Saturday Night Live Fantasy League: Episode 40x21: Louis C.K. & Rihanna

May 19, 2015

Minding the P’s and Q’s of SNL
PROBLEMATIC: I almost want to just send you to the podcast to check out everything we talk about for finale episode, this week. It’s just SO well covered! So, with the potential of stepping on my own feet, let’s keep this short (and enjoy the podcast)…
QUALITY: Just as with last season, I've kept an Unofficial Host Power Rankings, and at the end of the season am ready to keep it unofficial and biased and in no way correct… but post it all at once! Just how wrong am I, Russel, commissioner of the Fantasy League and the man behind the Billion Dollar Murrays? That’s for you to tell me about. But without much further ado, here’s what I thought of this season’s hosts without much looking back, in order of least-to-most successful:

21. Chris Rock, 20. James Franco, 19. Taraji P. Henson, 18. J.K. Simmons, 17. Sarah Silverman 16. Scarlett Johansson

15. Amy Adams, 14. Cameron Diaz, 13. Jim Carrey, 12. Blake Shelton, 11. Kevin Hart

10. Martin Freeman, 9. Chris Hemsworth, 8. Woody Harrelson, 7. Reese Witherspoon, 6. Chris Pratt

5. Louis C.K.
4. Dwayne Johnson
3. Daisy Johnson
2. Michael Keaton
1. Bill Hader

QUALITY: Louis C.K. made it into the top five again this year, for me, because though the writing didn’t excel from sketch to sketch, it was C.K. that brought the house down with his monologue, while also adapting the format to make it stranger and match up with him as a game host AND an able comedian. He just didn’t have the charisma of The Rock, the breakout surprise of Daisy Johnson (this year’s Drake for most pleasant surprise), or the ample character chops of either Keaton or Hader.

REPERTORY CAST
Kenan Thompson, 43 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 5 points - sketch (Master Shoemaker)
  • 5 points - sketch (Jemma on Vacation)
  • 5 points - reoccurring
  • 5 points - sketch (Police Line-up)
  • 3 points - pre-songs sketch (Forgotten TV Gems)
  • 5 points - reoccurring (Reese De'What)

Vanessa Bayer, 42 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 5 points - sketch (Master Shoemaker)
  • 5 points - sketch (Sprint)
  • 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Lumberjack)
  • 5 points - sketch (Jemma on Vacation)
  • 5 points - reoccurring

Bobby Moynihan, 42 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Lumberjack)
  • 7 points - Weekend Update
  • 5 points - reoccurring (Riblet)
  • 5 points - dancing/singing
  • 3 points - pre-songs sketch (Forgotten TV Gems)

Kate McKinnon, 40 points
  • 5 points - promos
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 5 points - reoccurring (Hillary Clinton)
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 5 points - sketch (Sprint)
  • 3 points - pre-songs sketch (Forgotten TV Gems)
  • 5 points - kissing
  • 2 points - in costume at goodnights

Taran Killam, 37 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 5 points - kissing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 7 points - Weekend Update
  • 5 points - reoccurring (Tom Brady)
  • 5 points - sketch (Police Line-up)

Cecily Strong, 37 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 5 points - sketch (Jemma on Vacation)
  • 5 points - reoccurring (Jemma)
  • 5 points - singing
  • 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Lumberjack #2)

Aidy Bryant, 35 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 5 points - sketch (Master Shoemaker)
  • 5 points - sketch (Sprint)
  • 3 points - pre-songs sketch (Forgotten TV Gems)
  • 5 points - kissing
  • 2 points - in costume at goodnights

Jay Pharoah, 20 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 5 points - sketch (Sprint)

FEATURED CAST
Beck Bennett, 54 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Lumberjack)
  • 5 points - singing
  • 5 points - sketch (Police Line-up)
  • 5 points - crying
  • 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Lumberjack #2)
  • 5 points - singing
  • 5 points - host hug

Leslie Jones, 39 points
  • 5 points - promos
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 5 points - sketch (Sprint)
  • 14 points - swearing ("asses" x4, "bitch" X3)

Pete Davidson, 34 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 7 points - Weekend Update
  • 5 points - reoccurring (as Himself)
  • 2 points - swearing ("bitch")
  • 5 points - sketch (Police Line-up)

Sasheer Zamata, 27 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 5 points - sketch (Jemma on Vacation)
  • 7 points - pre-taped sketch (Lumberjack #2)

Kyle Mooney, 25 points
  • 7 points - cold open
  • 5 points - singing
  • 2 points - alongside former cast member (Daryl Hammond)
  • 1 point - "LIVE FROM NEW YORK..."
  • 5 points - sketch (Police Line-up)
  • 5 points - singing

HOST
Louis C.K., 85 points
  • 2 points - swearing ("selfish little bitches")
  • 5 points - sketch (Master Shoemaker)
  • 5 points - sketch (Sprint)
  • 8 points - swearing ("asses" x4)
  • 10 points - pre-taped sketch (Lumberjack)
  • 5 points - crying
  • 5 points - sketch (Jemma on Vacation)
  • 5 points - dancing
  • 5 points - sketch (Police Line-up)
  • 10 points - pre-taped sketch (Lumberjack #2)
  • 5 points - crying
  • 5 points - sketch (Forgotten TV Gems)
  • 5 points - kissing
  • 10 points - host embraces cast member first


REPERTORY LEAGUE

PARDO GROUP

BILLION DOLLAR MURRAYS - Russel
Cecily Strong - 37
Kenan Thompson - 43
Leslie Jones - 39
Louis C.K. - 85
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) Bitch Better Have My Money & 2) American Oxygen
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 219

THE IGNORANT SLUTS - Matt
Kate McKinnon - 40
Vanessa Bayer - 42
Beck Bennett - 54
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) Bitch Better Have My Money & 2) American Oxygen
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 151

NATALIE PORTMAN'S DRY CLEANING - Sarah R
Kate McKinnon - 40
Bobby Moynihan - 42
Kyle Mooney - 25
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) Bitch Better Have My Money & 2) American Oxygen
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 122

ISOLATED ARCHIPELAGO - Rob
Taran Killam - 37
Kenan Thompson - 43
Pete Davidson - 34
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) American Oxygen & 2) Bitch Better Have My Money
2 points - song
2 points - song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 118

THE NOT READY FOR FIRST PLACE PLAYERS - Kevin M
Jay Pharoah - 20
Cecily Strong - 37
Beck Bennett - 54
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) American Oxygen & 2) Bitch Better Have My Money
2 points - song
2 points - song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 115

KEYROCK, KHAN, & ASSOCIATES - Saad
Vanessa Bayer - 42
Aidy Bryant - 35
Kyle Mooney - 25
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 102

THE FUTURE MRS. RANDY GOLDMAN - Leah
Taran Killam - 37
Sasheer Zamata - 27
Aidy Bryant - 35
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 99

THE TEAM YOU WISH YOU HADN'T STARTED A CONVERSATION WITH AT A PARTY - Brian
Jay Pharoah - 20
Bobby Moynihan - 42
Pete Davidson - 34
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 96


FEATURED LEAGUE

MCKAY GROUP

DAMIAN AND THE FELINE SOCIOPATHS - Andrew
Kate McKinnon - 40
Vanessa Bayer - 42
Kenan Thompson - 43
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) Bitch Better Have My Money & 2) American Oxygen
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 140

DAN AKROYD RAGE - Mark
Kate McKinnon - 40
Bobby Moynihan - 42
Beck Bennett - 54
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 136

THE NIGHT CRAWLERZ - Kevin K
Taran Killam - 37
Jay Pharoah - 20
Beck Bennett - 54
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) Bitch Better Have My Money & 2) American Oxygen
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 126

FALLON IN LOVE - Johnny
Kenan Thompson - 43
Bobby Moynihan - 42
Pete Davidson - 34
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) Bitch Better Have My Money & 2) Four Five Seconds
5 points - first song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 124

SKANKY LITTLE PROSTITUTES - Mike
Aidy Bryant - 35
Cecily Strong - 37
Sasheer Zamata - 27
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) Bitch Better Have My Money & 2) American Oxygen
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 114

PARDO ME - Hannah
Taran Killam - 37
Aidy Bryant - 35
Kyle Mooney - 25
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 97

THE VONDRUKES - Samantha
Jay Pharoah - 20
Leslie Jones - 39
Cecily Strong - 37
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 96

FEY GROUP

THREE LEGGED JEANS - Lori
Kate McKinnon - 40
Bobby Moynihan - 42
Kenan Thompson - 43
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 125

SANTA'S MY BOYFRIEND - Megan
Taran Killam - 37
Cecily Strong - 37
Aidy Bryant - 35
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) Bitch Better Have My Money & 2) American Oxygen
5 points - first song
10 points - second song
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 124

SUCK IT TREBEK - Sarah C
Jay Pharoah - 20
Cecily Strong - 37
Beck Bennett - 54
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 111

MY DOLL'S NAME IS JENNY - Doug
Vanessa Bayer - 42
Bobby Moynihan - 42
Kyle Mooney - 25
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 109

MARTHA STEWART'S HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: TOPLESS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - Robb
Taran Killam - 37
Vanessa Bayer - 42
Sasheer Zamata - 27
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: 1) Kiss It Better & 2) I've Been Searching...
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL  106

THE LAND SHARKS - Jason
Kate McKinnon - 40
Kyle Mooney - 25
Aidy Bryant - 35
MUSICAL GUEST - Rihanna - SONGS: No songs chosen.
EPISODE TWENTY-ONE TOTAL 100


PHIL HARTMAN TROPHY STANDINGS (after Episode 40x21)
  1. The Ignorant Sluts - 2, 739
  2. Billion Dollar Murrays - 2, 713
  3. Natalie Portman's Dry Cleaning - 2, 705
  4. Isolated Archipelago - 2, 698
  5. The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman - 2, 524
  6. The Not Ready For First Place Players - 2, 418
  7. The Team You Wish You Hadn't Started A Conversation With At A Party - 2, 356
  8. Keyrock, Khan, & Associates - 2, 005

FEATURED LEAGUE STANDINGS for the GILDED RADNER
  1. Three Legged Jeans - 3, 036
  2. Damian and the Feline Sociopaths - 2, 788
  3. Santa's My Boyfriend - 2, 748
  4. Dan Akroyd Rage - 2, 709
  5. The Night Crawlerz - 2, 612
  6. Fallon In Love - 2, 486
  7. The Land Sharks - 2, 479
  8. Martha Stewat's Home for the Holidays: Topless Christmas Special - 2, 478
  9. Pardo Me - 2, 406
  10. Suck It Trebek - 2, 370
  11. Skanky Little Prostitutes - 2, 333
  12. The Vondrukes - 2, 312
  13. My Doll's Name is Jenny - 2, 235


If you thought last year’s finale to the inaugural Saturday Night Live Fantasy League was exciting, then I don’t even think you could have expected what Season 40 had in store!

First, let’s unpack the Featured League, for the GILDED RADNER! CONGRATULATIONS to the THREE LEGGED JEANS! We look forward to unveiling what that might actually look like, as well!

Lori was very excited to hear the news.

All three legs of the teams ran on all cilenders for most of the season, to the tune of their eventual victory gap over Damian and the Feline Sociopaths being comparable to the distance between first and seventh in the Rep League. It truly was a tough team to catch up with, with Kate McKinnon being joined by Kenan Thompson, and Bobby Moynihan.

Which doesn’t take away from Lori’s victory of course, nor should it take away from the experience of our little Fantasy League adding eleven new participants! Thank you to EVERYONE who joined for their first season of Saturday Night Live Fantasy League, this year, and thank you for Dan Akroyd Rage and Suck It Trebek for joining them!

And speaking of blue-chippers, Kate McKinnon could be see to be the MVP for the second straight year and for BOTH Championship teams, both for the Gilded Radner winning Three Legged Jeans, as well as…

CONGRATULATIONS once again to THE IGNORANT SLUTS! Jane Curtin couldn’t be prouder, probably, and hell she even made an appearance this anniversary year as well... so there's that.

Also, this.

Little did we suspect, that in creating this Fantasy League, a person might repeat their reign as Phil Hartman Trophy winners, but Matthew Smith you done it again! Your THREE correct host choices did the work of what Andy Samberg did last year, and correct song choices with consistent picks kept you afloat. For someone to draft, Kate McKinnon, Kyle Mooney, and Vanessa Bayer, but by the grace of Bill Hader, Kevin Hart, and Jim Carrey…

To put into scope just how razor sharp Matthew’s victory was this year, not only did The Ignorant Sluts once again defeat runners-up in the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League, the Billion Dollars Murray (really, TWO YEARS IN A ROW?!) by twenty-six points… the difference between first and fourth place, was just FOURTY-ONE points, less of a lead then The Ignorant Sluts had over second place last year (and those were also only points he attained thanks to a win fall of points in last weeks finale episode, specifically the Vogelchecks sketch).

But this season wasn’t a question of “what could have gone differently” on this episode, it’s a matter of “what had to go right over the course of twenty-one episodes” for The Ignorant Sluts to beat not just one team, but specifically three other teams in the final weeks, and all seven Rep teams overall. Both holy shit, and bravo.

Though, thank you to ALL the returning Saturday Night Live Fantasy Leaguers, to the Isolated Archipelago and their podcast hosting team runner, to newcomer (I misspoke about the all returning part) Natalie Portman’s Dry Cleaning, to The Future Mrs. Randy Goldman, The Not Ready for First Place Players, The Team You Wish You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With At A Party, and even Keyrock, Khan, and Associates!

Louis C.K. proved a productive host this episode, though nowhere near the point potential of Samberg last year (even with the adaptation in how former SNLers and hosts are scored), what shifted the night in terms of Fantasy League outlook… was the production from unsung heroes Vanessa Bayer and Beck Bennett. Not quite even stars in their any sketches they appeared in, they were still used quite a bit when it counted the most.

We also count on YOU to join us next year for the THIRD year of the Saturday Night Live Fantasy League, whether it's following along in the comedy geek adventure or joining the League just as so many did for Season 40! Contact us through facebook, twitter, or on the blog! There's no limit to amount of teams we'll be accepting!

Look forward to one more post, as we look back on Saturday Night Live's 40th season, while also on the Fantasy League-side, breaking down the affect that Host picks and Musical Guest song choices had on the overall point totals of the teams involved!


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, so let us know if you want to join in! LISTEN TO THE PODCASTSubscribe to us on iTUNESDo the same on YouTube!

Russel Harder hosts Trivia Club at Cardinal Rule (5 Roncesvalles Ave) every WEDNESDAY, at Hitch (1216 Queen St East) every other MONDAY of the month, and Lou Dawg's Ryerson (76 Gerrard St E) every TUESDAY!

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