Have Jimmy Kimmel host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, you cowards

Continue reading “Have Jimmy Kimmel host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, you cowards”

Some racist ‘Game of Thrones’ fans found a new thing to be angry about; in other news, grass is green

Continue reading “Some racist ‘Game of Thrones’ fans found a new thing to be angry about; in other news, grass is green”

Dave Chappelle returns to guide ‘Saturday Night Live’ through another post-election crisis

Saturday Night Live
Dave Chappelle & Foo Fighters
November 7, 2020

The first time Dave Chappelle hosted Saturday Night Live was four days after Donald Juniper Trump had been elected to the Presidency. It was a fraught moment for more than half of America, and Chappelle, a gleeful critic of White America and its deep-rooted racism, in the wake of this nation electing an unabashed racist, chose to take a moderating path, urging us to give Trump a chance.

Welp, we gave him four years, and now as Chappelle returns for only the second time to host, we as Americans have affirmatively declared the Trump experiment a failure. (Thank God.) As for Chappelle, he hasn’t changed his tone much: he still thinks we need to try to understand one another better, to give one another a chance, to not hate. And I will! Just as soon as Trump and his GOP loonies stop trying to burn down our faith in our democracy. Go ahead and book Chappelle for November 9, 2024, Lorne, and I’ll be happy to update us all on how that went.

Continue reading “Dave Chappelle returns to guide ‘Saturday Night Live’ through another post-election crisis”

Adele hosts the season’s strongest ‘Saturday Night Live’ so far. That’s not saying much.

Saturday Night Live
Adele & H.E.R.
October 24, 2020

Look. I’m not saying that last night’s Saturday Night Live was great or anything — it wasn’t. In fact, one sketch might have been the most offensive one they’ve done so far this season — although NBA Bubble Draft, “titty meat” and Bill Burr’s entire monologue are still giving it a run for its money. But overall, last night’s episode felt more like an episode from the beginning of last season: not knock down hilarious, but amusing and even clever at points. Host Adele’s energy was a large part of this: her enthusiasm was infectious, and she seemed to be having a genuinely great time. In fact, her energy rubbed off on the audience who seemed to be enjoying themselves more than they have in the past three episodes. That, or I’m deluding myself, so desperate I am for one … just one … SNL episode be half good already.

Continue reading “Adele hosts the season’s strongest ‘Saturday Night Live’ so far. That’s not saying much.”

President Alternative Facts lies his way through his last ever political debate

Continue reading “President Alternative Facts lies his way through his last ever political debate”

Not even Issa Rae can save this week’s ‘Saturday Night Live’

Saturday Night Live
Issa Rae & Justin Bieber
October 17, 2020

I really wanted to like this episode of Saturday Night Live. The past two episodes have been weak and pointlessly misogynistic, so I was hopeful that with a smart and funny woman like Issa Rae hosting, this week would be better.

Friends, it was not better. Leaving aside the weekly assault that is Jim Carrey’s Joe Biden, many of these sketches were awkwardly unfunny and barely elicited even polite chuckles from the audience. And then there was the sketch in which a woman is harassed by three different men, all of whom refer to her “titty meat.” Cooooooool.

What’s going on in the writers’ room, you guys? Are y’all alright? Anna Drezen, can you get control of this situation, please?

Continue reading “Not even Issa Rae can save this week’s ‘Saturday Night Live’”

Watch me walk right into the trap Bill Burr laid for me on last night’s ‘Saturday Night Live.’

Saturday Night Live
Bill Burr
October 10, 2020

OH, WE WILL GET TO IT. I PROMISE.

Continue reading “Watch me walk right into the trap Bill Burr laid for me on last night’s ‘Saturday Night Live.’”

‘Saturday Night Live’ and Chris Rock return to mediocrity

Saturday Night Live
Chris Rock & Megan Thee Stallion
October 3, 2020

Well, Saturday Night Live is back on air and back in Studio 8H and everything has returned to (almost) normal, including a show full of mediocre and overly long sketches. When at the end of last season Saturday Night Live had to be produced remotely, I enjoyed the results: the show was lighter, weirder, and freer. Not every sketch landed, of course, but it felt like the show had to take more chances because they didn’t have any choice in the matter. The result was shorter, and frankly funnier sketches.

But now we’re back to the studio, back to sketches that don’t quite know how to end, back to sketches that seem to be written by committee. ~sigh~ It was fun while it lasted.

Continue reading “‘Saturday Night Live’ and Chris Rock return to mediocrity”

Sedition, sexual assault, and more attacks on scientists. The dumpster fire never ends.

Continue reading “Sedition, sexual assault, and more attacks on scientists. The dumpster fire never ends.”

John Kelly finally talks trash about President Dicktator and Fox News, but it’s way too little, way too late.

Continue reading “John Kelly finally talks trash about President Dicktator and Fox News, but it’s way too little, way too late.”