Ellen Page Hosts, Wilco Performs
For another take on this weekend's SNL
, read the latest Roush Dispatch.
I'm baaaack! We'll see how long I last tonight. The promos for
Ellen Page's performance tonight haven't looked promising. But then again, none of
Saturday Night Live's promos are ever really good. Come on, Ellen, I'm rooting for you... especially after watching you on Barbara Walters' special last weekend. She came off as humble, sweet, quirky and completely unaffected by Hollywood. I was kinda dumbstruck since most of our days are spent staring at headlines of celebs her age in rehab or getting busted for DUIs.
Enough of that, let's get on with the show....
Cold Opening
The usual bit on current politics. This time, it's an MSNBC debate with Will Forte as Brian Williams (awesome), Amy Poehler as Hillary, Fred Armisen as Obama, and the wicked Darrell Hammond as Tim Russert. Ha! The best part is "Hillary" talking about how she could take down special interests and lobbyists because her annoying personality will crumble their resolve. PS. Amy raises her eyebrows a lot and her forehead doesn't move at all. That's talent. RANDOM SIGHTING OF THE NIGHT: Vincent D'Onofrio and the "Thump-thump" from
Law & Order: Criminal Intent, trying to convince Hillary that the debate isn't a joke. Wha?! Just when I think it's over, we get an "Editorial Update" from the real Slim Shady... er...
Hillary Clinton! She gives a shout-out to Amy, who then hops on stage. Their side-by-side likeness is hilarious, and Amy's "Hillary laugh" prompts the senator to ask, "Do I really laugh like that?" Then at the same time, they both say, "Well, yeah." Fantastic. Bravo on the cameo, Hill.
Roll opening credits....
Monologue
She is no bigger than a minute! She kinda gives off a little bit of a butch-biker-chick vibe, wrapped in a Lindsay Weir of
Freaks and Geeks blanket, no? Andy Samberg hops on stage in Diablo Cody drag; complete with Oscar and hamburger phone from
Juno. The outfit alone is a winner in my book. His dialogue is so perfectly and ridiculously over-the-top. Last line: "I was a stripper!" Ha ha. Take that, Diablo, you over-exposed, hipster writer! (Note to audience, I kid, because I'm jealous... the chick won on her first screenplay, so no hate mail, k?)
Dakota Fanning Show Sketch
Poehler breaks out the Dakota sketch. I think she does a great impression, but is it really that funny anymore? She does a man-on-the-street bit as Dakota and asks real kids questions that are way over their heads. Their expressions are funnier than the sketch. Back in the studio, Ellen appears as Miley Cyrus, and spazzes out effectively. The sketch fizzles out, though.
Robert Smigel Cartoon: The Obama Files
Obama is surrounded by his peeps, and then Jesse Jackson tries to crash his party and steal his show. Obama instructs his wife to distract the press and she vomits on cue. Obama takes Jesse aside and tells him he'll have to go to a remote part of Africa in order to help his campaign. It doesn't get funny until his people tranq Brian Williams as he interviews Obama, and then Al Sharpton appears from some other remote location. Obama gives him a dog shock collar so he can only get so close to the senator. Jesse calls him up, and they realize they've been bamboozled by Obama, and try to seek revenge, but just end up in a van with Chuck Norris and Bill Clinton. Weird.
Office/College Sketch
Don't get excited no Steve Carell in this sketch. It's a take-off on those crappy local college commercials (this one is called "College of Excellence") with outdated people and offices. Starting to nod off....
The Other Other Boleyn Girl Sketch
This one actually makes me giggle. Anne is played by Ellen, Mary by Casey (new girl) and Kristen Wiig plays "Eunice Boleyn, the other, other Boleyn girl." She has a massive unibrow and is missing all her back teeth with makes her look really horse-faced. Now I'm really laughing. Wiig plays awkward like no one else. Then all the dudes in the cast dress up as "other" Boleyn girls. Meh, that's just OK now that I think about it.
SNL Digital Short
Ellen wakes up from a freaky dream, looks in the mirror and sees nothing, then looks back, and we get a creepy shot of Andy Samberg. His face is so goofy; it's not scary at all. Then we see it's Andy's creepy dream no it's Ellen's! I'm confused. Now everyone, including Dracula (random), is waking up from creepy dreams. Next!
Wilco Rocks the House
It's bluesy and makes me happy. Yay, Wilco! So far, you're the best part of this show.
Weekend Update
I'm fading fast but wait! Rudy Giuliani makes an appearance to endorse John McCain once again. He's pretty funny, actually. He said his real mistake was hosting
SNL and wearing a dress, not, you know, betting his whole campaign on Florida's primary. Best line: "My campaign was like an
SNL skit. It started out strong, but really had no ending." Amen, brotha!
Shopping with Virginiaca
Keenan plays a "naaa-sty" shopper at Baby Gap, with her stepbaby, played by Ellen whose accent is something special there's a lot of booty-shaking going on. And stereotyping. I think Keenan trying not to crack up is funnier than the sketch.
Captain Hook Sketch
Bill Hadar plays Hook, who's reminding the pirates that a bunch of kids are out-pirating them. Guess who's Pan? Ellen! She sings and does a cheesy little dance that distracts the pirates long enough for her to steal their treasure. Hook tells them to shoot Peter in the head when he returns. This is kinda disturbing. Peter returns and steals more treasure. Now Hook is asking the pirates to grade their performances. Then Amy pops up as Tinkerbell, and then Hook stomps her to death. Peter of course asks for clapping to bring her back to life. It works. Yay! (Dear god, are we done yet? My fake enthusiasm is dwindling.)
Wilco Plays Again
It's great!
Going Gay at Melissa Etheridge Concert Sketch
Ellen is very excited about this concert and all the lesbian sightings and vibes from the show. She's jumping all over the couch and freaking out. Andy plays the straight guy. He tells her she totally went gay at the concert. Second best line of the night goes to Ellen: "Why do we have to have labels, why can't I wrap my legs around a woman in friendship?" Ha!
Annnnnnnnd, scene! Goodnight!
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