Thanks to the intensely discussed election season and the futile hope that “Saturday Night Live,” might once again do biting political commentary (ha!), “SNL” had its best premiere since 2001, and its best ratings since Al Gore hosted in 2002. That Olympic swimmer dude hosted, and my God he was awful. You expect athletes (with the exception of Peyton Manning’s stint, woot!) to be bloody awful on “SNL,” but Michael Phelps was Wayne Gretzky bad. Just atrocious.
And, of course, despite the election season, “SNL” continued to air its sole political skit first, and then give us a feast of ass for the remaining 90 minutes, save for one halfway decent skit featuring the new cast member as a waiter at Unos (the digital short was … well, given how long Andy Samberg had to work on it, a huge disappointment). Lorne Michaels is clearly still a pussy, too afraid to air anything with the slightest whiff of political controversy.
Still, that one political skit, with a guest appearance by Tina Fey, was actually pretty goddamn hilarious. Shame they couldn’t keep it up for the entire show. The Tina Fey as Sarah Palin clip, however, is really all you need to see:
Yes, the dog-wagging but almost inevitable casting irks me, because I still think the comparison inaccurately flatters the governor (and insults the woman I love), but she certainly tore it up and it's all rather refreshing. It's nice for "Hillary" to finally call bullshit on the issue. Maybe Hillary will too.
I saw a few other clips and, yeah, Mr. Phelps was a little shaky with his card reading (just a little bit). He nailed that T-Mobile ad though!
There are so many things I love about this sketch and so many things about it that make me hurt deep down inside. And I'll extend the offer Hillary/Amy made and say that the media is more than welcome to borrow my pair as well. Seriously.
And Phelps had to be one of the most tightly controlled "hosts" I've ever seen on SNL. They should've had him strip more often, that might've helped.
...I still think the comparison inaccurately flatters the governor (and insults the woman I love)...
Agreed. On her best day, Palin doesn't hold a candle to Tina Fey. Come on people, they're just glasses. Are we really a nation of Lois Lanes?
Posted by: jM at September 15, 2008 11:10 AM
I think they might be saving some of the political material for their upcoming primetime episodes this Fall.
The general vibe I got from this episode, outside of the cold opening, was that we were seeing sketches written just before/during the strike.
T-Mobile sketch, while fairly funny, felt really dated.
And the Phelps' edition of the locker room pep talk/Forte dance scene was really lackluster compared to Manning's initial version the year prior.
Posted by: -tom at September 15, 2008 11:13 AM
I would watch it, but I am in the UK, so I can't. :( I'm sure it's really very funny.
Posted by: Carrie at September 15, 2008 11:20 AM
Oh come on. The Unos waiter was easily the worst, most obnoxious sketch of the night. White people talking like black people is not funny.
Posted by: Frank at September 15, 2008 11:28 AM
I turned it off after the Palin/Clinton sketch. So I thought it was pretty good. SNL, stop having athletes guest host! It is a waste of a perfectly good jock who should be out winning something.
Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at September 15, 2008 11:28 AM
Come on people, they're just glasses. Are we really a nation of Lois Lanes?
Thank you! Yes, Tina Fey and Sarah Palin are both attractive brunettes who wear glasses. That doesn't mean they look anything at all alike. Tina Fey fucking nailed Palin's accent though.
Posted by: roses at September 15, 2008 11:46 AM
Fey and Poehler were great in the open.
But - to use lame TWO recycled skits in the first half of the season freaking premiere is lazy beyond belief. The Will Forte dancing coach bit wasn't worth resurrecting for Phelps (heck - it wasn't all that funny the first time w/ Peyton Manning), and the Wiig/Phelps weird-kids at their parents cocktail party bit is pretty weak, as well. And - what was the other skit among the first few? - a game-show spoof - which we see in on form or another on almost every SNL episode.
The cast is solid - but the dearth of new sketches is troubling. I didn't watch the second half - I can only hope they didn't trot out the "guys singing in a bar w/ creepy nonsequiters" didn't make an appearance.
I appreciate the irony of your headline. You definitely made me do a double take on that.
Posted by: zeropointzero at September 15, 2008 11:49 AM
Stop putting him on tv. With his stupid abs and big ears. Don't they know Dolphin Boy just wants to swim?
Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at September 15, 2008 11:54 AM
Oh Tina Fey, you make the lowliest of the low mega sexy.
Posted by: Lucas at September 15, 2008 12:10 PM
Do you give up yet Jay?
Come on people, they're just glasses. Are we really a nation of Lois Lanes?
I think we're a nation of morons, since apparently Palin's glasses are selling out. Look! You too can be President if you get these glasses.
Posted by: Cindy at September 15, 2008 12:48 PM
Do you give up yet Jay?
Give up on calling those frames fug? Never. Apparently hers are also over $300. Mine were 40. Look at my sound economic policy.
Hey, if I have to be Winston Smith then I have to be.
Do you give up on the "SP doesn't look like TF and vice versa" campaign?
Posted by: Cindy at September 15, 2008 1:06 PM
I'm visiting California, and Friday I got to see an old friend for her birthday. Haven't seen her in a year. It was awesome fun. On Saturday, she wanted to watch SNL. Instead of spending more time with this person whom I won't see for another year, I said, "Michael Phelps is going to suuuck. I'll just catch the funny clip on YouTube," and went home.
I'm glad, but not surprised, that I was justified in that decision.
Posted by: Sabrina at September 15, 2008 1:18 PM
Do you give up on the "SP doesn't look like TF and vice versa" campaign?
Like I said, put me in Room 101 if you must.
We grow people with convictions in our small towns.
What if we put you in that room and force you to wear SP glasses?
Posted by: Cindy at September 15, 2008 2:04 PM
I have to agree that the Uno's sketch was AWFUL. Maybe I'm biased, having watched it on the DVR with a throbbing hangover on Sunday morning, but I wanted to throw a shoe at the TV.
Love Kristen Wiig, though. Jar Glove got me laughing pretty hard. I also laughed really had in the game show sketch when Michael Phelps answered that what carries oxygen through the blood was "tiny gremlins." Then again, I thought he said "tiny grandmas" at first, so that might've been why? Eh screw it, either way it's pretty unjustified.
Posted by: Noxbu at September 15, 2008 2:06 PM
The network on which SNL airs is NBC, which is owned by GE, which is a huge defense contractor.
The neutered SNL tone probably stems from this fact.
Posted by: Recondite at September 15, 2008 2:32 PM
What if we put you in that room and force you to wear SP glasses?
You're cunning, O'Brien.
The neutered SNL tone probably stems from this fact.
Not to get all Joe Pesci on you, but don't you see what's really behind this? The game behind the game?? Sheinhart Wig Company is pullin those strings!! I'll bet they even made the wig Joe Pesci was wearing!
Adored the cold open - I don't care what you say, I had to do a double-take when I saw Tina Fey. Spot on, I think. Phelps, on the other hand....oooh, Phelps. Stick to swimming, honey. Yeah... that host-casting came straight from Jack Donaghy.
Posted by: Jen at September 15, 2008 4:19 PM
"I don't care what you say, I had to do a double-take when I saw Tina Fey. Spot on, I think."
I agree with your comment Jen. She had her mannerisms down to a tee and the accent was right on the money too!
The rest of the show was lukewarm. I read a column on NBC.com last week that mentioned Darrell Hammond and Fred Armistan are going to be doing impressions of Obama and McCain respectively, it's too bad they didn't interject some of those into the opening season show.
Posted by: Les~ at September 15, 2008 4:37 PM
After the opening skit everything was absolute shite. This is the best they could come up with given six months to bring the funny? Just give me the Target sketch, Weekend Update, McGruber and be done with it already.
Posted by: JP at September 15, 2008 5:03 PM
I am shocked to hear that a McCain spokesperson has called Tina Fey's portrayal "disrespectful" and "sexist".
I watched it for about 5 minutes, and it happened to be on the waiter sketch, and I was really surprised when it made me laugh a couple of times. But there was this bizarre confusion of feelings inside my figgy heart--half of it was laughing and half of it was feeling extremely sorry and embarrassed for poor Michael Phelps. Did ANYONE watch him doing interviews doing the Olympics? The poor kid was so incredibly awkward and embarrassed ALL the time (and adorably dorky of course), that the moment I heard he was hosting SNL I just cringed inwardly. He was like the shyest kid in the 4th grade being forced to play the lead in the annual Christmas pageant. That whole sketch he just frowned at something off-screen (cue cards?), his shoulders up to his ears, a horrified look on his face.
He might be about 10 feet taller than I am, but I still wanted to pat him on the back and tell him he'd never have to do it again. Poor giant dork.
Posted by: figgylicious at September 15, 2008 7:54 PM
Are you really, Jay? Really?
Posted by: Anna voin Beaverplatz at September 15, 2008 10:23 PM
Words cannot describe the level of shock.
The shock is then compounded by the shock that Pfotenhauer wasn't the one delivering the message.
I am so happy to hear you also loved the Pizza Uno sketch! It seems like most people absolutely hated it, but I thought it was the only laugh out loud moment of the show once the credits had rolled.
Posted by: cashewdani at September 16, 2008 1:26 AM
Fucking McCain crybabies!
Fucking McCrying Babies!
AHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHA I KILL ME!
...
I think I need to go to sleep now.
Posted by: figgylicious at September 16, 2008 2:14 AM
Thanks to the intensely discussed election season and the futile hope that “Saturday Night Live,” might once again do biting political commentary (ha!), “SNL” had its best premiere since 2001, and its best ratings since Al Gore hosted in 2002. That Olympic swimmer dude hosted, and my God he was awful. You expect athletes (with the exception of Peyton Manning’s stint, woot!) to be bloody awful on “SNL,” but Michael Phelps was Wayne Gretzky bad. Just atrocious. 
Yes, the dog-wagging but almost inevitable casting irks me, because I still think the comparison inaccurately flatters the governor (and insults the woman I love), but she certainly tore it up and it's all rather refreshing. It's nice for "Hillary" to finally call bullshit on the issue. Maybe Hillary will too.
I saw a few other clips and, yeah, Mr. Phelps was a little shaky with his card reading (just a little bit). He nailed that T-Mobile ad though!