If Saturday Night Live couldn't find a way to live up to their promise "to have Michael Phelps shirtless in every sketch" earlier this year, it seemed a little more likely that they could get us some Shirts-Off Time with good sport Paul Rudd hosting last night. They went even further than that in the digital short that featured Rudd in the buff being painted by Andy Samberg.
But who would have known that Rudd's good looks would have been enough to give most of the episode an undercurrent of bro-on-bro action? Whether it was a family dinner scene that may have broke the record for males kissing in an SNL sketch, rolling out newcomer Bobby Moynihan as Snagglepuss on Weekend Update or just a punchline involving a cellphone vibrating while inside Rudd's behind, there was definitely something in the air last night.
As icing on an already pink cake, Update ended with a surprise appearance from Justin Timberlake, who made up for having to cancel on hosting next week by once again lighting up the show and performing a whole episode in two minutes, culminating with him performing "SexyBack" atop the Update desk. With the expected post-election lull following such a talked about season of SNL, Timerblake's appearance reminded you that political impressions aren't the only way to breathe life into a thirty-four year old institution.
Some questions about last night's show: did the first cold opener after the election feature Joe Biden and not Obama because the show's considering a new impressionist for the president-elect? Is next week's hosting/musical combination of Tim McGraw and Ludacris the starkest contrast between two guests since Steve Forbes and Rage Against the Machine? And where were the new ladies at? After the jump is the digital short, Snagglepuss and since we'll never know how magical Dick in a Turkey would have been, here's the classic Dick in a Box.
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I don't really get why there is a weekly SNL update on this site? I mean, WTF? The show is terrible and it's geared towards kids in jr. high school, hardly the gothamist core audience. I understand posts when they are poignant or about something in particular, but the weekly rundown is tired at this point.
And the show hasn't been funny in YEARS.
Like it or not, it's somewhat of an NYC institution. I still record it, but I generally only watch the opening sketch, host monologue, and Weekend Update.
I hate to sound old, but I remember when the show was actually funny.
this show is only watchable like most of all tv with a dvr. I fastforward the skits i dont like. But this was a nice prop8 dedication show but we needed one more with fey showing palin losing. But givin the behind the scenes hiring and people leavig i can see why this week mostly blowed. I thought beyonce was gonna act like she was too good to be in a skit. But she prooved me wrong. But she has the makings of diva/bitch hid unerneatheh her smile so well.
Rudd was very funny, though I thought he could have been used better in the sketches. JT was fairly funny-he should have been a comic actor instead of a musician.
The show was indeed mighty gay (you forgot the two gay parking attendants).
I can't stand Timberlake's songs, but he is one funny dude. I hope he keeps on doing comedy.
It is live from New York, so it is totally appropriate for Gothamist to write about it. Cast, writers and crew are our fellow New Yorkers.
People have been saying "the show hasn't been funny in years" for probably 30 years now.
Yet SNL continues to introduce rising comedy stars to a wider audience every year.
Sketch comedy can be hit or miss. You try things, and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. So Tivo it, and you can watch it in 30 minutes on Sunday morning, fast forwarding though bits you don't like.
When is Timberlake's beard going to finish growing in?
We never watch this (usually asleep by then) but we had company over and we're still awake after they left and the kids were asleep so we watched some. I was surprised that so many of the sketches were focused on homosexuality. Frankly, I don't care either way, but surely there's a broader basis for humor than men kissing, etc.
Tired old bits.
I dug it.
Yes, it was probably the gayest episode ever.
But straight guys acting gay wasn't even funny when Uncle Miltie did it. Fred Armisen is funny whether he is playing gay or straight.
Heavens to Murgatroyd, now that bit was funny, even.