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Last Night on "SNL": Dear Zooey Deschanel -- Stop Doing that Thing with Your Voice

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (47)

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After it was announced that Zooey Deschanel had split from her husband, my first thought was, “How?” She’s too nice to break up with anyone, and why would anyone divorce her? She’s too nice! But then I started thinking about it, and I worked out the scenario for the divorce inside my head:

Ben Gibbard: Can you just be yourself for a few minutes, so we can have an actual conversation?

Zooey: This is my real self?

Ben Gibbard: Really? This is not some sort of elaborate put-on that’s been going on for the last five years? You really act like this all the time?

Zooey: Yes.

Ben: No, really. Please stop doing that thing with your voice.

Zooey: (*singing*) I’m not doing anything with my voooooiiiiiice.

Ben: OK. I’m out.

That’s kind of how I felt about last night’s show. I thought we’d get to see another side of Zooey Deschanel, but it turns out, Zooey Deschanel only has one side. Yes, she’s adorable, and nice, and lovely to look at. But it’s starting to feel like one elaborate, decade-long Borat sketch.

Zooey Deschanel Monologue — This was the first indication that we weren’t going to see anything new. Instead of coming out, introducing herself, telling us a bit about herself, and maybe making a few jokes about her “personae,” Deschanel sang a quirky song because of course she did.

Clint Eastwood’s Chrysler Ads — The first one was OK, but they got increasingly better as the night progressed. There were actually four, but only three are embeddable right now.

Les Jeunes De Paris — The night’s highlight — this is the only recurring sketch on “SNL” right now worth a damn, and bringing on Jean Dujardin (who flew in from Paris on Friday) was a stroke of genius.

Weekend Update: In the Cage — Funny, but would’ve been funnier if Nic Cage — who played opposite Andy Samberg’s version of Nic Cage — had actually gotten more speaking lines.

Technology Hump — I may be in the minority, but I think this sketch is hilarious, even if it is practically the same as the first time they featured the sketch.

The Bad

Newspaper

Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig would make an awesome fast-talking 1930’s comedy-of-remarriage couple, but Zooey Deschanel completely ruined this skit.

The Really Bad

Being Quirky with Zooey Deschanel

Deschanel’s impression of Mary Kate Olsen was actually good, but the rest of the skit only served to remind us what some of us find increasingly annoying about Zooey Deschanel.

The Absolute Worst Skit of the Season

What would possess anyone to put this one on air? I can only imagine how bad the sketches that got cut in favor of this one was.

Musical Performanc: Karmin

I don’t know who this person is.










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Comments

That is exactly how I feel about Zooey Deschanel. Yes, she's cute and might be a bit charming, but after a while you're screaming, "O.K.! I get it! You're adorkable -- for pete's sake, stop it already!"

When she wore those ridiculous "That Girl"-style, mutton chops at the Golden Globes, I almost did a spit-take. It's like she was doing a caricature of herself.

Posted by: Carmelita at February 12, 2012 9:50 AM

It's funny you mention her whole personae thing because they actually brought that up in the most recent episode of New Girl. And proceeded to go nowhere with it.

Posted by: SugarSweet at February 12, 2012 10:00 AM

I used to work with a girl like that. She was absolutely adorable, and talked all the time. And talked and talked and was chipper as a chipmunk. A guy I work with nailed it: "She'd be fun to date but if you married her you'd have to kill her."

I guess divorce is an option too.

Posted by: , at February 12, 2012 10:05 AM

I completely misread "A guy I work with nailed it" the first time I read that comment. Someone has watched too much Jersey Shore. Bleh.

Posted by: Mrcreosote at February 12, 2012 10:17 AM

Wow, so that's Karmin. So...she wears her hair funny. That's the only thing I see or hear in the above that makes her the least bit unusual.

These vids, with the exception of the Nic Cage one and the few seconds of Jean Dujardin dancing, are frankly unwatchable.

Dustin, you have my (uncomprehending) sympathy; and any time you want to give up on these painful recaps and spend late Saturday catching up on your sleep instead, you have my blessing.

Posted by: Jerce at February 12, 2012 10:24 AM

That band is really, really annoying.

Posted by: desmedt at February 12, 2012 10:27 AM

They have the absolute worst possible musical guests on this season. I fully expect to see LMFAO up next on their line-up :-(

Posted by: BlackCinemaAt Large at February 12, 2012 10:54 AM

The musical guest matches up with the host. Karmin, made up of the girl and the white guy at the keyboard, is a musical duo with quirk, I guess. Only found out about them because one of pajiba's articles predicted they'd be among the worst musical performances in SNL history.

What's the verdict?

Posted by: Orleanas at February 12, 2012 11:24 AM

The Zooey Deschanel Show was dumb until Kristen Wiig pulled out the Bjork imitation. The cracked me up, it might have been because I was watching it on Ambien but it made me laugh. Also, JEAN DUJARDIN....sigh.

Posted by: swellcat at February 12, 2012 11:29 AM

I can only imagine how bad the sketches that got cut in favor of this one was.

Oh, I disagree, Dustin. There are probably way too many good sketches that get cut. I think that the way the SNL writers' room is run is the problem in that good sketches get put down. Look at all of the funny people that couldn't last there and never got a sketch on the air.

Posted by: maka at February 12, 2012 11:30 AM

"The absolute WORK skit of the season."

Mhmm.

Posted by: WD at February 12, 2012 11:35 AM

Ennnngh. Did the word "adorkable" exist before her? Because I DON'T LIKE IT.

Posted by: SaBrina at February 12, 2012 12:21 PM

Posted by: e-money at February 12, 2012 12:29 PM

Karmin = Ke$ha with a Nu Wave bop.

It doesn't help.

Posted by: idiosynchronic at February 12, 2012 12:45 PM

Pretty sure the constantly-barking dog from the opening sketch would have done a better job hosting.

Posted by: The Kraken at February 12, 2012 12:47 PM

Is Mary Kate still relevant enough to be made fun of that much? The only reason I can see them doing a Mary Kate Olsen skit is if they want to hop on the Very Mary Kate bandwagon. Which is useless, because that's way better.

Posted by: Erin S at February 12, 2012 1:27 PM

I liked how Jean Dujardin was clearly the best dancer. By a wide margin.

Zooey was awful and grating. Like she is in every damn thing.

Karmin...bad. But harmless. As someone said above, this season's musical guests are by far the worst ever. I don't get it. I assume someone is paying Lorne a lot of money to put these talentless people on TV. So bad. So weird, as not one of these acts will exist in a year or two.

Posted by: Sean at February 12, 2012 1:34 PM

I totally loved the Nicholas Cage thing, especially the end: "We're going to have a three-way with the Declaration of Independence."

Everything else was total crap.

Posted by: MM at February 12, 2012 1:51 PM

Uh.....her voice is what caused the divorce? I think not. I've said it before and I'll say it again; that guy is a post-sex crier! Here's my version:

Zooey (obviously acting): Wow, Ben, that was great...

Ben: ...sniffle...

Zooey: Ben, are you crying again?

Ben: I'm just so sensitive. You tell tell 'cause of my high-pitched singing voice.

Zooey: ...

Ben: I'm gonna go right a sad, sub-par song about this. BRB... (yes, he said "BRB")

Fin.

Yeah...she is kinda getting on my nerves. The second She & Him album was a little too all-the-possibly-negative-things-about-She & Him.

Posted by: pissant at February 12, 2012 2:07 PM

Karmin's second "performance" was the funniest sketch last night.

Posted by: Greg at February 12, 2012 2:19 PM

What does it say that I actually preferred Miley Cyrus to Zooey in Les Jeunes des Paris? I think it's the best thing she's ever done. Zooey looked dead-eyed and uncomfortable, while Miley was actually selling it and was adorable the whole time. Cute and disaffected is Zooey's whole schtick. She should have nailed it.

Posted by: luciolebizarre at February 12, 2012 2:30 PM

Deschanel can come off as forced, but this is the first SNL I have laughed at in a loooooong time.

And Karmin was actually worth hearing, which is unusual for SNL.

Posted by: Haystacks at February 12, 2012 2:39 PM

I thought last night's episode was the third best of the entire season, right behind Jimmy Fallon and Jason Segal, specifically because Zooey Deschanel 1) Kept up with the rest of the cast in terms of comic timing, and 2) Wasn't too hung up on herself to be funny.

The newspaper sketch was only funny because of her character; there wouldn't have been a joke to that sketch without her. The Quirky Girl sketch wasn't amazing, but Kristen Wiig's Bjork impression was hilarious.

Really, the only bad sketches were the Cold Open (which at least featured an adorable dog) and the Crab sketch (which was irredeemably bad). I mean, the Piers Morgan bit even made me laugh.

And Get in the Cage is still my favorite sketch on the show and last night's almost gave me a heart attack it was so funny. Add that to the Clint Eastwood commercials and Les Jeunes De Paris and this episdoe was an absolute winner.

Posted by: ChristianH at February 12, 2012 3:14 PM

That Karmen person - or are we all twee and the group name is not the singer's name? - seems like an exceptionally talented variety show singer. Like on a cruise ship. Not that kind, the kind of cruise your parents go on.

Deschanel has a surprisingly solid voice - who knew - like a somewhat less talented variety show singer.

Dare I hope for a film, a twisted study of the twisted psychology & cutthroat competition of cruise ship performing companies - The Swans Go Honk, perhaps? Sponsored by Chrys-leerrrrrr, of course.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at February 12, 2012 3:17 PM

As someone said above, this season's musical guests are by far the worst ever. I don't get it. I assume someone is paying Lorne a lot of money to put these talentless people on TV. So bad. So weird, as not one of these acts will exist in a year or two.

Whoawhoawhoa, Sean, I get the frustration, but let's not forget: Last week's guest was Bon Iver. No argument on the rest of the season that I can think of, but let's not get hasty and say they've ALL been bad, because they haven't.

Posted by: ChristianH at February 12, 2012 3:20 PM

I thought that quirky girl skit was hilarious, especially Bjork.

Posted by: homeslice at February 12, 2012 4:17 PM

Confirmation Bias my ass. Flat out confirmation.

Posted by: Protoguy at February 12, 2012 4:31 PM

They could do Get In The Cage and Stefon every week and it might make every show watchable

Posted by: bill haverchuck at February 12, 2012 5:13 PM

I know it is going against the grain here, but I like her; yeah she is cute and quirky, but in a way that I don't find irritating. Which is odd, b/c I am a very easily irritated person, and most of the other actresses who fall into that "manic pixie" category give me hives.

Now the musical guest is a whole other story (Karmin? Really, that is their name?). They make me want take my walker outside and go on an old lady rant to anyone who can hear about those damn kids today and their crap taste in music (and, oh yeah - get off my lawn).

Posted by: kimk at February 12, 2012 5:16 PM

I don't get the internet disdain for Zooey...she doesn't bother me. It would have been funnier if she did some crazy stuff, but she probably isn't used to the SNL format. There are far worse celebrities worth your hate...like that talentless hack Tatum Channing last week, was he in any skit where he didn't take off his shirt? How the f**k does he still get movie roles?

Posted by: Adam at February 12, 2012 5:42 PM

p.s. what is so horrible about being cute and nice? I guess you would rather there be more Kim Kardashians in the world. I find her avoidance of the skank angle surprisingly refreshing.

Posted by: Adam at February 12, 2012 6:04 PM

Karmin is not a solely artist. Karmin is a duo. It's a play on the latin word for song. They're also a quirky cover band that got signed to a major label deal and were told "no covers as singles." So, pretty pointless, really.

Posted by: Robert at February 12, 2012 6:34 PM

Not saying she isn't annoying but Gibbard is the one that isn't a douche all of a sudden? Then again to be fair I only have his increasingly mediocre music to judge him on...

Posted by: googergieger at February 12, 2012 8:33 PM

Okay, I thought she did a good Olsen that was kind of funny, then I fell asleep, so I didn't see much else. The Nic Cage thing was only kinda funny. I totally missed Jean Dujardin, so thank you so much for that. I think I love him.

The New Girl is actually really funny. I had very low hopes for the show, but there is some really funny stuff going on. And I suppose it wouldn't work if she wasn't adorkable, but I do find that "word" really annoying. It is adoucheable.

Posted by: MRod at February 12, 2012 8:45 PM

Karmin is better known for their covers than for... whatever that was.

Wiig as Bjork slayed me. "One extra hole for its dreams and ideas" HA!

Posted by: Amanda6 at February 12, 2012 8:45 PM

I'm becoming increasingly concerned with Dustin's tastes, and highly questionable use of the phrase "stroke of genius."

Posted by: Scott at February 12, 2012 9:44 PM

Better impersonations of Mary Kate

http://verymarykate.com/

Posted by: Avery at February 13, 2012 12:09 AM

It's not her cute quirkiness, it's the relentless assault of cute quirkiness. Like drowning in molasses. It may be sweet, but it still kills you.

Posted by: Protoguy at February 13, 2012 12:23 AM

Wow, so that's Karmin. So...she wears her hair funny. That's the only thing I see or hear in the above that makes her the least bit unusual.
---
"That's all it takes anymore," said Cyndi Lauper.

Posted by: , at February 13, 2012 1:38 AM

Personally, I can't stand Kristen Wiig. She sucks the funny out of every skit she's in. She's like the female Jim Carrey before Jim Carrey learned how to act. Except Jim Carrey was actually good in In Living Color.

Zooey Deschanel on the other hand, is absolutely charming. Hot, funny and talented. I don't really understand how someone can dislike her.

Posted by: @Chrispeare at February 13, 2012 1:48 AM

I don't know about where you live, but "Austin City Limits" is on Saturday nights here. Twice, at 11 and midnight. Which, you know, pretty much covers the SNL time frame. (I usually miss the first one though cause I'm at the bar, but the point stands.)

And I bet when PBS funding gets whacked and "ACL" goes off the air while you're watching Karmin, many of you will moan and lament and rend garments and cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes and beat your breasts and alternately cry out to and berate your God and ...

Wait, that's Saturdays at TK's place.

Never mind.

Posted by: , at February 13, 2012 1:49 AM

the parody of Zooey was hilarious, just wished that they would zoom the camera on her everytime she was immitated. Michael Cera impersonation was brilliant, Bjork as the quirkiest girl in the world was insanely funny, Nic Cage's deadpan look floored me, Raging Clint Eastwood great.
Ok, the crab bit was lame but overall a good show.

Zooey Deschanel is very polarizing. Count me firmly in the love boat though.

Posted by: Marlon at February 13, 2012 7:18 AM

I had a temporary flare-up of Zooey hate when I sat sobbing hysterically in the theater while watching 500 Days of Summer. But in general, I don't take any great offense to her. I'm not a fan of her music, but I think she's a decent comedic actress.

Anyway, this episode was fairly strong, with the exception of the crab disaster and the cold open. Much better overall than Charming Potato's stripping=comedy outing. Bill Hader forever remains the highlight of each episode though. The third and fourth Eastwood ads were fantastic. And I'd like to see a recurring sketch with Wiig's adorable Bjork! Especially if they swapped it out for that annoying secret word sketch. And heeee, when I saw Jean show up in Les Jeunes I knew it'd make Dustin happy.

Karmin was unbearable. How do these people who don't even have albums yet keep getting booked as musical guests? Trolling youtube for talent is not wise. Did they get a new booking manager or something? Last year SNL featured the Black Keys and the Strokes. How the hell do they go from that to Lana Del Rey and Karmin?

Posted by: mb at February 13, 2012 8:13 AM

Please stop saying "adorkable".

Posted by: Meander at February 13, 2012 11:56 AM

It's not that she's irritating or relentlessly quirky; Zooey's real crime was being a part of The Happening . I haven't been able to forgive her since.

Posted by: nosio at February 13, 2012 12:10 PM

If you ever saw Zooey on Top Chef that time, you would know the whole "adorkable" thing is an act and that Zooey is a brat-tyrant who seems nice by letting her mom hang out, but then spends the whole time passive-aggressively dismissing her.

Posted by: dagnabbit at February 14, 2012 7:15 PM

ITA with the review! I got weary of the whole I'm-a-widdle-quirky-child-woman thing within 5 minutes of first seeing ZD in a movie. Have tended to avoid anything with her in it, but am an SNL loyalist so had to cringe and sit through this. Fast forwarded most of it though! I don't know when she first decided that "quirkiness" was going to be her thing, but boy has she gone overboard with it. You know, when you actually start calling yourself quirky, it ceases to be real. Or endearing.

Posted by: damosel at February 19, 2012 5:20 PM