A Sunday Post About a Saturday Show

Is it just me, or was Saturday Night Live (11.11.06) the biggest line up in the history of the show?

Did I miss a memo?

Hilarious Opening Sketch - New Speaker Pelosi with S&M Democratic staffers, weed, and funny jokes. I can't remember the last time I thought an opening sketch was funny.

Your host: Alec Baldwin (13th episode)
Your musical guest: Christina Aguilera (who is awesome. don't deny it)
Your cameos - and this is where it gets interesting:

1. Tina Fey and Tracey Morgan from 30 Rock in a nice promotional tie-in with Baldwin and a hilarious monologue that was basically what every promo piece for 30 Rock wishes it could have been.

2. Steve Martin in a Martin v. Baldwin legacy hosting bit that included a cameo from

3. Martin Short, as their "sad" waiter and

4. PAUL MCCARTNEY who didn't even speak and it was the most excited I can remember being for an SNL cameo since John Goodman as Linda Tripp.

5. TONY BENNETT as a Tony Bennett impersonator (stage name "Fony Bennett") who then PERFORMED "Steppin Out With My Baby" with Aguilera.

It was hilarious.

Amy Poehler is the funniest person on that show. Her half of Weekend Update is always a blast. Seth still needs a little work on his delivery, affect, and timing (are there other things that go into a joke?), but it looks like he's tightening things up behind the anchor desk.

I was saddened to see Horatio Sanz let go because that means no more Rick Sketches which were the best thing to happen to that show in decades. That's right, decades. Better than anything Carvey did ever.

One final note: The only downer bit was the Update "Amy's Aunt Movie Review" the character sucked, there were too many pauses and shrugs (which are probably crucial to the character and might work in a sketch, but Update's a bang-bang-bang environment so if you're not throwing out four punchlines a minute you're failing), and it wasn't funny. Quircky contrived characters should have no place at the anchor desk.

-t


recommended download:
The Who, Poetry Cornered