10-02-2005, 12:17 AM
Random thoughts on the 36th season (presented in HD for the first time ever):
I thought it was one of the best season openers in a while, even without Tina Fey on the anchordesk (maternity leave).
Some great send-ups of recent events. The "Girls Gone Wild: Katrina Edition" was hilarious. Kanye West as musical guest provided a funny sketch, too, with a guest appearance by Mike Myers, who of course, was funny as ever, in this instance playing the uncomfortable victim encountering the man who's supposedly caused his life to fall apart.
Steve Carrell was great as guest host. His musical number during his opening monologue was really clever, and even referenced Jon Stewart, and his role as Debbie Downer's perfect match in Bob Bummer was genius.
Weekend Update, while it had some good moments, did lack without Fey at the helm. Amy Poehler just doesn't have what it takes to carry that segment (and Poehler as co-anchor has never really worked for me, anyway). Horatio Sanz as the guest anchor felt forced. He tried, but clearly he was uncomfortable. However, his joke with the Panda bears was really funny. I kept thinking, though, that the perfect solution to Fey's absence, at least tonight, would have been to have Carrell as the guest co-anchor. He could have even played his character from either "Anchorman" or "Bruce Almighty." That would have been the icing on the cake. Or even better, get Will Farrell to come back for a few weeks and play "Ron Burgundy" on the desk. That would be classic.
I despised the way they used Maya Rudolph. Once again, she plays stereotypes. Now that she's eight months pregnant, she's playing barefoot pregnant women. Ugh.
The Robert Smigel cartoon "Fun with Real Audio" using Roberts' confirmation hearing testimony was really funny.
From what I understand, Rudolph will likely only do one or two more shows before she begins her maternity leave, and Fey's is open-ended. An interview with Lorne Michaels said she could "return in two weeks, or two months. I just hope it isn't two years." I hope it's in two weeks. Clearly, the show is better with her than without her, especially given that she's also the show's head writer.
Still though, tonight's season opener exceeded my expectations, which, I admit, were lowered considerably when I heard she wouldn't be part of the show. A strong host helped.
I thought it was one of the best season openers in a while, even without Tina Fey on the anchordesk (maternity leave).
Some great send-ups of recent events. The "Girls Gone Wild: Katrina Edition" was hilarious. Kanye West as musical guest provided a funny sketch, too, with a guest appearance by Mike Myers, who of course, was funny as ever, in this instance playing the uncomfortable victim encountering the man who's supposedly caused his life to fall apart.
Steve Carrell was great as guest host. His musical number during his opening monologue was really clever, and even referenced Jon Stewart, and his role as Debbie Downer's perfect match in Bob Bummer was genius.
Weekend Update, while it had some good moments, did lack without Fey at the helm. Amy Poehler just doesn't have what it takes to carry that segment (and Poehler as co-anchor has never really worked for me, anyway). Horatio Sanz as the guest anchor felt forced. He tried, but clearly he was uncomfortable. However, his joke with the Panda bears was really funny. I kept thinking, though, that the perfect solution to Fey's absence, at least tonight, would have been to have Carrell as the guest co-anchor. He could have even played his character from either "Anchorman" or "Bruce Almighty." That would have been the icing on the cake. Or even better, get Will Farrell to come back for a few weeks and play "Ron Burgundy" on the desk. That would be classic.
I despised the way they used Maya Rudolph. Once again, she plays stereotypes. Now that she's eight months pregnant, she's playing barefoot pregnant women. Ugh.
The Robert Smigel cartoon "Fun with Real Audio" using Roberts' confirmation hearing testimony was really funny.
From what I understand, Rudolph will likely only do one or two more shows before she begins her maternity leave, and Fey's is open-ended. An interview with Lorne Michaels said she could "return in two weeks, or two months. I just hope it isn't two years." I hope it's in two weeks. Clearly, the show is better with her than without her, especially given that she's also the show's head writer.
Still though, tonight's season opener exceeded my expectations, which, I admit, were lowered considerably when I heard she wouldn't be part of the show. A strong host helped.