10/04/03 Season Premiere with host Jack Black and musical guest John Mayer...Cold Opening - Schwarzenegger on the gubernational election. I thought this was pretty boring. The audience seemed to get a kick out of it, I kept wondering something more interesting was happening off camera. Was that Darrell Hammond? I didn't think so, but others are saying it is. Hammond has done a Schwarenegger impression before, and this sounded nothing like it, but I guess it had to be Hammond. Grade - D New opening credits - don't really like them, too busy. Opening Monologue - Jack Black and the entire cast with cameos from Will Ferrell and Kyle Gass. This (unfortunately) was the highlight of the whole show. It was pretty funny when he just signed Kyle's guitar like he didn't even know him. Also the squirting water in Tina Fey's face and knocking down Will Ferrell was good. It was nice that Ferrell made another appearance to help out with the end of the song. I liked it when he told Horatio that he was ruining the song. Was is just me or was that Garrett Morris sitting right in the front row? He was never mentioned, but it had to be him. Grade - A- Commerical - Huggies Thong - Rachel Dratch and Maya Rudolph This was kind of funny, especially when they showed the babies wearing the thong diapers. Grade - B- Queer Eye For the Straight Girl - Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler and I think a couple of the writers. This had a couple funny moments. I liked when Racbel Dratch was showing Tina Fey the flannel shirts, and the line about "let your garden grow" was funny. Nice to see Tina Fey featured in a regular sketch. Grade - B- The Wade Robson Project - Seth Meyers, Jack Black, Maya Rudolph, Amy Poehler, Finesse Mitchell. I didn't like this at all. The only mildly amusing part was Jack Black's dancing. He kind of reminds me of John Belushi, just in the fact that it's surprising he can do some of those things. The donkey kicks at the end were good. Grade - D Italian Cooking Class - Jack Black, Rachel Dratch, Fred Armisen, Chris Parnell, Horatio Sanz. This reuses some characters from last season, with Chris Parnell replacing Tracy Morgan. Seems like this would have been a good opportunity to utilize one of the new cast members we've barely seen so far. This sketch was so-so. Dratch was able to work in a few funny lines. Jack Black is almost able to make anything work somewhat. Grade - C- TV Funhouse - Yankee Superheros I am not a huge fan of any of the TV Funhouse cartoons, I very rarely find them funny. I usually kind of tune them out if they don't grab my attention in the first few seconds. Now that I think about it I can't remember what happened in this, so I won't give it a grade. Music - John Mayer I don't like to grade the musical performances. I either already like the performer and/or the song or I don't. In this case I don't. Weekend Update with Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon - also with, Jeff Richards, Finesse Mitchell, Kenan Thompson, Maya Rudolph. Pretty week update for the premiere. There were maybe a couple chuckles. Jeff Richards as Rush Limbaugh was okay, but not that good. I didn't care much for Finesse Mitchell's movie rant that was supposed to be about Out of Time, but revolved around Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Seemed like left over stand-up material. Kenan Thompson did a good Bill Cosby, though the bit was not that good. Grade - C- The Wheel Bar and Grill - Jack Black, Horatio Sanz, Amy Poehler, Jeff Richards, Kenan Thompson, Maya Rudolph and I think Rachel Dratch was sitting there too, but she didn't do anything. This was not good at all. It could have been good, but it really didn't go anywhere. What was with Amy Poehler as Shelley Long? I'm all for abusurdity, but Shelley Long??? Grade - D Musical Performance - John Mayer Again no grade, I didn't really pay attention to this. The Spitting Wine Critic - Jack Black, Seth Meyers, Horatio Sanz, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch This was basically one joke - Jack Black doesn't like the wine and continuously spits it in Seth Meyers face. Jack Black managed to bring some humor to this, what little could be done with it. Grade - I'm feeling generous so I'll give it a C- The Last Telemarketing Call Ever - Jack Black, Amy Poehler, Chris Parnell, Kenan Thompson, Horatio Sanz, Maya Rudolph, Will Forte The best part of this is when Jack Black is playing his guitar at the end and has to tell someone to take it when he is done. Otherwise the sketch was mediocre with a couple funny lines. Definately more could have been done with the telemarketer being out of work concept. Grade - C Overall this show was a disappointment. I love Jack Black, but I don't think he had much to work with here. The cast is lacking a real stand-out player, hopefully one will develop, but I actually don't see it happening. Where was Jimmy Fallon in this one? He only did weekend update and made a brief appearance in the opening monologue. On a side note - It seems strange to me that Will Forte got promoted to regular cast member and Fred Armisen is still a featured player? It seems to me Armisen has brought more to the show than Forte has. Maybe I'm just saying that just because I hate the Falconer, but they at least were equal. |
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