Secretive Review -- Saturday Night You Bull Sessions

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Date Posted: 02:53:56 05/15/05 Sun
Author: Those who know me...
Subject: Secretive Review
In reply to: Patrick Lonergan 's message, "REVIEWS: WILL FERRELL 05/14/05" on 17:39:34 05/14/05 Sat

Cold Opening � This was well-written, and well-developed. There were several jokes that played really well, and very few, if any, that didn�t. In addition, the dynamic between Parnell, Sanz, Hammond, and Ferrell was mostly fun, although it occasionally seemed to drag on. Of course, that�s when you�d resuscitate it with a great line or jab. If I were to find any criticism, it would be that this sketch appears to function as a forum in which you can outline some of your gripes with Hammond. Quick note: appearing in two sketches per show could actually be considered prolific by some SNL fans.

Monologue � And I thought DRG4 was bitching with his sketch! The writer here clearly uses this piece as catharsis, lambasting SNL within the guise of comedy, while mixing in some pretty standard, pedestrian Ferrell �schtik��like that which DRG4 used to parody Parnell in the CO. The idea of Chevy Chase being a bastard is way overplayed, too. I�d suggest the writer stick to writing comedy, instead of pseudo hate mail, and attempt to be fresh, even though it�s tempting in this case to try to recreate the �angry� Ferrell we all fell in love with.

Come to Milford � I enjoy the fact that the writer does not use the �angry� Ferrell personality, but rather a more subtle, passive-aggressive derivation that, with a little imagination, appears to work perfectly with our host this week. There were aspects of this piece that could be improved, such as cutting it down to a one-minute bit, but a lot of the concepts you include work well. The way you wrote the spokesman�s body language was ingenious. What would I cut? I�d take much less time setting your premise, and I�d cut the least essential bits from the spokesman�s interactions with the mayor and with the Heffner�s.

Wheelchair Dad � Boy, this guy�s sure doing his taxes pretty late! Hope he filed for an extension! Okay, enough stupidity. The �hurt you more than it hurts me� joke was extremely funny�terrible, but extremely funny. However, a lot of what happens later leaves something to be desired. I expected Ferrell to have several more funny exclamations as the sketch went on; however, much of it seemed to stop with the aforementioned joke. It�s hard to say, however, whether or not Ferrell could run with the physical comedy of this piece and make it a non-stop laugher. Overall, I like the premise, but for some reason, I think Ferrell winning in the end would have been the perfect capper. Maybe he has a gun or a grenade�or maybe he�s not really crippled. Maybe you could get even crazier. Either way, I think the sketch wins if Ferrell wins, simply because there�d be more comedic opportunity in that direction.

Take a Seat � Quick note�you took way to long to get to Gordon�s being upset about Lambert not taking a seat. There were two problems with this: first, it simply would make your sketch more economical to shorten it and get to the funny ASAP, but second, and more important, it just looks awkward, with Gordon continuing to ask, over and over, if Lambert will take a seat. If it�s that big a deal to him, then he should get increasingly upset, not suddenly upset, about Lambert�s choice. That being said, the premise you do arrive at is good�but there simply isn�t enough of it. Normally, I�d say that an �angry� Ferrell has been done and done and is to be expected, but you actually had some good jokes. You just need to work your premise a little better, and learn to edit out the unnecessary.

Death to Sitcom � Okay, so we�re using this forum not only to bash SNL, but sitcoms also? Oh, well�I�ll give it to you, it�s not that bad a premise. However, the execution�s just flat-out weak. All the �jokes� are pedestrian angered outbursts, like ��once I kick your sitcom ass� and �fat ass yo-yo!� and �I�m gonna get you, chubby�. You do a good job of keeping your piece straight-forward, it�s just less joke-focused and more premise-focused.

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