Technically, SNL airs during 'Safe Harbor' hours (10 PM - 6 AM) with much less stringent guidelines as to what can and cannot be said on air. I've yet to see a major broadcast network truly make use of the guideline though. Even Comedy Central (which is not under the FCC's domain, being a cable company) waits until 1 AM to air its 'Secret Stash' uncensored programming.
The other aspect of this is advertisers... networks are about making money and if a major advertiser decides the program its purchasing advertising on is objectionable, then it may pull its support. The GD (I'm selfcensoring because I prefer the euphemism to any censorship this board might automate onto me) is fairly offensive amongst the religious conservatives in the country, and the advertiser is worried that they won't be able to reach those audiences. Obviously, the completely ignored flipside to this is that if you have a popular show, regardless of the content, advertisers will come.
Censorship is not controlled via the FCC directly, NBC has its own censors that determine internally what it will or will not air, and tends to be more stringent as they'd rather avoid the costs and 'negative' publicity of a legal battle.
Previously, music acts have been known to selfcensor (as Panic! at the Disco did, or Korn's appearance) or play the song normal and be blanked by the NBC soundboard (Green Day's "American Idiot"). But the last time a band performed with the soundboard adding the blanks (System of a Down's "B.Y.O.B."), Daron Malakian took the opportunity to shout an extended, unplanned F-bomb for absolutely no reason whatsoever - maybe they have changed their policy in what the guests are allowed to do? Just postulating. Either way, Malakian acted like a baby.
Full Version: 04/05 - Christopher Walken/Panic at the Disco
Can't seem to edit my last post, just wanted to state that the existence of previous instances where the phrase was cleaned up for later broadcast indicates that it is on NBC's 'forbidden' list, regardless of the phrase's legal status.
So busy lately... I know its late but here it is
Cold Open... Always political even if its not funny, I did not feel this was good enough to lead off the show, what about some weird opening with Walken getting ready before the show and have him tell the cast "doing the show is a piece of cake all the words are written out for you on these cards it s great..." Grade D
Monologue... Great. I loved the reactions from Walken answerin g his own questions Grade A
Grease: I thought it was good sketch (not skit for you new people) and yes Walken reads off the cards but that is his thing and I love it as opposed to when Deniro does it which comes off looking bad.. Walken still gets the delivery right Grade B
Away Party: Not bad at all. It had some good laughs and was one of those sketches that keeps building in the absurdity department which works great for a host like Walken. Grade B-
Laser Cats 3: I almost feel like not reviewing anymore Digi Shigies b/c they are all freakin awesome this one was no exception w/ so much background laughs you have to watch it over and again to really pick up on all the jokes.. I loved it when they flashed to Lorne and Senator Dodd wearing 3d glasses.. Grade A
Surprise party: Not a whole lot for wiig this week which is unusual but this was no doubt written for her.. I didn 't find it one of her best though Grade C
WU I am actually pleasantly surprised w/ how well the last few updates have been Grade B
Walken Reunion: not bad. it was cool to see everyone do there impression of Walken which is very hard to get down properly, I have been trying for years and still don't have it right, but it seemed like a lot of the impressions were more of impressions of another persons impression so it left me a little more wanting.. I thought the content of the sketch was good Grade B-
Googly Eyes; Hands Down my favorite: I loved the way Walken handled this and the concept was so original I laughed my @ss off. I've been wtching it again and again and I loved the part where he says my last thougth would be I always knew it was the ferns Grade A+
Top Chef: Nice take on these crazy cooking shows as of late, and no better host to do it with.. I think maybe they have had this sketch around for little bit waiting for the right host Grade B-
Larry King; Great sketch considering its time slot.. I thought Fred did a great job of making fun of Carters limitless supply of books Grade B-
Overall I enjoyed this show and it is right now one of my current favorites, not as good as Baldwins show last year but I put it right up there.. gotta run..
Cold Open... Always political even if its not funny, I did not feel this was good enough to lead off the show, what about some weird opening with Walken getting ready before the show and have him tell the cast "doing the show is a piece of cake all the words are written out for you on these cards it s great..." Grade D
Monologue... Great. I loved the reactions from Walken answerin g his own questions Grade A
Grease: I thought it was good sketch (not skit for you new people) and yes Walken reads off the cards but that is his thing and I love it as opposed to when Deniro does it which comes off looking bad.. Walken still gets the delivery right Grade B
Away Party: Not bad at all. It had some good laughs and was one of those sketches that keeps building in the absurdity department which works great for a host like Walken. Grade B-
Laser Cats 3: I almost feel like not reviewing anymore Digi Shigies b/c they are all freakin awesome this one was no exception w/ so much background laughs you have to watch it over and again to really pick up on all the jokes.. I loved it when they flashed to Lorne and Senator Dodd wearing 3d glasses.. Grade A
Surprise party: Not a whole lot for wiig this week which is unusual but this was no doubt written for her.. I didn 't find it one of her best though Grade C
WU I am actually pleasantly surprised w/ how well the last few updates have been Grade B
Walken Reunion: not bad. it was cool to see everyone do there impression of Walken which is very hard to get down properly, I have been trying for years and still don't have it right, but it seemed like a lot of the impressions were more of impressions of another persons impression so it left me a little more wanting.. I thought the content of the sketch was good Grade B-
Googly Eyes; Hands Down my favorite: I loved the way Walken handled this and the concept was so original I laughed my @ss off. I've been wtching it again and again and I loved the part where he says my last thougth would be I always knew it was the ferns Grade A+
Top Chef: Nice take on these crazy cooking shows as of late, and no better host to do it with.. I think maybe they have had this sketch around for little bit waiting for the right host Grade B-
Larry King; Great sketch considering its time slot.. I thought Fred did a great job of making fun of Carters limitless supply of books Grade B-
Overall I enjoyed this show and it is right now one of my current favorites, not as good as Baldwins show last year but I put it right up there.. gotta run..
i'm pretty sure the good and bad side of every sketch has been seen so i'm just gonna say i loved the show. Liked the monolougue and laser cats and the plants and greased lighting.
On a side note, a ton has been said about walken reading off the cue cards. On the nbc site, his picture wasn't posted until really late in. Idk but maybe that means he was running behind show development wise or somthing? Idk. Who knows?
On a side note, a ton has been said about walken reading off the cue cards. On the nbc site, his picture wasn't posted until really late in. Idk but maybe that means he was running behind show development wise or somthing? Idk. Who knows?
QUOTE (Padistedor @ Apr 9 2008, 08:06 PM) 
With Christopher Walken hosting, I was sure they would do a "continental" skit.
I like Christopher Walken but I couldn't help but stare at him staring at the cue cards all night.
I like Christopher Walken but I couldn't help but stare at him staring at the cue cards all night.
That's why there wasn't a sketch. Remember, for 'The Continental', he's supposed to look into the camera the whole time for it to work. Maybe they rehearsed it, and Walken just wasn't in step.
QUOTE (MaddAddams @ Apr 10 2008, 05:05 PM)
Can't seem to edit my last post...
You only get a certain number of minutes to edit, then it's permanent.
QUOTE (DG3 @ Apr 10 2008, 08:08 PM)
You only get a certain number of minutes to edit, then it's permanent.
That explains it. Too bad my connection timed out on my first attempt.
And again, The Continental was Tom Davis's baby.
i didn't like the music in the intro this episode. they tried to make it more "modern" or something, but it was much better the old way, with more instruments and more sax.
also in the end they take absolutely no time to do the song anymore.
the walken family reunion is hilarious.
of course it's all about the walken impressions more than the content, but still...
also in the end they take absolutely no time to do the song anymore.
the walken family reunion is hilarious.
of course it's all about the walken impressions more than the content, but still...
QUOTE (jimifloydrix @ Apr 10 2008, 08:25 PM)
also in the end they take absolutely no time to do the song anymore.
sorry, not true. it's just in my country the credits last about 20 seconds.
QUOTE (MaddAddams @ Apr 10 2008, 06:05 PM)
Can't seem to edit my last post...
If you ever need something edited, just shoot me a PM and I'll be happy to take care of it for you. I'm only leaving this current instance unedited so that others know that I can do this for them.
It's just one of my many moderatorly duties that I perform.
-Nick
QUOTE (MaddAddams @ Apr 10 2008, 03:46 PM)
Technically, SNL airs during 'Safe Harbor' hours (10 PM - 6 AM) with much less stringent guidelines as to what can and cannot be said on air. I've yet to see a major broadcast network truly make use of the guideline though. Even Comedy Central (which is not under the FCC's domain, being a cable company) waits until 1 AM to air its 'Secret Stash' uncensored programming.
The other aspect of this is advertisers... networks are about making money and if a major advertiser decides the program its purchasing advertising on is objectionable, then it may pull its support. The GD (I'm selfcensoring because I prefer the euphemism to any censorship this board might automate onto me) is fairly offensive amongst the religious conservatives in the country, and the advertiser is worried that they won't be able to reach those audiences. Obviously, the completely ignored flipside to this is that if you have a popular show, regardless of the content, advertisers will come.
Censorship is not controlled via the FCC directly, NBC has its own censors that determine internally what it will or will not air, and tends to be more stringent as they'd rather avoid the costs and 'negative' publicity of a legal battle.
Previously, music acts have been known to selfcensor (as Panic! at the Disco did, or Korn's appearance) or play the song normal and be blanked by the NBC soundboard (Green Day's "American Idiot"). But the last time a band performed with the soundboard adding the blanks (System of a Down's "B.Y.O.B."), Daron Malakian took the opportunity to shout an extended, unplanned F-bomb for absolutely no reason whatsoever - maybe they have changed their policy in what the guests are allowed to do? Just postulating. Either way, Malakian acted like a baby.
The other aspect of this is advertisers... networks are about making money and if a major advertiser decides the program its purchasing advertising on is objectionable, then it may pull its support. The GD (I'm selfcensoring because I prefer the euphemism to any censorship this board might automate onto me) is fairly offensive amongst the religious conservatives in the country, and the advertiser is worried that they won't be able to reach those audiences. Obviously, the completely ignored flipside to this is that if you have a popular show, regardless of the content, advertisers will come.
Censorship is not controlled via the FCC directly, NBC has its own censors that determine internally what it will or will not air, and tends to be more stringent as they'd rather avoid the costs and 'negative' publicity of a legal battle.
Previously, music acts have been known to selfcensor (as Panic! at the Disco did, or Korn's appearance) or play the song normal and be blanked by the NBC soundboard (Green Day's "American Idiot"). But the last time a band performed with the soundboard adding the blanks (System of a Down's "B.Y.O.B."), Daron Malakian took the opportunity to shout an extended, unplanned F-bomb for absolutely no reason whatsoever - maybe they have changed their policy in what the guests are allowed to do? Just postulating. Either way, Malakian acted like a baby.
QUOTE (MaddAddams @ Apr 10 2008, 04:05 PM)
just wanted to state that the existence of previous instances where the phrase was cleaned up for later broadcast indicates that it is on NBC's 'forbidden' list, regardless of the phrase's legal status.
Does NBC truly have "GD" on their naughty list, even though it's not on the FCC's? Bizarre! If they couldn't care less about the negative publicity and complaints lately about their political sketches but they think allowing the words "Closing the GD door" would be the thing to send some viewers over the edge, that attitude makes no sense to me. And Comedy Central waits until 1 to show the goods? Seriously? Wow - I would have thought they'd be the most flexible there.
For me, words coming out of someone else's mouth are their own thoughts, ideas, and feelings. And, their words can only offend someone if that person allows themself to feel offended. How does hearing Panic at the Disco sing, "Closing the GD door", affect anyone's life, personally? The person that said it is just expressing that they feel very strongly about the closing of that f'ing door. haha If they want to do that using the words GD, as nothing more than an intensifier against an inanimate object, I don't see how that could possibly hurt anyone. Besides, it's hard to substitute a different word for the one that truly reflects how you feel. If I stub my toe, badly, on the corner of something, I'd definitely be selecting the ol' F-word. haha If I had to change it to, let's say, "Dang it" or "Shoot", it just wouldn't cut it. It would stifle my expression of pain and I would feel incomplete. Ahaha!
p.s. Is Tom Davis still writing for SNL?
I've been watching SNL religiously since 1975. It's had its ups and downs, but I've got to say this was one of the more enjoyable episodes. Since the writer's strike the show is picking itself back up from what seemed to be a period of the doldrums.
Christopher Walken has become a parody of himself and he plays it perfectly. To read all these posts about how bad he was makes me wonder if people are tuning in on a Saturday night to laugh, or if they're looking for a flawless Broadway performance. His stilted way of speaking and attention to the cue cards is hilarious because it's deliberate and intentional!
I don't think I'm lowering the bar here. What SNL does week to week is a tremendous undertaking. Sometimes it works and sometimes it flops. This week worked really well for me and it looked like Walken and the cast had a great time.
Cheers SNL!!
Christopher Walken has become a parody of himself and he plays it perfectly. To read all these posts about how bad he was makes me wonder if people are tuning in on a Saturday night to laugh, or if they're looking for a flawless Broadway performance. His stilted way of speaking and attention to the cue cards is hilarious because it's deliberate and intentional!
I don't think I'm lowering the bar here. What SNL does week to week is a tremendous undertaking. Sometimes it works and sometimes it flops. This week worked really well for me and it looked like Walken and the cast had a great time.
Cheers SNL!!
For all the positives and negatives, I think there will be a whole lot of sales of googley eyes for people to put on their plants...
I saw in previous posts the writer for the Continental was out of town, but my goodness, you'd think they'd have 4 or 5 Continental skits in the Can waiting to be performed. They're not that difficult, but Walken animates it.
Still, disappointed at no The Continental...
I saw in previous posts the writer for the Continental was out of town, but my goodness, you'd think they'd have 4 or 5 Continental skits in the Can waiting to be performed. They're not that difficult, but Walken animates it.
Still, disappointed at no The Continental...
I know its two weeks late, but i LOVED this show. It is my favourite one since the writers strike. I loved the googly eye plant guy, 'As Winston Churchill once said, the eyes are the windows to your face' funniest line ever! The Surprise Party was hilarious, Kristin Wiig always makes a skit really funny. The Larry King one was also one of my favorites, when he asks Jimmy Carter, 'Do you think anyone will read this book? Well I hope they do.' Haha. Very Funny. Christopher Walken is the best host, so far I think.
This is normally Farelyrules job but i dont know where he is, anyway, its Christopher Walken/Panic at the Disco again tonight. Feel free to post your thoughts new/old and sbsr.
and to you Andy Samberg and your silly laser cats 3d*, i dont know how said it but “The reason lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn't there the second time.”
winner, Me!!!
and to you Andy Samberg and your silly laser cats 3d*, i dont know how said it but “The reason lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn't there the second time.”
winner, Me!!!
Funny ****. That's all.
Upon second viewing, a couple of lines from Walken's monologue struck me as particularly funny. While chastising an audience member for failing to read the back of the card, Walken says: "You wouldn't think that reading off a card is so tricky. You look at the words, you read them. That's how it's done."
Whoever wrote Walken's monologue obviously noticed Walken's own card dependency and threw in a joke which foreshadows and mocks his own upcoming performance on the show (Nick will give us the technical term for this technique). Nice job.
I'm actually glad somebody else is on the job. It's nice to know I'm not the only one here with my finger in the dike. Nothing offensive intended BTW.
Whoever wrote Walken's monologue obviously noticed Walken's own card dependency and threw in a joke which foreshadows and mocks his own upcoming performance on the show (Nick will give us the technical term for this technique). Nice job.
QUOTE (bahramu @ Apr 26 2008, 07:50 PM)
This is normally Farelyrules job but i dont know where he is
I'm actually glad somebody else is on the job. It's nice to know I'm not the only one here with my finger in the dike. Nothing offensive intended BTW.
QUOTE (FarleyRules @ Apr 27 2008, 09:28 PM)
Whoever wrote Walken's monologue obviously noticed Walken's own card dependency and threw in a joke which foreshadows and mocks his own upcoming performance on the show (Nick will give us the technical term for this technique)
As far as I know, there is no name for that specific type of joke, but if pressed for an answer, I'd call it "predictive meta-comedy."
That one work for you?
-Nick
QUOTE (ComedyWriter @ Apr 27 2008, 09:45 PM)
As far as I know, there is no name for that specific type of joke, but if pressed for an answer, I'd call it "predictive meta-comedy."
That one work for you?
-Nick
That one work for you?
-Nick
Yeah, that or "prescient self-mockery"
why does it have to be predictive? can we bust out the thesaurus: Prognosticate, Presage are my two choices...
QUOTE (bahramu @ Apr 27 2008, 10:59 PM)
why does it have to be predictive? can we bust out the thesaurus: Prognosticate, Presage are my two choices...
I'm fine with "prognosticate," but take issue with "presage" as it classically involves the foretelling of bad things, and I don't consider Walken's card reading to be a bad thing.
While we are be thesaurical, why not "Preemptive A Posteriori Meta-Comedy?" Actually, there is a very good reason "why not" that any super nerd would call me out on...anyone want to reveal their nerdiness by telling me why we shouldn't call it that?
-Nick
QUOTE (ComedyWriter @ Apr 27 2008, 10:15 PM)
I'm fine with "prognosticate," but take issue with "presage" as it classically involves the foretelling of bad things, and I don't consider Walken's card reading to be a bad thing.
While we are be thesaurical, why not "Preemptive A Posteriori Meta-Comedy?" Actually, there is a very good reason "why not" that any super nerd would call me out on...anyone want to reveal their nerdiness by telling me why we shouldn't call it that?
-Nick
While we are be thesaurical, why not "Preemptive A Posteriori Meta-Comedy?" Actually, there is a very good reason "why not" that any super nerd would call me out on...anyone want to reveal their nerdiness by telling me why we shouldn't call it that?
-Nick
I still think "prescient" is best because it anticipates the future events without casting judgment upon them.
I think the problem with "Preemptive A Posteriori Meta-Comedy" is that "A Posteriori" are conclusions based on events that have ALREADY happened. How can you pre-empt something you cannot forsee? Unless you are like Walken's character in the Dead Zone.
QUOTE (FarleyRules @ Apr 27 2008, 11:21 PM)
I think the problem with "Preemptive A Posteriori Meta-Comedy" is that "A Posteriori" are conclusions based on events that have ALREADY happened. How can you pre-empt something you cannot forsee? Unless you are like Walken's character in the Dead Zone.
While technically that is true, I was using it to imply that the premise of the joke was based on empirical, observable traits of Mr. Walken, using "preemptive" as a means to indicate that the a posteriori conclusion comes before the evidence of it. I will give you half credit, but there is an even nerdier reason for not liking the phrasing.
Here's a hint: it involves etymology.
I will agree, though, that prescient is easily one of the more apt choices for this scenario.
-Nick
PS: Man, it has been hard not to pick up my dictionary during the discourse just to double check what I believe these words to mean.
(hikes up his nerd pants) now your getting into my wheel house....
A Posteriori is a philosophical term for inductive reasoning... or was that a priori, either way one of them is deductive reasoning and the other is inductive reasoning. they are the study of knowledge, but where a priori is independent of experience, a posteriori is dependent on experience. examples a priori "If Walken was on SNL, then he was probably in a skit" A prosteriori "Walken's snl show went from 11:30pm-1AM"....
(puts on the pocket protector) ok... so if "a prosterior" is based off experience then it couldn't be preemptive because that assumes it is something possible or anticipated and not based on experience.
now my question to this is "he has been on the show before, so the first time it couldnt have been preemptive but now that they know he (and others) rely on cards from past experience, couldnt this one be preemptive a prosteriori?"
(and it looks like i was late on the nerd post)
A Posteriori is a philosophical term for inductive reasoning... or was that a priori, either way one of them is deductive reasoning and the other is inductive reasoning. they are the study of knowledge, but where a priori is independent of experience, a posteriori is dependent on experience. examples a priori "If Walken was on SNL, then he was probably in a skit" A prosteriori "Walken's snl show went from 11:30pm-1AM"....
(puts on the pocket protector) ok... so if "a prosterior" is based off experience then it couldn't be preemptive because that assumes it is something possible or anticipated and not based on experience.
now my question to this is "he has been on the show before, so the first time it couldnt have been preemptive but now that they know he (and others) rely on cards from past experience, couldnt this one be preemptive a prosteriori?"
(and it looks like i was late on the nerd post)
ok... sorry for the double post but i cant edit my original anymore... i will admit i had to look this up because i hate waiting for answers...
A posteriori means "from what comes later" or "After experience" so if you used this as a substitute your sentence (preemptive a posteriori) would be "taken as a measurement against something possible after experience"
A posteriori means "from what comes later" or "After experience" so if you used this as a substitute your sentence (preemptive a posteriori) would be "taken as a measurement against something possible after experience"
QUOTE (bahramu @ Apr 27 2008, 09:59 PM)
why does it have to be predictive? can we bust out the thesaurus: Prognosticate, Presage are my two choices...
Hey Bahramu. Giving Credence to the Greased Lightning Skit, How about Fleem Maker Upper ? Jody
QUOTE (bahramu @ Apr 27 2008, 10:37 PM)
now my question to this is "he has been on the show before, so the first time it couldnt have been preemptive but now that they know he (and others) rely on cards from past experience, couldnt this one be preemptive a prosteriori?"
Very good point! The fact that Walken has been on the show before provides a set of data from which to draw conclusions about future behavior. So, yes it could still be A Posteriori because there is a vast amount of observable events indicating that he will rely on the cards. Of course, past performance does not always predict future events, but Walken is not likely to break his routine.
QUOTE (ComedyWriter @ Apr 7 2008, 04:22 PM)
Yes. Remember, they have to write, cast, and direct all of the sketches in just 5 days, then they have to build all of the sets and create all of the costumes. Then, even when they do rehearse, there is little guarantee that the piece won't change drastically between then and when it goes to air.
I just get the feeling that a lot of you haven't been watching the show closely enough. Blatantly looking at the cue cards is nothing new and has been joked about for years on SNL. With the schedule that they work within, there is just no way around it...unless they start using ear pieces like they used for Stevie Wonder.
In regards to Walken, he has always read off the cue cards. Go back and watch the Blue Oyster Cult/"More Cowbell" sketch and watch as Walken reads every line off the cards as if it was the first time he had ever seen the words. That's one of the reason I love watching Walken host; he looks like he's completely out of his depth and, for all we know, he is, but he plays it up in classic Christopher Walken style which makes it all the funnier in the end. Maybe I'm alone in that sentiment, who knows.
-Nick
I just get the feeling that a lot of you haven't been watching the show closely enough. Blatantly looking at the cue cards is nothing new and has been joked about for years on SNL. With the schedule that they work within, there is just no way around it...unless they start using ear pieces like they used for Stevie Wonder.
In regards to Walken, he has always read off the cue cards. Go back and watch the Blue Oyster Cult/"More Cowbell" sketch and watch as Walken reads every line off the cards as if it was the first time he had ever seen the words. That's one of the reason I love watching Walken host; he looks like he's completely out of his depth and, for all we know, he is, but he plays it up in classic Christopher Walken style which makes it all the funnier in the end. Maybe I'm alone in that sentiment, who knows.
-Nick
Do you really think that excuse can be used in a skit like the Grease skit in which he says the same lines repetitively? I can't imagine that anyone could not remember the line... "That's dirty. Do you know what that means?" He said it 3-4 times and looked at the cue cards every time! I am not an actor in any sense of the word, but I feel I could have pulled that off by the third time. I turned it off... Painful to watch! (Which is a shame because lately there has been so much good writing and talent!)
^I loved that sketch...
On the Best Of Mike Myers, one dress skit gets cut because Walken is reading the damn cue cards. It was a really funny skit too, poor Mike.
On the Best Of Mike Myers, one dress skit gets cut because Walken is reading the damn cue cards. It was a really funny skit too, poor Mike.
QUOTE (st8angel @ May 26 2008, 07:56 PM)
He said it 3-4 times and looked at the cue cards every time!
There is one rule with cue cards. If you use them, keep using them. If you don't, don't. To have an actor switch between two focal points makes it even more obvious that he's reading, and even more obvious when he's not really looking at the rest of the cast. If he did go off the cards for parts he would have resembled a typewriter with his head moving back and forth at the end of lines and such.
Also keep in mind that the cue cards may only have 1-5 lines on them, with changes on them that the host has never seen. So, while he may have said "That's dirty" more than once he won't know whether the other instances of it remain until they reach that particular card.
As I posted in the Steve Carrel episode thread, I went to the show last week, and I saw the cue cards, they are marked up to high hell, so I can understand why someone, like Walken, might feel the need to have a staring contest with them right then and there.
-Nick
One...two...three...just how many Walkens are in this episode? I'll have to squirt some Visine in my googly eyes to have a better look. Hopefully I won't become too distracted by the cue cards my wife keeps holding up for me: "Time to go to bed"; "I'll have a headache tomorrow night"; "Go F yourself!" I wonder if Christopher had a similarly compelling reason to marry his eyes to the cards? Post your thoughts, good, bad and stupid. Gotta run!
QUOTE (drboomhauer @ Apr 5 2008, 11:35 PM)
no, that one was good enough to see a couple more times.....speaking of, did I mention I want to get kristen wiig pregnant?
Oh My God ! Oh My God ! DrBoomhauer Wants to Get Me Pregnant ! Ohhhh ! Ohhhhh ! Somebody Else says Haven't You had Sex Before ? What is Wrong with You ? Somebody on the Internet Wants Me ! Oh My God ! Well, Turn the Computer Off. ( Gasping ) Maybe I Should Turn Off the Computer. Jody
QUOTE (drboomhauer @ Apr 5 2008, 11:35 PM)
no, that one was good enough to see a couple more times.....speaking of, did I mention I want to get kristen wiig pregnant?
Tonight, We have Aunt Linda. There's A Person Named DrBoomhauer who wants to get Kristen Wigg Pregnant. I don't get It. I know She's Talented, but Maybe She isn't Any Good in Bed. GAH. Oh Brother. Ladies and Gentlemen. Aunt Linda. Jody
QUOTE (drboomhauer @ Apr 5 2008, 11:35 PM)
no, that one was good enough to see a couple more times.....speaking of, did I mention I want to get kristen wiig pregnant?
Other Men on Saturday Night Live want to get Me Pregnant. Chris Farley, Dana Carvey, Adam Sandler got Me Pregnant. John Belushi got Me Pregnant. Every Man that has ever been on Saturday Night Live has got Me Pregnant. Shut Up Penelope and Sit Down. You know that Every Man on Saturday Night Live Did Not Want to get You Pregnant. Everybody Left. Then, Every Man that is Alive that has ever been on Saturday Night Live came in and said Have You Got My Baby ? Jody
QUOTE (hahagirl456 @ Apr 5 2008, 11:49 PM)
Current thoughts...
Annuale again? Why, with Walken there? Its all over the internet, anyway. I can see it again that way!
Walken skit = awesome.
But the top chef one was not so hot...
Annuale again? Why, with Walken there? Its all over the internet, anyway. I can see it again that way!
Walken skit = awesome.
But the top chef one was not so hot...
The Top Chef Skit had the Wrong Ingredients and It was Timed. Jody
QUOTE (FarleyRules @ Apr 6 2008, 11:55 AM)
Bill and Hillary cold open - So the joke is that the press is stupid because they didn't know the Clintons were wealthy all along? It was executed very clumsily and they only moment that was smirk worthy was Bill’s remark, “nothing more,” while casting sidelong glances at Hillary. Grade: C-
Monologue – This was the best monologue of the year IMO. The question and answer sessions have been done numerous times before, but this was the first time they have had the host submit the questions to be asked. Walken milked the pregnant pauses so that you didn’t know if he was going to berate or congratulate the audience member asking the question. Perfectly suited to Walken’s style. The show looks very promising at this point. Grade: A+
Grease Rehearsal – Grease is not unique among musicals in that it features racy lyrics, but it has always struck me as a little funny that so many high schools perform a musical which is essentially about getting laid. Obviously somebody at SNL thought that was a funny too. Unfortunately, not everything in life that makes you grin will be good enough material to fashion a sketch. This is one of those ideas better left alone. Repetitive and boring, this sketch never found its groove. Grade: C-
Farewell Party – This is the type of sketch that gets written specifically for Walken. The “creepy guy” sketch. There were some good moments, especially the bathroom remembrances and the mix CD, but Walken seemed determine to tank this sketch by never looking Sudeikis in the eyes and staring only at his cue cards. Still, Walken is the ultimate “creepy guy” so it wasn’t all bad. The tongue in the ear was definitely the highlight. Grade: B-
Laser Cats! 3D digital short – Laser Cats is probably one of those things that you either love or hate. I fall into the former camp. This one was the best installment yet. All of kinds of references to the evil James Bond villain to the Star Wars impossible shot and subsequent awards ceremony. The horrible effects, cheesy costumes, literal names, and derivative story were all perfect. Sure it looks like the work of high school students. But, that’s the point. Grade: A+
Surprise Party – A feature for Kristen’s ultra-excited personality. She does a great job with this type of character, but the sketch just got old very quickly. And with this type of sketch there is no good way to end it. Jumping out of the window twice is not really a great ending. Walken was still glued to the cards. Grade: C
Weekend Update – A much shorter and improved WU. I really like that there was no guest commentator (or two) tonight and the jokes were very crisp. The appearance by Andy was enjoyable and much better than a Kenan-in-a-dress segment. My favorite WU of the year and I hope they keep this format. It clocked in at just 7 minutes, which is about half the time of some of the longer WUs. Grade: A
Walken Family Reunion – An excuse to have the entire ensemble show off their Walken impression. I thought Amy did the best, but I couldn’t even tell what Andy and Kenan were trying to do. Since it relied solely on impressions, and most were just so-so, this did not do much for me. Grade: C
Indoor Gardening Tips – Walken always seems to get a solo piece and this was tonight’s. I get the feeling that was written just so we could hear Walken say “googly eyes” over and over again. The writers probably heard him say Google and laughed their butts off and had to find a way to get him to say google on the show. Or maybe I’m just dreaming. Original? Yes. Good? Not particularly. It was really more in line with what they great Phil Hartman used to do. Even with poor material, Hartman could have slam-dunked this one. This Grade: C-
Top Chef – Those cooking shows like Iron Chef can be somewhat entertaining to see what they create with the specified ingredients. Unfortunately, I think they are more entertaining than this sketch. I would have rather seen Walken at least attempt to create something rather than whine to everybody that he can’t cook with those ingredients. He could have whipped up something that gave the arrogant judge food poisoning. The sketch would end with Armisen curled up on the ground clutching his stomach. Now THAT would be funny. Grade: C-
Larry King – I guess President Carter writes a bunch of books that nobody reads. Who knew? Apparently nobody, since they are not being read. An OK sketch primarily because I think Armisen does a good job portraying the buffoonery that is King. Grade: B-
Overall – This episode marks a first, at least in recent memory: there was only one live recurring sketch (King). I really appreciate that, but it still fell short in many respects. Walken was completely unprepared, but the sketches seemed a bit underdeveloped as well. SNL always tries to make the claim that they are a topical show, but outside of the Clinton cold open and Weekend Update, there is nothing topical about the rest of the sketches. By topical, do they mean sketches that written for the host? If so, then I can see that because most of these sketches were written specifically for Walken. Given Walken’s illustrious history with SNL, this episode can only be thought of as a disappointment. Grade: C-
Monologue – This was the best monologue of the year IMO. The question and answer sessions have been done numerous times before, but this was the first time they have had the host submit the questions to be asked. Walken milked the pregnant pauses so that you didn’t know if he was going to berate or congratulate the audience member asking the question. Perfectly suited to Walken’s style. The show looks very promising at this point. Grade: A+
Grease Rehearsal – Grease is not unique among musicals in that it features racy lyrics, but it has always struck me as a little funny that so many high schools perform a musical which is essentially about getting laid. Obviously somebody at SNL thought that was a funny too. Unfortunately, not everything in life that makes you grin will be good enough material to fashion a sketch. This is one of those ideas better left alone. Repetitive and boring, this sketch never found its groove. Grade: C-
Farewell Party – This is the type of sketch that gets written specifically for Walken. The “creepy guy” sketch. There were some good moments, especially the bathroom remembrances and the mix CD, but Walken seemed determine to tank this sketch by never looking Sudeikis in the eyes and staring only at his cue cards. Still, Walken is the ultimate “creepy guy” so it wasn’t all bad. The tongue in the ear was definitely the highlight. Grade: B-
Laser Cats! 3D digital short – Laser Cats is probably one of those things that you either love or hate. I fall into the former camp. This one was the best installment yet. All of kinds of references to the evil James Bond villain to the Star Wars impossible shot and subsequent awards ceremony. The horrible effects, cheesy costumes, literal names, and derivative story were all perfect. Sure it looks like the work of high school students. But, that’s the point. Grade: A+
Surprise Party – A feature for Kristen’s ultra-excited personality. She does a great job with this type of character, but the sketch just got old very quickly. And with this type of sketch there is no good way to end it. Jumping out of the window twice is not really a great ending. Walken was still glued to the cards. Grade: C
Weekend Update – A much shorter and improved WU. I really like that there was no guest commentator (or two) tonight and the jokes were very crisp. The appearance by Andy was enjoyable and much better than a Kenan-in-a-dress segment. My favorite WU of the year and I hope they keep this format. It clocked in at just 7 minutes, which is about half the time of some of the longer WUs. Grade: A
Walken Family Reunion – An excuse to have the entire ensemble show off their Walken impression. I thought Amy did the best, but I couldn’t even tell what Andy and Kenan were trying to do. Since it relied solely on impressions, and most were just so-so, this did not do much for me. Grade: C
Indoor Gardening Tips – Walken always seems to get a solo piece and this was tonight’s. I get the feeling that was written just so we could hear Walken say “googly eyes” over and over again. The writers probably heard him say Google and laughed their butts off and had to find a way to get him to say google on the show. Or maybe I’m just dreaming. Original? Yes. Good? Not particularly. It was really more in line with what they great Phil Hartman used to do. Even with poor material, Hartman could have slam-dunked this one. This Grade: C-
Top Chef – Those cooking shows like Iron Chef can be somewhat entertaining to see what they create with the specified ingredients. Unfortunately, I think they are more entertaining than this sketch. I would have rather seen Walken at least attempt to create something rather than whine to everybody that he can’t cook with those ingredients. He could have whipped up something that gave the arrogant judge food poisoning. The sketch would end with Armisen curled up on the ground clutching his stomach. Now THAT would be funny. Grade: C-
Larry King – I guess President Carter writes a bunch of books that nobody reads. Who knew? Apparently nobody, since they are not being read. An OK sketch primarily because I think Armisen does a good job portraying the buffoonery that is King. Grade: B-
Overall – This episode marks a first, at least in recent memory: there was only one live recurring sketch (King). I really appreciate that, but it still fell short in many respects. Walken was completely unprepared, but the sketches seemed a bit underdeveloped as well. SNL always tries to make the claim that they are a topical show, but outside of the Clinton cold open and Weekend Update, there is nothing topical about the rest of the sketches. By topical, do they mean sketches that written for the host? If so, then I can see that because most of these sketches were written specifically for Walken. Given Walken’s illustrious history with SNL, this episode can only be thought of as a disappointment. Grade: C-
Hey FarleyRules. I thought that Bill Hader had the Best Impression of Christopher Walken. I thought that Christopher Walken Got A Kick out of Bill Impersonating Him. I DO Think that Amy had the Next Best Impression. I was Disappointed with Darrell. I Guess Darrell only does Politicians and Reporters and Donald Trump. Darrell Also Does Jesse Jackson and Darrell Can Do Richard Dreyfuss. Darrell Even Laughs like Richard Dreyfuss. I think it's Interesting that Fred can Impersonate Some People and Do A Great Job, but He Can't Impersonate Christopher Walken. Hey, Maybe Christopher Walken Should be an Animal because Fred Does A Great Job when He is Acting Like An Animal. Jody
QUOTE (sammi_b @ Apr 6 2008, 04:59 PM)
Bill and Hillary cold open - I think that this skit had the potential to be good, but it was just missing the energy. i think the concept is funny, that the press is making such a big deal of something they should already know, but they just didn't take it to the next level. Grade: C-
Monologue – this was definately the best monologue of the season. i loved him scolding people for his own questions. and the invisible bird flying into glass doors was genious. i thought that i was the only one who had that fantasy. Grade: A+
Grease Rehearsal – i really liked this one. as a little kid, i was OBSESSED with grease. i knew every word, and i'd act it out with friends. about a year ago, i watched it again, but i was shocked by how dirty it actually was, and that i was going around as a seven year old quoting it. so, i definately found this very amusing. and i loved the lyrics. that is totally my sense of humor. i love just really random crap. Grade: B+
Farewell Party – this one could have been really good, but i was so distracted by the reading of the cue cards that i couldn't enjoy it. the lack of eye contact totally broke the sketch for me. it would have been hilarious if walken was able to just stare creepily at jason, checking him out. i'm so sad that this one was deminished because lines weren't memorized. Grade: C
Laser Cats! 3D digital short – i couldn't believe that they brought laser cats back. again. but i actually enjoyed it. i've always liked laser cats, but i never thought that it was worth even the first repeat. but it's growing on me even more, especially since they keep on coming up with fresh story lines. it was good, but i prefer completely original shorts. Grade: B+
Surprise Party – this was my favorite of the night.... probably just because i have a slight girl-crush on kristen. i think that the idea was pretty original, and i felt like kristen's excitement was contagious. the physical aspect of it was my favorite. i loved kristen's hand motions when they were doing the run through. i know that if i'm ever involved in a suprise party, there will be no way that i will be able to restrain myself from reinacting this skit. i just wish it had an ending. Grade: A
Weekend Update – this was ok. for some reason i didn't like it as much this week, even though it was probably just as good. i did like that there were no guest commentators, just andy as the pregnant man, which was funny. i really liked the fish joke and the german joke, but nothing else really stands out in my mind. Grade: B
Walken Family Reunion – i was actually quite pleased to see this. i've always loved doing impressions of christopher walken, and obviously the cast of snl does, too. bill's was amazing. if i wasn't able to see the tv, i wouldn't be able to tell whose was whose. no one was terrible at it, which was a shock. andy was not so good, but he completely admits that he is in no way a master of impressions. even kenan didn't bother me this time. but they still needed to find a better ending. it was like they made no effort at all in that area. Grade: C+
Indoor Gardening Tips – i felt like this was something we would have seen on snl a decade or two ago. i liked the quirky aspect of it, but it didn't really go anywhere. all of the plants looked pretty cool, and i really considered actually gluing some googley eyes on my mom's house plants. i think that if they had pushed it just a little bit farther, like having him threaten a plant or something, that it would have made it funny enough to recieve more than just a chuckle. Grade: C-
Top Chef – maybe if i had seen this show before i would have enjoyed it more. but i haven't, and i thought it wasn't that great. walken was kind of funny (but once again the reading of the cue cards annoyed the hell out of me), but it just didn't have enough energy. it was supposed to feel rushed and frantic, but it just didn't come through. so it felt akward. i wish that instead of having him not do anything, they would have had him whip something amazing up in the last five seconds, steal one of the other chef's creations, or be on the phone with dominos. Grade: C-
Larry King – i didn't like this, but i don't think it was really aimed at my age group. of course i know who jimmy carter and larry king live are (i'm not an idiot), but i just don't find any humor in the impressions. these are two people who have no cultural relevance for me, so the jokes just weren't funny. it wasn't bad. it just wasn't for me. Grade: D+
Overall – i had high, high, high expectations for this episode, and i was kind of disapointed. i thought that walken was going to be amazing, but he just seemed really unprepared. coming from theatre myself, i understand the importance of being able to keep up the pace of a scene, and when you don't know the lines, there's no way you can do this, and it kills the show. i don't know what the deal was. maybe he's just getting older. the writing was good and the sketches were original, but something was lacking. hopefully next week will be better. Grade: C-
Monologue – this was definately the best monologue of the season. i loved him scolding people for his own questions. and the invisible bird flying into glass doors was genious. i thought that i was the only one who had that fantasy. Grade: A+
Grease Rehearsal – i really liked this one. as a little kid, i was OBSESSED with grease. i knew every word, and i'd act it out with friends. about a year ago, i watched it again, but i was shocked by how dirty it actually was, and that i was going around as a seven year old quoting it. so, i definately found this very amusing. and i loved the lyrics. that is totally my sense of humor. i love just really random crap. Grade: B+
Farewell Party – this one could have been really good, but i was so distracted by the reading of the cue cards that i couldn't enjoy it. the lack of eye contact totally broke the sketch for me. it would have been hilarious if walken was able to just stare creepily at jason, checking him out. i'm so sad that this one was deminished because lines weren't memorized. Grade: C
Laser Cats! 3D digital short – i couldn't believe that they brought laser cats back. again. but i actually enjoyed it. i've always liked laser cats, but i never thought that it was worth even the first repeat. but it's growing on me even more, especially since they keep on coming up with fresh story lines. it was good, but i prefer completely original shorts. Grade: B+
Surprise Party – this was my favorite of the night.... probably just because i have a slight girl-crush on kristen. i think that the idea was pretty original, and i felt like kristen's excitement was contagious. the physical aspect of it was my favorite. i loved kristen's hand motions when they were doing the run through. i know that if i'm ever involved in a suprise party, there will be no way that i will be able to restrain myself from reinacting this skit. i just wish it had an ending. Grade: A
Weekend Update – this was ok. for some reason i didn't like it as much this week, even though it was probably just as good. i did like that there were no guest commentators, just andy as the pregnant man, which was funny. i really liked the fish joke and the german joke, but nothing else really stands out in my mind. Grade: B
Walken Family Reunion – i was actually quite pleased to see this. i've always loved doing impressions of christopher walken, and obviously the cast of snl does, too. bill's was amazing. if i wasn't able to see the tv, i wouldn't be able to tell whose was whose. no one was terrible at it, which was a shock. andy was not so good, but he completely admits that he is in no way a master of impressions. even kenan didn't bother me this time. but they still needed to find a better ending. it was like they made no effort at all in that area. Grade: C+
Indoor Gardening Tips – i felt like this was something we would have seen on snl a decade or two ago. i liked the quirky aspect of it, but it didn't really go anywhere. all of the plants looked pretty cool, and i really considered actually gluing some googley eyes on my mom's house plants. i think that if they had pushed it just a little bit farther, like having him threaten a plant or something, that it would have made it funny enough to recieve more than just a chuckle. Grade: C-
Top Chef – maybe if i had seen this show before i would have enjoyed it more. but i haven't, and i thought it wasn't that great. walken was kind of funny (but once again the reading of the cue cards annoyed the hell out of me), but it just didn't have enough energy. it was supposed to feel rushed and frantic, but it just didn't come through. so it felt akward. i wish that instead of having him not do anything, they would have had him whip something amazing up in the last five seconds, steal one of the other chef's creations, or be on the phone with dominos. Grade: C-
Larry King – i didn't like this, but i don't think it was really aimed at my age group. of course i know who jimmy carter and larry king live are (i'm not an idiot), but i just don't find any humor in the impressions. these are two people who have no cultural relevance for me, so the jokes just weren't funny. it wasn't bad. it just wasn't for me. Grade: D+
Overall – i had high, high, high expectations for this episode, and i was kind of disapointed. i thought that walken was going to be amazing, but he just seemed really unprepared. coming from theatre myself, i understand the importance of being able to keep up the pace of a scene, and when you don't know the lines, there's no way you can do this, and it kills the show. i don't know what the deal was. maybe he's just getting older. the writing was good and the sketches were original, but something was lacking. hopefully next week will be better. Grade: C-
I Wonder why Nobody had Any Energy. Is it because The Cast Plays off the Host and Christopher Walken was Sooo Down OR was Everybody Running Late and They weren't Prepared ? Amy and Darrell did not have The Energy when They were Bill and Hillary. Amy and Seth did not Play Off Each Other like They Usually do on Week End Update. You had some good Ideas with the Bake Off. That would have been Funnier if He had Called Dominoes. They could say this is A Dominoes Box. He could say That's Not Mine. It seems to me like the Writing wasn't even Good. What's in the Water in New York ? That's Too Weird that the Host, Cast And the Writing are All Terrible. It could be A Coincidence, but that Sure is Weird. Jody
QUOTE (ComedyWriter @ Apr 6 2008, 11:56 PM)
I'm going to be a Disagreeable Dan here and say that I loved that Walken stared at the cue cards, undressing them with his eyes. It was as if an Andy Kaufman character came to life.
Walken has always been a heavy cue cad looker-atter. True, last night's episode was a particularly exaggerated example of that, but it's the sort of stuff that you expect from Walken. If you were expecting something else, you clearly were expecting a different Christopher Walken from the one that I know and love (in a completely inappropriate way).
-Nick
Walken has always been a heavy cue cad looker-atter. True, last night's episode was a particularly exaggerated example of that, but it's the sort of stuff that you expect from Walken. If you were expecting something else, you clearly were expecting a different Christopher Walken from the one that I know and love (in a completely inappropriate way).
-Nick
Hey ComedyWriter. I don't mind too much if Christopher Walken looks at Cue Cards. I did think Something didn't seem Right with the Going Away Party. He should have Looked more at Jason. However, what Bothered Me with Tonight's Show was that Christopher Walken had NO Energy and He was Sooo Down. He should have been More Upbeat. The Opening and Week End Update Needed More Energy. It Seemed Like the Host, Cast and the Writing were All Off Tonight. It Seemed like Nobody put Any Effort in to what They were Doing. Jody
My favorites of the night.
Grease Rehearsal skit: My school is doing this play next year (I might go out for a small role, which I can hopefully screw up to **** off the teacher, and for a good laugh) Anysways, I have a feeling that the rehearsal will look just like this skit.
Sexual Harrasment at work: Poor Jason! I hate to say that I found myself oddly attracted to Sudekies in the skit. Hmm, I thought this was hilarious.
Panic at the Disco! Was great!
Grease Rehearsal skit: My school is doing this play next year (I might go out for a small role, which I can hopefully screw up to **** off the teacher, and for a good laugh) Anysways, I have a feeling that the rehearsal will look just like this skit.
Sexual Harrasment at work: Poor Jason! I hate to say that I found myself oddly attracted to Sudekies in the skit. Hmm, I thought this was hilarious.
Panic at the Disco! Was great!
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