The Best of Jimmy FallonFeature running time approx 90 minutes. Grade - A for feature and extras. The Best of Jimmy Fallon DVD so far is the only one to differ from the look of all the other recent SNL Best Of releases. Fallon's is also the first to have a commentary track. For the most part this DVD offers a lot of Fallon's best work, and only makes you wish the DVD could be longer to include even more. Sketches - Mick Jagger and Mirror - Musical Guest Mick Jagger This is a very funny sketch in which Mick Jagger sits in front of a mirror wondering how he will be able to do something interesting for his SNL performance. Jimmy Fallon plays Jagger's mirror image. As usual Fallon's impression is great right down to the voice, facial expressions and body language. Celebrity Jeopardy - Host Ben Stiller (additional cast - Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond). This sketch features Fallon doing his Adam Sandler impression, which is very good. I personally thought Fallon's appearance as Robin Williams on Celebrity Jeopardy was better, but this is probably the best spotlight for his Sandler, so it makes sense they went with it. Ferrell, as always, is excellent as the put upon Alex Trebek. Hammond is very funny as Sean Connery, and Stiller does his Tom Cruise. Jarrett's Room - Host Seann William Scott (additional cast - Horatio Sanz, Seth Meyers, Jeff Richards, Rachel Dratch). I have to admit I normally am not into pot humor, but these sketches are pretty funny. Horatio Sanz steals the show as Jarrett's best friend. Look for some funny pictures of Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan in this sketch. Barry Gibb Talk Show - Host Justin Timberlake(additional cast - Horatio Sanz, Rachel Dratch, Jeff Richards). Originally this sketch aired in the last five minutes of the show, which is usually reserved for the "worst" sketch of the night. Did this not go over well in the dress rehearsal? Whatever the case, and as unlikely as it sounds, this sketch is hilarious. Impressions Montage Clips of Fallon doing some of his impressions: Carson Daly, Pat O'Brien, Ryan Seacrest, Howard Stern, Marc Anthony, Chris Rock, Larry King, Jerry Seinfeld (featuring Fallon and Seinfeld togehter), John Mayer, Hillary Swank, Gilbert Gottfried, Robin Williams, Sting, Richard Simmons, Steven Van Zandt (aka Little Steven), William Hung. Z105 Radio Show Host - Host Ben Affleck This is a recurring character Fallon created in his last couple seasons on SNL. The sketch works well for Fallon, because it gives him the chance to use several different voices, which he is very good at. He also the the morning zoo radio format down perfectly. Affleck is also good with the voices, and they are pretty funny together. Weekend Update Montage - cameo Pair Hilton (additional cast - Tina Fey). Clips of several funny Weekend Update moments, and features the interview Fallon did with Paris Hilton. My only complaint is the didn't throw in the "Frankie and LaStat" bit he did with Horatio Sanz. Boston Teens - Host Ben Affleck (additional cast - Rachel Dratch, Horatio Sanz). This sketch is hit and miss, and to me this one is a miss. Sully and Denise are at a party Sully catches Denise making out with Affleck's character. The main problem with this one is that it's a little too long. It goes on for a couple minutes before Fallon even comes in. There are a lot better Boston Teens sketches they could have picked besides this one. Mother's Day Song Parodies - (additional cast - Tina Fey) Fallon is prepared to do one of his song parodies, when Tina Fey, sighs with boredom and tells him he only does the parodies as an excuse to sing on the air. Then a montage of past parodies, some real and some made up, is shown. I think Fallon's parodies are funny, and this was a good way to show several at once. I love his Buddy Holly "Flag Day" one. Cork Soakers - Host Janet Jackson (additional cast - Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell, Seth Meyers, Darrell Hammond, Fred Armisen, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch). While this is more of an ensemble sketch, it is pretty funny and Fallon is fairly prominent. This is the writer's trying to push language as far as they can on the air. Janet Jackson has a difficult time saying "cork soakers," which turns out to be more frustrating than funny. Holiday Song - (additional cast - Horatio Sanz, Chris Kattan, Tracy Morgan). I wasn't expecting this to be on here, since it features Sanz more than anyone else, but I'm glad it made it to DVD. "I wish it was Christmas today." Leather Man - Host Britney Spears, Cameo Dan Ackroyd (additional cast - Horatio Sanz, Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer). This is my least favorite sketch on here. The whole concept of everything being leather is just not very funny, and nothing of particular note happens in this sketch. The Leather Man featuring Brittany Murphy, was much funnier. This one, however, has the Dan Ackroyd cameo, so that's probably why it was chosen, though Ackroyd adds nothing to the sketch. The Zimmerman's Halloween - Host Ben Stiller (additional cast - Cheri Oteri, Ana Gasteyer). This character may be my favorite recurring character of Chris Kattan's. He and Cheri Oteri are very funny as the over sexualized married couple, who don't know they're being sexual. The part where Kattan is trying to open a champagne bottle is hilarious though Stiller blows his line. Nick Burns: Your Company's Computer Guy - Host Jennifer Aniston (additional cast - Chris Kattan, Horatio Sanz). Nick Burns is one of my favorite recurring characters from Fallon. Though it may be a little exaggerated here, who hasn't been made to feel stupid by their company's computer guy? I also can't tell you how many times, someone mentioned that we should be "reading the manual." Bloater Brothers - Host John Goodman(additional cast Chris Parnell, Tim Meadows). Fallon and Parnell play two brothers who think they can pun their way out of any situation, including being pulled over for drunk driving. A very funny sketch, with Fallon and Parnell not overdoing the humor. In a way this sketch reminds me of the "Wild and Crazy Guys" sketch with Steve Martin and Dan Ackroyd. Summer Vacation - (additional cast - everyone from the 2003-2004 season). This is Fallon's very last SNL sketch. It's a send off for the show, heading to its summer hiatus, and for Fallon who won't be returning. The cast sing bits from different songs, culminating in a duet between Fallon and Tina Fey singing "Summer Lovin'" from Grease. Fallon, of course, doing his young John Travolta impression. Darrell Hammond, the most senior cast member, stands quietly in the back in his usual all black outfit drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette. While not particulary funny, except a bit with Kenan Thompson going a little overboard with a sexual gesture, and Fallon taking the opportunity to feel up Tina Fey, this is a nice send off for Fallon. Cut Sketch - Jimmy is Abducted by Aliens - Apparenly Fallon really wanted this as part of the main program (both on the NBC broadcast and this DVD), rather than as a bonus feature. Sketch features Fallon being abducted from his Weekend Update chair by aliens. Though done in dress rehearsal several times, this sketch never made it to the live broadcast. I think I can see why, though less funny bits did make it on the air, so it seems like this could have too. All in all, fairly good choices were made for this DVD. I would have changed a few things, if I could have picked, but you can't please everyone. EXTRAS Fallon's SNL audition - The audition consists primarily of impressions, including his Adam Sandler. There are also a few characters that don't really seem like they would be very good for sketches, and also don't seem like anything Fallon ended up doing on the show. Dress Sketch - Drinkin' In The Woods - This is not really a sketch, but more of a musical performance of one of Fallon's songs from his album "The Bathroom Wall." Fallon is in the woods singing the song, and the rest of the cast show up as his drinking buddies. I can see why this was cut. Nothing really happens in the sketch until the very end, when Will Ferrell shows up as a cop to bust the party. It also may have been a little indulgent to feature a song from Fallon's album, though this is what they did during the Superbowl Half Time special. Commentary - Jimmy Fallon with writer, Steve Higgins and producer Mike Shoemaker - Features length commentary with Fallon and the other two talking about where sketch ideas came from, and other little tibits of interesting info about the show. This is probably one of the best features on any of the SNL DVD's. It's always nice to get a little inside info. Idiot Boyfried video - The actual video for Fallon's song "Idiot Boyfried," from his "The Bathroom Wall" comedy CD. Road Rage performance on Last Call with Carson Daly a live performance of another sonf from Fallon's CD. |
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