S41.E08: Chris Hemsworth / Chance The Rapper

[formerlyfreedom]

Chris Hemsworth hosts; musical guest Chance The Rapper

 

 

[vb68]

They are going to have to go harder at Trump this week.  At least they damn well should.  I just don't know if they are up to it. I wish Tina was there this week to maybe have a hand in writing it.

[Brattinella]

gah

Edited December 13, 2015 by Brattinella

[Galileo908]

Cold Open: Will Ferrell is back as W! We needed him (Will Ferrell) now more than ever.

 

Monologue: Hey, a "the host goes backstage" monologue! Haven't had one of those in a while. I really enjoyed this one. Chris (AND Michael) ripping on Colin Jost was the best part.

 

Star Wars Toys: As a toy fan myself, this is sadly, sadly, sadly true. Sadly. Which is why it was so great, this show nailed the older fans so hard here. I hang around toy collectors all the time, and every single thing the older guys said was accurate, especially the guy who had 3 of them in the box.

 

On The Record: And here's our requisite "Let's dump on Trump/GOP" sketch. My first reaction to seeing Taran as Ted Cruz is "Bobby must be playing someone else." And then Bobby showed up as Chris Christie and it all made sense. Jay's Ben Carson has been getting better and better with every appearance.

 

Time to Bleed: This was great.

 

Brother 2 Brother: This was very similar to that sketch Kristen Wiig and Amy Adams did many years ago, where twins unconvincingly switch places. Where one twin tried to take a test for the other, but one of them got fat. I did love the "Written by: Not Taran Killam" credit, though.

 

Debra's Time: This was an odd one. It's weird to write a sketch about a reference that no one knows, but are expected to know.

 

WU: Loved Che and Colin's speeches on Trump. Totally on point. Admit it: Time magazine gave Person of The Year to Angela Merkel so Kate can play her again. Did Leslie Jones really livetweet all of Breaking Bad these past few weeks JUST for this bit?! Either way, it was great.

 

Hemsworth Gossip: I was convinced that this wasn't a girl played by Chris Hemsworth, but rather Chris Hemsworth in drag convincing ladies to swoon over him. And I was was right and I'm quite happy about that.

 

Mark The Pirate: Getting more mileage out of that Peter Pan Live set, I see. Much like the "Debra's Time" sketch, it's hard to write a sketch around missing out on an inside joke.

 

Hunk Junktion: This was fun and silly.

 

Aron's List: Aww man, a rerun. A fun rerun, but a rerun. Show must've been short tonight, or a longer sketch got cut.

 

This show was really fun! But I bet next week with Tina & Amy is gonna be great. Can't wait.

Edited December 13, 2015 by Galileo908

[Amethyst]

Wow, that was pretty funny.  I rarely watch SNL anymore, but I was genuinely cracking up a lot.  The monologue was great, I loved how Hemsworth kept asking the women if "they'd hit it, right?"  And of course they all (begrudgingly) said yes.  

 

Time to Bleed and Hemsworth Gossip were my favorite sketches.  The best part of Hunk Junction was Leslie getting into the performance.  "Hey, at least they care!"

 

The only one that really sucked to me was Mark the Pirate.  It just ended abruptly and felt like a time waster.

[lou ann b]

Cold Open:Loved this. "Who ever thought I'd be the smart one?" Indeed.

Monologue:Funny. Love to see backstage at 8H. Where was the llama, the showgirls and Abe Lincoln?

Star Wars Toys: SO spot on. Not that I was ever at a convention or anything, but..SO spot on. And the one boy was Andy Samberg's mini-me.

On The Record:Everyone did well here, and I agree-Jay's Dr Ben Carson is really funny. Love the facial tics.

Time To Bleed:Awesome. I don't always like the filmed pieces, as they take away from the LIVE of Saturday Night Live, but this was good.

Brother 2 Brother-like how Taran and Chris would want to end it, but the coach and team kept piling on.Taran is cut, though. It's a good thing.

Debra's TIme:It was a little odd but Cecily and Chris sold the heck out of it. Kenan continues to be the King Of Reactions.

Update:I continue to love how Colin and Che have found their voice. I actually said "yay" when Leslie rolled in, because I love her energy and she loves being there.  "I'm trying to have sex with you;why would I listen to you?" Heh.

Hemsworth Gossip: Hey. This was Chris was in a dress and wig! Silly, but I liked the ladies' reactions:"He's from school or a long time ago, or something".

Mark the Pirate:I don't know why I liked this, but I did.

Hunk Junktion:I was giggling, but also a bit sorry(okay, a lot sorry)that Jay(okay,especially Jay), Taran,Chris, and Beck didn't show any more than their arms. Which I guess was the point. New Guy showed off dance moves in Mark The Pirate and this sketch. He has a cute smile.  Again. Jay. Arms.Thank you, Jay.

Sadly, I was not able to extend my run of 'watched the musical guest instead of leaving the room" to three weeks. So much for that.

Sold show, and another where the host was obviously having fun=always fun to watch.

 

[Bees]

Man, these sketches tonight (the majority anyway) were in that so silly they're actually funny kind of feel to them. Maybe it's just the humor of Chris Hemsworth that shines through? If so, then I welcome it. Like the Chris Hemsworth as a lady was hilarious once it got into the whole "That's actually Chris Hemsworth" line of thinking. Then the weird Broadway male strippers (I love that Leslie was totally digging it too). 

 

Also Weekend Update seems a lot better now. Some great biting commentary and some fun little bits. I liked the New Jersey joke. And then we got Angela Merkel who was always delightful and Leslie Jones whom I like in small dosages. And also I like when she hits on Colin. That always makes me laugh.

[vb68]

I thought the show started out super strong with both the Cold Open and Monologue (when was the last time that happened?)and then the Star Wars ad and the Time to Bleed short. The rest was ok.  I loved the Jeb ads on Update set to the Sarah Mclachlan song.   Update itself seemed very rushed this week.   But Colin and Che had that great bit in the monologue.  Wasn't sure what to make of the Deborah's Time sketch.   Aidy's last lines in the Hemsworth in disguise sketch were great.  "No, this was bad and you're weird now."

 

 

Brother 2 Brother: This was very similar to that sketch Kristen Wiig and Amy Adams did many years ago, where twins unconvincingly switch places.

 

This is the same sketch they did the last time Hemsworth hosted. I was waiting for someone to point out the tattoo.  It was  too prominent not to mention. 

 

As I have been dismissing new guy John's tenure on the show for a few weeks now, he was all over tonight's show.  I really didn't care for the pirate sketch that showcased him though.

 

It's easy to see that the cast really likes Chris, who does seem like a nice guy

 

I swear at the beginning of the first song,  Chance 's whole demeanor and lyrics were goinmg "Chance The Rapper? Huh? What?"   Maybe that's just what I was thinking.

Edited December 13, 2015 by vb68

[JakeyJokes]

I really only liked the disguise sketch and the dancers sketch because they weren't predictable at all. Leslie's character loving the showmanship of the song and dance made that skit really work for me.

Interesting to see Hemsworth as his own sketch now with Brother 2 Brother. I wouldn't be surprised to see him back next season.

[VCRTracking]

Lot of nerds on Twitter are already offended the Star Wars commercial. Hey I'm a huge Star Wars fan but let's be honest. It was pretty accurate. Adults were buying up the toys for the new movie made for children to play with, just to collect them and leave them in their packaging.

Edited December 13, 2015 by VCRTracking

[nowandlater]

Poor Jeb Bush. Eight episodes into this season, and he still has no one to play him on SNL. That's how irrelevant he's become.

 

Has anybody portrayed Marco Rubio yet?

[VCRTracking]

Taran did on Weekend Update a few years ago.

 

Also love Kate as Angela Merkel's and her Trump diss: "I guess he prefers our earlier stuff."

 

My favorite part of the gossip sketch was all the ladies wondering about they're old friend "Claire" and realizing they just met her also in the tone of(as someone on Reddit put it) like they're in a "pharmaceutical commercial" and Aidy's final line of "No, this was bad and you're weird now!"

 

One of the kids in the Star Wars commercial looks like a mini Andy Samberg.

Edited December 13, 2015 by VCRTracking

[SomeTameGazelle]

It's easy to see that the cast really likes Chris, who does seem like a nice guy

 

I normally enjoy jokes where a celebrity portrays him- or herself as a jerk, but I felt like the bully monologue was missing something. Maybe it's because I don't know Chris Hemsworth at all and have no preconceived nice guy feeling about him so my brain didn't read it as a joke? I think it would have been funnier to me with more escalation of how the cast really couldn't stand him. (Or Leslie taking him around and making him apologize to everyone he had bullied.)

[Spartan Girl]

Will Ferrell as George W Bush was definitely the highlight for me. I never thought I'd say this, but compared to the current Republican candidates, GW comes off smelling like a rose.

[vb68]

Hemsworth is the new Jon Hamm?

 

I'm surprised Mike Ryan rated Will Ferrell so low, but the diss on the pirate sketch made me laugh.  The set did look nice. It's also kinda amusing how much he loved the Star Wars ad.

Edited December 13, 2015 by vb68

[VCRTracking]

Now I feel like getting my friends to sing "It's Debra's Time!" together.

Edited December 13, 2015 by VCRTracking

[Primetimer]

Did Thor get upthtaged?

Read the story

[DollEyes]

Liked it, but Chris' first episode was better. Will Ferrell's latest George W. Bush parody was spot-on, as always, especially the digs at Cruz & Rubio ("Sounds like a law firm"), Dr. Ben Carson (about how talking very loud was the only way that people could understand him), Jeb Bush (putting an exclamation point at the end of his name doesn't make him more exciting) & of course, Donald Trump, whom SNL was stupid enough to let host the show a few weeks ago, so their trashing him now is disingenuous.

 

  The Star Wars toys parody was also on-target (no pun intended). As for those who were offended, guess the truth hurts, huh? Get over it, nerds.

 

  The "Time To Bleed" sketch was cute, if predictable. I guessed at the end that Chris' character would either lose a limb or die & unfortunately, he did the latter.

 

  The "It's Debra Time!" sketch was random at first, but Chris & Company eventually made it work.

 

  The male stripper sketch was good, partially because Leslie was the only one who appreciated their showmanship. Liked the Chris-in-drag sketch, especially when he dissed his competition, including his brother Liam. Speaking of Liam, the latest "Brother-2-Brother" sketch was good, too but Liam as the coach would have made it even better, I believe.

 

  The pirate sketch was the worst. They should have done a sequel to the chicken sketch instead.

 

  If a sketch had to be rerun, it should've been Chris Hemsworth's American Express parody.

 

 

Also love Kate as Angela Merkel's and her Trump diss: "I guess he prefers our earlier stuff."

 

  Saying that he "obviously prefers it" would've been even funnier.

[BatmanBeatles]

Debra's Time: This reminded me a bit like the Woody Harrleson campfire skit. I kept waiting for the point.

 

Helmsworth Gossip: I half expected Chris's phone to receive an angry text from Liam.

[possibilities]

(Or Leslie taking him around and making him apologize to everyone he had bullied.)

I would have liked that. I got what they were going for in that whole "He's a bully" sketch, but I didn't really enjoy it except for Leslie taking him down a peg. Having her flip the whole thing would have made it even better.

 

What did Taran's tattoo in the brothers sketch say? I kept trying to read it and then he'd cross his arms over his chest and obscure the letters before I could focus.

 

I loved the cold open, but it's perplexing to me to think that even with the array of white guys in the current cast, none can do a W impression. Or does Lorne just like to bring back Ferrell for the nostalgia and "alum done good" factors? All season it's been occurring to me that having hired 6 white guys last year might have come in handy during the free-for-all of the current Republican primary. Not that I think Lorne knew that would happen going into it, and I've been happier with the show's slightly diversified hiring he was forced to do after that whole mess (and the humor opportunities that's offered the writing). The show has been funnier, I think. But bringing back former cast members to fill in the white guy roles is sort of a weird backdoor way of keeping the show fully and continually overstocked with Lorne's favorite demographic.

 

Hemsworth seems game for anything, but I thought his first show was much funnier than his current one. I don't think he's as funny or as generally good of an actor as Jon Hamm. Still, it was a decent show. I like that it's not always 100% obvious where they are headed, even when it turns out to be somewhere kind of pointless (song no one knows that they actually do know). They've also gotten better at not beating every gag into the ground past the point where it's already been overbeaten and the audience itself is getting secondary bruises from it.

[vb68]

 

I loved the cold open, but it's perplexing to me to think that even with the array of white guys in the current cast, none can do a W impression. Or does Lorne just like to bring back Ferrell for the nostalgia and "alum done good" factors?

 

 

Yes, Ferrell's Dubya is Iconic and considered one of the best impressions ever on the show.  They had a bunch of guys try it after he left the show and none of them really took off.  Even Darrell Hammond's impression wasn't very good.  Now I think it's in the same league as Tina's Palin in that I don't think anyone else will ever touch it.  If Ferrell hadn't had been there last night, there wasn't any point in having one of the current cast do it.

Edited December 13, 2015 by vb68

[buttersister]

Chance the Rapper was the  highlight for me.

[nowandlater]

I loved the cold open, but it's perplexing to me to think that even with the array of white guys in the current cast, none can do a W impression. Or does Lorne just like to bring back Ferrell for the nostalgia and "alum done good" factors? All season it's been occurring to me that having hired 6 white guys last year might have come in handy during the free-for-all of the current Republican primary. Not that I think Lorne knew that would happen going into it, and I've been happier with the show's slightly diversified hiring he was forced to do after that whole mess (and the humor opportunities that's offered the writing). The show has been funnier, I think. But bringing back former cast members to fill in the white guy roles is sort of a weird backdoor way of keeping the show fully and continually overstocked with Lorne's favorite demographic.

 

Well, W. isn't in the news nowadays. So why devote time to breaking in a new impression when you have Will Ferrell, who's always eager to do comedy bits?

 

(Same could be said for Bill Clinton. Why get a new one, when the guy who did it best currently works for the show. And since Bill won't be needed very much, Darrell Hammond seems like the best option.)

 

You could argue that SNL should've gotten a cast member (Kyle Mooney?), to play Bernie Sanders, but bringing on Larry David is considered one of the best things SNL has ever done.

 

Anyways, last night's cold open reminded me of a cold open from a year and a half before the 2008 election, when Chris Rock was brought in to weigh in on the presidential race. ---> https://screen.yahoo.com/chris-rock-open-000000182.html?

 

 

As for the white guys hired, let's take a closer look at them -- the 8 white guys hired over the past 3 seasons.

 

--Mike O'Brien: Sketch performer capable of impressions. (Mostly gone from the show.)

--John Milhiser: Sketch performer capable of impressions (Gone from the show.)

--Brooks Wheelan: Standup comic and not much of an impressionist. (Gone from the show.)

--Beck Bennett: Sketch performer capable of impressions.

--Kyle Mooney: Sketch performer capable of impressions.

--Colin Jost: Standup comic and writer who is not capable of impressions.

--Pete Davidson: Standup comic who isn't good at impressions.

--John Rudnitsky: Primarily a standup comic who is capable of impressions, but whose impression of Anderson Cooper earlier this season was widely denounced.

 

So there you have it: Out of 8 white guys hired in the past 3 seasons, only 3 are capable of impressions who are currently on staff.

 

Which I guess is why you don't see any Republican debate sketches.

 

Re: Diversity: It's greaet that there are now 5 black cast members. But black people are not the be all and end all of diversity.

 

It would be cool if you had Latino or Asian or even half-Asian cast members.

 

2 of Lorne's favorite cast members, Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen, are mixed-race and they could play numerous characters acorss the ethnic spectrum

Edited December 13, 2015 by nowandlater

[Bruinsfan]

Wow, that was pretty funny.  I rarely watch SNL anymore, but I was genuinely cracking up a lot.  The monologue was great, I loved how Hemsworth kept asking the women if "they'd hit it, right?"  And of course they all (begrudgingly) said yes. 

They missed an opportunity by not having Chris ask the guys that too (with the same answer, natch).

[reggiejax]

The Star Wars toys parody was also on-target (no pun intended). As for those who were offended, guess the truth hurts, huh? Get over it, nerds.

 

As a fellow Star Wars nerd (one who needs no explanation as to why you qualified the phrase "on-target" as no pun intended) I agree they should get over it. Especially since this was rather benign compared the legendary burn Trekkers received during the WIlliam Shatner episode so many years ago. 

[SomeTameGazelle]

  The "It's Debra Time!" sketch was random at first, but Chris & Company eventually made it work.

 

Chris did not appear to be a strong singer. It would have been a better sketch with someone who could match Cecily's level of talent, or if it had acknowledged the talent discrepancy as part of the joke.

[Galileo908]

As a fellow Star Wars nerd (one who needs no explanation as to why you qualified the phrase "on-target" as no pun intended) I agree they should get over it. Especially since this was rather benign compared the legendary burn Trekkers received during the WIlliam Shatner episode so many years ago. 

There were people offended by the Star Wars sketch? Everyone I've seen loved it. (Granted, I mostly saw toy collectors talking about it, but still)

[peeayebee]

There were some sketches that I really loved. The one with Hemsworth as Claire was so weird and funny. What really made this one work for me was having the women realizing they had just met Claire, even though they had just been talking about her like she was an old friend. It was bizarre and just great.

 

I also liked the Debra song sketch, esp when everyone suddenly remembered knowing the song. Cecily did a great job singing like she was in a Broadway show. Oh, and I absolutely LOVED the ending when Chris said he would drive fast in the snow, and then we see a car skidding on a snowy road while everyone screams. 

 

Time to Bleed was great. I don't know what else to say about it, but the joke was so good that I'm surprised we haven't seen it some place else before.

 

Loved the cold open. Ferrell as GWB was great as always. 

 

I also enjoyed the monologue. There was something slightly off, but really Chris H was doing a good job, so I don't know what didn't quite work. Still, I liked it.

 

I didn't like the Nancy Grace sketch. It just wasn't funny. The pirate sketch didn't quite work either. 

[possibilities]

I loved the throwaway gag about the girl who flushed her father down the toilet ("my dad the fish").

 

Re: Diversity: It's greaet that there are now 5 black cast members. But black people are not the be all and end all of diversity.

That's why I called it "slightly diversified." 

Edited December 14, 2015 by possibilities

[methodwriter85]

The best bit of the night was the Star Wars Toys parody. My god, that was priceless.

 

Chris Hemsworth looks good in drag. His daughter is probably going to be gorgeous.

[Ottis]

I watched the whole show and I can't recall several skits mentioned here  in the recaps. Debra's Time? Leslie making someone apologize? Nancy Grace sketch? Do not recall at all.

 

Other than the Star Wars commercial, Will Ferrell and Angela Merkel, meh.

Edited December 14, 2015 by Ottis

[vb68]

Well for Nancy Grace, I'm sure they meant Greta Van Susteren.  That was the sketch with the Presidential candidates being interviewed.  And Leslie told Hemsworth to back off in the monologue.

 

I think Time to Bleed was my favorite personally. I also wish they had found a way to revisit that chicken sketch from Hemsworth's last episode rather Brother to Brother.

[Traveller519]

That was definitely the Peter Pan Live set from last season. I enjoy imagining the fact that they have a mock pirate sitting around. I wonder if Rudinitsky wrote that sketch, I'm pretty sure it was his first featured one.

 

I think my favorite line of the night was:

 

CH - "Hey Bobby, which sketches are you playing Santa Claus in tonight"

BM (dejected) - "All of them."

 

Any time there's a repeat of a pre-taped skit, especially at 10 to 1 I wonder what we missed.

[mtlchick]

Finally got through it.  At least they didn't go for the easy "We're all in Ghostbusters next year!" route but something was lacking.  It wasn't that it was bad, but last time he was on, my brother and I constantly watched the chicken sketch as it was so ridiculous that it was outstanding.  Here there some good jokes but not great jokes and strange premises.  Also, I'm jealous on how he wore that dress. 

[Maverick]

That was definitely the Peter Pan Live set from last season. I enjoy imagining the fact that they have a mock pirate sitting around. I wonder if Rudinitsky wrote that sketch, I'm pretty sure it was his first featured one.

 

 I hope it's his last.  So far he's played an offensively fey Anderson Cooper, an annoyingly fey ship's buffoon and ridiculously fey male stripper.   

[BatmanBeatles]

Yeah, I'm not feeling the new guy this season. He's kind of  blank to me.

Edited December 15, 2015 by BatmanBeatles

[DollEyes]

 

Chris did not appear to be a strong singer. It would have been a better sketch with someone who could match Cecily's level of talent, or if it had acknowledged the talent discrepancy as part of the joke.

 

This is just another case of varying mileages, but I found Chris' lack of singing skills one of the funniest things about it, whether it was intentional or not.

[Bruinsfan]

Yeah, I'm not feeling the new guy this season. He's kind of  blank to me.

I really liked him in that Miley Cyrus sock hop skit at the beginning of the season, but he's not building on the good first impression.

[Princess Sparkle]

I got around to watching the episode today, and I have to say, I love that Chris Hemsworth appears to have a bit of an odd sense of humor and is willing to go into his hosting stints whole-heartedly putting himself into whatever they come up with. That "Claire" sketch was such an oddball sketch, and yet he ran with it completely. That, to me, is the mark of a great host vs a so-so one; the one who's willing to commit no matter what is going to automatically elevate whatever sketches their in. Give me a Chris Hemsworth over Ryan Gosling any day.

I also give him some credit in the monologue, because it's not easy for a guy that tall to do a prattfall well (save for maybe Chevy), but I laughed hysterically when he tried to kick that door down and just crashed instead.

I have to say, my favorite part of the whole episode might have been Bobby in the Star Wars commercial, correcting that kid on how the Millenium Falcon landed. His line reading made him sound so annoyed at the kid. His enthusiasm closing his collectors case was a close second though.

WU was great once again. Those tweaks they made during the summer really paid off, because Colin and Michael have been nailing it all season.

[lou ann b]

I agree on Michael and Colin;I was one of the few last year who came to their defense-and this year they have found their voice and timing.

Go for it, Leslie....