is The Head

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 96

THE FUTURE MRS. RANDY GOLDMAN - Leah

Taran Killam - 25

Sasheer Zamata - 34

Aidy Bryant - 5

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Heavy Is The Head & 2) Homegrown

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 68

ISOLATED ARCHIPELAGO - Rob

Taran Killam - 25

Kenan Thompson - 27

Pete Davidson - 10

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Free

5 points - first song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 67

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

Jay Pharoah - 17

Bobby Moynihan - 15

Pete Davidson - 10

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Mango Tree

5 points - first song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 47

KEYROCK, KHAN, & ASSOCIATES - Saad

Vanessa Bayer - 13

Aidy Bryant - 5

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 42

FEATURED LEAGUE

DAMIAN AND THE FELINE SOCIOPATHS - Andrew

Kate McKinnon - 75

Vanessa Bayer - 13

Kenan Thompson - 27

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Heavy Is The Head

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 130

DAN AKROYD RAGE - Mark

Kate McKinnon - 75

Bobby Moynihan - 15

Beck Bennett - 14

Liam Hemsworth - 10

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Heavy Is The Head

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 129

SKANKY LITTLE PROSTITUTES - Mike

Aidy Bryant - 5

Cecily Strong - 50

Sasheer Zamata - 34

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Heavy Is The Head

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 104

THE VONDRUKES - Samantha

Jay Pharoah - 17

Leslie Jones - 36

Cecily Strong - 50

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 103

FALLON IN LOVE - Johnny

Kenan Thompson - 27

Bobby Moynihan - 15

Pete Davidson - 10

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Heavy Is The Head & 2) Homegrown

2 points - song

2 points - song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 56

THE NIGHT CRAWLERZ - Kevin K

Taran Killam - 25

Jay Pharoah - 17

Beck Bennett - 14

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 56

PARDO ME - Hannah

Taran Killam - 25

Aidy Bryant - 5

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 54

THREE LEGGED JEANS - Lori

Kate McKinnon - 75

Bobby Moynihan - 15

Kenan Thompson - 27

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Heavy Is The Head

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 132

THE LAND SHARKS - Jason

Kate McKinnon - 75

Kyle Mooney - 24

Aidy Bryant - 5

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 104

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah C

Jay Pharoah - 17

Cecily Strong - 50

Beck Bennett - 14

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Heavy Is The Head

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 96

SANTA'S MY BOYFRIEND - Megan

Taran Killam - 25

Cecily Strong - 50

Aidy Bryant - 5

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Heavy Is The Head

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 95

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

Taran Killam - 25

Vanessa Bayer - 13

Sasheer Zamata - 34

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Dress Blues

5 points - first song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 77

MY DOLL'S NAME IS JENNY - Doug

Vanessa Bayer - 13

Bobby Moynihan - 15

Kyle Mooney - 24

MUSICAL GUEST - Zac Brown Band - SONGS: 1) Homegrown & 2) Heavy Is The Head

5 points - first song

10 points - second song

EPISODE FIFTEEN TOTAL 67

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY STANDINGS (after Episode 40x15)

1. The Ignorant Sluts - 1, 911
2. Natalie Portman's Dry Cleaning - 1, 903
3. Billion Dollar Murrays - 1, 828
4. The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman - 1, 822
5. Isolated Archipelago - 1, 813
6. The Team You Wish You Hadn't Started A Conversation With At A Party - 1, 711
7. The Not Ready For First Place Players - 1, 680
8. Keyrock, Khan, & Associates - 1, 447

FEATURED LEAGUE STANDINGS

1. Three Legged Jeans - 2, 067
2. Santa's My Boyfriend - 1, 904
3. Dan Akroyd Rage - 1, 860
4. Damian and the Feline Sociopaths - 1, 839
5. The Night Crawlerz - 1, 833
6. Martha Stewat's Home for the Holidays: Topless Christmas Special - 1, 791
7. The Land Sharks - 1, 781
8. Pardo Me - 1, 740
9. Fallon In Love - 1, 736
10. The Vondrukes - 1, 690
11. Skanky Little Prostitutes - 1, 662
12. Suck It Trebek - 1, 641
13. My Doll's Name is Jenny - 1, 581

Bolstered by the continued strong run by Kate McKinnon, Three Legged Jeans have further solidified their spot atop of the Featured League, and the Race for the Gilded Radner!  The biggest jump in the standings came from Dan Akroyd Rage, who moved into third.

Also moving into third place of the Repertory League thanks in part to a strong night from Leslie Jones, were the Billion Dollar Murrays, who have slowly climbed up from the bottom half of the original eight to truly make the current top five of the Chase for the Phil Hartman Trophy truly any teams prize! This isn’t to take away from The Ignorant Sluts however, reigning Champions and the team that defeated Murray last year by 42 points on the final episode, who STILL hold on to that number one spot as we enter into the final quarter of the season! Yes, with an EIGHT point lead, the Ignorant Sluts are still holding back Natalie Portman’s Dry Cleaning!

We still don’t know who will host the next episode, or when it will be quite yet… but there ARE plans for a season finale party for this the 40^th Season of SNL… LIVE in TORONTO! More details will be made available, as things come together, but clear your calendar for a fun Saturday night to take place in mid-May, at the Canadian home of the Second City!

See you SOON for another edition of our Fantasy League Breakdown of this our home to the ultimate comedy nerd. Enjoy the podcasts! Enjoy our videos! Come on down to a Trivia Club live event if you’re in the city!

Hey, speaking of excellent comedy things to look forward to! THIS IS HAPPENING!

Comment in the blog's comment section, on Trivia Club's facebook page or in our twitter feed! LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Subscribe to us on iTUNES! Do the same on YouTube! Seriously, the more you like us the better we are at this.