Last night’s Saturday Night Live was hosted by Seven Pounds star Rosario Dawson, and I’m pretty sure I only laughed about seven times. (Four of which followed Seth Meyers’ Weekend Update riff: "On Thursday, New York water taxis accomplished in half an hour what the creators of Lost haven’t been able to do in five seasons.")
Not that it was Dawson’s fault, though. She was adorable in almost all of her skits, but I kept hoping for one in which we could really see if she could bring the funny. Instead, we got a bunch of dull acts about things like "making good excuses" and Aladdin and Jasmine’s 10th anniversary carpet ride (embedded here).
We all know the SNL writers have more original ideas up their sleeves, so where was that pizazz last night? The digital short (also embedded after the jump) — which I think was supposed to mock a D.A.R.E. ad, but I’m still not quite sure — even failed to amuse me. Where the heck was Neil Patrick Harris and his Doogie Howser orchestra when we needed them?
One parody that does deserve accolades: The View. That skit seems to get better and better each time they do it. Keenan Thompson’s Whoopi and Fred Armisen’s Joy ("Who cares? So what?") are always top-notch, but it was Kristen Wiigs so-dead-on-it’s-funny-even-to-people-who-don’t-watch-The View impression of ultra-conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck that won my vote last night ("It wouldn’t print if it weren’t true"). Dawson’s Salma Hayek was also pretty spot-on, but it’s probably not that hard to channel the actress because all you really need is oodles and oodles of cleavage.
As for the musical guest of the evening, I thought it was an interesting choice for SNL to pick the Seattle indie rockers Fleet Foxes. It was great mainstream exposure for them to be on the show, but I’m wondering: How many of you out there actually knew who the heck these Foxes were before last night?
Were you as bored as I was by SNL last night, PopWatchers? How did you think Dawson did as a host? Finally, what were your favorite and least favorite skits? Discuss below!
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The Aladdin skit was where I gave up. The episode was terrible.
Wow–hulu has a clear picture, eh?
I only really liked The View and Aladdin, but only b/c I’ve seen Aladdin recently and I’ve got princess-crazed little girls. The opening was a good idea–Cheney w/no regrets and Kristen Wiig as Diane Sawyer was good (except for the hair) but it went on too long. And I completely did not get the D.A.R.E. spoof thing. (And I’m getting tired of Andy S and Fred A playing mock gay.)
Actually, the funniest thing about the show was the Thursday night promo w/Rosario Dawson and Andy Samberg.
And I hear that musical guests PAY SNL to get on the show–like there’s a bidding war. Anyone know if that’s true. (It would explain Fleet Foxes, although I liked the change.)
Such a disappointing episode. They could’ve called it the Kristen Wiig hour since she had one of her characters in every sketch. Especially disappointing after NPH’s amazing episode last week. They must of had nothing left for Rosario who was definitely game for anything.
Once again the ivy leagued trained writers of SNL do not know how to give up on a skit after the joke has been beaten to death. In every sketch, Rosario Dawson played one stereotypical character after another. Absolutely terrible, I would love to see SNL use musical acts who are not mainstream more often. I bet that would boost viewership as well.
Last night’s episode was probably the worst of the season. Especially the Learing Train skit and the Aladdin. I did enjoy the Fleet Foxes though.(Who I have heard of before SNL.)
When I saw her in 7 Pounds I felt really sorry for her dog. Her character made her dog a vegan…which is just abuse
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Fleet Foxes actually had a greatly acclaimed album come out this year and their performance was nothing short of amazing – timeless music. They made the episode, because – as we all know – the skits were pretty subpar.
I was bored silly by “SNL” last night until the Fleet Foxes appeared. These guys blew me away. I immediately downloaded all of their music on iTunes. Best new musical act of this century. Take it to the bank.
Hideous. I forwarded through most of it. Maybe it’s time they quit.
i just feel really sad for rosario dawson. i like her so much and i think she has so much talent, but i just think she isn’t getting the breaks she needs. i had high hopes for last night’s snl because i know she has comedy chops, but the material just wasn’t there. surprisingly, the only skit i did like was the aladdin skit. maybe that’s just my nostalgia talking. as for fleet foxes, i had no idea who they were prior to last night. but i also don’t think i’ll pay much attention to them going forward. let’s just hope next week’s steve martin/jason mraz combo puts snl back on track.
I thought the spanish skit written by the 4th graders was actually very funny – it was definitly very reminiscent of the phrases you learn in beginning level spanish classes. but the rest was pretty awful. I did not understand the DARE skit at all. I thought doing an Aladdin and Jasmine skit had the potential to be funny but it was not written or executed well.
Totally agree that last night’s effort was under-par. I thought the Aladdin skit was good, but on most nights it wouldn’t have been a standout. I thought “The View” was hilarious also but it didn’t seem like the studio audience got into it. I think even Ms. Dawson noticed that the show wasn’t firing on all cylinders when she said at the end, “I hope [my effort] translated out there.” We all saw her try, but it was a huge letdown from the NPH episode.
while the episode was pretty horrible, it was great to see my beloved fleet foxes get more exposure.
You don’t know what you’re talking about, Lindsay. I just watched it with a group of friends and we laughed our asses off. I’m so sick of unwarranted SNL ennui. Don’t watch it if it’s that awful to you.
Yeah, last night was brutal. I actualy stopped recording the show, deleted it, and went to sleep.
The best line was the Lost reference during the Weekend Update.
I’m thrilled the Fleet Foxes were on the show ’cause, as you guessed, I’d never heard of them before – but I’m a major fan now!
Fleet Foxes are an indie rock band? Really? You sure these guys didn’t get lost on their way to a Renaissance Faire?
Dawson did her best, despite some mediocre material. Highlights of the night were the Gitmo commercial, Jason Sudeikas’ very funny Ricky Gervais impression and of course FLEET FOXES. Kudos to Lorne & co. for booking this awesome band, who abosultely KILLED last night. Best record of 2008. Great exposure for them.
the only part I laughed at was the GitMo going out of business sale, particularly the Rosario-as-a-Cuban lady part. When she ends with, “I buy” I busted a gut.
Wow, what a totally lame eppy.
P.S. to Suzanne – it makes no sense that bands would pay to be on the show; Union rules would absolutely prevent that (unless you’re talking about some kinda payola scam between music companies and the show’s producers). Regardless, musicians are contracted and paid to appear on broadcast TV shows, not the other way around.
i reallllyyyy hated the digital short last night, and also found myself wondering where the NPH orchestra was from last week. they could’ve showed that again and I would have been 10 times happier. i gave up after weekend update.
I thought the Mexican soap written by a 4th grade Spanish class was funny – until remembering watching a segment from some 90s sitcom starring Cedric the Entertainer called Que Hora Es? It’s 25x as funny. YouTube it. I’m not saying they stole the idea, but it’s possible.
Kristen Wiig (sp?) is totally being overused. She’s great, but they’re risking early backlash.
did anyone notice at the end… what was on one of the band members of fleet foxes teeth??
Did a four year old kid write this article? He laughed seven times and is complaining? Does the author normally just constantly burst out laughing?
Anyway, regarding the show I thought it wasn’t great but had its moments. Sedakis imitation of Gervais was spot on and they should have highlighted it more. Armasin as Joy Behar is always funny. Kristin Wigg was Gilly was oddly funny. And let’s be honest, Rosario’s rack is unbelievable.
Am I the only one who liked the Aladdin skit? I thought that was pretty funny.
i agree this was the most boring episode of snl in a while, but i knew it would be. i just watched it cause of the fleet foxes, im a big fan and they did great last night
Never heard of Fleet Foxes, but have certainly been You-Tubeing them today…..they have a new fan! Seth Meyer is so freakin adorable and has handled the Weekend update solo very well!
I liked the alladin skit i thought that was very funny as well as the preschool education show was funny. Also thought the Lost joke was good
I totally disagree, the entire show was hilarious last night! Fleet Foxes are entirely deserving of the recognition they’re receiving.