S42.E19: Chris Pine / LCD Soundsystem

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

Host Chris Pine is joined by musical guest, LCD Soundsystem

[opus]

I think Chris Pine wants to sing....

[Galileo908]

No writer's strike means we're back! 

Cold Open: Morning Joe & Kate as Mika. Their chemistry was fun to watch. Are they shipped hard in the writer's room or something? (EDIT: They got engaged? That explains it) Liked hearing "John Miller." So Alec literally phoned it in tonight?

Monologue: So Chris Pine is the most generic looking of the good-looking superhero actors named Chris? It's a good bit. And goddamnit, it led to a song. At least he didn't seem nervous at all, that was a plus.

Where in The World is Kellyanne Conway?: You had me at the title, SNL. No one wants to find her...and that's it. Genius.

Song For Peace: This was weird. Beck as a Slavic R&B singer singing about porn?

SWAT: This was fun. Leslie in the zoot suit dancing and eating a giant gummy bear was a great image.

HR: This went in an unexpected direction. Definitely had shades of that Jimmy Fallon sketch a few weeks back. I think it was the random breaking out in song.

The House: Apparently they did this with Chris Hemsworth? Still funny, though. The stilted acting is what does it for me.

WU: Colin and Che were NOT subtle tonight, and I thank them for it. "They look like they just invented sickle cell" was the perfect description of that GOP kegger the other day. And I loved Vanessa's meteorologist character.

Mechanics: I liked how they all loved RuPaul's Drag Race...and then there was more singing & dancing. Lip synching this time, but still. And I'll accept any reason to see Bobby dance.

Handmaid's Tale: This was disappointing, and not funny at all. I don't even know what the point of that was. Bros not understanding the women's plight?

Star Trek: Kenan as Neil deGrasse Tyson was something this show should've done ages ago (EDIT: Oh right, they did...years ago). And earlier in the show. Chris Pine does a great Shatner. Should've been Riblet playing Spocko. "Still better than Star Trek V." Burn. And gotta love that random Asian guy as Sulu. So that's TWO examples tonight highlighting SNL not hiring any Asian actors.

Game Night: So a sketch where you have to guess the theme song? Just about every sketch tonight had someone sing in it. Sasheer playing the piano was one of the best things about tonight.

So...that was sure something. I rate it "Okay." Next week is Melissa McCarthy, and the question isn't if her Sean Spicer will show up, but how soon in the show? And how often?

[ebk57]

I agree with your "okay" rating.  I went with "decent".  I think that every skit Chris Pine was in was musical.  Which is fine.  He can sing and dance, so why not.  

Loved the "Morning Joe" open.  Kate is brilliant (that can't be said enough times!).  I thought I heard that Joe and Mika didn't want SNL to do them... maybe there was no good reason to before now.  But now - go for it!!

Edited May 7, 2017 by ebk57

[VCRTracking]

9 minutes ago, Galileo908 said:

Kenan as Neil deGrasse Tyson was something this show should've done ages ago (EDIT: Oh right, they did...years ago). And earlier in the show. Chris Pine does a great Shatner. Should've been Riblet playing Spocko. "Still better than Star Trek V." Burn. And gotta love that random Asian guy as Sulu. So that's TWO examples tonight highlighting SNL not hiring any Asian actors.

That was SNL production designer Akira Yoshimura. He's been playing Sulu in SNL sketches since 1975. He was in the one where Belushi was Captain Kirk and in 1986 when William Shatner hosted:

https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/star-trek-v-the-restaurant-enterprise/n9513?snl=1

Edited May 7, 2017 by VCRTracking

[mortonsalt]

6 minutes ago, Galileo908 said:

So...that was sure something. I rate it "Okay." Next week is Melissa McCarthy, and the question isn't if her Sean Spicer will show up, but how soon in the show? And how often?

I think you hit the nail on the head. It wasn't the worst show, and there were a few moments that did make me laugh quite a bit like the random Asian guys and the infectious joy of the two neighbors in the apartment got me as well. 

I guess I expected more though coming off a break and seeing how game Chris Pine seemed during the monologue.

Also it was yet another week where I had never heard of the musical guest and wasn't impressed by what I saw of them.

[Peace 47]

They should have aired the Star Trek sketch earlier in the show.  Maybe it's just because I'm kind of a Star Trek nerd, but I found that to be silly fun.

Pine does a really solid Shatner, the Neil de Grasse Tyson framing device was funny (set your phasers to, "Oh, snap!"), Sasheer looked great as Uhura and they had the same Sulu that they had for that 1980s Star Trek sketch with the real Shatner (which was a cute callback for any SNL nerds like me, although perhaps it is actually a sad commentary on the lack of diversity on the show over 30 years). Star Trek trivia, though:  Kirk called Spock, "Spocko" in an actual episode where they were on a planet populated by 1920s-era Chicago gangsters.  And "Neil's" joke about that lost episode still being better than "The Final Frontier" was because that was the movie where Spock's long-lost brother actually appeared.  Haha.  Told you I was a nerd.  (Edit: I type too slowly, and some already pointed out Akira has played Sulu since 1975.)

I wasn't really feeling the rest of the show all that much, but I'm sick and kind of off tonight, so that may be more about me than the show, not sure.  I did think the show got better as it went on.  "Morning Joe" and the monologue didn't really do it for me, but the last two sketches were enjoyably weird.

Edited May 7, 2017 by Peace 47

[vb68]

Boy  this live coast to coast thing at the same time is all about the singing so far.

Still I think Chris was a pretty damn good host.  He was clearly up for anything(especially singing), but he didn't flinch and betray any nerves. I loved the joke in the monologue about him being so good at his walk on that he's back eight years later. I remember that cameo and thought at the time he would host.

Having real kids come out for the Kellyanne sketch really sold it.

Update was great. I thought Che was on fire tonight. That sickle cell line was just fantastic. 

So Leslie got some apparently. I keep thinking Poor Kyle.

The Star Trek sketch was great. And I don't think there was singing.

It was fine. Chris is charismatic (and really confident for a first timer), and I hope he comes back. I have a feeling it was the show that saddled him with singing. Not the other way around.  

Quote

That was SNL production designer Akira Yoshimura. He's been playing Sulu in SNL sketches since 1975. He was in the one where Belushi was Captain Kirk and in 1986 when William Shatner hosted:

Great catch.

Edited May 7, 2017 by vb68

[VCRTracking]

I shouldn't be surprised but Kate McKinnon's Mika Brzezinski's impersonation was hilarious. Also Alex Moffat as Joe Scarborough.

The sketch with Aidy and Vanessa singing "The Boy is Mine" made me nostalgic for the late 90s.

[Lantern7]

Technically, Chris Pine is not a superhero actor. He's played James Kirk and Steve Trevor. No heroes . . . not yet.

Was this Nineties Night with the writing staff? They nailed Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? with their own Rockapella, and then there were white women channeling Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine."

[Peace 47]

18 minutes ago, vb68 said:

It was fine. Chris is charismatic (and really confident for a first timer), and I hope he comes back. I have a feeling it was the show that saddled him with singing. Not the other way around.  

Chris was great, and they should definitely have him back. (I'm pleased that someone whom I suggested would be a good host in the "people who should host" thread did me, an Internet nobody, proud tonight.  ;-) )  One missed opportunity I thought was that they didn't have him do a Sinatra impression.  I heard him sing a few bars of "Fly Me to the Moon" in a Kimmel clip, and he sounded remarkably like Sinatra.  Even Kimmel swooned.  Although this show had him singing left and right, I don't quite think they gave him the material to really show off what he can do vocally.  (He has even dueted with Barbra Streisand on an album.)

Edited May 7, 2017 by Peace 47

[Ms Blue Jay]

That was really good.  Compelling, all the way through, and I laughed quite a bit, even though I just wanted to read about The Handmaid's Tale throughout the episode.  I kept stopping and really watching and only reading during commercials.  I think I have to become a Chris Pine fan now.

9 minutes ago, VCRTracking said:

I shouldn't be surprised but Kate McKinnon's Mika Brzezinski's impersonation was hilarious. Also Alex Moffat as Joe Scarborough.

The sketch with Aidy and Vanessa singing "The Boy is Mine" made me nostalgic for the late 90s.

I looked it up - the 19th anniversary of that song is this month.  1998 was so bangin'.  

[vb68]

5 minutes ago, Peace 47 said:

(He had even dueted with Barbra Streisand on an album.)

That's what I was gonna was a missed opportunity. Since he was on her album, have him sing on all these other people's albums where the cast does all these impressions.   I wonder if any of the women can do a good Streisand? 

I think it would had been funny to see him get increasingly cocky because he sang with her and try to do different styles going over the top with it.

Edited May 7, 2017 by vb68

[nowandlater]

28 minutes ago, Galileo908 said:

Star Trek: Kenan as Neil deGrasse Tyson was something this show should've done ages ago (EDIT: Oh right, they did...years ago). And earlier in the show. Chris Pine does a great Shatner. Should've been Riblet playing Spocko. "Still better than Star Trek V." Burn. And gotta love that random Asian guy as Sulu. So that's TWO examples tonight highlighting SNL not hiring any Asian actors.

Technically, SNL has hired part-Asian actors in the past (Rob Schneider, Fred Armisen)...but it would be cool if, after 42 years, SNL hired an Asian person, or somebody known for being of Asian descent.

At UC Berkeley, which Chris Pine and I attended at the same time (no, I didn't know him), students of Asian descent have outnumbered whites for decades. In fact, the two actors who have played Sulu are former UC Berkeley students. (George Takei went to UC Berkeley before transferring to UCLA. John Cho graduated in 1996.)

[VCRTracking]

A recent episode of the series Fargo made me think about the "Mike Yanagita" scene in the movie. He was played by Steve Park who also was a cast member of In Living Color. It was the first time I had seen a full blooded Asian actor on a sketch show and that was in the early 90s!

According to Uproxx's Mike Ryan, Mr. Yoshimura goes by "Leo". Here's an article Ryan wrote about the SNL set builders featuring him:

http://www.vulture.com/2015/01/how-saturday-night-live-gets-built.html

I love that they gave him a wig that match his long 70s hair he had in the sketch instead of Sulu's actual short hair! And that Kyle Mooney's Spock and ears were the same as the wonky ones worn by Chevy Chase!

Edited May 7, 2017 by VCRTracking

[Mumbles]

This might have been my favorite ep in months. I didn't reallly know Chris Pine - I mixed him up with the other Chrisses, like the opening monologue alluded to - but found him genial and down for it. Loved the surveillance sketch - surreal and loopy (by the time they got to "an African-American woman in a zoot suit eating a large gummi bear", I lost it.). And the Star Trek sketch was really fun. And the Morning Joe sketch goes without saying. That was a long time coming.

[CASinCHI]

Certainly the writing is a HUGE factor to the success of an episode but so is having a host who seems to really want to be hosting, and Chris Pine seemed to really enjoy the experience.

[Spartan Girl]

Chris Pine is so hot. I loved the monologue of him explaining he's different from all the other Chrises. It would have been hilarious if they all made a cameo. We have been waiting for them to be all together for years. Oh well...

As a kid that grew up on Carmen Sandiego, the "Where in the World is Kellyanne Conway" skit was perfect. Funniest part was how short it was. Stay gone, Kellyanne!

[Lizzing]

I think they missed an opportunity to use the musical guest singer as Steve Bannon. 

[Princess Sparkle]

The show combining three of my favorite things into one sketch - Chris Pine, RuPauls Drag Race, and Erika Jayne - guaranteed I would love the episode. Whoever did that sketch did their homework; it was hilarious. 

Chris Pine was a wonderfully game host, and insanely confident - that alone can push a so-so episode into "great" territory. I hope he comes back to host again, because while I didn't love all of the sketches, I thought he knocked it out of the park. 

[Ottis]

Props for Chris Pine for being open to anything. He's probably the least well known of the various Chrises, though I have enjoyed watching him in the Star Trek movies.

I liked the time lapse shot of the monologue after "The House" skit.

LCD Soundsystem, who I had never heard of, brought me back to the 80s in a good way.

The two women who wanted Chris bugged me. For a show that prides itself on being liberal, showing something that, if the genders were reversed would have been scorned and criticized, didn't work for me.

I have nothing to say about KellyAnne Conway. Haven't noticed she was gone.

The weather woman bit would have been better without citing nervousness. That's how weather people sound. 

Lots of zinger punch lines on WU.

RuPaul ... Enh. One note joke. 

Whats with the women in red  and bro dudes? I know it is tied to a tv show, but what was the point? Borderline offensive to men.

Why were all the Star Trek shirts so big? I enjoyed how they made Star Trek out to be like all TV shows who change the cast to get ratings (usually with babies). The whole crew seemed to enjoy whoever was playing Sulu.

Cicely was looking good in that last skit. That couple reminded me of every theatre major I have ever known. 

Edited May 7, 2017 by Ottis

[rmontro]

8 hours ago, VCRTracking said:

That was SNL production designer Akira Yoshimura. He's been playing Sulu in SNL sketches since 1975. He was in the one where Belushi was Captain Kirk and in 1986 when William Shatner hosted:

https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/star-trek-v-the-restaurant-enterprise/n9513?snl=1

I knew the dude looked familiar, but I couldn't figure out why.  Thanks for pointing that out, makes the sketch seem a lot richer.

I love Star Trek, but didn't think the sketch was that great.  It was worth it just to see Pine play Shatner's Kirk though, and Keenan's Neil DeGrasse Tyson was good also.

[ottoDbusdriver]

LCD Soundsystem was fucking terrible -- what rock did this band crawl out from under, and how did they get booked on SNL ?
It's May sweeps -- and this is the best they could do ?

Were they trying to be some kind of Arcade Fire knockoff ?  The bizarre lyrics, the eclectic looking band members, the odd dancing -- only in this case the lead singer seems to think yelling into the microphone is some sort of art form.

And per @Lizzing, the lead singer did seem to be pulling off some Steve Bannon cosplay.

Chris Hemsworth Evans Pratt Pine did a decent job for a first timer.

[helenamonster]

I never liked Morning Joe because Joe Scarborough annoys the crap out of me and the weird sexual tension (finally explained and confirmed this week) between him and Mika always skeeved me out. That being said, I really liked the cold open.

I usually don't like singing monologues but this one was good. I always thought it was hilarious that there was this revolving door of similar-looking white dudes named Chris in superhero/superhero adjacent blockbusters.

Favorite sketch of the night was Where in the World is Kellyanne Conway? The real kids they got were it for awesome, and I like this recent trend of the writers not being afraid to let a sketch (especially a live one) be short. Just get in, tell the joke, and get out. And may Kellyanne stay in whatever basement she's been banished to for the rest of eternity.

I didn't get the Song for Peace sketch at all. Is there something I'm missing with it or was it just not my cup of tea?

The surveillance sketch was silly but fun, I enjoyed it.

They've done "The House" before but I still liked it this time around.

Weekend Update was really good. Vanessa's meteorologist character was so random but amazing. "...hap."

I think Sasheer got more screentime in this one episode than the rest of her time on this show combined. Good for her, keep it up!

Chris was a really good host, imo. The episode was fairly middle of the road (not any real stinkers but nothing super memorable) but he was completely game and I'd love for him to come back.

How come one of the dudes in LCD Soundsystem looked like the kind of guy who would go on a hunger strike to end apartheid?

9 hours ago, VCRTracking said:

That was SNL production designer Akira Yoshimura. He's been playing Sulu in SNL sketches since 1975. He was in the one where Belushi was Captain Kirk and in 1986 when William Shatner hosted:

https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/star-trek-v-the-restaurant-enterprise/n9513?snl=1

Oh, no way! I've met his brother: my mom does business with him and I used to waitress for the catering company that her company uses for corporate events. She would always remind me that his brother was the production designer for SNL. Sorry, random, not-at-all-fun fact but I'm just a little stoked to make the connection haha.

[peeayebee]

10 hours ago, vb68 said:

The Star Trek sketch was great. And I don't think there was singing.

They sang Pizza Beach, or something, at the end.

There being so many sketches with singing was strange. I didn't really mind, though.

I've never watched Morning Joe, though I've seen clips, so the Cold Open didn't do much for me. I did enjoy Trump calling in as someone from the Administration. That was a nice callback (so to speak) to the long-ago disclosed story that he had actually done this.

Where in the World Is Kellyanne Conway? was great. Everyone in it was great, including the kids.

I didn't get the Slavic music video thing. The only thing in it I really liked was when Beck says/sings something (I can't remember) and Kyle gives him a puzzled look.

The SWAT sketch was a lot of fun. Just so goofy. Love Mikey Day.

I also really liked the HR sketch. Vanessa (always the best) and Aidy were fantastic.

I think my favorite sketch might be The House one. I don't even know what to say about it, but it cracked me up all the way thru.

I LOVE Vanessa's meteorologist character, Dawn Lazarus. This was awesome. She was outstanding with all the garbled words and nonsense. I hope this is a recurring character.

The auto repair sketch was good.

The Handmaid Tale bombed. I haven't watched the show yet, but I don't think you needed to in order to get this sketch, which I think was about how men are oblivious to what women go thru. Just not very funny.

I liked the Star Trek thing. I didn't know who the guy playing Sulu was, so thank you to all who explained this. I did assume he was a crew member. Spocko was pretty funny. "Now that's a Star Trek!"

Game Night was pretty good. I thought the song they were singing was from a Sondheim musical, so I was surprised that was completely made up.

I'd heard of LCD Soundsystem, but I don't know if I'd heard any of their music before. I wasn't too impressed.

Chris Pine did fine. (I'm a poet!) There were times when he wasn't as funny as he was supposed to be, but his enthusiasm made up for it.

Edited May 7, 2017 by peeayebee

[Primetimer]

Now you'll know him as 'The Chris Who Sings' after his SNL appearance.

View the full article

[Brn2bwild]

I was so disappointed in the Handmaid's Tale sketch.  We had just finished watching the fourth episode when we tuned into this.  It was ripe for a really smart commercial parody involving real-life Republicans as the Commanders and their wives.  Instead we got... that.  Hopefully they'll have a do-over.

[Mumbles]

Quote

Chris Pine was a wonderfully game host, and insanely confident

I went from "which Chris was this?" at the beginning of the show, to crushing on him by the end. The twinkle in his eye during the Star Trek sketch was so endearing.

What I loved about the Handmaid's Tale is its point that genial cluelessness is dangerous too. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem, to paraphrase Eldridge Cleaver.

[mtlchick]

For someone who got to school early just so she can play Where in The World/In Time/In History is Carmen Sandiego on one of the few computers available around in 1990, that sketch was EVERYTHING.

Chris Pine is a very good looking man who has some funky eyebrows, but he was up for anything and everything.  I do think there was a missed chance for a Baldwin appearance though; I think they could have written a fun and bizarre Jack Ryan sketch since they were the first and (currently) last actor to play the role.  That said, he sang or lip synched 5 times in this episode.  That's pretty excessive, even with someone who has some singing skills. 

Next week; Melissa McCarthy is a 5 (and 1/16) timer! 

[Miss Slay]

That Morning Joe sketch is everything. I laughed so hard!

[Lantern7]

11 hours ago, vb68 said:

So Leslie got some apparently. I keep thinking Poor Kyle.

Meant to mention that last night. RIP "Kylie." That would have been the couple name, right?

[annewithaneee]

Count me in as yet another Chris Pine apathetic who he won over last night. It even made me forgive him for "winning" in the terrible (but so much fun to watch with way too much wine) This is War. I mean, over Tom Hardy??!?! Who would ever pick his super-generic ass? Anyway, yeah, loved him in this.

[DollEyes]

Another on the Chris Pine Love Train. Besides being a talented dramatic and comedic actor (as proven in Hell or High Water, Z For Zachariah & Horrible Bosses 2 & Princess Diaries 2),  Pine can also sing-which I've known since the film version of Into the Woods. Of course, his hotness doesn't hurt. 

Show-wise, the Morning Joe Cold Open was not only spot-on, I'll bet Joe & Mika will mention it on tomorrow's show at least once. 

The opening song was great, but it would have been even better as a Digital Short with all 4 Chrises, with a running gag of people confusing them and their movies, until someone cleared it up by pointing to Evans, Pratt, Hemsworth & Pine respectively & saying "Marvel, Marvel, Marvel & DC." 

"Where In The World Is Kellyanne Conway?" Don't know, don't care. 

The Star Trek sketch was hilarious. Pine as Shatner, Kenan as Neil deGrasse Tyson & Akira Yoshimura as Sulu were perfect.

The garage sketch was epic! As if those guys praising RuPaul's Drag Race wasn't epic enough, seeing Pine & Bobby Moynihan Lip Sync For Their Lives gave me life like my mama! RuPaul should definitely have Pine as a Guest Judge. 

[Trini]

12 hours ago, nowandlater said:

Technically, SNL has hired part-Asian actors in the past (Rob Schneider, Fred Armisen)...but it would be cool if, after 42 years, SNL hired an Asian person, or somebody known for being of Asian descent.

Does Nasim Pedrad count? I miss her on SNL.

[Bees]

This episode was just straight up delightful. That's all I have to say about it. It was nice to have an episode that wasn't like 90% political too (note: I don't mind when it's political, but it's nice to have a couple episodes that were not so political). Chris Pine apparently can sing and yet despite him being in Into the Woods, it still surprises me. And man did he want to sing tonight.

Anyways.

Cold Open: I had no idea about the whole Joe and Mika thing but I did enjoy the reactions of everybody around them as they got all intensely flirty with each other. Also, this was oddly not that political too, which really set the tone for tonight. As an aside, I think this sketch made me realize that Alex Moffatt has totally won me over. 

Monologue: Usually I dislike singing monologues but this one was okay. I enjoy the Chris vs Chris vs Chris vs Chris stuff. 

Where in the World is Kellyanne Conway?: First off, my inner 8 year old got super giddy at this. I used to watch this show near religiously when I was younger. And they were spot on with everything. Though I do lament that Da Chief (Lynne Thigpen) passed away in 2003 which is sad, so that's vaguely anachronistic. I also appreciated how short and to the point this sketch was. 

Song for Peace: This feels like a 12:50am sketch turned into a Digital Short. I'm not sure exactly what the point of this was. It was interesting at least. Still trying to wrap my head around it. It's my David S. Pumpkins.

SWAT Stakeout: Okay there is no way in hell that this was not written by Mikey Day and Co. because this gives some serious Space Pants/David S. Pumpkins/Kevin Roberts vibes to me. And honestly, this was my favorite sketch of the night because of how goofy and delightful it was. And honestly, I would totally have a cotton candy dance party complete with backpack fashion show! It was also oddly wholesome too. It just worked for me and got me in the funny bone for some reason. Then again, I have a deep comedy-related love for Mikey Day that has really really blossomed this season so I could just be biased.

HR: This would be rated so much lower for me if it wasn't for the ending. For some reason the subversion of Chris Pine's character being totally into it with Vanessa's character just sold it for me into being pretty good. But I will admit that there is some slight double standardy stuff here since if the genders were reversed, it'd be very hard to watch. 

The House: I love the touch of that music being used...that seems to be used in every goofy moment in every reality show. I liked this a lot and how they were trying to manufacture drama. Also the ending with the gunman "Welcome to my awkward liiiiife" was funny.

Weekend Update: This was alright. Nothing too grand, but it did it's job. It had a few pretty good jokes in there. And the whole Red Sox thing (as a Red Sox fan) was pretty spot on. I enjoyed and appreciated that they weren't too harsh on Boston and acknowledged that there IS a race issue with Boston but it's really not everybody. Though I'm sure some folks may not like the SF comparison. Dawn Lazarus was pretty decent. She had the sound of a weather person down pat. I think maybe not mentioning the nervousness would've worked better. 

Mechanics: Were they trying to be from Boston or New York? They sounded like a combination of both which is, from my POV, very Rhode Island sounding (RI accents are basically the combination of the worst of both of these accents...I say this as a Rhode Islander who managed to escape with very little accent). Anyways, I loved this sketch way too much. And that lip sync battle was fantastic! 

Handmaid's Tale: I've never seen this show so I can't speak for if this was on point or not. I didn't really like the sketch. It seems like they kind of failed their point. I did like the ending when the narrator says "See, Netflix?! We have one too!"

Star Trek: This was stupid but enjoyable. Just the whole mythology of Spocko and how Spocko came to be was funny as hell. Also why haven't we had Kenan as Neil DeGrasse Tyson until now?! We need more of that! Also, Beck has shown some pretty fancy moves this episode between this and the SWAT sketch.

Game Night: This was probably my least favorite sketch, but it wasn't awful. Kind of reminds me of that "Debra's Time" sketch with Chris Hemsworth. Were they trying to hash out a few Hemsworthian sketches as some sort of inside joke about the Chris Confusions? Because if so, then I think this sketch may be a bit better in my eyes for meta reasons.

Overall, I really really enjoyed this episode. It wasn't hard-hitting and satirical as hell but just because something isn't like that doesn't mean it's not funny. This was goofy and silly and just seemed to hit almost all the right notes with me. Yes, Chris Pine did a lot of singing but I don't mind that much. It worked for me. I feel like this will be one of those episodes that will end up aging really well in years down the line (let's face it -- there's a few episodes of SNL that have not aged well at all despite being amazing at the time). 

[potatoradio]

Have confirmed total fandom for Alex Moffat. His Scarborough was spot on. He really is a versatile, talented comedic actor and I hope to see his experience and role develop. And Morning Joe has many, many pundits/panel guests that would make for excellent satire - both classic and new. Granted, it's probably not popular or well known enough to become a staple, but there's a lot of material there should they need it. 

Loved the detail of the drinks on the table. I always notice that the guests never get smoothies or Starbucks - just morning joe mugs. 

Other than that...it was fine. WU jokes read flat out bitter and resigned to me. Now, I think bitter is a perfectly fine response, all things considered, but the first few WU after the election were more...I don't know how to describe it exactly, but were maybe more nuanced or sharp and somehow did more than just give off a really bad mood about current events. I mean, I was in a foul mood about things already and I didn't expect to end the night thinking of rainbows and unicorns, but I was hoping for at least a hearty sardonic laugh. Nope. Just more gloom and doom. 

Line of the night, though, "we don't want to find her." Bwahhhh! 

[bkathi]

Just want to know how much Erica Jayne (or her husband) paid for the name check and song. Can't stand her. Loved Chris Pine. 

[Bruinsfan]

I liked Pine's Shatner Kirk better than his own take on the character in the movies.

Kyle's and Beck's senses of humor fall completely flat for me though. I'm assuming they were the ones behind the Slavic music video and the rehashed The House reality show sketch.

SWAT sketch was the gold medal winner of the night for me.

Edited May 7, 2017 by Bruinsfan

[VCRTracking]

3 hours ago, Mumbles said:

What I loved about the Handmaid's Tale is its point that genial cluelessness is dangerous too. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem, to paraphrase Eldridge Cleaver.

I haven't seen the show but I have read the book and seen the movie back in high school. I didn't like the sketch at first but these articles made me realize what the point they were making:

The Onion AV Club:

Saturday Night Live’s The Handmaid’s Tale reveals the banality of dudebro evil

Uproxx:
‘SNL’ Brilliantly Skewers What The Apathetic Dude Population Would Be Up To In ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

[Traveller519]

There are some sketches where I just want to know what the thought process and development that went in was. This week, that was SWAT and HR. For HR, I like to imagine that, Aidy and Vanessa were stewing of sketch ideas for Pine, and started singing the song to themselves, about who was going to make out with him, or the song came on and they both started singing along. I then like to imagine in early rehersals they were trying to sing without the vocal tracks to the song, but it was completely unrecognizable so they went the way they did. At any rate it was a tremendous Junior High callback for me.

SWAT had me in stiches, so much well done physical comedy, and then having them Keenan and Beck describe what is going on was just tremendous. I wanted to be in that apartment too.

Chris's opening monologue is exactly what a good signing monologue should be. The point was clear, the music was catchy, and there was a solid joke behind it. The moving display boards really added to it.

[Macbeth]

I laughed during the Peace video - I just assume Beck was doing his Putin imitation just with his shirt on.  The rest of the video I couldn't figure out what was going on.

I like Chris Pine.  If you want to hear a good song of his download "Agony" from "Into the Woods."  It is funny and well sung.

I thought the Star Trek skit should have been done sooner since this is the role Chris is best known for.  But then I remember that it was being aired live on the West Coast as well, so I understand why they aired it in the last half hour.  It was great to see him do it with a wig in honor of Shatner.  And I loved that they used the same production guy that they used 40 years ago, so I enjoyed watching him in the skit.

I liked it.

[wknt3]

17 hours ago, Galileo908 said:

No writer's strike means we're back! 

Cold Open: Morning Joe & Kate as Mika. Their chemistry was fun to watch. Are they shipped hard in the writer's room or something? (EDIT: They got engaged? That explains it) Liked hearing "John Miller." So Alec literally phoned it in tonight?

Monologue: So Chris Pine is the most generic looking of the good-looking superhero actors named Chris? It's a good bit. And goddamnit, it led to a song. At least he didn't seem nervous at all, that was a plus.

I really liked the cold open as well. It's good to see them branching out a bit since it's obvious that Alec Baldwin doesn't want to do it every week any more and it seemed both the writers and actors were more inspired and not just going through the motions. And the monologue was good too. Yeah it was another song, but it's always a good sign when the host seems to be comfortable and willing to go with the flow.

Quote

Where in The World is Kellyanne Conway?: You had me at the title, SNL. No one wants to find her...and that's it. Genius.

And they didn't try to stretch it out! It was genius. Funny premise. Joke. Joke. Punchline. Boom!

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Handmaid's Tale: This was disappointing, and not funny at all. I don't even know what the point of that was. Bros not understanding the women's plight?

I liked it. And yes that was exactly the point. People who don't support the extremists, but can't be bothered to actively oppose them because they're not personally affected and are uninformed and self involved.

[lovinbob]

While the Joe/Mika thing was excellent and ripe for the parody, I hate that it will feed the egos of those two narcissists. Well, I don't know if Mika's a narcissist but she certainly has been buying her own hype in the last several years. 

I have always liked Chris Pine; I'm not sure exactly why but his performances last night definitely worked for me. And also, I must say, of all the Chrises, I find him the handsomest!

[Quickbeam]

Party of 1 for the Handmaid's Tale sketch. I loved it. Maybe being a woman for 60 years, I dunno. I have read the book, seen the movie and the Hulu mini series to date. Not sure if it would make sense if you were not familiar with the story. 

I love Chris Pine. Not only as Shatner but I love it when a host can really sing and they let him. 

[methodwriter85]

I absolutely lost it Where in The World is Kellyanne Conway. I was absolutely obsessed with Carmen Sandiego as a kid and they nailed it.

Chris Pine was definitely game. He completes the Chris Hollywood Star Born in The Late 1970's/Early 1980's quadrology.

[rabidchipmnk]

But... Chris Pratt is also A Chris Who Sings? e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NbBGrBxRhs

The thing which made me go from meh on Pine to kiiiiind of crushing on him was him putting on a terrible rocker wig and singing on the roof of a cabin in WHAS. Which probably says something really weird about my tastes...

[rmontro]

17 hours ago, ottoDbusdriver said:

LCD Soundsystem was fucking terrible -- what rock did this band crawl out from under, and how did they get booked on SNL ?
It's May sweeps -- and this is the best they could do ?

I actually thought they were better than some bands I've seen on SNL.  That isn't saying much though, I usually go in expecting the musical guest to be lackluster.  I grew up listening to music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, though.  Rock was fresh then, and every different thing someone tried was new and creative.  Everything people are doing now has been done many times before.  It all sounds tired to me.

Regarding Chris Pine's Kirk, I've always thought that he put a little bit of Shatner into his portrayal.  Not the obvious impersonation type thing you always see, but I think there's some Shatner in there, in his expressions and attitude.  I don't think anyone has ever agreed with me on that though.

[BTBAM310]

There have been multiple contenders this season for worst SNL episode ever, but this one might be the leader in the clubhouse. I think the only time I kinda laughed was during the stakeout sketch. The House sketch was well done, but not particularly funny. The Handmaids Tale and Song for Peace were definite WTF moments. 

[kassa]

If you've read The Handmaid's Tale or seen the show, that sketch was not a miss.  The narrator is very clear that the answer to "how did this happen" was the apathy of men (and even women) as more and more freedoms were taken away.  Husbands were shocked and sympathetic when their wives' freedoms were curtailed, but it didn't move them to action until it was too late for any of them. Since the past few weeks have shown even Democratic party leaders opining that women's reproductive rights are up for discussion in the greater interest of expanding the party, the sketch was a pretty timely political statement.

On the other hand, I could not tell you what that Russian rap thing was about.  I spent half of it thinking it was supposed to be Putin, then I just lost interest.  

[Ottis]

On 5/7/2017 at 8:10 AM, ottoDbusdriver said:

LCD Soundsystem was fucking terrible -- what rock did this band crawl out from under, and how did they get booked on SNL ?
It's May sweeps -- and this is the best they could do ?

Music is about as YMMV as you can get, so I have to note that LCD Soundsystem was the first band on SNL in literally years that made me go to iTunes and listen to their stuff. I like it. Sort of 80s, with a dash of U2 and New Wave. I will probably buy an mp3 album. 

20 hours ago, wknt3 said:

And yes that was exactly the point. People who don't support the extremists, but can't be bothered to actively oppose them because they're not personally affected and are uninformed and self involved.

So THAT was the point. Thank you. 

2 hours ago, BTBAM310 said:

The House sketch was well done, but not particularly funny.

The reality crap the skit mocks has taken over society. I wonder now if more people watch a skit like this and think that behavior is perfectly normal than watch it and think it's ridiculous.

22 hours ago, Traveller519 said:

SWAT had me in stiches, so much well done physical comedy, and then having them Keenan and Beck describe what is going on was just tremendous. I wanted to be in that apartment too.

Nobody is better than Keenan at describing something ridiculous and making it seem delightful rather than stupid.