SNL was actually good (October 3rd -2015) not so much since

It's been a long time since I've been able to say that - but I actually thought the skits were pretty solid. Miley was good as well.

The Katz Deli one missed the mark and went on too long.

Agree 100%. I was surprised.

They did hire 6 new writers:
http://splitsider.com/2015/09/meet-saturday-night-lives-six-new-writers/

Agree as well. It was the best I've seen in years. Usually I watch the opening skit and then turn it off, but not last night.

Hillary as Val the bartender was surprisingly good! (And Kate McKinnon as Hillary is just awesome.)

How much did Miley pay Kimmie Davis to appear? That was my favorite part.

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As it's Halloween season I've been doing a lot of media downloads - check out the "John Hamm Vincent Price" skits on SNL.... really, really well done.

Did not watch, but really enjoyed the documentary that ran from 8 - 10.

Just needed to follow up on this thread. Aside from the Miley show - SNL has resumed it's usual lameness - apart from Larry David.

Oh well, a brief glimmer of hope for the show.

it and Trump was pretty terrible last night. The Weekend News segment is a consistent stand out. Larry David was great again.

The one thing I did love were the zingers they shot at Trump a few times throughout the night (especially the news). They made sure they subtlety (and not so subtlety) let people know they think he's an a#%

conandrob240 said:
it and Trump was pretty terrible last night. The Weekend News segment is a consistent stand out. Larry David was great again.
The one thing I did love were the zingers they shot at Trump a few times throughout the night (especially the news). They made sure they subtlety (and not so subtlety) let people know they think he's an a#%

Agreed. The deranged alcoholic whose hero was Trump, during the news, was excellent. I wonder whether even SIA singing I'm Alive, had subtle overtones with managing to survive an abusive man such as The Donald.

Yes - I meant to give the News guys a shoutout as well - especially Michael Che. But not crazy when Leslie Jones has a segment with them.

I love Michael Che- he is awesome. At least Leslie Jones has some edge and spunk. Many of the other females are so boring and reserved.

Trying to imagine Ben Carson's reaction to the Donald Tramp skit.

well, in the first half an hour of tonight's episode - I almost laughed once.

jamie said:
well, in the first half an hour of tonight's episode - I almost laughed once.

I've been watching it on demand the day after. Usually can't fast forward thru it but I don'[t have to stay up so late. Jamie, who was the music guest last night?

disclosure first with Lourde then Sam Smith. The weekend news always makes me laugh. Then I turn it off and go to sleep.

I just watched it and I thought it was better than most SNLs.

Looking forward to the December 19th show with Tina and Amy hosting and Bruce Springsteen as musical guest. That will be worth staying up for!

ok, I had a revive this thread.  I found SNL this past weekend hilarious!  Every skit.  Do the writer's bring out the funniest skits first show of the season?  Are there better writers?  Does the guest host have a big impact on it?  Last time I felt this about SNL - was back in October 2015.  They've had many standout political skits - but only a handful funny skits per show.

I haven't watched in decades.  While I think its one of the most, if not the most, important TV shows ever, it has always - always - been uneven.  There was a lot of dreck even in its supposed original golden age.  Go back and binge watch the first few years.  I'm not sure that uneveness could be avoided given that its a series of live skits thrown together in the week before the show airs.   

I like to watch the Cold Open, often excellently satirizing Trump, which was good this week with Bill Murray playing Bannon, in a take-off on Morning Joe; and Weekend Update is somewhat amusing.  The rest of the show is usually so often erratically poor , that it's just not worth it to me to have to sit through it.

I try to see it every week, usually On Demand. There's always [at least] something hysterical or spot-on politically. And yes, some dreck, too. Also, highlights usually show up on Facebook. The NYT now does an SNL recap most weeks.

I thought the idea of Bill Murray as Bannon was really good - the execution, not so much.

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

I thought the idea of Bill Murray as Bannon was really good - the execution, not so much.

Agreed. He seemed like... Bill Murray, with makeup, who seemed almost too amused by the whole thing to be playing Bannon.

The standout in that skit was definitely Mika.  I was glad they took a break from Trump.  But I really liked nearly every other skit - usually the opener is good and the weekend update - and the rest are dismal. 

Here's a good recap: http://www.slashfilm.com/sam-rockwell-hosted-saturday-night-live-season-43-the-best-and-worst-sketches/

they have been doing really silly skits with animals this season.  Typically they're the last one of the night.  And they almost always make me laugh out loud.  The skit this week with the dog head on a human body had me almost in tears.  I'm a sucker for watching a golden retriever eat a sandwich

Michael Che and Colin Jost recently were named co-head writers, perhaps that has had some impact. I think bringing back past members is almost always an interesting twist, though I suppose you can say it deflates the value of current cast members.

Didn't watch whole episode. I didn't get the Stanley Tucci sketch, and I know who he is and like him (and assume that a lot of younger viewers don't really know who he is). Maybe there is an intended ironic statement that I missed, or the absurdity of it was the point.

jamie said:

ok, I had a revive this thread.  I found SNL this past weekend hilarious!  Every skit.  Do the writer's bring out the funniest skits first show of the season?  Are there better writers?  Does the guest host have a big impact on it?  Last time I felt this about SNL - was back in October 2015.  They've had many standout political skits - but only a handful funny skits per show.

ATM sketch was well done:

I believe the absurdity of the Tucci skit was the point - using someone that you would never think to highlight in a rap song.