QUALITY: The cold opening NAILS the diversity problem on the head, quicker then even I expected when Kerry Washington was first announced as a host. Ballsy.

QUALITY: Yes, Kerry Washington is as infinitely likable a host as you might hope.

PROBLEMATIC: Throwing to a room full of Matthew McConaheys before bringing out Rev. Al Sharpton, ESPECIALLY Sharpton, felt as half-written as possible. I get why you wanted to do this cold opening, but I haaate under-planned endings. They’re something SNL has gotten much better at NOT doing.

QUALITY: Still, it’s GOOD to have someone finally playing the First Lady of the United States when you realize the INFINITE time given to Hillary Clinton (and her many iterations) this season.

QUALITY: Nasim spotlight sketch! What can I say, I was infinitely amused by the over abundance of sound effects and pelvic thrusts in the service of motivational speaking, even if the live crowd didn’t sound entirely sold on the weirdness of Career Week.

QUALITY: “Respect my ability to assess a bucket.”

PROBLEMATIC: Mike O’Brien is the worst cast member at this thing called character acting. Still, does that make his every appearance something QUALITY? Weeeell, we aren’t there yet.

QUALITY: That’s right, you tell ‘em how silly it is for people to read recaps on shows they just watched. Pffft, white people. That’s like being part of a fantasy football league, as if WATCHING football ain’t entertaining enough you’ve got to add MATH! Hey… wait… NO ONE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS!

QUALITY: Seriously the only thing I’ve noticed so far, is how much Kerry Washington’s appearance has put a spotlight on the PROBLEMATIC fact that strong black female presence would add to the show SO NICELY.

PROBLEMATIC: Then again, if the diversity door stays open, we’ll have to talk about the fact that Nasim Pedrad is as Asian as SNL has ever been.

PROBLEMATIC: Christian Laettner, we need to talk about you being a part of the 1992 Dream Team. It makes less sense 20 years later.

PROBLEMATIC: We no longer have a draught in our Host Predicition Draft…

QUALITY: CONGRATS to THE FIVE-TIMERS CLUB! Honestly, Leah had the first pick and she used it well. Even though Lady Gaga hadn’t been officially announced, she’s been rumored since Tina, Miley, and Bruce got the nod to begin the season! I think the Miley nod had us all weary that it was going to happen, not to mention the Lady Gaga Talk Show during the WILLIS episode. We won’t even get into the fact that Miley and Katy Perry feel infinitely more relevant then Gaga lately, but SNL hosts come in all phases… should be an interesting episode. And after that announcement it was back to our usual success in predicting.

PROBLEMATIC: She certainly sells her cocaine fueled appearance like a CHAMP, but Kate McKinnon as your go to Latin American cast member is like casting Fred Armisan as Barack Obama!

QUALITY: You’re livin’ the dream, McKinnon!

QUALITY: RICK RUBIN IS ON SNL! Seriously, when does this crazy wizard get to Host?

PROBLEMATIC: I loved seeing Rick Rubin up there, LOVED the set-up, and I quite enjoy  “Berzerk” as a song, but something was consistently lacking in Eminem’s performance. For such a HYPE song, he was half there for it. I’m THIS close to calling an Ashlee Simpson on the first song.

QUALITY: I appreciated it when Cecily Strong was so surprised by the boisterous laughter of That One Guy, that she just HAD to say something.

QUALITY: Calling out how long it took to rehearse a cheap gag, Seth? You’re practicing for Late Night already! Conan would be proud! Jimmy, however, is so much more professional then that.

QUALITY: “OOOOH! THE THINGS I HAVE GOODGLED!”

PROBLEMATIC: Jason Segal, you know when your lack of shirt was the punch line AFTER Nickleback tickets… hey wait, you got skinny, son!

PROBLEMATIC: Gaaah, what IS eating New York City’s rats?!

QUALITY: That Kanye joke, Ms. Strong? Delicious. Go on, BASK in that applause.

QUALITY: “You don’t look at anything except the tip of your nose.” Sometimes it’s the simple things that’re the funniest. Keep crossing them eyes, Jay!

PROBLEMATIC: What are you doing NOT fist-pumping Cecily Strong?! For shame for leaving her hanging, ffffor shame!

QUALITY: Classy move, with the memorial clip for Lou Reed.

PROBLEMATIC: Phew, and you TRIED to sell that sketch didn’t you Aidy?

PROBLEMATIC: Does it look like Eminem is reading off of cue cards because he’s playing to the front row?

QUALITY: I appreciate that Eminem came to town with the intense rock-fueled one-two punch of songs, even if meant I didn't get the second song right.

QUALITY: It may have been in garbage time, but there was just something about the transparent delivery/complete insanity that had me laughing the most.

QUALITY: “Around… how?”

PROBLEMATIC: We get it Eminem you don’t smile. But if you’re going to show THAT level of enthusiasm join Brooks in the back. At least HE’S smiling now!
QUALITY: Washington may have hugged J-Faux first, but she somehow was lucky to find McKinnon right after! He living the dream!

REPARATORY CAST

 QUALITY: Norton’s weird (self-serious or high strung, maybe) energy works, he’s not a relaxed sort but he works excellently within the sketch show. Some really nice strange work this week, Edward Norton is, no surprise here, a gamer and flung himself into some great character moments. He also flung himself into an air duct. Respect. 

 QUALITY: Norton might not be promoting anything (two for two, SNL, well DONE) but at least he isn’t promoting The Counselor. BURN!

 PROBLEMATIC: Blinding one of the stars, much? The shrapnel in the cold opening made me worry for McKinnon’s eyes and face for a hot sec.

PROBLEMATIC: Beck Bennet had a week of walking past when they needed a straight guy to be serious. It's an necessary role, and don't worry, Beckheads (that's a thing right?) Mr. Olivia Wilde once wore it well.

 QUALITY: Multiple Alec Baldwin sightings? Yes please!

 PROBLEMATIC: Multiple Miley Cyrus sightings? Yours was the best episode of the opening three shows, but don’t push it.

 PROBLEMATIC: They are a great way to highlight an exceptional female cast, but urg, another feminine product parody?

 QUALITY: Pedrad with a spotlight sketch! It took forward episodes for her to get into shape, but Nasim Pedrad is starting to look like the cast member that people drafted! The only PROBLEMATIC part of that now is the long-term outlook of Mulaney at FOX. Enjoy it while it lasts!

 QUALITY: Seriously, VANS!

 QUALITY: It’s no surprise that, the morning after, the Wes Anderson horror movie spoof is the much talked about part of the show. It was an excellently made spoof, with ON POINT design elements. The list of quality moments are endless, but let’s at least give high points to Ed Norton’s Owen Wilson impersonation (thank you Tom Hiddleston for the pointers), a much better impersonation then anything he pulled out during the opening monologue.

 QUALITY: “I am not a licensed critter control specialist, however I am Mitchell’s best friend and he knows I like this kind of funky junk. However I have been informed that a meeting is taking place and I am not to disturb you. In conclusion just work harder not smarter and we’ll geterdone and my name is Russel.”

 QUALITY/PROBLEMATIC: Mike O’Brien was a 0.0 on the LeBell Bad-Ass Scale in the Rain Man Money Counting sketch, which left the set-up to the sketch punch less if not for the other cast members, especially Killam and Moynihan doing there best to look and sound at least slightly dangerous. When it came to the “When I do it…” segment though, Mikey was by FAR the most natural as the most awkward. So there is THAT. Welcome to world of sketches before the second song, O'Brien!

 PROBLEMATIC: As you’ll see, the first good night for John Milhiser equals a noticeably quiet night for Taran Killam. Best not to get burnt out on SNL’s new leading man… or to make that so much of a thing, at that.

 QUALITY: Never stop dancing Janelle Monae. My infinite crush on this woman somehow grew three sizes tonight. Of course, I was not alone.

 QUALITY: Wait, how long has SNL been available on iTunes? Have I just missed these ads, previously?

 QUALITY: Anthony Crispino is further proof that Bobby Moynihan may have more fun then any other cast member, on this show.

 PROBLEMATIC: I appreciate you tried going in that direction, SNL but UNCOMFORTABLE thy name is the 12 Days Not a Slave sketch!

 QUALITY: I appreciate you went ALL OUT, post-second song SNL writers. That was so very strange, and pushed the limits more then most other sketches, from Adult Ruth to “What would I do for a Klondike Bar?”. Especially so late in the show.  Added points for Moynihan not taking off the Diego costume during the Good-nights!

 QUALITY: Jared fuckin’ Schraff with the guitar solo! Filling up time? Times like these, I don’t mind.

REPARATORY CAST

A quieter week overall for the cast, in terms of post. This could be reflective of the show, though in flavor of flash or heavily relying on the pre-tape they certainly enjoyed the use of wigs, prosthetics, in-camera effects and sight gags. Something to keep in mind for future points. Now... let us see how the teams did this week!

EPISODE FOUR TOTAL 160

SEASON 39 OVERALL STANDINGS (after Episode 39x04)

Next week Kerry Washington is hosting SNL, and promoting something for a change, because talented black women CAN be live from New York! Maybe we'll even get lucky, and one of our predicted hosts will participate in an upcoming edition of SNL! Hazard the thought.

Also Eminem will be the musical guest, so watch as our SNL Fantasy team owners try to listen to him for the first time since high school/college. Happy Halloween everyone!

Have a question related to pop culture, comics, movies, or music, to trivia that you need a second opinion on? Heck, even a first-rate opinion? Ask Trivia Club’s host Russel Harder anything! With a new column posted every SATURDAY! Ask Trivia Club on twitter @trivia_club or send us a message on the facebook page /TriviaClub!

  

Q: “What is the great lost sequel?” -- @raygun_factory of Sam Rockwell

A: Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League.

With the short answer out of the way, here is the longer one. If you’ve seen The Adventures of Buck Banzai Across the 8^th Dimension then you know what you’re missing. The first of, I’m sure many, planned films of the like was a heady science fiction plot in a comic book world starring the coolest rock and roller you might ever meet against ridiculous aliens. Suffice to say it was too weird to survive, even in the 80’s. Yes, EVEN the 1980s.

Oh, and Jeff Goldblum plays a cowboy, while still being unquestionably at his Goldblumiest.

I... uh... I'm thinking... um...

As the titular character, Peter “Robocop” Weller rocks oh so hard. And not just on a guitar. Though he also does that. He’s the smartest, coolest, bravest dude in the room with parts Doc Savage, Indiana Jones, that guy from Duran Duran, and Doctor Emmit Brown all rolled into the 80’s version of a pulp hero. Meaning his band of motley sidekicks, ala Doc Savage, is in fact a kick-ass rock band. And speaking of Doc Brown, Buckaroo invents a DeLorian looking dimension spanning supercar a good YEAR before Brown did so and forced Marty into test-driving the sucker 30 years in the past.

And we haven’t even started talking about John Lithgow’s character and we really SHOULD talk about it, because honestly look at this. Look at this!

We really should talk about John Lithgow's Lord John Whorfin...

Which does not begin to describe this movie mind you. Or the highly comedic, incredibly meta aspects of the film. Director W.D. Richter had a strong vision, and he brought it to the studios at the perfect time that they would bankroll such a crazy plan, and seemingly not ask a lot of questions. You can see the money at play, on the film, and cheer at the entertaining audacity. Unsurprisingly, this weird-ass movie (see above image) was NOT a hit, not only that but it is only because of the continued cult interest, and the fact that those who starred in it went on to make bigger movies, that we’re even talking about it now in this sense.

That doesn’t take away form the fact that Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League is not the single biggest lost sequel. Usually when you call your shots like that, at the START of the end credits, it’s hard to miss. Hell, Richter and his fellow filmmakers are still trying to make the sequel happen. Except maybe it’s better that it’s lost, that such a wild and crazy film added such a strange tough to end things off, is almost perfect. Sure, a world in which Lithgow and Lloyd play some bad-ass bad guys the World Crime League would TOTALLY work… but it doesn’t have to.

Just play that end credit music, go for a walk and remember one thing.

Q: “3,720 to 1?I like those odds.” – Peter M. of SPARTACUS

A: You know what, so do I!

I mean, the odds of an adult having to visit the ER due to an injury from a drinking straw are a little wider at 100,600 to 1, sure sure, but say a bar of soap? 11,380 to 1! That means only 8,500 fewer people unsuccessfully navigate an astroid field then a bar of soap. Not too shabby, in my books.

Q: “What is Russel's favorite Trivia Club moment so far?” -- Michelle C. of SPARTACUS

A: That’s a tough one let me ask him, er—me, let me ask me? Excuse me for stalling, pay no attention to the man behind the use of the “royal we”. But this isn’t a question that I can give a single answer to.  There’s a lot of stuff that I’m really proud of, whether it’s the first Trivia Club ever, which debuted at Cardinal Rule (5 Roncesvalles Ave) in April of 2012, and began as a monthly. Or when I started doing Trivia Club twice a month, or weekly (every Wednesday at Cardinal Rule, natch), or HECK, when I started a new location for Trivia Club. I mean, honestly, the first Trivia Club at The Gladstone was a HUGE moment for me as a trivia night host, producer, and promoter.

Still, there are proud moments and there are FAVORITE moments. Some of the most fun I have had are with the questions that not only make people proud that they know the answer, but angry with themselves or with me that the answer wasn’t the one they expected or wanted. It’s a perfect encapsulation of the fact that participants are invested, and that they care about the results at the end of the night. In that vein, no moment caused as much Trivia Club chaos as the reveal of the author to the Holografik Dancer.

The Holografik Dancer was the sci-fi story set in post-Cold War America, supposing that the Ruskies had won. It involved, love, desperation, and yes a holograph of a dancing girl. This question took place during Jeopardo, at a time when 100s of points could possibly be wagered, and the same question could be attempted multiple times, each time with not only your points but the points of others on the line. Every single Cold War-era sci-fi luminary was tossed forward as a possibility. They were all wrong.

The answer?

Noted science fiction author and friend to wizards.

Beautiful chaos ensued. It was one of my favorite moments, no doubt.

Q: “Hey Russel! One of my favorite parts of Trivia Club is the Mash-Up Madness question! Is there a mash-up that doesn’t exist that you want to hear?” – Krissy R. of All The King’s Women

A: Glad you enjoy it; it’s got to be one of my favorite questions to curate as well! Of any of the questions, it is by far the one I get asked about more often in terms of sources and whether or not I’m responsible for the mash-ups. Sadly I don’t have the musical talents to make some of the more all-time mash-ups, like most recently “Nothing Compares To Wrecking Ball”.

STILL that doesn’t stop me from dreaming, and one of the mash-ups I anticipate hearing the most, one day?

ANNA KENDRICK vs. KENDRICK LAMAR.

Courtesy of the Anna Kendrick Lamar tumblr.

Tell me Anna Kendrick Lamar wouldn’t be an amazing mash-up! I’ve gone as far as cutting together what I could from Anna Kendrick’s “Cups (When I’m Gone)” song to be honest, but I can never find the right Kendrick Lamar song to bridge the gap. YES, I’ve heard the mash-up of that Drake song featuring Kendrick Lamar mashed-up with “Cups”, and no that isn’t good enough. So I put out the call to YOU the readers, MASH these two UP and you will have Trivia Club's eternal gratitude.

And yes, this is the second of two Ask Trivia Clubs with Anna Kendrick in it.

Seriously, Rule #1.

And I’m right, because you asked me.

If you’ve got a question you’d like to see Russel tackle in a future column, just send it to @trivia_club on Twitter with the hashtag #AskTriviaClub.

It's a Monday, so don't think there isn't going to be SOME content on the Trivia Club blog! Yes, it's that time of the year again (for the first time), put on your black bow-ties 'cause we're having an awards show! I love awards. If that wasn’t evident by the Golden VHS or the Golden VCR, or the Summer Movie Wager Trophy, the Oscar Betting Pool Trophy, or the SNL Fantasy League Cup, I don’t know what is! 

Hell, if I had the time to do this every day (would someone like to pay me?) I would. Trivia Club's Quarterly Awards celebrate everything cool and creative, and anything that might be interesting to those who participate in Trivia Club, over the last three months. So the inaugural awards will (mostly) have to do with the notable bits of pop culture that I enjoyed through July, August, and September of 2013!

This is cheating a bit for the first QAs (Q AND A! I'm so clever!), since I saw Frances Ha in theatres in June, but if anything I'll make an exception for Frances Ha if it means I can get you to watch a smaller film you might have otherwise missed. Ha is a beautifully understated examination of friendship and life in the big city, when you're 20 going on 30, and responsibility rears its ugly head (not taking any care with what you wanted from life). Shot on beautiful black and white by Noah Baumbach, and co-written by Baumbach and Frances Ha herself Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha easily gets my pick for film of the summer (and that's with some awesome movies this summer).

(Also of note: A Brief History of John Baldessari, Cutthroat, Free Pie)

What, you thought it was going to be Dexter?

The last half season of Breaking Bad was already running at a fever pitch, and then Hank with Gomez used Jesse to entrap Walt and instead got a cloud of Nazis raining down on their heads. Which isn't even a description of this episode, this episode is the aftermath but is by and large on turning point the last three episodes of Bad hinges on. Directed by Rian fuckin' Johnson (Brick, Looper, Breaking Bad's 'Fly' episode), the show holds some incredible moments for Hank, Jesse, and the entire White family. Forget about Walt and Skyler, Walt Jr. and yes, even Hazel, act circles around the likes of A.J. Soprano entire televised run, in just this single episodes.

Thank you to my friend Craig for recommending this to me, now it's my turn to recommend it to you. The Idea Channel is a special kind of YouTube video that takes HUGE ideas like creative influence on a project influencing your enjoyment of that project, especially in the age of info but even including the works of Mark Twain, and then presenting these ideas in a hyper-kinetic, pop culture saturated package that entertains while it enlightens. Now here is a picture of a cat (because THE INTERNET IS CATS).

I'm a sucker for a good trailer, ever since becoming addicted to the apple movie trailer page some ten years ago, this has been the case. So when I saw the trailer for the Secret Life of Walter Mitty I fell in love with this song as much as I did the upcoming movie, not since Wake Up by Arcade Fire accompanied Wild Things Are did a song so perfectly encapsulate a set of cinematic moments. Stepping away from that even, there is a certain twee glee that accompanies this single from Of Monsters And Men, an all encompassing happiness that filled and still fills the room when I hear this song. As you will see, I listened to some good mash ups since, but none of them quite reached the heights of where this one band took me.

(Also of note: Yeezus, Modern Vampires of the City, My Head Is An An Animal)

Another choice that should be too early, but this being the initial QAs, I’m still sticking to the sliding timeline on this one. Also Kendrick Lamar couldn’t be denied this summer so I would be remised if I didn’t give the award to my favorite album of the last five months, let alone three. The man is on a tear right now, whether it’s making sub-par peers relevant and irrelevant at the same time thanks to a verse on their song, or the best Cypher verse since (and surpassing) Busta Rhymes, this is where it began for him on the year. Such a clear artistic voice for such a talented artist, telling a tale of a good kid lost in the fight, trying to live and survive and maybe one day leave Compton against all odds. It’s Kendrick telling the What If life-story, from a survivors point-of-view.

(Also of note: Hawkeye, Locke & Key, Avengers, Nowhere Men)

As diverse as the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, are the worlds of Alana and Marko. And I guess that's the point. Yet Brian K. Vaughan and Fionna Staples find a perfect marriage between the two, as strange and stupid and amazing and funny as you might suspect, never underselling the humanity in a talking mouse person or a giant and his giant testicles, among many other things. You will grow to love characters enough that there inevitable fates will make you cry, but don't worry you'll laugh and cheer before then anyway. Oh and the use of the Wonder Years trope, with baby Hazel narrating our story from an undetermined point in the future, pencilled into the preceding by Staples, is pitch perfect.

The Manhattan Projects is all kinds of strange and wonderful, bringing familiar scientific minds into an almost sci-fi-splotation kind of world, with the requisite action and violence to go with it. The story of Robert Oppenheimer is no different, taking one of the most familiar names to the layman (save for Einstein, natch) and makes him a cannibalistic sociopath with SO MANY multiple personalities that a civil war has broken out. Suffice to say you should read the Manhattan Projects and Oppenheimer is but one of the reasons why.

Let me take a step back from pop culture for a second. Cancer is something that is or will effect you or someone you know, directly or indirectly. Without getting too personal this last several years has certainly put cancer front and centre in my mind, so it was an unexpected comfort that this fact rich 'Biography' gave me. With both personal first hand accounts from the front line (the author is an oncologist) as well as historical perspective on different facets of the emperor of maladies, it really does its best to demystify something that has been seen as almost supernatural until just this last century where the technology to fight cancer finally started to catch up to the trauma it caused.

Your SNL Fantasy League award! I wrestled back and forth with doing the first episode (the premiere aired during my 'time of eligibility') or the first three (the initial set that aired before I posted this baby). I went with the first three, because when you make your own rules they're really just guidelines in the end. Still, I have to stick with Bobby Moynihan (shut up I'm not biased), even though Vanessa Bayer has had a stronger overall show thanks to the Miley Cyrus hosted episode, and even if Taran Killam has been the go to choice these first three episodes for SNL, it's Moynihan who has made every segment he's in better for being there (yes, even Kirby) with the character high point of the season going to his initial appearance as Drunk Uncle on Weekend Update.

And THAT is the initial Trivia Club Quarterly Awards! Leave your thoughts in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter. No doubt categories will be added as needed, too! We'll look to continue these every three months, and if YOU have any recommendations for US at Trivia Club... please make them. Who knows, you could see it celebrated in an upcoming edition of the QAs.

Minding the P's & Q's of SNL

QUALITY: A topical segment, both with current events and with pop culture, the mash-up of Gravity and the Government Shutdown practically shuttering NASA was a quick and funny segment that showed the strength of four of SNL’s current Starting Five (with Moynihan the only one sitting out of the proceedings, though he DID get to join in on the opening monologue).

QUALITY: “If that’s the case, why don’t we make this asphyxiation… an erotic one.”

PROBLEMATIC: Kate McKinnon doing funky accents, like in the opening, IS funny but is also starting to have diminishing returns if the material isn’t also funny. See also: Cruze, Penelope.

QUALITY/PROBLEMATIC: Wait, when was the last time the cold-opening hung on the precipice of almost certain death?

QUALITY: Bruuuuuuuce, from the crowd at the opening. Yes, in case you forget, this is live from NEW YORK. We are DANGEROUSLY close to New Jersey.

PROBLEMATIC: Just for Bruce Willis’ career, even HE doesn’t know how many Die Hard’s they’ve been. Five, Bruce. Five. Also there hasn’t been a harmonica jam in the opening monologue since 1989, so I guess it’s time?

QUALITY: Bobby Fuckin’ Moynihan.

QUALITY: "And the award goes to yoooou for good acting!" Never stop pounding energy drinks, Killam!

QUALITY: Of the first three hosts, Willis is far and away the most game (which retroactively makes Fey PROBLEMATIC since she some how found herself at the bottom of the totem), absolutely nailing a show that admittedly…

PROBLEMATIC: The show lacked in coherent material what it luckily made up for with an able host and strong cast. For instance, I LIKED the Barbershop sketch or more I liked parts of it but it fell apart on Bruce Willis’ Terry character. Sheryl Crowe? That’s your punch line? Or is it the poorly revealed red jumpsuit.

QUALITY: Willis trading on the action movie stardom that he’s banked in the last twenty-four years since he last hosted, while being strange and funny and ALSO intense helps you remember that the old guy in Looper was the cool guy in Die Hard was the FUNNY DUDE IN MOONLIGHTING. He’s funny; it’s easy to forget. I mean, when I thought he might be the dud of the first three hosts I was wrong. I can admit this.

PROBLEMATIC: Mooney sitting behind Pharoah in the Black Ops segment? Yeah, that was his LIVE portion of tonight and yet, YET he was still front-row off-center to say goodnight. I suppose if he isn’t on the show he’s at least still excited for it but COME ONE MAN, give the people ON the show a chance to stand behind the host and say goodnight. You better be giving your spot to Norton when he hosts.

PROBLEMATIC: Wait, EDWARD NORTON IS THE HOST?! Who coulda guessed that? The answer is no one. No one guessed it.

QUALITY: BOY DANCE PARTY was far and away the sketch of the night. SHAKE SHACK!

PROBLEMATIC: Vannessa Bayer is thiiiis close to keep Lady Gaga as a reoccurring character. The only problems are Gaga’s inherent loss of relevancy, and Bayer’s problematic vocal performance. Luckily Gaga’s shtick is 90% costume. Next time though, avoid the Talk Show format. Even if that means losing DJ Sebastian.

QUALITY: Seriously though, Willis as Michael Kors might be his performance of the night (on this side of Boy Dance Party), outta nowhere.

PROBLEMATIC: Katy Perry. What are you doing? STAHP (meme swerve!). I don’t know what was more poorly planned out, the furry suits for everyone who joined her for Roar (especially on her back-up singers, just no respect for the back-up singers, and DUDE you will never look cool in a white tiger suit, even playing a guitar) OR the awkward sheet trick for Walking On Air. It was a big step back into shtick from the cool progressive that Miley was starting to introduce last week.

QUALITY: Here is where we remember on October 26^th we’ve got Janelle Monae. Set your DVRs just for that, ladies and gents.

QUALITY: “Whoop ‘em up and down with a pillow case full of skittles. Make ‘em taste the rainbow!”

QUALITY: Meyers and Strong trading jokes on the Bruce and Kris Jenner Divorce on Weekend Update is but the first part of this duo’s ‘Best Of’ tape.

PROBLEMATIC: Brooks Wheelan’s life choices. Especially concerning tattoos. “The only thing it means is that I shouldn’t be trusted with my own thoughts.”

QUALITY: Kirby would NOT work if not for Moynihan.

QUALITY: John Milhiser, for your lack of appearances, I will certainly remember you as the ass-end of the Centauri Vodka Centaur. Bravo.

PROBLEMATIC: Eddy didn’t quite work the first time around. Don’t try to give Killam a reoccurring character SNL, if this is your best option. Trust me, he won’t be at loss for material on the show (see: Season 39, so far). Do not encourage him, always hot SNL crowd!

PROBLEMATIC: e-Meth was good, the first time around. What the hell SNL? I know it’s garbage time, but what are we saying about the last two post-second song sketches if your THIRD one was a rerun? NO, SNL! NO! That is not how we end a show! You can NOT tell me there isn't enough material written. So, no points on repeats.

SEASON 39 OVERALL STANDINGS (after Episode 39x03)