Saturday Night Live - 09/13/08

[FilmCritic3000]

I figured I'd start a thread as it's just airing now.

The cold opening, first sketch, and the commercial parody were very funny. Hopefully the rest is as well.

[sneagle]

Has gone downhill.

I feel dumb, but in the opening sketch, 'Hillary' used the term
'FLURG' (?FLIRG)
and I have no idea what it means...any help?

[Aniketos]

Has gone downhill.

I feel dumb, but in the opening sketch, 'Hillary' used the term
'FLURG' (?FLIRG)
and I have no idea what it means...any help?

First Lady I'd rather (blank)?

[ElJay]

It's in 4:3 here and that's very annoying. The opening was very amusing, the rest... not so much.

[lambertman]

whenever you feel down about yourself, just remember: even the great Michael Phelps can spectacularly fail at something.

[appleye1]

I wouldn't blame Phelps, or any other host for that matter. I think it's up to the writers and cast to make it funny. That said, Phelps certainly did flub a lot of lines. When hosts do that I wonder if its lack of effort on their part or if the cast and crew just didn't prepare them well enough.

Boy did it suck. The only skits that I laughed a little at were the T-Moblie commercial and the Micheal Phelps diet skit.

Pretty bad for a season opener.

[FilmCritic3000]

It's in 4:3 here and that's very annoying.

Thank you! It's the same here. This is the second NBC show, after Late Night with Conan O'Brien, that I've noticed this on.

Are you watching SNL on your local affiliate as I am?

This is getting to be really annoying.

[atrac]

Boy did it suck. The only skits that I laughed a little at were the T-Moblie commercial and the Micheal Phelps diet skit.


Yep, aside from Tina Fey's kickas* Sarah Palin, those were the only two skits that I enjoyed.

[scottykempf]

I wouldn't blame Phelps, or any other host for that matter. I think it's up to the writers and cast to make it funny. That said, Phelps certainly did flub a lot of lines. When hosts do that I wonder if its lack of effort on their part or if the cast and crew just didn't prepare them well enough.



Nope, some people just aren't good at acting or improv. Phelps is a great swimmer, acting not so much.

[markz]

The swim team pep talk skit was almost identical to the one they did when Peyton Manning hosted.

[osterber]

What is a typical SNL rehearsal schedule for the host? I.e., when do they usually arrive in NYC for rehearsals with the cast, etc.? I feel like I saw Phelps on TV in other parts of the country earlier in the week, perhaps suggesting that he got to NYC at the last minute and there was not much rehearsal time. It certainly didn't seem like he gelled with the cast much at all in that there was not great stage chemistry.

-Rick

[windracer]

I can't find the premier of "Swim Cop" in my Guide data. Anyone?

:D

Oh, and Shatner's cameo was great in the opening monologue.

[coolpenguin]

I really liked the opening. I'll agree that the rest was, meh. Oh, the T Mobile skit was funny. Did not care for the musical guest at all, but I knew he was on because of Phelps.

[murgatroyd]

I wouldn't blame Phelps, or any other host for that matter. I think it's up to the writers and cast to make it funny. That said, Phelps certainly did flub a lot of lines. When hosts do that I wonder if its lack of effort on their part or if the cast and crew just didn't prepare them well enough.

Boy did it suck. The only skits that I laughed a little at were the T-Moblie commercial and the Micheal Phelps diet skit.

Pretty bad for a season opener.

The Phelps diet ad was my favorite part of the show, but they missed the obvious punchline:

"... and all for the cost of food!"

Jan

[Jeeters]

The opening with Fey was outstanding. The rest was just so-so.

The home schooled kids on the quiz show got some good laughs out of me. And Kenan Thompson doing Charles Barkley was good, too; liked the bit about the Barecelona olympics. The T-Mobile bit was OK.

You'd think after having all that time off, they'd have some new material and characters instead of still re-hashing and repeating the same stuff which was just so-so the first time around(s): the locker room pep talk, the ugly children, and Fred Armisen's "political commedian" on Weekend Update

Andy Samberg is wearing out for me. His "Cathy" impression and the Digital Short were horrible. The Digital Short looked to take a good amount of production and hefty editing, all for nothing.

I didn't expect anything better out of Phelps; he did as I expected so no disappoinment there. Hard for me to be disappointed in a non-actor on SNL, especially one who's relatively new the spotlight, when they *still* manage to do better than Robert De Niro and last April's Christopher Walken.

[cwoody222]

Other than the opening it was awful.

A poor use of their early election-year premiere.

[Jeeters]

A poor use of their early election-year premiere.They're maybe saving their election year material for the three prime time election specials they're doing in October (9th, 16th, and 23rd).

[jlb]

Boy, NBC must sure wish McCain wins so they can keep having Fey come back to do Sarah. She was awesome! What a MILF! ;)

[Mabes]

Boy, NBC must sure wish McCain wins so they can keep having Fey come back to do Sarah. She was awesome! What a MILF! ;)

I wanted to send a clip to friends but NBC has had them removed from youtube. When are they going to learn that clips on youtube help them, creating interest in the show? Talk about dinosaurs.

[Aniketos]

I wanted to send a clip to friends but NBC has had them removed from youtube. When are they going to learn that clips on youtube help them, creating interest in the show? Talk about dinosaurs.

Cause they want you to go to www.hulu.com

[Mabes]

Cause they want you to go to www.hulu.com

Ah. Makes sense, says this dinosaur. Any programs that allow you to save clips, I have one for youtube.

[djithm]

+1

Opening - :up:
TMobile - :up:
Digital Short - :confused:
The rest - :down::down::down:
The worst - That pizza waiter acting black guy WTH?

[5thcrewman]

Space Swords - TOTALLY CANCELED

[Turtleboy]

I still don't know what FLIRGE stands for.

MILF? I got it.

FLI (U?) RGE?

First Lady I'd Rather . . . I dunno.

The lefty blogs are already saying it stands for "Get Elected." It started with some wits saying it jokingly, and their not very intelligent readers actually believing them and passing it on.

[Jeeters]

I don't think it stands for anything specifically; it's just made up. Tina uses likes to use the word "blurg" a lot on 30 Rock in lieu of swearing ("Oh, blurg!"); I think flurg / flirg is just a take off of that. (yeah, I know amy said it, not Tina.) It's maybe "First Lady I'd <blank>" but that's as far as it goes.

[ElJay]

Are you watching SNL on your local affiliate as I am?

My affiliate is WCSH in Portland, ME. They show Conan in 16:9 so I don't know what happened to SNL last night. I'm going to email them and see if somebody has a reason for it.

[Mikeyis4dcats]

SNL is terrible at everything but political humor and parody commercials.

Even the digital shorts have gotten stupid.

[mwhip]

What was Guy Fieri doing in the front row? I thought he was going to pop up in a sketch somewhere.

http://www.sacmag.com/media/images/sacmag_2/best%20of%20sac/guy.jpg

[Fl_Gulfer]

I thought the Ugly Children was funny. and the Tina Fay thing. and Shatner.

[Amnesia]

I liked the T Mobile ad...and Weekend Update...and the Palin/Clinton sketch. That's about it.

I thought Phelps did a terrible job. What were the producers thinking? Just because he can swim fast doesn't means he's good at live comedy.

[TIVO_GUY_HERE]

This diet sucks a footlong Only thing I laughed at.

[Turtleboy]

They always take a risk with sports celebs. The worst host of all time was another Olympian, Nancy Kerrigan.

However, Michael Jordan was good, as was Derrick Jeter.

[Generic]

I still don't know what FLIRGE stands for.

MILF? I got it.

FLI (U?) RGE?

First Lady I'd Rather . . . I dunno.

The lefty blogs are already saying it stands for "Get Elected." It started with some wits saying it jokingly, and their not very intelligent readers actually believing them and passing it on.

go to urbandictionary.com and type in "flerg". I don't know if it is too graphic for this "family friendly" board so I won't post it.

[USAFSSO]

What is a typical SNL rehearsal schedule for the host? I.e., when do they usually arrive in NYC for rehearsals with the cast, etc.? I feel like I saw Phelps on TV in other parts of the country earlier in the week, perhaps suggesting that he got to NYC at the last minute and there was not much rehearsal time. It certainly didn't seem like he gelled with the cast much at all in that there was not great stage chemistry.

-Rick

I thought I saw the commercial with MP about Mon.

[jsmeeker]

They always take a risk with sports celebs. The worst host of all time was another Olympian, Nancy Kerrigan.

However, Michael Jordan was good, as was Derrick Jeter.

The Rock, too. :)

[busyba]

They always take a risk with sports celebs. The worst host of all time was another Olympian, Nancy Kerrigan.

However, Michael Jordan was good, as was Derrick Jeter.

Joe Montana was the best one, just because of a single line. :)

[Turtleboy]

Joe Montana was the best one, just because of a single line. :)

This one? http://snltranscripts.jt.org/86/86istu.phtml

[cherry ghost]

They're maybe saving their election year material for the three prime time election specials they're doing in October (9th, 16th, and 23rd).

Those are only 1/2 hour versions of weekend update.

[Jeeters]

Those are only 1/2 hour versions of weekend update.Yeah. I didn't say they weren't. :rolleyes: ;)

[busyba]

This one? http://snltranscripts.jt.org/86/86istu.phtml

Yup. :)

[TonyD79]

go to urbandictionary.com and type in "flerg". I don't know if it is too graphic for this "family friendly" board so I won't post it.

You couldn't just say it was the anti-viagra? They advertise viagra during primetime on network TV. Doubt you can't use that.

[GTuck]

What was Guy Fieri doing in the front row? I thought he was going to pop up in a sketch somewhere.

http://www.sacmag.com/media/images/sacmag_2/best%20of%20sac/guy.jpg

I kinda figured he was going to say something about selling himself out too after Shatner was done. Something about his lame Applebee's commercials would have been funny.

[LoadStar]

I kinda figured he was going to say something about selling him self out too after Shatner was dumb. Something about his lame Applebee's commercials would have been funny.

TGI Friday's, not Applebee's.

[GTuck]

TGI Friday's, not Applebee's.

What's the difference? :D

[jilter]

You know they are in trouble when their best hit of the night is from a cast member already gone.

[jimborst]

Last year I cancelled my SP for SNL, then when I seen the commercial that Phelps would be the host I thought I'd give it a try. Am I ever sorry, I couldn't watch the whole show, I laughed at the opening, but the coach in the locker room was just hard to watch. I usually like the weekend update but I didn't even care for that.

Now I know some will say it goes through bad times but I really think it's time to either fire them all and start over or just cancel the show.

[JDHutt25]

Phelps' cue card stare was tremendous!

[lambertman]

*Cough* Phelps' cue card st-- uh, stare was tremendous!

Fixed that for him. :D

[mtnagel]

What is a typical SNL rehearsal schedule for the host? I.e., when do they usually arrive in NYC for rehearsals with the cast, etc.? I feel like I saw Phelps on TV in other parts of the country earlier in the week, perhaps suggesting that he got to NYC at the last minute and there was not much rehearsal time. It certainly didn't seem like he gelled with the cast much at all in that there was not great stage chemistry.

-RickHe was at the VMAs on Sunday night and Oprah on Monday, though I don't know if that was live or taped. I wonder if they normally start rehearsing on Monday as I assume they get off Sunday.

As for the show, there were some laughs, but not much. I guess I should post this show in the "not sure why I watch it, but I do" thread.

Opening was okay, jar opener commercial got a chuckle, kids and waiter sketches were dumb, news was good as always, but Fred Armisen's character is so stupid and yet they keep bringing it back. I don't get it but the audience laughs a lot. Does anyone else think it's funny?

I liked the T-Mobile and digital short a lot. The pep talk sketch was annoying but maybe that was because it was done before. They dragged out the dancing too long I thought.

[TiVo'Brien]

Is Amy Poehler pregnant again? I figured she must have already had the one kid by now?

[mwhip]

Is Amy Poehler pregnant again? I figured she must have already had the one kid by now?

She is.

[windracer]

He was at the VMAs on Sunday night and Oprah on Monday, though I don't know if that was live or taped
He's definitely been getting around ... he was at the Browns/Steeler's game last night.

[YCantAngieRead]

Opening was okay, jar opener commercial got a chuckle, kids and waiter sketches were dumb, news was good as always, but Fred Armisen's character is so stupid and yet they keep bringing it back. I don't get it but the audience laughs a lot. Does anyone else think it's funny?


Yeah, I enjoy SNL these days-I keep my standards pretty easy. But that Fred Armisen comedian character is just awful. I always fast forward right through him.

[ADG]

Other than the opening it was awful.

A poor use of their early election-year premiere.

+1 :down:

[Cindy1230]

Is Amy Poehler pregnant again? I figured she must have already had the one kid by now?

fyi - it's her first pregnancy

[TiVo'Brien]

fyi - it's her first pregnancyI thought they filmed "Baby Momma" around her pregnancy? Guess not.

[JDHutt25]

Fixed that for him. :D

Well played, sir.

[NinerK]

Agree with mostly everybody that there were only a few highlights.

When will they drop the 90 minute format? Make it an hour already.

1 hr would be good. Cold open,Monologue, couple of sketches, musical guest, Weekend Update, then a few more sketches.

Perfect.

[MegaHertz67]

Yeah, I enjoy SNL these days-I keep my standards pretty easy. But that Fred Armisen comedian character is just awful. I always fast forward right through him.I couldn't agree more. I do like Andy Samberg though and I laughed a lot at the digital short.

[trainman]

When will they drop the 90 minute format?

As soon as they are unable to sell 90 minutes' worth of commercials. That hasn't happened yet.

(Fun TV history fact: "SNL" is 90 minutes long because in 1975, "The Tonight Show" was 90 minutes long -- and "SNL" replaced a weekend rerun of "The Tonight Show" on NBC's schedule.)

Count me as someone else who really, really liked Andy Samberg's Digital Short this week, but can definitely understand why other people wouldn't.

[lpamelaa]

I like the first 60 seconds of the digital short. I was cracking up at the 80s style, synthpop, Falco-esque craziness to it. But then when it got to deep into the Space Olympics bit, I felt it took away from the funniness of the 80s genre they were making fun of.

[Amnesia]

I like the first 60 seconds of the digital short. I was cracking up at the 80s style, synthpop, Falco-esque craziness to it. But then when it got to deep into the Space Olympics bit, I felt it took away from the funniness of the 80s genre they were making fun of.That's because it wasn't parodying the 1980s, it was making fun of the 2980s...

[NinerK]

As soon as they are unable to sell 90 minutes' worth of commercials. That hasn't happened yet.

(Fun TV history fact: "SNL" is 90 minutes long because in 1975, "The Tonight Show" was 90 minutes long -- and "SNL" replaced a weekend rerun of "The Tonight Show" on NBC's schedule.)

Count me as someone else who really, really liked Andy Samberg's Digital Short this week, but can definitely understand why other people wouldn't.


Wow, puts the creative talent in a bit of a pinch then doesn't it? I think the staff would enjoy a 60 minute format as well.

Interesting reason as to the 90 min format.

Samberg rocks! Weird short, but it was funny.

[Dssturbo1]

Boy, NBC must sure wish McCain wins so they can keep having Fey come back to do Sarah. She was awesome! What a MILF! ;)

and soon to be a GILF.........:up:
tina fey = sarah palin opener was good, overall blah.

that digital short was not short enough.

[windracer]

They blew up Galactica in the Space Olympics! :eek:

[Einselen]

I watched just the opener on NBC.com. Heck my mom (52 years young now) asked if I watched SNL. That in itself is odd to me.

[jwjody]

Only part of this I watched was Fey's Palin, and she did a great job.

J

[busyba]

Space Olympics was ridiculous... discus and fencing would never be in the same Olympics as luge. Duh!

[lambertman]

I'm a bit annoyed that the new guy apparently gets a recurring character (and a crappy one at that) on his first episode, while the funny (and adorable) Casey Wilson doesn't have one yet after doing 8 eps last year.

[scooterboy]

Count me as another who just doesn't understand the Fred Armisen character on the news.

Usually if I don't find something funny, I can at least understand why someone else might. But in this case I don't even see why it's supposed to be funny.

[scooterboy]

I'm a bit annoyed that the new guy apparently gets a recurring character (and a crappy one at that) on his first episode, while the funny (and adorable) Casey Wilson doesn't have one yet after doing 8 eps last year.

Because on SNL, it's not a matter of fairness. During the week, writers work with the performers to come up with candidate sketches. Lorne puts on the ones he thinks are the best.

Either the writers haven't come up with something worthy for her, or they just didn't measure up.

[Havana Brown]

Boy did it suck. The only skits that I laughed a little at were the T-Moblie commercial and the Micheal Phelps diet skit.

Pretty bad for a season opener.

I started watched during the T-Mobile skit. Good thing I didn't waste my time with the rest.

As for the Tina Fey/Sara Palin skit, I saw that on the news the next. I thought they said Sara Palin made a guest appearance on SNL and I didn't even think twice that it wasn't her. :o

[windracer]

My Guide data for this episode said something about "Barack Obama scheduled to appear." I guess that didn't happen.

[YCantAngieRead]

My Guide data for this episode said something about "Barack Obama scheduled to appear." I guess that didn't happen.
No, he backed out because of the hurricane. Fearing that it was going to be very bad, he didn't think that appearing on a comedy show would be good timing.

[TAsunder]

Count me as another who just doesn't understand the Fred Armisen character on the news.

Usually if I don't find something funny, I can at least understand why someone else might. But in this case I don't even see why it's supposed to be funny.

I like that character. I don't know if it's laugh out loud funny, but I think it's clever and well-executed. I think it's appropriate to bring him out during political seasons in particular. He reminds me a lot of political pundits and/or the people they bring onto Bill Maher's show.

[getreal]

The Palin/Clinton opener was the best part of the show, but I also cracked up during the coach's silly dance in the swim team locker room -- until what's-his-name (the Olympic guy ;) ) joined in.

[busyba]

but I also cracked up during the coach's silly dance in the swim team locker room -- until what's-his-name (the Olympic guy ;) ) joined in.

Did you see the first time that they did that exact same sketch, but with Peyton Manning? It was much funnier that time; even the cast onstage had to hide their faces because they were laughing. Also, Peyton was a much better actor, and dancer, than Phelps. Peyton's prance out the locer room door was the funniest part of the whole thing.

The song was better the first time too.

[YCantAngieRead]

Did you see the first time that they did that exact same sketch, but with Peyton Manning? It was much funnier that time; even the cast onstage had to hide their faces because they were laughing. Also, Peyton was a much better actor, and dancer, than Phelps. Peyton's prance out the locer room door was the funniest part of the whole thing.

The song was better the first time too.
Yeah, that sketch was hilarious. Every once in a while, I think of it in my head and the little dance that Peyton did and it cracks me up all over again.

I was excited to see the coach sketch again, but it wasn't nearly as funny.

You know, the character I'd LOVE to see come back-they only had two sketches with him-Andy Samberg's 90's rapper character...which you can see here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czrALMcxp-s

I almost literally laughed my ass off the first time they did the character on SNL.

[getreal]

Did you see the first time that they did that exact same sketch, but with Peyton Manning? It was much funnier that time; even the cast onstage had to hide their faces because they were laughing. Also, Peyton was a much better actor, and dancer, than Phelps. Peyton's prance out the locer room door was the funniest part of the whole thing.

The song was better the first time too.

Yes, I remember the Peyton Manning show -- he was awesome. But the silly dance still cracks me up. I didn't expect it to, but it did.

[hapdrastic]

go to urbandictionary.com and type in "flerg". I don't know if it is too graphic for this "family friendly" board so I won't post it.

Well on the front page of urbandictionary right now it says the reference in question is FLIRJ, which I definitely cannot repeat here. But I'd heard it was FLIRG which is either First Lady Is Really a Guy or First Lady is Really Gay, depending on who you ask.

[DianaMo]

The Phelps diet ad was my favorite part of the show, but they missed the obvious punchline:

"... and all for the cost of food!"

Jan

My guess is that sometime in the next year Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija will appear on SNL. He performed at a Second City event recently (reported by Comcast SportsNet Chicago). Also interviewed was a Belushi son - not sure if it was John or Jim's kid. Did anyone else see this story on Comcast?