[7.1/10] Perfectly fun outing. I don't know that we really needed a double-length Weekend Update bit (the 11-minute version is usually just about enough), but the gags were generally good and so were the correspondent segments. Che in particular has a voice and perspective that feels different than the rest of TV's political commentators which is nice. And Jost's gag about NBC stretching things too thin via Will and Grace before turning the joke back on himself was a nice bit.
In terms of the guest correspondents, the real winner was the Don Jr. and Eric Trump bit. Playing Eric as the dolt fascinated by fidget spinners was just delightful comedy. The rest was hit or miss. Bill Hader is a great choice to play Scaramucci, but the moment has kind of passed and there wasn't much of a take on him in the segment. (Though the line about him being like Chanukah in July -- around for about a week and it's a miracle it lasted that long -- was great). Kenan as Ball's dad was pretty generic tall tale stuff. And Leslie Jones did her usual shtick. The bit itself (about workouts) wasn't that funny, but the extras, like her making Jost kiss her bicep or her facial expressions as the amorous coroner were quite good.
Overall, still feels a bit awkward and overstretched pacing wise, but a perfectly fun small dose of SNL before the season really begins.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-08-12T14:04:32Z
[7.1/10] Perfectly fun outing. I don't know that we really needed a double-length Weekend Update bit (the 11-minute version is usually just about enough), but the gags were generally good and so were the correspondent segments. Che in particular has a voice and perspective that feels different than the rest of TV's political commentators which is nice. And Jost's gag about NBC stretching things too thin via Will and Grace before turning the joke back on himself was a nice bit.
In terms of the guest correspondents, the real winner was the Don Jr. and Eric Trump bit. Playing Eric as the dolt fascinated by fidget spinners was just delightful comedy. The rest was hit or miss. Bill Hader is a great choice to play Scaramucci, but the moment has kind of passed and there wasn't much of a take on him in the segment. (Though the line about him being like Chanukah in July -- around for about a week and it's a miracle it lasted that long -- was great). Kenan as Ball's dad was pretty generic tall tale stuff. And Leslie Jones did her usual shtick. The bit itself (about workouts) wasn't that funny, but the extras, like her making Jost kiss her bicep or her facial expressions as the amorous coroner were quite good.
Overall, still feels a bit awkward and overstretched pacing wise, but a perfectly fun small dose of SNL before the season really begins.