Re: Top SNL skits of the season? -- Saturday Night You Bull Sessions

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Date Posted: 22:51:35 02/17/04 Tue
Author: JPIII
Subject: Re: Top SNL skits of the season?
In reply to: CCS 's message, "Re: Top SNL skits of the season?" on 21:04:30 02/17/04 Tue

Oh, I'm glad someone revived my initial post. I was really hoping that this would spark some long-winded but interesting posts. CCS did one better...he added the element of discussing cast members at length, which I will follow suit and do here. They are grouped into three categories: the future, the honorably discharged, and the dishonorably discharged...

THE FUTURE

W. Forte - The shining star of the cast in terms of comedic talent, but almost the exact opposite with respect to marketability, Forte has etched his place into today's SNL without much fanfare. He has no major recurring characters or bits, save for The Falconer, which has been ostensibly, and rightfully, terminated. However, his memorable performances in sketches such as The Speedreader and appearances such as the Tim Calhoun bits always provide laughs for nearly anyone watching, from the hard-cores to the fairweathers.

F. Armisen - Armisen, much like Forte, also suffers from a lack of marketability, at least at this point in his career. Maybe he'll begin to gain a unique personality that the masses can attach to, but I doubt he'll become as popular as Eddie Murphy or Dana Carvey, or even Jon Lovitz or Rob Schneider, despite that he has just as much talent as the latter two. Nevertheless, he has become a bigger part of the show this year, and should shed his "featured player" status soon, if SNL knows what's good for them.

K. Thompson - Kenan is an excellent sketch comedy player. The more I see of him, the more this becomes evident. He gives maximal effort, does not break character, and is oftentimes funny, especially if written to be as such. One great example of him providing humor where there otherwise was not, however, occurred during the LaToya Jackson Show sketch (Sharpton). His literally breathless Chaka Khan elicited laughs in the midst of a mediocre effort on the part of both the performers and writers. I see Thompson, at this juncture, as completing the Forte/Armisen troika of male cast members leading SNL into the latter half of this decade.

R. Dratch - Dratch makes up one half of the duo of female cast members that can help lead SNL to better times in upcoming years, but you wouldn't know that if you based such an opinion off this year alone. As CCS pointed out, she has been nearly non-existent, rarely being utilized as the focal point of a sketch, whereas last year, she was the focal point more than often. I really enjoy Dratch's humor, and hope to Christ she is not included amongst those axed at the end of the season (that is, if the rumored shake-up does indeed take place).

A. Poehler - Amy is the second half of the aforementioned duo. She clearly has sketch comedy talent, as was evinced in her televised work with UCB and first two seasons at SNL. However, now she seems to be more of an impressionist and/or straight-woman, and rarely the central aspect of a sketch's humor on her own. CCS hit it on the head, and I would think he'd agree that she's being somewhat misused and underused during what's supposed to be the "prime years" of an SNL cast member's tenure. As with those mentioned above, I pray she does not get handed the pink slip at the end of the season.

T. Fey - Whether you like her or not, she's gonna be a part of things for at least a couple more years. I personally think that since Adam McKay left, the show has taken a substantial downturn. However, this happened to coincide with Will Ferrell's last season, along with subsequent seasons, and I felt Ferrell was almost lethargic during 01-02. Therefore, it's hard to tell if it just wasn't Ferrell's passing, or the absence of McKay's supervision with the writers, that has led to SNL's current doldrums. Regardless, Fey is occasionally brilliant with her sketch writing and WU anchorperson performances, but is also oftentimes silly, unfunny, and apparently afraid to take risks beyond spouting ultra-liberal, politically-charged diatribes. So, she's not part of the bright future ahead. Rather, she'll just be there.

THE HONORABLY DISCHARGED

D. Hammond - You have to respect one of the original 95-96 players who came in and flipped the show on the side of it's overstuffed noggin and gave us years and years of consistent, respectable, and outrageous comedy. You have to respect his desire to impersonate, to near-perfection, nearly anyone he's asked to characterize. And, you have to respect his ability to play the occasional utility role, and play it well. All in all, this guy's the latest era's Hartman if Parnell wasn't around to fill the straight-man roles, and I doubt if Hammond wouldn't have done just as well, even though Hartman's are certainly big shoes to fill. Regardless, it's time to go, pal. As CCS accurately pointed out, his existence on the show is teetering on insignificance, however now, without Richards, they don't have a top-notch impressionist with which to replace him. Take that as a suggestion, SNL...you need one. Don't become MadTV and pull idiots off the street who haven't a clue the difference between an impression and a caricature. Anyway, bye, Darrell Hammond, and best of luck to you. Surely you will find green pastures ahead.

C. Parnell - I can't begin to describe how much I respect this man's talents. He was a comedic actor in the mold of a Phil Hartman, but perhaps a part of SNL during the wrong era. After the successes the show achieved with wild, animated players such as Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri, Chris Kattan, and Molly Shannon, there was very little popularity and respect to be given to a solid, efficient straight-man like Chris was. And, as he became tabbed with this role, it was highly difficult for writers (and viewers) to imagine him being the central aspect of a sketch's humor. One of the first instances where Parnell was truly the primary provider of the funny came during last year's Gellar ep, when he brought us Merv the Perv. I definitely remember a very unreceptive audience then. Save for the Greenbrier sketch, along with a second installment of Merv, rarely has he been used for anything else than the utility roles he's known for. Because of this, and because I don't want to see him either go down with the ship and/or attempt to adapt to new cast members/writers, I believe it's his time to go. Surely, he will find work on stage, if not in sitcoms or movies. I wish him the best of luck.

J. Fallon - As talented and soaring as any player had ever been initially, Fallon began his SNL career with a bang, wooing SNL viewers with a relatively sizable array of characters, impressions, and, yes, straight-man roles which put him on the map. Soon after, he became SNL's cover boy for the 11-16 year olds, and his popularity surely reached that of even Ferrell during the latter's final years. However, during 01-02, his comedic talents were seemingly enervated by his sudden popularity, and in 02-03, he bombed like Hiroshima, which prevented him from ever fulfilling the potential he had. This year, he's hit what might be his old stride amidst bad writing and the influence of a certain executive producer who likely wants him to continue giggling with his counterparts, hence providing laughs when sketch ideas and planned performances don't. Regardless, this man needs to move on. If he sinks with the show, then he may mar his popularity amongst the youth of today, and shoot his chances of becoming a Sandler-like star in the brain.

Seth Meyers - I continue to be baffled at how popular this guy is amongst the hard-core fans. I just don't understand it, because Meyers has never found his niche at SNL...NEVER. He, much like the perspicacious CCS has noted, is the Tim Meadows of his era, except for he has not found his Perspectives, much less his Ladies' Man. And he isn't near as funny as Meadows could be when put in a role that allowed him to play his best role...a nutty idiot. I am harkened back to several bits I won't divulge here (ask me in chat), but anyway, Meyers best role is playing a silly character, like Zinger, for instance. But, this rarely is ever daring or unpredictable, and rarely provides for more than a chuckle...the initial Zinger bit the rare exception. In the end, Seth must go on ahead and find his place amongst the Kroegers and Meadows of the former cast members...essentially pop-culture oblivion. But, he will be missed...kinda.

J. Richards - There haven't been many non-minority dudes come along and be so severely underused and unrealized as Jeff Richards was. I laughed nearly any time this man was doing an impression, but I can't really recall many of them occurring more than once or twice, outside of his Busey or Dean. Yeah, Baby K was bad, and Drunk Girl was worse, but so what? I'll take his mastery of the impression over Jimmy Fallon's character-breaking bullshit any day of the week. Oh, well...he's gone, and it's sad. I would have easily put him with the future of the show had he not already been let go.

THE DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED

Horatio Sanz - Initially, he started off as a quite serviceable comedic talent. He was brilliant alongside Ferrell in the Wedding Singers sketch (Joshua Jackson), and played a hilarious Osbourne in "Enjoy the Ozzy and Keep Your Mouth Shut (Brendan Frasier, feat. George Plimpton [R.I.P., one of the greatest sports journalists of all-time] in this particular bit), among other various roles. However, as Fallon ascended, he played Joe Piscopo to Jimmy's Eddie Murphy and tried to hoard in on the action. However, he at some point made, for whatever reason, the conscious decision to pepper his performances with laughs, chuckles, and clever-less improv, which in my opinion bastardizes the entire idea of a live television show. By this I mean to say that if SNL was pre-taped, his shit wouldn't fly. Anyway, get the fuck out, Sanz. You may be a great individual, but in regards to sketch comedy, you blow. I disagree with CCS here...he is not dead weight, he is more like a very alive millstone that keeps on trying to throw itself over the bridge, with one of SNL's protruding limbs attached to it.

Finesse Mitchell - I seriously should give this guy another chance, but I think it was a rather glaring mistake to hire him in the first place. You let go of Jerry Minor, an experienced sketch comedy guy, for Dean Edwards, a stand-up guy (and a not-so-funny one at that). Then, you fire him when he doesn't work out, and then go hire another stand-up who, to this point, has proven to be quite unfunny at times. I just don't get it. I say let this fish go, and make an effort to catch one who has stage experience in the future. Sorry, dawg.

Maya Rudolph - The Seth Meyers of females, except for unfunny WAY too much, Maya never found her niche on SNL either, even though she was given many more chances relative to her male counterpart. Her ubiquitious Versace, Wake Up Wakefield, and various 11:30 talk show sketches have littered, and in some cases, plagued SNL for too long, and now it's time for her to pack it up. While her offenses on-stage are hardly egregious (i.e. Sanz), she often is expected to be the central aspect of humor, but does not make anyone laugh. When she is utility, she rarely improves sketches. Overall, she's dead weight...and/or taking up the space that could be given to another promising cast member.

Well, this Summer we will absolutely get an opportunity to observe just how much Lorne's opinions compare to ours, based upon who he fires and retains. Let's hope he keeps the Forte's and the Armisen's and not the Fallon's and Sanz's.

JPIII

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Replies:

Wow, I've never been called perspicacious before; this is an honor (NT) -- CCS, 00:02:39 02/18/04 Wed
Shake-up -- CCS, 00:32:53 02/18/04 Wed
- I must have had a mental lapse... -- JPIII, 06:39:21 02/18/04 Wed