6:47 pm - 12/09/2012
As a veteran of sketch comedy thanks to his stint on In Living Color — which, at the risk of making everyone reach for the Geritol, debuted over 20 years ago — Oscar winner Jamie Foxx carried fairly high expectations into this week’s Saturday Night Live hosting gig. And while the episode contained what I’d argue was the least funny segment all season (more on that in a moment), it also featured enough genuinely funny moments that Foxx didn’t lose his comedic cred in the process.
After another uninspired politically themed cold open and an iffy monologue (Foxx’s little stint at the piano brings our tally to 7 out of 9 Season 38 hosts who’ve kicked things off with a song or dance routine), Foxx worked overtime — appearing in every single segment thereafter — to help right the ship.
Best: Swarovski Crystals Ad
Vanessa Bayer and Cecily Strong scored huge laughs as two former (possibly brain-damaged) pornstars trying to score themselves some free holiday bling. Because crystals are the same as diamonds and they’re the one thing — okay, the one other thing — that never goes out of style.
Best: Alex Cross 2: Madea Special Ops
Foxx puled off an amazing split personality (and body) in this movie-trailer short, channeling two of Tyler Perry’s most recognizable roles. “Boy, stop talking to him and blow his skinhead brains out!”
Best: Weekend Update Ding Dong
Foxx donned one of the more ridiculous costumes in recent SNL history to play Hostess’ less-talked-about snack cake, a victim of “snack profiling” who called out the Twinkie as nothing more than “a punk-ass sponge cake.” Those references to the Sno Ball and Little Debbie left me howling.
Worst: Maine Justice
Essentially, this was a People’s Court spoof set in the state of Maine, but with everybody except the befuddled defendant acting as if they’d come straight from the bayous of Louisiana. Get it? Get it? Yeah, I didn’t either. I’m not sure I’ve found anything less amusing on SNL all season.
Worst: Tree Pimp
Kenan Thompson in a digital short about a reformed pimp turned Christmas tree salesman. Yep, this stagnant piece actually ended with our title character humping an underage sapling in an alleyway.
Other Sketches
Monologue
Fiscal Cliff Press Conference Cold Open
Bitch Game Show
Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney
J-Pop: Christmas
Weekend Update: Mrs. Claus
Dress Rehearsal Sketch: Renaldo and Alexi
1 | 2
Jamie Foxx Hosts Saturday Night Live: the Best and Worst Sketches
As a veteran of sketch comedy thanks to his stint on In Living Color — which, at the risk of making everyone reach for the Geritol, debuted over 20 years ago — Oscar winner Jamie Foxx carried fairly high expectations into this week’s Saturday Night Live hosting gig. And while the episode contained what I’d argue was the least funny segment all season (more on that in a moment), it also featured enough genuinely funny moments that Foxx didn’t lose his comedic cred in the process.
After another uninspired politically themed cold open and an iffy monologue (Foxx’s little stint at the piano brings our tally to 7 out of 9 Season 38 hosts who’ve kicked things off with a song or dance routine), Foxx worked overtime — appearing in every single segment thereafter — to help right the ship.
Best: Swarovski Crystals Ad
Vanessa Bayer and Cecily Strong scored huge laughs as two former (possibly brain-damaged) pornstars trying to score themselves some free holiday bling. Because crystals are the same as diamonds and they’re the one thing — okay, the one other thing — that never goes out of style.
Best: Alex Cross 2: Madea Special Ops
Foxx puled off an amazing split personality (and body) in this movie-trailer short, channeling two of Tyler Perry’s most recognizable roles. “Boy, stop talking to him and blow his skinhead brains out!”
Best: Weekend Update Ding Dong
Foxx donned one of the more ridiculous costumes in recent SNL history to play Hostess’ less-talked-about snack cake, a victim of “snack profiling” who called out the Twinkie as nothing more than “a punk-ass sponge cake.” Those references to the Sno Ball and Little Debbie left me howling.
Worst: Maine Justice
Essentially, this was a People’s Court spoof set in the state of Maine, but with everybody except the befuddled defendant acting as if they’d come straight from the bayous of Louisiana. Get it? Get it? Yeah, I didn’t either. I’m not sure I’ve found anything less amusing on SNL all season.
Worst: Tree Pimp
Kenan Thompson in a digital short about a reformed pimp turned Christmas tree salesman. Yep, this stagnant piece actually ended with our title character humping an underage sapling in an alleyway.
Monologue
Fiscal Cliff Press Conference Cold Open
Bitch Game Show
Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney
J-Pop: Christmas
Weekend Update: Mrs. Claus
Dress Rehearsal Sketch: Renaldo and Alexi
1 | 2
and TRASH too.
Edited at 2012-12-10 01:00 am (UTC)
I'm still chuckling over Derbel McDillet tbh.
i hate the j-pop america fun time sketch. every time they do it i'm just like, WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
now you kind of expect their punchlines (re: ANAL) so they just kind of look stupid :p
sworeski
schwartzkopf
schwartzy
swarthy
sawaski
swahski
swavhski
sorekey
shorty
sporty
story
shoresky
sorry
sharky lmao
swarthy ones
or swashbuckler ones, either way
idrc about taran tho he's nothing special
Overall a good show I thought. There weren't a lot of sketches I didn't like... just the JPop America one, and the Bitch What's The Answer sketch. everything else was solid. Dermot McDermott <3
Oh but only having Kate on for like 0.0005 seconds is a big no-no
I died at the saplings.
And at the tree going down on Fred Amisen.