Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL

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PROBLEMATIC: Scarlett Johansson wasn’t given a lot to do for the first half hour of the show. From a weak opening monologue (really, more musical numbers?), to throw away rolls within the sketches, you have to wonder if Black Widow: Age of Me is as much a commentary on how SNL is able to use strong female performers, as Marvel.

QUALITY: Speaking of Black Widow: Age of Me! There’s your highlight sketch of the night, with some amazing details (Thor’s bow-tie, and “I’m sorry” written in fire on the side of a building, the trailer’s soundtrack), to help drive home just how unsubtle a romcom could be.

QUALITY: Weekend Update is rounding into shape, in these last few episodes of the season. Che and Jost are not only working together, but even Jost has found more dimension as a performer. Che still seems a season out at least, however, it terms of being comfortable or relatable as a performer.

PROBLEMATIC: With two black women on the cast, and only one of them in ONE sketch appearance, you have to wonder if either scheduling got in the way (Sasheer didn’t appear to be in attendance) or sketches are being maneuvered for the final two shows of the season.

PROBLEMATIC: Scarlett Johansson didn’t really make an impact on this show, on a night that belonged more to Taran Killam then any other performer. She didn’t do poorly, there just wasn’t anything memorable, in hindsight. Her high point performance-wise, was likely the Virgin Atlantic sketch. So on the Unofficial Host Power Rankings, she falls somewhere below Cameron Diaz and Jim Carrey.

REPERTORY CAST

Taran Killam, 69 points

Kate McKinnon, 61 points

Kenan Thompson, 61 points

Jay Pharoah, 53 points

Bobby Moynihan, 44 points

Aidy Bryant, 42 points

Cecily Strong, 41 points

Vanessa Bayer, 22 points

FEATURED CAST

Beck Bennett, 32 points

Pete Davidson, 20 points

Leslie Jones, 7 points

Kyle Mooney, 3 points

Sasheer Zamata, Did Not Participate

HOST

Scarlett Johansson, 62 points

REPERTORY LEAGUE

PARDO GROUP

ISOLATED ARCHIPELAGO - Rob

Taran Killam - 69

Kenan Thompson - 61

Pete Davidson - 20

Scarlett Johansson - 62

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: 1) See You Again & 2) Go Hard or Go Home

5 points - first song

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 217

THE NOT READY FOR FIRST PLACE PLAYERS - Kevin M

Jay Pharoah - 53

Cecily Strong - 41

Beck Bennett - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: 1) See You Again & 2) Go Hard or Go Home

5 points - first song

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 131

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt

Kate McKinnon - 61

Vanessa Bayer - 22

Beck Bennett - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: 1) See You Again & 2) Go Hard or Go Home

5 points - first song

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 120

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

Jay Pharoah - 53

Bobby Moynihan - 44

Pete Davidson - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 117

THE FUTURE MRS. RANDY GOLDMAN - Leah

Taran Killam - 69

Sasheer Zamata - 0

Aidy Bryant - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 111

KEYROCK, KHAN, & ASSOCIATES - Saad

Vanessa Bayer - 22

Aidy Bryant - 42

Kyle Mooney - 3

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 67

FEATURED LEAGUE

MCKAY GROUP

THE NIGHT CRAWLERZ - Kevin K

Taran Killam - 69

Jay Pharoah - 53

Beck Bennett - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: 1) See You Again & 2) Good For Us

5 points - first song

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 159

DAMIAN AND THE FELINE SOCIOPATHS - Andrew

Kate McKinnon - 61

Vanessa Bayer - 22

Kenan Thompson - 61

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: 1) See You Again & 2) Good For Us

5 points - first song

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 149

DAN AKROYD RAGE - Mark

Kate McKinnon - 61

Bobby Moynihan - 44

Beck Bennett - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 137

FALLON IN LOVE - Johnny

Kenan Thompson - 61

Bobby Moynihan - 44

Pete Davidson - 20

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 125

PARDO ME - Hannah

Taran Killam - 69

Aidy Bryant - 42

Kyle Mooney - 3

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 114

THE VONDRUKES - Samantha

Jay Pharoah - 53

Leslie Jones - 7

Cecily Strong - 41

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 101

SKANKY LITTLE PROSTITUTES - Mike

Aidy Bryant - 42

Cecily Strong - 41

Sasheer Zamata - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: 1) See You Again & 2) So High

5 points - first song

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 83

FEY GROUP

SANTA'S MY BOYFRIEND - Megan

Taran Killam - 69

Cecily Strong - 41

Aidy Bryant - 42

Scarlett Johansson - 62

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: 1) See You Again & 2) Go Hard or Go Home

5 points - first song

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 219

THREE LEGGED JEANS - Lori

Kate McKinnon - 61

Bobby Moynihan - 44

Kenan Thompson - 61

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: 1) See You Again & 2) Talk About It In The Morning

5 points - first song

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 171

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah C

Jay Pharoah - 53

Cecily Strong - 41

Beck Bennett - 32

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 126

THE LAND SHARKS - Jason

Kate McKinnon - 61

Kyle Mooney - 3

Aidy Bryant - 42

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 106

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

Taran Killam - 69

Vanessa Bayer - 22

Sasheer Zamata - 0

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: No songs chosen.

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 91

MY DOLL'S NAME IS JENNY - Doug

Vanessa Bayer - 22

Bobby Moynihan - 44

Kyle Mooney - 3

MUSICAL GUEST - Wiz Khalifa - SONGS: 1) See You Again & 2) Talk About It In The Morning

5 points - first song

EPISODE NINETEEN TOTAL 74

PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY STANDINGS (after Episode 40x19)

FEATURED LEAGUE STANDINGS for the GILDED RADNER

Yes, The Ignorant Sluts are STILL in first place. I don’t know about you kids, but I think Matt could still walk away with the Phil Hartman Trophy. The Isolated Archipelago did make some big moves in the right direction however with a strong performance from his cast, as well as host points from ScarJo. It wasn’t enough to bring IA into first place, but the riff on the Lonely Island did jump from fourth place to within four points of the top spot.

Speaking of jumping into that runner-up spot, Santa’s My Boyfriend DID regain familiar footing, passing Damian and the Feline Sociopaths, moving within the 300 point range of Three Legged Jeans and there iron-fist reign atop the Feature League.

NEXT WEEK, however, Damian and the Feline Sociopaths have drafted Reese Witherspoon in the Prospectus Host Draft, and thus are within range to retake the number two spot if not more, before the end of the season! And speaking of making a run for the top, current fifth place in the Rep League, The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman has ALSO drafted Reese Witherspoon and with 175 points to make up for, has an outside chance at taking the lead as well!

And that isn’t all, as the FINALE has been announced as well, and bringing the 40^th season of Saturday Night Live to a close will be Louis C.K. who is ALSO a host that the SNL Fantasy League chose, bringing points home on the finale night to the Billion Dollar Murrays, currently fourth place for the Hartman!

While on the topic of the finale, and yes the race in the Rep League at least is far far far from over, it’s a pleasure to announce our first LIVE VIEWING PARTY in TORONTO! We welcome out all of you who are following along with the Fantasy League, and also everyone who enjoys watching SNL, to come out to HITCH (at 1216 Queen St E), and enjoy themed drinks, live scoring, and an awards ceremony and after party RIGHT AFTER the show, along with a live recording of the Deep Thoughts podcast and so much more!

It’s happening, May 16^th, LIVE at Hitch, we look forward to seeing you in person for a change, on Saturday Night! And we’ll see you on this blog next week, when Reese Witherspoon hosts with musical guest Florence + The Machine.

Stay in the conversation! Trivia Club would LOVE to hear feedback on the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League and how we could even improve on it all! Comment in the blog's comment section, on Trivia Club's facebook page or in our twitter feed. We want YOU to get involved in SEASON 41! LISTEN TO THE PODCAST! Subscribe to us on iTUNES! Do the same on YouTube!