I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, Margaret, and assume that when you called the joke "crude" you were making an oil pun. And for that I tip my hat to you. #sethmeyerssarahpalin
I was really excited to see an Alfred Hitchcock sketch until I realized it was just an excuse for the world's longest fart joke. Hitchcock had such a wicked and twisted sense of humor and I have a feeling that where ever he is now, he is not amused. #snljanuaryjones
Here's the thing about comedy audiences: No matter how much they say they want intellectualism and sophistication, they laugh at fart jokes.
Now, I love me some January Jones, but she sucked as a host because she wouldn't commit to any of her characters in live sketches. (She was great in the pre-tape about parties, but she had some familiarity with the character and could do multiple takes.) Notice how she kept cracking up? That happens when you're standing kind of outside your character and realize, "Hey! I'm on stage doing some comedy-like stuff!" I got the feeling that she doesn't think she's good at comedy, and that she lacks confidence in her ability to memorize lines.
When one actor's shaky, it throws off the whole sketch. Cast members can anticipate and compensate for this when they get non-actor hosts. But I think when the host is someone they figure will rise to the occasion, and she doesn't, the cast just wants the misery to end. #snljanuaryjones
-Start auditioning new writers (and fire the majority of the current ones - last night was just one of many unfunny nights that have marked the past few years of SNL)
-Create new original sketches that are funny enough to be repeated
-Stop repeating the unfunny ones
-Get another Weekend Update anchor (and maybe lose Seth Meyers - I'm sorry but he hasn't been cutting it as of late)
-Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is not funny. No more Hulk Obama sketches please
-Pay the players more (so they don't get lazy and depend on shitfests like Hot Rod for income)
-Bring back Rachel Dratch ('cause you may never be able to create the genius that is Debbie Downer at your current writing roadblock)
-SNL Digital Shorts should only be used if they are actually funny (Andy Sandberg's humor is not consistent)
-Employ more sophisticated humor (politics = good, poop = bad)
-Have veteran players host more often (maybe Molly Shannon or Steve Martin could whip you guys back into shape) #snljanuaryjones
@JessickerFletcher: Yes, I completely agree about the digital short. It's not like everything has to be high brow, silliness can be good (sorry, I love laser cats), but there is a line. Oh and -- try to audition some *female* writers while you're at it SNL. #snljanuaryjones
@JessickerFletcher: And try to have a more mixed cast, in race and gender. Not in a token kind of way, but much like Mad TV, where their cast was diverse and there wasn't a big deal made about it. #snljanuaryjones
@Triana Orpheus: Kind of. Rob Schneider is part Filipino, and Armisen is part Japanese. Not to say that they're not "Asian enough", but they both are not obviously Asian looking, and I doubt they would have been hired if they were. I hate you SNL. #snljanuaryjones
The WORST sketch of this show was January Jones as a Dairy Queen worker being hit on by a lesbian Kristen Wiig. Is it just me, or was Wiig a lot funnier when she was on less? #snljanuaryjones
@FrabjousDay: Ugh, yes. I didn't even want to put that up. I had forgotten about it as soon as it was over, which I guess is pretty telling. #snljanuaryjones
@FrabjousDay: Agreed. That was extremely offensive. I love Kristen Wiig but she has no one else on her level anymore (especially in the writing department). Before, she was featured less because there were bigger names (and some bigger talents) but now she's pretty much the only one left. #snljanuaryjones
The BF and I had just gotten our converter box set up in the new place, tinfoil+coaxial cable in lieu of antenna and all, and settled in to watch some Real Live TV for the first time in months.
We hit the Wanda Sykes show, got bored, flipped to SNL...got halfway through the Kristen Wiig as weird lesbian news reporter sketch, and went back to Hulu. #snljanuaryjones
@FrabjousDay:
I actually thought that that sketch was pretty funny in a...oh my God, this is so awkward, I'm uncomfortable, no, I'm realllllyyy uncomfortable, kind of way. But I fell asleep after it, so...what do I know? #snljanuaryjones
Ugh. Didn't they do that same character and shtick when Jamie Pressley was on? Wiig was playing a lesbian journalists hitting on a teenage girl. #snljanuaryjones
The "Grace Kelly farts" sketch could have been funny if what little humour inherent in the premise didn't get beaten to death over a few agonizing minutes. If it had been an in-and-out joke about 15 seconds long it would have been funnier.
Maybe it's too much writing by committee? That's what it reeks of to me. #snljanuaryjones
@lisas: I too snickered a little at first, but then I thought maybe they'd vary her awkward behaviors. Have her trip and fall, block a shot, etc., but handle it all in that same way. But no, it was fart after fart, and it got really old really fast. #snljanuaryjones
All of these were unwatchable. And sure, Kathie Lee annoys me just as much as the rest of 'em, but a shitty band kicking her on the ground just...wow. I can't believe they went there. It was not funny.
Also, the Bitch Pleeze character is too annoying to be funny. I want to like SNL, but it's too hard these days. #snljanuaryjones
After last night, I kept wondering what SNL's main demographic is. Judging by the current humor, I'd guess obnoxious, homophobic, immature fratboys because that episode was about as funny as a Dane Cook special.
I'm glad to see that no one's railing against January. She was pretty much served shit on a platter by the writers. I thought the retro party planning instructional video (excluding the end) and Lou Dobbs impression worked because it was more satire/social-commentary but the rest of the jokes failed. MISERABLY. Last night was pretty much the opposite of humor. Between the gay jokes, fart jokes, and incoherent jokes it became clear that SNL needs to change.
My favorite part of the evening? Turning off the TV. #snljanuaryjones
The writing SUCKS HARD. Sure, January was shaky - she's used to working with great writers and strong material and surely was freaked about trying to make shinola out of ^%$#.
Seth Meyers needs to hang up Weekend Update. That used to be one of my fave parts of the show (remember Tina/Jimmy & Tina/Amy) and was spot on, snarky commentary on the week's news. Now it's just unwatchable. The Jon Bovi skit was worthless.
@BowlingForDollars: They need to put someone on the desk to balance him out. It comes across as overly snarky/smarmy, and using too many guests doesn't help as much as having another anchor there, I don't think. #snljanuaryjones
@hortense: I agree there needs to be two hosts, but again, the writing on that even sucks.
I keep watching every week, hoping SNL gets better - and they sucked me back in with Taylor Swift last week.
I thought she was the best host since Justin Timberlake & Peyton Manning. #snljanuaryjones
@BowlingForDollars: They've done almost the exact same Jon Bovi skit three times now! Seriously, it wasn't funny the first time. It wasn't funny the second time. WHAT THE HELL MAKES YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FUNNY THE THIRD TIME?!
The writing was pathetic and lazy. They should be ashamed. Also, I would say "Bring back the talented womenfolk!" but seeing how there aren't even talented menfolk (except Bill Hader and Kenan) I think they need to find a completely new cast. Kristen Wiig cannot carry this entire show by herself, people! #snljanuaryjones
@BowlingForDollars: The Weekend Update also needs to be done by a host(s) that doesn't laugh/ smile at the jokes. It's not funny if you laugh at it. Go watch Stephen Colbert and get back to me. #snljanuaryjones
@curiousgeorgiana: YES! YES! YES! Seth Meyers, constantly chuckling at your own jokes is perceived as smug and obnoxious. I love watching the actors crack up in the middle of sketches (e.g. Scared Straight) but not when it's from their own jokes.
@curiousgeorgiana: Tina Fey used to do the same thing, always doing an "I'm so clever" smile after a joke, and it bugged the crap out of me. With Seth, it's even worse. #snljanuaryjones
In all honesty, I wondered if, in addition to the terrible failure at writing, if everyone wasn't a tiny bit stoned. I'm not saying that to be snarky, I honestly mean it.
In any event, the writing was pathetic; the format of the show, for 35 fucking years, is to have a host from the outside come do sketch comedy with the house comedians. It's not like that got invented this week.
I hope January gets asked back sometime... after the entire current roster of idiot white male writers gets fired and replaced.
Boo, boo, and boo. I fart in your general direction Seth Meyers, and I happen to like you. #snljanuaryjones
I was always ambivalent about January's acting skills, but now I'm convinced that she's...not very good. She really really really lucked out with the part of Betty Draper, because virtually any other part would've exposed her considerable limitations as an actress. #snljanuaryjones
That party planning video was really funny - it could have worked on it's own, even as an online short. But I feel like for the last five years, all I've said is "SNL has become so atrocious" so I'm not surprised that it flopped. #snljanuaryjones
I really want January Jones to be good. I think because I love the show, and I refuse to believe Matt Weiner would cast someone who can't act. That being said, last night's show was awful. I can only see so many, "see, it's funny 'cause they're gay" sketches. #snljanuaryjones
@mfnher: I don't think you can say she can't act from this. She might be somewhat limited though - not the sketch comedy sort of actress. #snljanuaryjones
@Youthier: I'm not saying just from this. There's a lot of people who say she's awful on Mad Men. I think Betty is supposed to be limited emotionally, but that's me. I think I just need to see her in different roles to be sure. Unfortunately, SNL did not provide what could have been a great opportunity for her. #snljanuaryjones
@mfnher: I amazed that people say she can't act, particularly after this season of Mad Men. Her character went through some amazing swings, and she portrayed them with a great deal of subtlety. The confrontation scene with Don was fantastic.
She's probably not an actress for playing diverse parts in every movie she does, but she does this role well. #snljanuaryjones
@curiousgeorgiana: She was so great in the scene and the one where she actually found the Whitman Sampler Box.
I read this quote by Matt once, and he seemed like kind of a shit about casting her, like that she didn't have to push that far because Betty came to her naturally and she wasn't really acting. And I think in the audio commentary someone said that the "my people are Nordic" line was something that January actually said and they decided to write in because it was so quintessentially Betty! Whatever the case on her initial casting, I think she has shown a lot of range in Betty's emotional upheaval, especially this season and towards the end of season 2. #snljanuaryjones
Agreed. I think watching clips of her from Season 1 and then last season shows an amazing depth and character arc. Mainly good writing, but dependent on good delivery from January. #snljanuaryjones
@curiousgeorgiana: I was actually on the "January can't act!" bandwagon until late season1/season 2. But then I realized that awkwardness is really inherent to Betty's character...she has no means of expressing herself. #snljanuaryjones
11/17/09
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Ladies pinch. Whores use rouge. #sethmeyerssarahpalin
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Now, I love me some January Jones, but she sucked as a host because she wouldn't commit to any of her characters in live sketches. (She was great in the pre-tape about parties, but she had some familiarity with the character and could do multiple takes.) Notice how she kept cracking up? That happens when you're standing kind of outside your character and realize, "Hey! I'm on stage doing some comedy-like stuff!" I got the feeling that she doesn't think she's good at comedy, and that she lacks confidence in her ability to memorize lines.
When one actor's shaky, it throws off the whole sketch. Cast members can anticipate and compensate for this when they get non-actor hosts. But I think when the host is someone they figure will rise to the occasion, and she doesn't, the cast just wants the misery to end. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
-Start auditioning new writers (and fire the majority of the current ones - last night was just one of many unfunny nights that have marked the past few years of SNL)
-Create new original sketches that are funny enough to be repeated
-Stop repeating the unfunny ones
-Get another Weekend Update anchor (and maybe lose Seth Meyers - I'm sorry but he hasn't been cutting it as of late)
-Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is not funny. No more Hulk Obama sketches please
-Pay the players more (so they don't get lazy and depend on shitfests like Hot Rod for income)
-Bring back Rachel Dratch ('cause you may never be able to create the genius that is Debbie Downer at your current writing roadblock)
-SNL Digital Shorts should only be used if they are actually funny (Andy Sandberg's humor is not consistent)
-Employ more sophisticated humor (politics = good, poop = bad)
-Have veteran players host more often (maybe Molly Shannon or Steve Martin could whip you guys back into shape) #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
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The BF and I had just gotten our converter box set up in the new place, tinfoil+coaxial cable in lieu of antenna and all, and settled in to watch some Real Live TV for the first time in months.
We hit the Wanda Sykes show, got bored, flipped to SNL...got halfway through the Kristen Wiig as weird lesbian news reporter sketch, and went back to Hulu. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
I actually thought that that sketch was pretty funny in a...oh my God, this is so awkward, I'm uncomfortable, no, I'm realllllyyy uncomfortable, kind of way. But I fell asleep after it, so...what do I know? #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
Ugh. Didn't they do that same character and shtick when Jamie Pressley was on? Wiig was playing a lesbian journalists hitting on a teenage girl. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
Maybe it's too much writing by committee? That's what it reeks of to me. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
11/15/09
Also, the Bitch Pleeze character is too annoying to be funny. I want to like SNL, but it's too hard these days. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
I'm glad to see that no one's railing against January. She was pretty much served shit on a platter by the writers. I thought the retro party planning instructional video (excluding the end) and Lou Dobbs impression worked because it was more satire/social-commentary but the rest of the jokes failed. MISERABLY. Last night was pretty much the opposite of humor. Between the gay jokes, fart jokes, and incoherent jokes it became clear that SNL needs to change.
My favorite part of the evening? Turning off the TV. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
Seth Meyers needs to hang up Weekend Update. That used to be one of my fave parts of the show (remember Tina/Jimmy & Tina/Amy) and was spot on, snarky commentary on the week's news. Now it's just unwatchable. The Jon Bovi skit was worthless.
11/15/09
11/15/09
I keep watching every week, hoping SNL gets better - and they sucked me back in with Taylor Swift last week.
I thought she was the best host since Justin Timberlake & Peyton Manning. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
The writing was pathetic and lazy. They should be ashamed. Also, I would say "Bring back the talented womenfolk!" but seeing how there aren't even talented menfolk (except Bill Hader and Kenan) I think they need to find a completely new cast. Kristen Wiig cannot carry this entire show by herself, people! #snljanuaryjones
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In any event, the writing was pathetic; the format of the show, for 35 fucking years, is to have a host from the outside come do sketch comedy with the house comedians. It's not like that got invented this week.
I hope January gets asked back sometime... after the entire current roster of idiot white male writers gets fired and replaced.
Boo, boo, and boo. I fart in your general direction Seth Meyers, and I happen to like you. #snljanuaryjones
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She's probably not an actress for playing diverse parts in every movie she does, but she does this role well. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
I read this quote by Matt once, and he seemed like kind of a shit about casting her, like that she didn't have to push that far because Betty came to her naturally and she wasn't really acting. And I think in the audio commentary someone said that the "my people are Nordic" line was something that January actually said and they decided to write in because it was so quintessentially Betty! Whatever the case on her initial casting, I think she has shown a lot of range in Betty's emotional upheaval, especially this season and towards the end of season 2. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09
Agreed. I think watching clips of her from Season 1 and then last season shows an amazing depth and character arc. Mainly good writing, but dependent on good delivery from January. #snljanuaryjones
11/15/09