Recap: 'Saturday Night Live' – Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo
The "Django Unchained" star graces the "SNL" stage.
Jason Sudeikis and Jamie Foxx.
Credit: SNL
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After a three-week break, “Saturday Night Live” is back with host Jamie Foxx. He’s here promoting his upcoming film “Django Unchained,” which pretty much makes me what to refer to him as “Djamie” throughout tonight’s recap. (In both cases, the “D” is silent.) Foxx initially shot to stardom through small-screen sketch comedy “In Living Color”, so it will hopefully be fun to see him in Studio 8H tonight. Along for the ride will be musical guest Ne-Yo, who has been all over television this week. He appeared on both “The Voice” as well as CBS’s Grammys Nomination special, so I’m super stoked to hear the “Let Me Love You” trifecta tonight.
I know better than to have high or low hopes based on host alone at this point. So let’s let the episode unfold and see what happens. As always, I’ll be recapping each sketch in order as they unfold. As always, you will read those grades, shake your fist to the heavens, and then attempt to place an objective grade upon a subjective medium. It’s all I want for Christmas, really. (Well, that and for you to subscribe to my weekly “SNL” podcast that I host every week with The Huffington Post’s Mike Ryan. I’d like that as well, please.)
On with the recap! I'll try live-blogging this as much as possible.
Fiscal Cliff Press Conference: Obama announces that he’s reached an agreement with Representative John Boehner, on the basis that he is “sorry” for his political adversary. Rather than aim for political satire based on actual policy issue, we instead get jokes about Republicans pulling Boehner’s pants down in the ladies’ bathroom. Bill Hader’s Boehner is hysterically pathetic, but it’s basically a sadder version of his newsman Herb Welch. It’s amusing, but divorced from anything resembling reality. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad sketch, but it does put a ceiling on the segment that wouldn’t be there if the sketch actually decided to delve into actual issues rather than grade-school bullying. [Grade: B-]
Monologue: Some hosts approach the monologue stage as if approaching a firing squad. Foxx has no such confidence problems, owning things from the second he appears. “How Black Is That?” turns into a catchphrase, referring not only to Jay Z’s ownership in the New Jersey Nets, his role in “Django Unchained”, and Obama’s re-election. “The first four years was the white side of him,” Foxx assures the audience. Then he heads to the piano for the musical part his monologue. (I wish I could bet on things like “Jamie Foxx singing during the monologue.”) Eventually, 2 Chainz joins him to sing “Birthday Song”. It was a disjointed monologue to be sure, but each part of it was individually strong. I’m just hoping this confidence translates into the sketches. [Grade: B+]
Bitch, What’s The Answer?: Did you know that saying “bitch” is funny? Apparently it is, according to this sketch. This game show features Foxx as a game-show host that constantly yells at his contestants. Things pick up slightly when Bobby Moynihan’s character tries to engage with the host, rolling with the constant insults that proceed from questions such as “What’s Up With Carbon?” and “Where Jupiter?” But overall, I’m stunned this aired so early in the show. (Actually, I’m slightly stunned it aired at all.) I need to look back at every episode this season thus far, because my Lord it feels like “SNL” has a high percentage of post-monologue sketches that kill the show dead before it even has the chance to start. I’m worried we just saw the latest. I have no doubt I didn’t like this sketch at all. I’m just hoping the show can pull up before crashing. [Grade: C-]
J-Pop America Fun Time Now: The two hapless students invent a Japanese version of Christmas, which involves decorating a bonzai tree with a ninja star. Foxx plays a grad student Dante, who also owns a local, underpopulated dojo. He’s promoting his clothing line “FJBJ”, but all I can hear is “duh duh” at the end of each line from every character. (I’m probably transcribing that incorrectly, but it’s as close as I can get.) I used to love this sketch, but at this point, I would rather see a digital short involving Jason Sudeikis’ horrified professor after a taping of this show. I think they’ve milked this as far as it can go, which means we’ll see it at least a half-dozen more times this year. [Grade: C]
Tyler Perry Presents Alex Cross 2: Medea Special Ops: “The first buddy cop movie starring one actor!” promises the narration. Foxx deploys some impressive physical comedy in this, overcoming a fairly weak premise. There’s something to be said for a performer’s commitment to bland material, after all. But commitment alone can’t save this. We’re about a month too late in making fun of this movie, so this feels like the writers recognizing Foxx could do a could Medea impression more than anything else. Mostly I’m waiting for something, ANYTHING, to actually make me laugh tonight. This is not a good episode thus far. [Grade: C-]
Ne-Yo takes the stage, and it says something that I’m actually excited to hear “Let Me Love You” for the third time this week. That’s how rough things are going right now. This is the third different staging I’ve seen, which is pretty impressive in and of itself. When I got married five years ago, I spent 3 months learning one four-minute routine for our first dance. But here’s the third variation in six days. This is why Ne-Yo is onstage and I’m at home. (Also, that whole “I can’t sing thing” probably contributes to that.) As for the song itself? It’s like Fun.’s “We Are Young”: it’s all chorus, with any part of the song separate from it dull as hell. But man that chorus is catchy! This will be another night in which I go to bed humming this track. So there’s that. [Grade: B]
Weekend Update: Mrs. Claus (Aidy Bryant, making her first appearance tonight) is excited about the alone time that Christmas Eve offers her. She’s a horny ol’ lady, don’tcha know. (“Manscaping hasn’t reached the North Pole…or the South Pole.”) Bryant is cheerful, but doesn’t quite go far with the idea to make it anything more than “semi-adorable”. She starts off on one note and just stays there throughout. Afterwards, a Ding Dong (Foxx) appears to discuss the recent controversy surrounding the potential loss of Twinkies. “I used to be the top of the snack game!” laments the Ding Dong. (There’s a sentence I didn’t anticipate typing in 2012.) Somehow, Foxx gets the audience to sing along with him, which covers up the approximately six times he trips over his cue cards and/or breaks character. But hey, if Hader can do it while performing Stefon, it’s fair play for everyone I suppose. But hey, I enjoyed the Ding Dong portion of the show more than anything thus far. If that’s not an indictment of the show to this point, I don’t know what is. [Grade: B]
Dylan McDermott Or Dermot Mulroney: Oh my God. They wrote this sketch for Sepinwall, didn’t they? Too funny. The three African-American contestants on the show fail to understand the difference between the actors. I’m not sure they have to be African-American in order to be confused, but that’s neither here nor there. What is here AND there is the verbal dexterity Bill Hader displays as the host of this show. (“You can McDermott McDouble your points!”) Things get even beter when Dylan…Dermot…one of them shows up. It’s Dermot Mulroney holding a photo of Dylan McDermott. And the fact that I had to think about that pretty much proves the premise. It doesn’t hurt that Mulroney thinks he’s McDermott. To top things off, the three contestants get mad they didn’t get a chance to play “Djimon Hounsou Or Chiwetel Ejiofor,” a joke that finally explains the composition of the contestants. My word, where has THIS show been all night? That was fantastic. [Grade: A-]
Marcus Banks: Tree Pimp: “The game is the same,” says Banks, trading in a life of pimping for one selling holiday trees. The silence from the crowd watching this sketch is deafening, and it’s hard to blame them. The idea of treating Douglas firs as prostitutes is a weird one, but weird is fine so long as it’s funny. Instead, this just goes on…and on…and why is Kenan Thompson humping a Christmas tree again? I’m confused, and lost a lot of the good will engendered by the last sketch. Looks like we’ve ended the streak of shows with strong preproduced material. Oh well. [Grade: C-]
Maine Justice: “Hey, what the hell is going on here?” asks Moynihan’s confused participant, asking what everyone else watching this was thinking. Everything about the sketch screams “Louisiana”, and yet everyone besides Moynihan pretends like they are in Maine. At least the sketch owns up to its own weirdness early on, which allows Sudeikis to indulge in his best “drunk Colonel Sanders” impression without viewers trying to parse things together. Adding to the non-sequitur nature of things, Charlie Day shows up at one point to help the plaintiff make her case. Eventually, we learn that all involved are transplants post-Katrina, who may or may not also employ a space-time portal in order to split their time between the two areas in the country. Here’s a sketch that depended less on jokes that energy, and Lord knows this sketch had the latter in spades. Eventually, I surrendered to the flow, even if I was still as confused as Moynihan’s character. [Grade: B+]
Ne-Yo returns to perform the ballad “She Is”. I’m a sucker for acoustic guitars and syncopated drums, so this song is in my wheelhouse. I’m still not convinced Ne-Yo is a particularly gifted singer, as he tends to get overwhelmed by his musical accompaniment in live settings. In up-tempo numbers like “Let Me Love You,” that makes sense. In quieter numbers such as this, it’s less forgivable. But this is still better than his initial number tonight, if for no other reason that it’s the first time this week I’ve heard it. That’s a shallow reason to be sure. But I’m a TV critic, not a music one. (“No kidding!” cryeth the masses.) [Grade: B+]
Swarovski Crystals: “Hi, we’re not porn stars anymore!” greet the two saleswomen for the jewelry line. Cecily Strong is basically doing Dalia Royce from “Suburgatory”, if Dalia made all of the wrong life choices possible. This is the most 12:55 am sketch all year. It’s balls-out weird from moment one. (“Once I was with eight guys at once. And I thought that was a pickle. But now it’s crystals!”) Once again, Foxx loses the perpetual battle against the cue cards, but that’s fine. I’m not sure how Swarovski Crystals is going to feel about this, but nothing here was any worse than that “Every Kiss Begins With K” nonsense in terms of overall offensiveness. At least this made me laugh, so point to “SNL” in this case. [Grade: B+]
Best Sketch: "Dylan McDermott Or Dermot Mulroney"
Worst Sketch: "Bitch, What’s The Answer?"
Biggest Takeaway: “SNL” needs to figure out a better way to program its sketches, as the three live segments post-“Update” were much, much stronger than those before “Update”.
What did you think of tonight’s show? How did host Jamie Foxx do? Which sketches were highlights and lowlights for you? Sound off below!
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Next 203 Commentslam
December 9, 2012 at 1:35AM EST Reply to CommentThis episode was not to my taste
Glen
December 9, 2012 at 1:56AM EST Reply to CommentTonight was one of the worst ever. Where did SNL go to?
dawn
December 9, 2012 at 1:56AM EST Reply to CommentYou have done better since you got rid of Seth the news cast ideas. It reminds me of the good days now this is Saturday night live again ty
johnny
December 9, 2012 at 2:07AM EST Reply to CommentJamie Foxx to Lorne Michaels @ SNL: "I'll host your show but i need 5 wigs, 2 gameshow skits & agreement you wont edit any of my racist attempts at comedy."
moose Johnson Pretty good take....
December 9, 2012 at 2:18AM ESTMarlene Agreed! I had a serious problem with Jamie Foxx bragging that he killed all the white people in his new movie. SNL is a comedy show,
December 9, 2012 at 2:57AM ESTNot a platform for insulting viewers.
Jonathan @Marlene - I totally agree. What would be said if a white host bragged that all the black people in his movie are killed? I turned off the show during the monologue.
December 9, 2012 at 2:41PM ESTGF Just to be clear... the movie is about a black slave and white slave traders. It's kind of like the Jews killing all of the Nazi's in Quentin tarantino's Inglorious Bastards... remember people, it really didn't happen that way. The black people in real life were killed and enslaved. So, let's temper our outrage shall we?
December 9, 2012 at 5:15PM ESTsnow_bird It sure seemed like that is the way it went down.
December 9, 2012 at 6:15PM ESTNetgk GF: It's not at all like Jews killing Nazi's. In that case, they're killing a real threat, you idiot. Nazi's were killing Jews, remember? It's not simply race-based killing, like Foxx apparently delighted in.
December 9, 2012 at 7:51PM ESTWhy? GF: It's not at all like Jews killing Nazi's. In that case, they're killing a real threat, you idiot. Nazi's were killing Jews, remember? It's not simply race-based killing, like Foxx apparently delighted in.
December 9, 2012 at 9:51PM ESTSo you people are kind of idiotic aren't you?
Johnathan- What are you even saying? What movie would there be where a white guy kills tons of black people? KKK: The Reckoning? Why would someone make and promote that?
Marlene-Insulting viewers? Who? White people? Why, why can't that happen? I mean, I know white people did a lot of good for the black community in the 19th century and all, EXCEPT IT WAS THE EXACT OPPOSITE THAT WHERE THEY ENSLAVED, RAPED, AND KILLED BLACK PEOPLE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. So what are you saying? You're mad someone made a pulpy revenge flick where a black man gets justice against white slave owners, and you're mad that Foxx made a joke about getting to kill said white slave owners, and you're offended? It's fictional for one, and you have a right to be offended sure and I can see how it can offend, but please understand how perspective and history works. You're mad at a joke that wouldn't exist without decades of crimes committed against black people by white people. So think, what should offend you more? A joke about a fictional movie or America's awful history surrounding slaves, and African Americans? Once you think about it, I'm sure you'll see how the joke isn't that big of a deal or an insult at all.
Jonathan
December 9, 2012 at 2:11AM EST Reply to CommentAnd I thought this was one of the best shows this season.
snow_bird Were you high?
December 9, 2012 at 6:16PM ESTJonathan
December 9, 2012 at 2:12AM EST Reply to CommentAnd nice to see a miniature Horrible Bosses reunion.
disgusted
December 9, 2012 at 2:16AM EST Reply to CommentExtremely racist.....absolutely disgusting!!!!!! Imagine a white guy getting up there and saying this crap???? Makes me sick~
chanelooh!! I agree!! it's ok for black people to make fun of white people but not the other way around. had it been that way there'd be hell to pay! I believe there are actual black racists who hate white people. I.e. kanye west ("George bush hates black people" among other rants about Caucasians), barrack Obama-wont salute the American flag and only wants to hob nob w fellow rich blacks-jay z and beyonce)
December 9, 2012 at 3:11AM ESTken I wrote a letter to NBC as soon as that disgusting comment was made. I think it's time to end Jamie Foxx's so-called career. Why does he think he can get away with that garbage?
December 9, 2012 at 4:34AM ESTFredFlint It wasn't particularly funny, but it wasn't offensive either. Give me a break. I think you need to just stick to Fox News and avoid SNL. Did someone accidentally cross-post this review to freerepublic or something?
December 9, 2012 at 8:54AM ESTredheadartiste There is a significant difference between "racist" and "race based" comments. However most of our population is severely ignorant and you can't argue with idiots. That said, the media, Hollywood, Jamie Foxx and SNL are very much long time supporters of the left/liberal agenda, so what would anyone expect? Lorne Michaels carefully "toes the line" with SNL, and I've found SNL to take the same number of jokes at both Democrats & Republicans. Overall, I laughed so hard at these two sketches: "Dylan McDermott Or Dermot Mulroney" and "Swarovski Crystals." Most of the rest of the episode was a letdown of my expectations as there was less challenging comedy writing and Jamie Foxx forgot lines, broke character, etc. Of course, in order to "get the joke" you have to be knowledgeable of many current cultural areas and age groups...so if you didn't laugh at these two particular skits then YOU are the issue, NOT SNL. (Hey, if a white guy got up and pretended to be a Chocolate Hostess Ding Dong, it would be plain stupid. I thought it was well done, and I'm white/transparent.) Just my 2 cents, as an Intelligent Artist and an Educator.
December 9, 2012 at 4:47PM ESTJeffmc2000 Disgusted, your comment is insane. I'm sorry to tell you, but the whole "Why is it okay for black people to say things I can't say?" thing pretty much identifies you as a racist. Maybe you're not, but unless you want people to think you are, you need to give up on this train of thought.
December 10, 2012 at 12:45AM ESTTrixie
December 9, 2012 at 2:22AM EST Reply to CommentThat was a total sinker. I guess black racists are the new funny??? Not impressed with the writing nor the host.
Turned Off I used to really enjoy Jaime Foxx but the past couple of years his true nature as a racist has been revealed and I no longer enjoy watching him. I watched about 30 seconds of the monolougue on when he started spouting off "How black is that?" I said to myself "this black" and turned the TV OFF... To black screen. Enough with the hate and division from the left.
December 9, 2012 at 9:21AM ESTJeffmc2000 Are only 75 year olds commenting on posts today?
December 10, 2012 at 12:47AM ESTPatrick
December 9, 2012 at 2:25AM EST Reply to CommentWhen did SNL become the Jamie Foxx Variety Hour? Jamie Foxx is way too arrogant and overbearing to ever make a good host. And he didn't try to read his lines correctly or stay in character. What a dick. Truly a painful episode. I hope this is the low point of the season.
Amy I completely agree-he comes off totally arrogant and condescending!! and I think it is completely unprofessional when the host doesn't even attempt to learn the lines or can't even try to be coy when reading from the cue cards. even Eli manning did a better job hiding it and he's not even an actor!! it's soo unprofessional and irresponsible. it's almost like a slap in the face, like, I am better than all of you, I'm just gonna go up there an wing it without any regards to the final product. it'd be annoying to be in the cast and have hosts like him
December 9, 2012 at 3:15AM ESTDaniel "When did SNL become the Jamie Foxx Variety Hour?"
December 9, 2012 at 12:39PM ESTProbably when they asked him to host and he showed up on set?
Patrick @Daniel - my Jamie Foxx Variety Hour referred to the fact that Jamie's presence was disruptive and distracting from the rest of the cast. Unlike Anne Hathaway, who seamlessly blended in with the rest of the cast.
December 9, 2012 at 4:02PM ESTEric
December 9, 2012 at 2:37AM EST Reply to CommentDylan McDermott Or Dermot Mulroney for Sketch of the Year! Oh my God, I have not laughed that hard at an SNL sketch in a long time.
rae right?! and its so true too cuz honestly i always get those two confused along with rupert everett. so glad they referenced him as well. and im white!
December 9, 2012 at 8:05PM ESTScorpio
December 9, 2012 at 2:43AM EST Reply to CommentI see the racists are out on the comments boards tonight...
Marlene I'm sorry...are you saying those of us who found Foxx's opening monologue distasteful and insulting are the racists.? Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? You have it backwards.
December 9, 2012 at 3:04AM ESTken Clearly, Scorpio believes racism is a one-way street. Jamie Foxx is clearly a racist, but we're not allowed to be offended by him? Bull!
December 9, 2012 at 4:36AM ESTJeffmc2000 I don't know, Foxx may or not be racist, but a lot of the comments here are definitely making ME hate white people today.
December 10, 2012 at 12:50AM ESTThe new Django
December 9, 2012 at 3:20AM EST Reply to CommentJamie foxx just another racist. Since he's black he gets a free pass? I'm done with SNL after tonight.
ken Never again will I watch anything that Mr. Foxx appears in. Let's end his career, folks. Or at least get a stinking apology.
December 9, 2012 at 4:38AM ESTS. L. Neumann
December 9, 2012 at 3:22AM EST Reply to CommentJamie Foxx
S. L. Neumann
December 9, 2012 at 3:23AM EST Reply to CommentWrite a comment...https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4109122211695&set=vb.1392271693&type=3
Chris Sonya, I think you are taking a joke way too seriously. And why would you think the President would need to have an opinion about a sketch show? He has way more important things to worry about. He's the president? It seems like you may just be a tad upset that your candidate lost, which has nothing to do with anything that Jamie Foxx said. What does you being a republican have to do with Jamie Foxx telling an unfunny joke? What difference does it make to your life if Jamie Foxx thinks the president is his Lord & Savior. Jamie Foxx can think an empty shoe box is his lord and savior and it really shouldn't affect you. I think you should look within for your answers.
December 9, 2012 at 7:04AM ESTEden
December 9, 2012 at 4:04AM EST Reply to CommentI guess it's just differences of opinion, because I thought J-Pop American Fun-Time Now was hilarious.
Teresa
December 9, 2012 at 4:28AM EST Reply to CommentI have watched SNL since it first can on and I was very upset with Jamie Foxx I don't think that he was funny!! Hated the opening!! That was racist!! How black it that? Really! Worst ever!
Gator girl
December 9, 2012 at 4:43AM EST Reply to CommentI couldn't get past "kill all the white people!" and all the cheers in the audience!!! I volunteered for the Democratic Party! To hear jokes about the president already showing his "white" side and now going to show his "black" side are degrading and ridiculous! We are all one people! When will you idiots ever get it??????? Had to turn the show off!!! Don't know if I'll ever watch it again!! Sad!! Not funny Jamie!!!
rainman90 "And get off my lawn!"
December 10, 2012 at 2:01PM ESTchrissy What does the democratic party have to do with Jamie Fox's monologue? Why do you think that Jamie Fox represents the democratic party because he makes a joke about the president?
December 11, 2012 at 1:48AM ESTSkip Serpico
December 9, 2012 at 4:46AM EST Reply to CommentWow, the comment section is more entertaining than J-Pop America Funtime Now.
Jamie Foxx's monologue was offensive because it lacked humor, not because it was racist.
svetlana @skip..I completely agree with you! The overreaction from some of the people commenting is ridiculous. Saying that you want to end his career because he made a joke you didn't like is kind of insane in my opinion. I doubt Jamie foxx is a racist but even if he is who cares? Just stop watching his movies. I thought he sucked tonight and was as unfunny as he always is...that's what's worth criticizing. Please give the fake indignation a rest.
December 9, 2012 at 5:11AM ESTAshley THIS! Thank YOU! All these people are fanning themselves with the vapors because he made a couple of race-oriented jokes - in which he made just as much fun of black people as white people.
December 9, 2012 at 5:16AM ESTChrissy So glad I'm not the only one confused by the outrage.
December 9, 2012 at 6:47AM ESTJeffmc2000 It is really odd. Most of these comments are coming from people who I can't imagine have ever watched SNL in their lives. Why did they tune into this one?
December 10, 2012 at 12:55AM ESTNevadasmith Spot on. Jamie Foxx is not funny. His whole act of being supercool hip hop man is tiring, unfunny and a cliche. He's the male Leah Thompson. All show business-y. His so-called "racist" monologue was not racist-it was just not funny. His suave singing & piano playing was lame. This episode was an SNL nadir both host and music guest wise. The show goes through this from time to time. Jeffmc-your statements are just as unfunny and clueless as Jamie Foxx's.
December 10, 2012 at 12:03PM ESTJeffmc2000 I have to say, calling Foxx the male Leah Thompson is pretty funny. From your comments, Nevada Smith, you sound like the male Mary Stuart Masterson. I don't know what that means, but it makes about as much sense.
December 10, 2012 at 1:39PM ESTLee Harvey
December 9, 2012 at 5:04AM EST Reply to CommentNot much worked tonight. Got a few laughs from Weekend Update and that was about it.
yarp
December 9, 2012 at 5:08AM EST Reply to CommentI couldn't even watch this racist crap!! The only thing his skits show me is that he's owned by the white man.
rae what are you talking about? he mentioned white people like once. i watched the whole episode. i dont know why but i actually did. and he didnt do anything that should offend white people. japanese or black people are a different story in my opinion but other thann joking about his character in django unchained he laid off white people. all ya'll need to chill! god!
December 9, 2012 at 8:11PM ESTJeffmc2000 What is going on here? Is there some kind of Jamie Foxx-is-a-racist meme going around that I don't know about? It sounds liked a bunch of people specifically tuned into this episode with an axe to grind.
December 10, 2012 at 12:56AM ESTNetgk I've been watching SNL since its first season. I've never heard a host talk aboiut killing people based on race. If Foxx had said he got to kill all the slave owners, that would be more acceptable. But he specifically said "white People," not distinguishing between white slave owners, white women (didn't own slaves), and white children. And there is no shortage of black people out there who don't sit around carefully analyzing language and are perfectly OK with kiliing white people, and who could take inspiration from Foxx's hilarious joke about killing all the white people.
December 10, 2012 at 10:56AM ESTJeffmc2000 "here is no shortage of black people out there who don't sit around carefully analyzing language and are perfectly OK with killing white people, and who could take inspiration from Foxx's hilarious joke about killing all the white people".
December 10, 2012 at 1:48PM ESTRead that back to yourself, and really think about if that's what you wanted to say. Because---I hate to have to tell you this---that's crazy talk.
Netgk JEFFMC2000: I've read it back, and no, it's not crazy talk, unless you also believe there is no shortage of whites who hate blacks and could easily be inspired to kill them. Think about white gangs and black gangs, for example. Doesn't take much to set them off.
December 10, 2012 at 2:05PM ESTJeffmc2000 You realize you're saying the same things Charles Manson was saying in the 60's, right?
December 10, 2012 at 2:21PM ESTNetgk Which was? I didn't realize that Manson was against proclaiming joy at killing white people. But perhaps you know otherwise. Enlighten me.
December 10, 2012 at 2:31PM ESTJeffmc2000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helter_Skelter_(Manson_scenario)
December 10, 2012 at 2:45PM ESTNetgk JEFFMC2000: Your Wikipedia reference is nothing but one solid list of other references. Like I'm really going to look them up and read them all just to see where you got your point about Manson. That's your job. You made the point, so you back it up. As of now, you haven't proven your point. Right about now, you probably hate white people even more. :P
December 10, 2012 at 4:00PM ESTJeffmc2000 Actually, arguing semantics with someone who thinks black people are waiting for a signal from a celebrity so they can start killing whitey isn't my job. If it was, there's no way it would pay enough.
December 10, 2012 at 5:22PM ESTNetgk JEFFMC2000: Translation: "Actually, my head's up my ass. I can't back up what I said. Netgk has nothing whatsoever to do with Charles Manson. I must have forgotten my medication this morning. Sorry I wasted everybody's time."
December 10, 2012 at 5:37PM ESTJeffmc2000 Yeah, I'm sure that's what it must be. To anybody else who might be reading this---you know that thing where someone tries to draw you into a crazy argument, and you actually fall for it a bit, and then you feel idiotic for wasting your time arguing with a nutcase you don't even know on the internet? This is that.
December 10, 2012 at 6:04PM ESTNetgk JEFFMC2000: Translation: Never tell somebody who's arguing for racial harmony that they sound like Charles Manson.
December 10, 2012 at 6:30PM ESTAshley
December 9, 2012 at 5:13AM EST Reply to CommentUsually I strongly disagree with you on a couple of sketches Ryan, but I'm in total and complete agreement this week. What the heck was going on over there?? The only sketches that DID work were the ones that were nonsensical and powered on the energy of the cast. Watching this week made me question if I had taken some heavy drugs beforehand and forgotten about it.
SCT I think that actually might bode well for next week. I've always found Martin Short to be very, very hit or miss with his comedy but never lacking for energy. I'm guessing we'll get a number of cameos as well (Steve Martin, Fallon and crew doing the Christmas song) so should be a fun show.
December 9, 2012 at 10:22AM ESTGuest
December 9, 2012 at 5:20AM EST Reply to CommentJamie Foxx seems to think all he has to do is show up and that's funny. He's not. One of the worst SNLs of the season.
mikel
December 9, 2012 at 5:26AM EST Reply to CommentWow, I guess the whole "racist" thing went right past me, as I just took it as playful banter. I think some of you need to lighten up a little. Yes, it would be completely different if it were a white guy talking about blacks, but black folks didn't enslave us and then keep us in economic squalor for another century. So get over yourselves and lighten up.
Highlight of the night for me was Swarovsky Crystal. One of the funniest sketches this year.
Biggest disappointment: no Kate McKinnon sketch tonight.
SNL viewer Kill all the white people is playful banter?
December 9, 2012 at 5:39AM ESTChrissy Um, yes SNL Viewer, in the context that he said it, it was playful banter. Were you sincerely offended? Did it hurt your pride or insult your heritage to hear him say that? Probably not. It was just an unfunny joke that happened to involve race.
December 9, 2012 at 6:45AM ESTken So, Chrissy, I suppose you had no problem with Michael Richards and his comments a few years ago. Gee, I seem to recall that effectively ended Mr. Richards' career - as it should have. All I'm saying is Mr. Foxx deserves the same. And, by the way, I've never watched Fox News, and I have been a loyal SNL Watcher since '75.
December 9, 2012 at 11:26AM ESTbo It was not "all whites" that were involved with slavery. My family had nothing to do with slavery whatsoever. Secondley, blcxks are involved in their own economic squalor as they insure their dependency on big brother by who they elect. And finally, blacks were involved in their own slavery as it was black tribal leaders in africa that sold conquered tribal members to the white slave traders to begin with.
December 9, 2012 at 1:22PM ESTJason Lee Blake Bo, two wrongs don't make it right. However I am glad that white people are finally saying enough is enough. One thing that I had fear that is obviously, unfortunately true is that if the shoe was on the other foot I have no doubt that Blacks would of had enslave whites just as whites enslave blacks in the creation of this great nation that we call America. We are all the same with all of the same flaws and gifts bestowed by our creator.
December 9, 2012 at 2:02PM ESTWeebeysPlasticFish Bo, all the white people in the movie, which is who he was referring to, on the other hand, are likely involved in slavery, since that's what the movie is about. It didn't bother me at all, except as a potential spoiler, because it's probably true that his character kills the white, slave-owning/trading people in the movie. It's Tarantino.
December 9, 2012 at 2:22PM ESTWhich isn't to say I can't see why someone would be offended, but it's not the same thing as Michael Richards calling someone the n-word. There was a context to why he said what he said. You have plenty of black people playing slaves in movies, or some other type of subservient role, but you don't have too many movies where that slave actually gets to get some justice. It starts out low from him saying he plays a slave and "How black is that?" to a high that he gets free, saves his wife and kills the people wanting to keep him chained. Unfortunately, whoever wrote the monologue (because it's pretty likely it wasn't Jamie Foxx) used "white people" for "people wanting to keep him chained," which, while true, can be taken to mean he's killing white people because he hates white people. It's much like saying "Germans" instead of "Nazis." If a Jewish character from Inglourious Basterds came on and said they got to "Kill all the Germans," would you call it racist, or understand from the context that they meant Nazis?
That being said, was the rest of his monologue racist? Sure, but just as racist as many comedians tend to be since making generalized observations is a pretty standard comedic tool.
Fastbak I still laugh at that old sketch of Garrett Morris as a prisoner singing "I'm going to get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see!"
December 9, 2012 at 4:35PM ESTChrissy @Ken: My opinion of the michael richards rant is different than most peoples. I think it was racist in the way that WEEBEUSPASTICFISH points out. Comic racist, yes. Racist with a malicious intent, no. Did I think it was funny? No. Do I think he could he have made the same point in a funny way? Yes. Was I offended? It's hard to offend me personally, but I can see how others could be. I have heard FUNNY white comedians make fun of black people and seen black people laugh at it because it was FUNNY. I've seen funny black comedians make fun of white people and seen white people laugh because it was funny. I dont think the rant should have ended his career, but the reality of it is that he was doing a show at the comedy show in front of a small audience, so his career was already on a downward slide. AND I'm sure he is doing just fine with his Seinfield residual checks. This is a whole new topic, but in Hollywood, if he REALLY wanted to work, he could work, all he would need to do is hire a PR company to fix his image and he could be back in the game in 6 months . . . if he wanted.
December 9, 2012 at 10:56PM ESTAlso, why the debate on Slavery. JF made the joke about slavery because of the movie he's promoting. No one is trying to indict white people for it. it's over.
Jeffmc2000 I thought the white people line was just a joke, but after reading these comments, I'm starting to think maybe it's not such a bad idea. And I'm white.
December 10, 2012 at 12:59AM ESTChrissy
December 9, 2012 at 6:41AM EST Reply to CommentI'm really confused about the outrage. It was not the best SNL, but I thought he was just trying to make a joke. Django is a Quentin Tarantino movie, so I'm sure there is a ton of killing and he does play a slave killing white people. I don't think he meant it as a call to action. i think it's the same humor as the "black guy" always being the first be killed in a horror movie. Again, I don't think it was an extremely funny episode, but I don't think it was racist. That's extreme.
Katt Pretty sure you are " confused ". With a lot of things in life ! Idiot
December 9, 2012 at 8:56PM ESTChrissy Oh no! You called me an idiot! I'm so sad I think I'll cry now, oh no, wait . . . I don't know you, so I don't care. You should call me ugly, stupid and fat next. That'll teach me!!
December 9, 2012 at 10:59PM ESTJeffmc2000 It seems like Katt is pretty confused about punctuation.
December 10, 2012 at 1:01AM ESTChrissy
December 9, 2012 at 6:53AM EST Reply to CommentTo clarify, I think Jamie Foxx was really unfunny tonight and I get breaking character if the sketch is ridiculously hilarious and you can't hold it, but he was clearly just unprepared, which sucks, but I don't think he was racist.
Patrick I agree. I wasn't worried about any racism. I was more pissed because Jamie was unprepared, didn't try, and treated it like a free stand-up gig at The Chuckle Factory.
December 9, 2012 at 3:37PM ESTchrissy Exactly. I feel like he felt like since he was a stand-up comedian, he felt like he could just wing it, which is sad because I heard that he was developing a sketch comedy show for Fox. I doubt anyone would watch it after he disrespected the whole genre last night.
December 9, 2012 at 11:21PM ESTTexan Guest
December 9, 2012 at 8:27AM EST Reply to CommentWow. So a lot of people are blaming Jamie Foxx for "racist" jokes. Guess what? HE DIDN'T WRITE THE JOKES. Lorne Michaels controls ALL aspects of the show. The writers can get input from a host, but Michaels and the writers have the final say. Deviation from the script will earn you a one way trip to never coming back. Personally, I didn't even see racism. I SAW JOKES. People were laughing because when you tune into a show with humor, NOTHING is being taken SERIOUSLY. Some of you guys really have no sense of any humor. Trey Parker and Daniel Tosh can make jokes about Black people, and I seriously doubt some of you complainers would give them grief. In other words, yes, I am calling you a racist. Overall, I thought the episode was okay. Not the greatest, but not the worst. I loved the "Maine Justice" segment. As a Texan, I see some Katrina evacuees that pretty much act that way (ok, not completely that way). Please lighten up. IT'S JUST JOKES.
NY Guest Lorne Michaels doesn't write the jokes. He oversees the show but doesn't write the jokes. The material Jamie Foxx used was his standard material which often deals with race.
December 9, 2012 at 11:07AM ESTTexan Guest Check my comment. I said Michaels controls ALL aspects of the show, and that he and the WRITERS have final say.
December 9, 2012 at 3:16PM ESTNetgk Texan: Watch the opeingin again. The crowd's response to Foxx's "joke" about killing all the white people is largely silence. There were a few wild cheers. I can only guess what race they were.
December 10, 2012 at 11:06AM ESTBrian S
December 9, 2012 at 8:44AM EST Reply to CommentGood Lord people, relax. Garret Morris sang, "I'm gonna get me a shotgun and kill all the whities I see" way back on SNL in 1975. It's humor. Maybe not your kind of humor, but pull back on the racist reigns. (Unfortunately, overall, it was a poor SNL for lack of humor.)
Jeffmc2000 Also, Eddie Murphy is apparently planning to kill his landlord, and everyone thinks it's okay! Thanks Obama!
December 10, 2012 at 1:03AM ESTNetgk I saw the Garrett Morris sketch. He was portaying a crazy black guy, as opposed to Foxx, who was bragging about how cool it was to kill all the whites.
December 10, 2012 at 11:03AM ESTKen Huge difference between Murphy and Morris' bits and this Foxx thing. If you can't see that, then, you, Jeff Mc2000, are blind.
December 10, 2012 at 8:46PM ESTshocked
December 9, 2012 at 9:30AM EST Reply to CommentYou shouldn't be allowed double standards like that, this is just like using certain words, ok for some and not for others. Imagine if Michael Richards said this....
Foxx should be apolgising for racist comments.
spoobnooble
December 9, 2012 at 9:56AM EST Reply to CommentI was surprised with your summary of the J-Pop sketch, in that you failed to mention the reference to the fact that the teacher, played by Jason Sudeikis, was leaving his teaching post at the end of the semester. Isn't this basically Sudeikis confirming that he is leaving SNL at the end of the season (if not sooner)?
Kyle
December 9, 2012 at 9:57AM EST Reply to CommentSo glad I'm not the only one. Fox just isn't funny. SNL really needs to hilight the only stars on the show yet ..... Jason, Fred, and Bill. They are not doing that and the show has been suffering ever since Kristen left.
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