whatevs.org presents...

"SNL - SEASON 31 REVEALED"

by Nummer and H-Bomb

Episode 16: Lindsay Lohan / Pearl Jam (4/15/06)

CONEY RATING SYSTEM
= John Belushi
= Amy Poehler
= Tim Meadows
= Melanie Hutzel
= Charles Rocket
= Self-Explanatory

0-10 Coneys – Garbage
11-20 Coneys – Needs Improvement
21-30 Coneys – Average
31-40 Coneys – Above Average
41-50 Coneys - Instant Classic
51+ Coneys - Unparalleled Comic Genius

OAD = Original Air Date*

(*To be fair, coneys will be awarded the same as they were the first time they aired)

Unlike last weekend’s episode, I’m happy to report there were an abundance of quality moments in tonight’s SNL.

The hits started early with the first being Robert Smigel’s latest cartoon, “Into the Disney Vaults”. We’ll no doubt see this one again in the upcoming Best of Saturday TV Funhouse special, and with good reason. As inconsistent as Smigel has been over the past few seasons (an overabundance of duds like “Darwin”, “Divertor” and “Celebrity Mugshot Poker” come to mind), he still squeezes out gems like this.

Wiig, who got a great amount of screen time this week, along with Forte and Lohan also teamed up for a wonderful sketch about socially awkward co-workers who loosen up after some Chardonnay. Forte and Wiig were absolutely perfect in this segment and the dialogue was the sharpest SNL has delivered in months. Along with “ Live Duluth” from the Johansson/DCFC episode, I’m glad to see Forte playing more things outside of the political realm.

Continuing the hot streak he started last week as Howie Mandel in “Deal or No Deal”, Armisen introduced a solid Liberace impersonation in the “Atlantic City Fever” sketch. The on-screen kiss towards the end of the skit which results in Armisen puking into his prized golbet had me rolling. Why I continure to read negative reviews about Armisen on various SNL sites will continue to amaze me. For the most part, he has been one of the most reliable cast members since his 2002 debut.

Other notable comedy mentions include an improved Weekend Update (mainly due to the strong guest work from Seth and Sudeikis – “SOUL PATROL!”), a pretty silly Digital Short about “Laser Cats” and Wiig & Lohan’s “Coin Slot” cream ad. Hats off to the cast and crew for such an amazing bounce back after last week’s disappointment.

Wrapping up the good were two performances from the current incarnation of Pearl Jam. If the rest of their new album sounds anything like the two songs played tonight, Vedder and company are looking at their best work since 1994’s Vitalogy (some say their last great start-to-finish record).

Well, maybe third time’s a charm as Lindsay Lohan finally seemed to redeem herself as host of this week’s show. True, the hilarity of the show had a lot more to do with the improved sketch writing and a superb musical act than the actress herself, but Lohan did appear to step it up a notch (her character Sally in “Co-workers at a Bar” actually had me semi-impressed). Improvements aside, however, I think a Lohan- free season wouldn’t be a horrible thing.

Ironically, while it was the skit writing that made last week’s episode with Antonio Banderas so horrible, it was the sketch ideas this time around that actually made this show as good as it was. The most notable skits tonight were “Co-workers at a Bar,” “Atlantic City Fever,” and “Laser Cats.” As I mentioned earlier, I was actually impressed with Lohan’s take on an uptight office worker going out for a drink with her colleagues. Wiig and Forte were a bit funnier, however, as Jean and Neil, respectively, with their “hot-stepping” it to get a table and their “wild errands.” Armisen’s impression of Liberace in “Atlantic City Fever” was most certainly one of the most hilarious characterizations I’ve ever witnessed. “Am I the man you’re looking for?” From his flagrant smile to his “wonderful collection of goblets,” I have to give a hand to Armisen for making this a truly memorable impersonation. Finally, yet another installment of the SNL Digital Short series joined the ranks of 4 Coney bits with Hader and Samberg’s short film, Laser Cats! While the idea really followed the same lines as Bear City, watching Hader and Samberg running around holding cats that shot lasers out of their mouths was highly entertaining.

Finally, I was happy to see Pearl Jam live up to my pre-show expectations by delivering two outstanding performances. You never would’ve known that this band has been out of the spotlight for the last few years. Seriously, there’s nothing better than rounding out a great show with an even better musical guest.

Just like the near perfect Matt Dillon/Arctic Monkeys episode, a few frail sketches kept Lohan’s third hosting attempt from being a true classic overall. Tonight’s main culprits were another worthless Debbie Downer and a completely by-the-numbers Lohan monologue. Case in point: her 2005 monologue featured a Lohan from the future coming back to warn the present day Lindsay about partying too much. Fast forward to her 2006 monologue and what do you have? How about Lohan turning the tables and telling the Easter Bunny, who demonstrated many not so subtle Lohan qualities, the dangers of over partying? Is it possible to have a recurring monologue?

Sadly, Keenan and Hammond offered up new installments of “Deep House Dish” and “The O’Reilly Factor” and each were at a slightly diminished rate of laughs over their previous appearances as well. If sketches like these were given just a little more time off, perhaps they’d seem more fresh and garner a few additional laughs as a result? Still, Lohan’s “Ambiance” song in Deep House Dish was kind of best. “Ambiance, Ambiance, this airport (or pet store) needs more Ambiance”. Much like the Longoria and Johansson episode, this sketch’s best moments continue to come from the host’s song.

SNL continued to battle the obsessive need to bring back tired sketches this week, the most prominent being Dratch’s Debbie Downer. Obviously trying to recapture the laughs it garnered during Lohan’s debut episode back in 2004, Downer basically did just the opposite. Luckily, the feline aids jokes were left out this time. Maybe even Lorne realized that it’s no longer funny the umpteenth time around.

Sadly, however, Debbie Downer wasn’t the only overused skit of the evening. The O’Reilly Factor and Deep House Dish, bits that were at one time looked forward to, are now falling into the worn-out sketch trap. I’m not sure how many different ways Keenan can utter the phrase, “Ooo wee, Tiara,” but I’m pretty sure he’s getting close to running out.

Don’t look now, but Lohan continues to improve with each hosting stint. Does that mean she should only be two episodes shy of the once exclusive five-timers club at only 19 years old? Hell no. Please Lorne! Give this girl a few seasons off.

Overall, Lohan’s episode was much better than I expect, considering her last two times hosting the show. Hopefully the sketch writing will remain on an upswing for the duration of the season and we’ll continue to see increased airtime for the featured players.

CONEY COUNT

1. Cold Opening: The Situation Room
Premise: Parody of the CNN news show

2. Monologue: Lohan

3. Commercial Parody: Coin Slot Cream
Premise: Moisturizing cream to compliment low rise jeans

4. Sketch: Deep House Dish
Premise: Recurring skit spoofing the house music scene

5. Cartoon by Robert Smigel: Journey to the Disney Vault
Premise: Children learn horrible secrets about Walt Disney’s past

6. Sketch: The O’Reilly Factor
Premise: Recurring parody of the Fox News show

7. Sketch: Chocolate Desert
Premise: Two couples overreact to a desert

8. SNL Digital Short: Laser Cats
Premise: Hader and Samberg pitch a short film to Lorne

9. Music: Pearl Jam “Worldwide Suicide”

10. Weekend Update
Guests: Meyers and Sudeikis

11. Sketch: Debbie Downer
Premise: Recurring sketch about a woman bringing down the moods of others

12. Sketch: Co-workers at the bar
Cameos: Seemingly straight laced co-workers loosen up after a few drinks

13. Music: Pearl Jam “Severed Hand”

14. Sketch: Atlantic City Fever
Sketch: Turner Classic Movies unearths a rare Ann Margaret/ Liberace film

TOTALS

38 / 56 Coneys

35.5 / 56 Coneys