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Recap: 'Saturday Night Live' - Emma Stone and Coldplay

Some solid second-half sketches highlight a typically uneven show

By Ryan McGee Sunday, Nov 13, 2011 1:44 AM

<p>Emma Stone and Coldplay with Bill Hader of "Saturday Night Live"</p> <div id="myEventWatcherDiv" style="display:none;"> </div>

Emma Stone and Coldplay with Bill Hader of "Saturday Night Live"

Credit: NBC

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OK, apologies up front everyone: I’m on the road for family obligations this weekend. So instead of writing up tonight’s “Saturday Night Live” in my man cave, I’m doing this from the nation’s capital. Live from Washington D.C.: it’s Ryan McGee! I have the show in my hotel room, but without the beauty of DVR, I may miss a little more than usual in tonight’s recap. I ask that you are patient with me this week as Emma Stone and Coldplay both return to Studio 8-H. Coldplay is here to promote their new record “Mylo Xyloto,” while Stone doesn’t have anything she’s here to push, other than maybe the DVD release of “Crazy, Stupid, Love”. That’s fine, since she was a game host last year. Biggest question of the night: how will “SNL” handle this week’s Oscars’ debacle? Will they go after Brett Ratner and former “SNL” alum Eddie Murphy in a meaningful way, or just relegate their pot shots to “Weekend Update” jokes?
 
Only one way to find out. Onto the recap!
 
CNBC Republican Debate: Wow, waaaaay too much time here spent on Perry’s mental gaffe at this debate last week. It’s not until everyone starts contributing to the insanity that this sketch show any life. Herman Cain even volunteers to bring up the names of other women he has harassed rather than watch Perry self-destruct. Romney gets a great line in: “I wanna be President. But not like this,” before trying to literally put Perry out to pasture. But why bring up all of those other presidential candidates if the only thing they do is grin like an idiot? There were plenty of ways to capitalize on Perry’s gaffe without trying to re-stage the debate. This was the easiest way, but also the laziest. [Grade: C+]
 
Monologue: Rather than let Stone drive the monologue, “SNL” sends Andy Samberg to drop in (literally) and audition for the role of Spider-Man. Many a joke is made at the expense of Andrew Garfield’s last name, which prompts Garfield himself to come onstage. “He’s BRITISH?” Samberg cries. Not much for Stone to do in this besides stare at Samberg trying to flip while strapped into a flying harness. Um...this show won’t be this weak for the next 80 minutes, right? [Grade: C]
 
Secret Word: OK, well, it’s going to be this weak for at least the next few minutes. I don’t wish harm upon any of God’s creatures, but this sketch needs to die in a fire. Stone plays Charlene, the recent winner of Miss America despite her penchant for double entendres and creepy ventriloquism. Stone making out with the dummy was the only redeeming feature of this sketch. Read that sentence again. I know, right? Wiig once again plays Mindy Grayson, the single worst character in her entire arsenal. It’s a character that could be sent into Gitmo to break terrorists’ wills. It’s a bad character, is what I’m saying. She will always say the secret word. And I will always long for the day at which point I’m freed from “Secret Word.” [Grade: D]
 
WXPD News: OK, this is more like it. Herb Welch just makes me laugh, even if this wasn’t the strongest iteration of this sketch. The initial rhythms of the sketch are the same as all others, but once Stone’s co-op resident blocked his mic punch, things picked up nicely. The highlight? Bill Hader and Wiig engaging in a game of “I Dare You Not to Break” as Welch uses his microphone in creative ways to determine her building manager’s gender. Nothing revelatory here, but compared to what’s come before, this was a breath of fresh air. [Grade: B]
 
Here Comes That Rain: I don’t know if that’s the name of this song. Don’t care. Because when I randomly go onto Hulu in the near future to check out digital shorts, I know for a fact I won’t call this one up. This was ostensibly a song, but really more of an excuse for Samberg to recite ridiculous things over a beat while wearing a mullet. What was the point of this? That some guy who looks like Michael Bolton on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour can’t film a video in the rain? That his assistant has an abnormally large butt? I’m at a loss. I don’t need to know the point if I’m too busy laughing. But I do need to know when I’m staring slack-jawed at the screen [Grade: C-]
 
Coldplay comes onstage to sing “Paradise,” and my first thought? “This looks like the dorm room of an art student with a lot of black lights.” As for the song: it’s got an anthemic chorus that works, but there’s a long road to get to the good stuff. The audio mix onstage does a good job of delivering the ambient nature of the record, but when Coldplay goes this bombastic with its production, the underlying melodies and emotions often get lost. Their last album did a great job of tempering those impulses, but “Paradise” feels like a track left off “X&Y” more so than a logical extension of “Vida La Vida.” [Grade: B-]
 
Weekend Update: The Devil comes on to comment on the Penn State scandal. Turns out he doesn’t actually know why he’s there, assuming it’s a recruiting scandal. But naturally, even the Devil is offended by what was revealed. “I’m the Prince of Darkness, but I’m not a monster!” In terms of handling this scandal, Jason Sudeikis’ Devil was probably the best way to do it. Having a “Really???” wouldn’t have had the same impact. Later on, Garth and Kat come on to promote a Thanksgiving-themed album. Of course, the CD they give to Seth Meyers is actually a slice of bologna, which is fitting for a duo that always makes up their songs on the spot. This time, they have a back-up singer to help them: Coldplay’s Chris Martin, who does a surprisingly good job keeping with Wiig and Fred Armisen. Garth and Kat aren’t my bag, since it emphasizes the performer over the performance, but I imagine plenty of people regard this pair as their own person Stefon. [Grade: B, almost entirely based on Sudeikis]
 
Les Jeunes de Paris: I’ve been forgiven for all of my sins, apparently! The last version of this sketch was one of my favorites of the 2010-2011 season. This one didn’t live up to that gold standard, but it’s such an unusual sketch in the “SNL” toolbox that I always rejoice when it comes on. More than anything, this feels like the type of sketch that could potentially help make this batch of performers stand out from other iterations of the cast. I doubt it will ever reach the iconic status of something like “The Coneheads,” but it terms of producing sketch material that makes the cast stand out, “Les Jeunes” is as close as it gets right now for Taran Killam and other featured/underused players on the show right now. [Grade: A-]
 
Bridal Shower: Hmmm. I’m conflicted. I’m all about sketches that almost exclusively feature female players. But other than Stone, who KILLED in this sketch, the rest of this fell kinda flat. It’s like the writers had an idea for a really good character, but didn’t have the supporting material around it to make it sing. But after weeks in which guest hosts have been relegated to supporting players in sketches, it wass great to see Stone get this character instead of Wiig, Vanessa Bayer, or others. Had the other women in the sketch been written at the level of Stone’s naïve yet insanely foul coworker, this could have been something special. As it stands, it just seems like a slightly missed opportunity. [Grade: B]
 
We’re back in the art school dorm, with Coldplay performing “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall.” I dig how the band’s drummer pulls a Mumford and Sons for a bit, playing acoustic guitar and the bass drum simultaneously. Each member of the band is a multiple-instrument threat, which is fun to see in concert as they trade off roles in order to perform the next song. I especially love the guitars in this track, which sound like bagpipes. Normally, bagpipes have me looking for the nearest cliff off which to jump, but it works for me in this song. Yes, liking Coldplay makes me uncool. But there you have it. [Grade: B+]
 
Someone Like You: Remember that famous sequence in “Magnolia,” when everyone listened to Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up” in different parts of Los Angeles? OK, substitute that song for Adele’s “Someone Like You,” make it funny instead of dramatic, and you have this sketch. This was a great example of taking a simple idea and unspooling it in increasingly bizarre variations. I love the idea that Adele’s songs make everyone from all walks of life melt into a puddle upon aural contact, whether they have just lost out on a promotion, just seen the series finale of “Friday Night Lights,” just happen to be washing windows nearby a computer playing the song, or just happen to be Coldplay…that Adele will get ya. [Grade: A-]
 
“We’re Gonna Make Technology Hump”: OK, this isn’t really funny in the slightest, but look at that model work, am I right? That’s about all I got. Holy 12:55 am sketch, Batman. I get that this is the slot to try out some weird stuff, but how this got past the pitch stage into actual completed form that aired on television blows my mind. Given how strong the second half of the show has been, it’s a bit of a bummer to end on such a sour note. [Grade: D+]
 
Best Sketch of The Night: “Les Jeunes de Paris”, narrowing edging out “Someone Like You”
Worst Sketch of the Night: “Secret Word.” Yes, I’d rather watch a GPS device hump a curling iron than watch that.
MVP of the Night: My internet connection, for not going out at any point during this recap for unknown reasons and thus forcing me to flee into the Washington night looking for a 24-hour Starbucks.
Biggest Surprise of the Night: It’s almost a surprise of the year so far, and it’s that the post-“Update” segments of “SNL” have been by and large stronger than those before “Update.” Just like the recent episode starring Anna Faris, tonight’s episode increased in quality by leaps and bounds once out of the first hour. I have no idea if this has to do with how things play in dress, the complicated order in which sketches how to be laid out in order to successfully produce a 90-minute life show. But giving the post-monologue slot to “Secret Word” while burying “Someone Like You” seems to indicate something maybe be rotten in the state of Studio 8-H.
 
What did you think of Emma Stone’s return to “SNL”? Did you enjoy the second half more than the first, or am I being too hard on the early material? Does “Les Jeunes” have you dancing for joy or reaching for the remote? Sound off below!

 

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  • Default-avatar

    mandyapril

    We're gonna make technology hump was soooo stupid but I laughed so hard I had tears.. ! loved it!

    November 13, 2011 at 3:05AM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Will

    I laughed at Technology Hump. Not going to lie, and I completely agree that all of the best stuff came at the end of the show tonight.

    November 13, 2011 at 3:15AM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Al

    I understand why Technology Humps might come across as weak (my friend watching with me barely registered a smirk), but for whatever reason I could not top laughing the entire time. I think it was the hands.

    November 13, 2011 at 3:20AM EST Reply to Comment
    • Default-avatar

      jaypharohshands I agree because it was my only appearance on the show tonight!

      November 13, 2011 at 11:45PM EST
  • Default-avatar

    HuClaire

    I'm actually a fan of "Secret Word" and I enjoy Wiig's character. She always makes me laugh!

    November 13, 2011 at 3:44AM EST Reply to Comment
    • Default-avatar

      huhhuclaire Why? You know what she's going to do, there are never any variations on it, and I guarantee if this was real life and a friend of yours kept messing up this predictably time after time, you'd take a baseball bat to their head. Seriously, what is gd funny about the not-so-secret-word???

      November 13, 2011 at 11:37PM EST
  • Default-avatar

    Lee Harvey

    I'd sit thru 90 minutes of Secret Word if I never had to see Garth and Kat again. I've never once laughed at them. A few times I have even turned down the sound on the TV until they were gone.

    November 13, 2011 at 4:12AM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    Ryan McGee

    I'm a virgin

    November 13, 2011 at 4:24AM EST Reply to Comment



  • Turned it off after 20 minutes. DVR'd it to skip through the crap when I watch it tomorrow. I PRAY Jason Segel kills it next week. :)

    November 13, 2011 at 4:36AM EST Reply to Comment
  • Summer09hitfix_talkback_profile

    gregel

    I liked "Les Jeunes" but not as a sketch. It's more of a hipster dance number?

    November 13, 2011 at 4:39AM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    me

    I usually agree with almost everything you say but I must say that "Someone like you" sketch was absolutely stupid.. Completely One of the worst skits of the night... Also Andy Samberg is getting worse every episode.. His short's have never been good and it's embarassing that Lorne MIchaels will even allow it air..

    November 13, 2011 at 5:10AM EST Reply to Comment
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    Anthony Foglia

    D+ for "We're Gonna Make Technology Hump? That was the perfect 12:50 skit. Fully committed to it's own stupidity. Emma Stone perfectly portrayed one of those overly chipper tech show hosts. And the juvenileness of the scenes--an iPad wearing lace underwear, two curling irons scisooring--was great. That was definitely my favorite skit of the night.

    Then again, I might have started out a bit primed for the skit: I did go to CNet's pop-up store Friday night and see a talk about sexbots.

    November 13, 2011 at 5:18AM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    lll

    when Samberg started singing all those comments about his staff, it almost got funny, but the random assistant with a huge ass thing ruined it

    November 13, 2011 at 6:17AM EST Reply to Comment
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    Mel

    Emma Stone is just so great that I had a hard time disliking any of tonight's skits (except the video - first time I've disliked a Samberg Digital Short for some time). Weekend update avoiding the Oscar mess was a good move btw. Nothing's funny about Ratner's ignorant comment and Eddie missing yet another chance to shine is just sad.

    November 13, 2011 at 6:34AM EST Reply to Comment
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      smartdecision Weekend update avoiding the Oscar mess was highly predictable, because no one wants to say anything that might cause Eddie Murphy to never set foot inside 30 Rock again. Remember, it was David Spade's 'Hollywood Minute' remark about Murphy some fifteen years ago that encouraged Eddie to begin his personal boycott of SNL.

      November 13, 2011 at 11:44PM EST
  • Default-avatar

    ron mexico

    Technology Hump was hilarious. Stupid? Sure. But a perfectly appropriate 12:50 unexpected, off-the-beaten-path delight. Strange how you'd praise the oddness of Les Jeunes but penalize it in Technology Hump

    November 13, 2011 at 12:53PM EST Reply to Comment
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    BeauBoo

    Is there a character by Wiig you actually like? I don't understand the difference between Bill Hader's old guy hitting people with microphones than Wiig saying the secret word over and over again?

    I think you should just admit that you dislike Wiig, instead of acting like a particular character is her "worst", because I'm pretty sure you've said that about all her characters so far this season...

    November 13, 2011 at 12:57PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Default-avatar

      AL I liked Wiig in her early years, but ever since she's been front & center it's like she never leaves the spotlight, which ticks me off because I 'd like to see what the rest of the female cast can do. At first I thought it was because she was a spotlight hog, but now I'm wonder if they just haven't been able to find another female cast member with equal talent (there's been a dearth of memorable running characters from any of them). Still, that's no excuse for SNL to milk the same tired Wiig characters over and over without any variation. If she's going to remain in the spotlight, at least try out some new characters.

      November 14, 2011 at 8:33AM EST
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    TS

    Yes, the second half was better than the first, and usually it seems to be the other way around. With SNL, either I'm depressed at the end or I'm cheered up. This was a cheered up one. Even when it wasn't funny, I thought it was more or less entertaining, with a couple of exceptions. The Digital Short has gone from being one of the best things to one of the worst, this one was in the latter category (like, WTF?). I would count Someone Like You as the best sketch, because things like Les Jeunes de Paris I file under Entertaining, But Not Funny. The last five minutes are clearly reserved for the Unsubtle (like Jon Hamm's John Ham). Sometimes, unsubtle is just the ticket, I laughed my ass off at "Tech Hump" I thought Emma Stone was fantastic. She gave the show a shot in the arm and helped to keep the momentum going through the usual mediocrity.

    November 13, 2011 at 2:29PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    TMB

    Ryan, I think the reason that most of the post-WU sketches tend to be funnier is that the majority of the recurring sketches that run early aren't funny (we're no longer in the days of Wayne's World, Spartan Cheerleaders or Delicious Dish) and I think there is a much lower expectation level for any sketch that airs after 12:30.

    November 13, 2011 at 11:50PM EST Reply to Comment

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