Monday, October 06, 2008

The Return Of SNL To Greatness?

A comedy skit show that has been around as long as SNL is bound to have some down years. After Will Ferrell left SNL, I figured that the show was lost for a while (and maybe it was... I didn't watch it for a bit and so I guess I don't know if it was really any good or not). Then they brough in some unusual choices (from my point of view): Kenan Thompson (of that old Nickelodeon comedy skit show that I never watched and thought sounded lame) and Andy Samberg (who got his start making really strange films and skits with his buddies from thelonelyisland.com). It was that same Andy (and his buddies that do a little bit of writing for the show now and are behind the SNL Digital Shorts) who got my attention to want to come back and give the show another try. When "Lazy Sunday" blew up, I think it caught everyone's attention. I have since begun watching little bits here and there and thank hulu.com tremendously for making it possible to see skits without having to stay up until 1:30 or 2:00 am to get my fix. The show has brought in some great cast members. Despite its heavy liberal leanings, I love Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers as the Weekend Update team. Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Will Forte, and Fred Armisen are all very strong comedians and have impressed me tremendously. Most of all, and the biggest surprise to me, is that Kristen Wiig is outstanding. She has become that effortless comedian of the show, that will enhance any skit just by being in it. She doesn't have to try hard like so many other comedians do; she is just naturally hilarious.
Anyway, The season premiere was very disappointing (despite Tina Fey's very funny and now infamous portrayal of Sarah Palin), but the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th episodes completely made up for that. My faith in the show is easily being restored to where I now feel it is worth it to stay up to watch it again. It has been a long time since I felt that way.
First up, an O.J. Simpson trial jury selection skit:

Second, one of the best skits I've ever seen. Watch Kristen Wiig in action in the Lawrence Welk Show skit:

6 comments:

heather said...

I as well thought that the Lawerence Welk show skit was so funny! I actually did a post about it myself too!
So if you didn't see this past saturdays episode it was so funny. One skit in particular was funny but they haven't posted it on hulu or on nbc yet. It was from the weekend update and Will forte sings a song. So funny!

elopingcamel said...

I did see that one and it was hilarious.

Misty said...

I knew you could do it some how... you made a racist blog. What do you have against the UK?!

elopingcamel said...

I didn't make a racist blog. I made yours a racist blog. Two very different things (and for the record, saying that London is dirty is hardly racist).

Alex Dye said...

While I really like the cast these days (especially Will Forte), I feel like the writers have a long way to go still. They definitely have their moments, but there are some pretty bad duds every week.

elopingcamel said...

I think there have always been duds. I agree that the writing may not be at its top form, but even back int he day, there were always random skits that just weren't all that good (at least in my opinion). That is the nature of comedy. Sometimes things seem so funny until you try to pull it off. Then you realize it was funnier in your head.