SNL 5/21/11

[lisa_simpson]

Host: JT
Musical guest: Lady Gaga

Season finale. Possible swan song for Armisen/Thompson?

Discuss.

 

[EagleMorph]

Dynamite so far. Cold open was refreshing and well-written (especially the line about Portugal being a dingleberry on Spain's taint). Timberlake always does a charismatic monologue, and while they've done the singing mascot bit regularly, they keep it fresh every time. Gaga was a nice touch.

 

[lisa_simpson]

Herb Welch, and Gaga in a Digital Short. I am DYING HERE, people.

 

[UPChip]

That's quite a way to establish a trilogy of sorts on the Timberlake/Samberg bit.

And, go figure, Lady Gaga's wearing a ridiculous costume.

 

[EagleMorph]

If only Lady Gaga wasn't the musical guest, this would an outstanding start.

 

[Care Bear]

She started off so well behind the piano, minus the asinine headgear. Then it all devolved into electric noises and utter weirdness.

Love the Timberlake/Samberg line about "with a girl in the middle there's some leeway."

 

[lisa_simpson]

Bradley Cooper cameo, one week too late. But still SO HANDSOME.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

One hour in and no rapture jokes?

 

[EagleMorph]

Well, Kenan Thompson, Fred Armisen, and Abby Elliott are all in the 10-to-1 sketch (the final sketch of the show).

Perhaps one last hurrah for the three most likely candidates to leave the show after this season ends in 7 minutes?

 

[lisa_simpson]

That was major mic fail on Born This Way. Still love the track and could not give a rat's ass about whether it sounds like Madonna.

Love the Barry Gibb Talk Show, too. And there's your rapture joke.

 

[terrier]

Barry Freaking Gibb defibrillated...classic.

 

[EagleMorph]

No official goodbyes, but it does look like Armisen was a little teary-eyed there at the end.

 

[lisa_simpson]

Also, I would have no objections to getting stuck in a Tunnel of Love with Jason Sudeikis. I'm just saying.

 

[joeggernaut]

What's That Name had me rolling.

 

[UPChip]

A coworker told me that it was especially ironic that Abby Elliott was dressed like Peggy Olson in the What's My Word sketch, because Armisen's divorce from Zoey Bartlet Elisabeth Moss was finalized this week and it's believed that Armisen is dating Elliott.

Frankly, they can dress Abby up like Merlin Olson and she'd still be pretty hot. Though I'd gladly settle for the exotic charms of one Nasim Pedrad.

 

[steveu]

My God, that was one of the best SNL's in years. (I know, I know, given SNL's quality that doesn't say much, but Timberlake seems to bring the A game and a lot of energy every time he hosts. Gaga surprisingly had pretty good acting chops, too.)

 

[linotype]

My God, that was one of the best SNL's in years. (I know, I know, given SNL's quality that doesn't say much, but Timberlake seems to bring the A game and a lot of energy every time he hosts. Gaga surprisingly had pretty good acting chops, too.)

Completely agree. Solid from start to finish.

Timberlake pulled off quite an accomplishment because -- and I know I'm not alone in this -- I came into this episode knowing exactly what I wanted: A callback to Omeletville, a goofy digital short with Samberg, some Robin Gibb and plenty of self-deprecation. And Timberlake delivered, with a couple quality assists from Gaga. A credit to him and to the characters he's developed.

 

[Killick]

Pretty good effort. Still... c'mon. They had to drag out the Password-esque sketch yet again to let Wiig ham it up for three minutes in a thoroughly unfunny bit? Ugh. The rest was pretty damned good, so it's still a heck of a batting average.

Now, since the season's done: I can only strenously hope Seal Team 6 is reassigned, storms Fred Armisen's apartment at 2 a.m. some lonely night and shoots him in the face. It seems the only way to stop his terroristic attacks on comedy.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Those 90 minutes are a good reason why I'll keep watching. That was fabulous.

I don't think anybody is a better SNL host than Timberlake at his point. I'm not even sure it's close (sorry, Mr. Baldwin).

 

[EagleMorph]

A couple things come to mind:
1. Years ago, there was talk of making Billy Crystal the permanent host of SNL. They never did it.
2. Timberlake has been rumored to be interested in becoming a cast member for a couple years.

How about putting the two together? Timberlake becomes the permanent host of SNL for a certain stretch of time, and instead of getting regular hosts, they work on getting inspired cameos.