SNL Season 29 – REVEALED!

 

 

Episode 9: Jennifer Aniston/Black Eyed Peas (1/10/04)

 

The Rating System:

4 Coneys – Best Ever

0 Coneys – Worst Ever

 

Totals:

 

0-10 Coneys – Garbage

11-20 Coneys – Needs Improvement

21-30 Coneys – Average

31-40 Coneys – Above Average

41-51 Coneys  - Instant Classic

55+ Coneys - Unparalleled SNL Genius

 

OAD: Original Airdate

 

 

 

Pre-show Comments (1/8/04):

 

Jason:  Jennifer Aniston. This will be her second time hosting - the last was back in 1999 with musical guest Sting. That episode was pretty good and is now notable for the first appearance of Fallon's Nick Burns character. Will Burns make a return for this episode? Who knows. Burns has been missing for awhile now.

As for Aniston, I say buzz. She's promoting the dull looking Along Came Polly. However, since she is a comedy actress, I'm keeping my expectations a little high this time around. SNL is coming off two pretty lousy episodes (Sharpton and Wood), so they really need to kick in the high gear this week.

Black Eyed Peas? Don't know a ton of their songs. I really like that song they used in the pilot episode of The OC back in the summer, but I'm in the dark when it comes to the rest of their material.

 

 

Heather:  I've always found Jennifer Aniston to be highly entertaining. I'll admit it....I love Friends and Aniston is one of the biggest reasons why I watch it week in and week out. She's funny and wacky and I'm sure she'll do another fantastic job at hosting SNL.

I wish I was more familiar with Black Eyed Peas but I never really took the time to listen to their stuff. However, I do know a lot people who do like them, so I'm looking forward to some decent performances.

 

 

 

1.  Cold Opening:  Donald Trump/NBC President Jeff Zucker

Premise:  Trump hypes up “The Apprentice”

 

Jason:  Hammond as Trump and the impression was pretty dead on. 

 

Here we saw Trump shamelessly promote his new show by talking about how “classy” it is.  Hammond brings a good angle to Trump by focusing mostly on his libido while using as many sexist comments.  I also liked how dumb they made him – for example, Hammond’s Trump has just learned that his Taj Mahal is not the actual Taj Mahal. 

 

The opener was going good until Fallon came out with his stupid NBC President Jeff Zucker impression (last seen Sharpton/Pink).  Way to ruin it!

 

1.5 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  Up until this opener, I was close to losing all interest in Hammond.  His recent impressions of George Bush have really left a lot to be desired, and other than some decent Schwartzenegger spots, I haven’t really seen much from Hammond lately.  His excellent attempt at portraying Trump, however, seemed to boost my confidence in him again.  40 foot TV’s!!  I was pretty entertained throughout this opener, although it did get to be a bit too long, especially when Fallon stepped in. 

 

1 ˝ Coneys

 

 

2.  Monologue:  Aniston

 

Jason:  HOLY NIPPLES!!  Was that a joke?  I do not recall it being THAT cold in the SNL studio.  I honestly can’t recall any of her opening lines due to this distraction.

 

From there, the monologue led into a “clip” of a possible ending for “Friends”.  Basically Aniston’s character chooses one of the guys to be with and the other one commits suicide.  You actually saw the suicide joke coming a mile away, so all laugh factor went out the window.

 

Other than that, she seemed very on edge and nervous.  I have to say I expected more.

 

1.5 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  For reals, what was up with Aniston’s nips?!  (No pun intended).  Wowie!!

 

This monologue definitely wasn’t the best, but I have seen much worse.  The Friends spoof ending was decent.  I thought Sanz as Joey was funny, although the suicide jab was completely predictable.  Aniston did seem a little jumpy, especially when she realized she forgot to take her jacket off after the Friends bit.  But at least she didn’t look like she was reading straight from the cue cards.  It was an ok monologue.

 

2 Coneys

 

 

 

 

3.  Sketch: Hollywood Paparazzi

Premise: Photographers compete for celebrity photos

 

Jason:   This was obviously an attempt by Poehler to establish another recurring character for herself.  The idea was pretty clever – she plays one of two Paparazzi photographers (the second played by Aniston) – who basically namedrops and gossips.  Some of the celebrity jokes were funny, but a few too many of them focused on Verne Troyer (Mini-Me).  Who makes Mini-Me jokes in 2004?  So 1998!

 

1.5 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  This sketch was cute, mostly because it was finally something different!  I loved Poehler and Aniston’s NY accents.  Poehler’s “Beyonce Boosh” comment had me chuckling.  Again though, this could’ve been shorter.

 

1 Coney

 

 

4.  Sketch:  Britney Spears gets Married

Premise: Re-enactment of the NYE 2003 Spears/Alexander Wedding

 

Jason:   This played off a little too much like the Fallon/Timberlake impression of Jessica Simpson and Nick LaChey.  Fallon basically played the same character and Aniston simply didn’t seem into her Spears impression.  The voice and all the “y’alls” she used were funny, but the constants cuts to the clock and rushed feeling of the whole thing really made the sketch suffer.

 

1 Coney

 

 

Heather:  I thought this skit was highly amusing.  I could totally see Britney Spears acting like this when she’s had a little too much to drink, although I’m sure there would’ve been much more making out involved.  I agree it would’ve flowed much better without all of those clock/song segments, but it still got a few good laughs.  I hope I never have to say, “ Awww…you burped on my weddin’ kiss,” to my future husband!

 

2 ˝ Coneys 

 

 

5.  Commercial Parody:  Gaystrogen

Premise: Pill that helps you recapture your gay habits if you suffer from “Queer Loss”

OAD:  10/18/03

 

Jason:   See Berry/Spears Review

 

4 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  See Berry/Spears Review

 

3 Coneys

 

 

6.  Sketch:  Democratic National Committee

Premise:  The Democratic Presidential candidates speculate how Howard Dean has become the front runner

 

Jason:  Get used to these Democratic candidate sketches.  Since the Presidential election is this Fall, they will be doing many of these over the next 10 months. 

 

We last saw this in the Sharpton/Pink episode.  I gave it 2 Coneys then, and I’m giving it 2 Coneys now.  Everyone has really nailed the mannerisms and overall feel of their characters, but they haven’t written them into a truly funny situation yet.  The Republican/Democratic sketches back during the 2000 Presidential campaign were gold and so far these are falling short.  Time will tell if they improve.

 

On another note:  Why the HELL has Fallon been in basically every sketch so far?

 

2 Coneys

 

Heather:  Ok, about the funniest thing in this sketch was the background music.  Yes, everyone has their specific characters down pat, but the material was rather boring.

 

1 Coney 

 

 

7.  Music – Black Eyed Peas #1

 

Jason:  Why aren’t they doing that song they did on The OC’s pilot episode.  I’m pretty sure it’s called “Hand’s Up”.  They really should do that one for their second song because this was flat out GARBAGE!  That girl is really cute though – I didn’t even know there was a female in the group!

 

0 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  Ugh.  Had I known that they were the ones that sing this horrible horrible song, I would have NEVER said that I wish I were more familiar with this group.  Worst.

 

0 Coneys

 

 

8.  Weekend Update

 

 

Jason:   Not a solid WU in my opinion. 

 

There were a string of good jokes to start it off:

 

 

Yes, the jokes were on par with the rest of Season 29’s Update offerings, but it was the guests that really killed this installment.  Jeff Richards as Steve Irwin made Kattan’s old impression seem genius, as did Finesse Mitchell’s take on OJ when compared to Tim Meadows.  Armisen’s Phil Spectre was pretty good and so was Hamond’s Robert Blake – but all of it as a whole didn’t work.

 

After that,  I was glad to see Al Franken’s one man mobile unit character return.  I really liked this bit back during the Dennis Miller Updates when Franken would find himself forced to drink his own urine while fighting off vultures.  However, this new 2004 version kind of sucked in comparison.  I’d recommend fast forwarding.

 

2 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  To me, Weekend Update this week was pretty funny.  I laughed at A LOT of Fey’s and Fallon’s jokes:  Bush sending man to a full moon, Christina Aguilera 69ing with Newman, the 1st Christian Nudist colony motto – “Jesus, look at those jugs,” David Gest thinking a vagina was a medical condition, Jackson’s letter to Penthouse and finally the New Yorkie eating your child’s face.  Good stuff!

 

Richards impression of the Crocodile Hunter was nothing special, but I did get a kick out of him saying, “I know how to feed crocs AND I know how to take care of me baby.”

 

Mitchell completely sucked ass as OJ Simpson.  Are we looking at another Jerry Minor here??  I did giggle at Armisen’s appearance as Phil Spectre.

 

Franken’s one man mobile unit in Baghdad was alright, but kind of hokey.

 

3 Coneys

 

 

 

 

 

9.  Sketch:  Osama/Saddam Phone Call

Premise:  Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein catch up

 

Jason:   Hmmm.  Didn’t expect to see this one back.  We last saw Fallon and Sanz calling each other like this back on 2/15/03 for the Jennifer Garner/Beck episode.  It was OK then, but this one (thankfully) improved on it.  Sanz is still doing his Ferey Muhtar voice and Fallon still giggles through the whole thing, but this was the first sketch tonight that actually had me laughing out loud.  It is really funny to see these two terrorists get so off topic while talking that things like Tom Hanks and Hot Pockets come up in the conversation.  This sketch is easily the stand out of the episode.

 

3 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  This was weird, and by that I mean weird at how much I was laughing at a Fallon and Sanz skit.  I’m just wondering how much of this was ad-libbed.  It seemed at some points that Sanz was legitimately laughing as if Fallon was just making stuff up as he went along.  This was most noticeable to me when Fallon referred to Sanz as “Ron Jeremy in an orange suit.”  Sanz started looking off camera as if realizing Fallon could really see him.  And while the constant giggling would normally bum me out, it seemed to make me laugh more, as it did with the Over Here guys. 

 

3 Coneys  

 

 

10.  Commercial Parody:  Country Roses

Premise:  A take on how silly country song lyrics can be

 

 

Jason:  Basically this was a long joke about how silly the inspirations for country music lyrics are.  It was pretty low on the laugh factor and basically served as an excuse to get 90% of the female cast members in one sketch.  The only standout was Dratch’s comment about why there are snowflakes.

 

1 Coney

 

 

Heather:  Maybe it was simply from laughing so much at the last sketch, but I continued to chuckle throughout this one as well.  I mean, you’ve got Poehler singing about nothin’ being cuter than a baby eatin’ peaches off a hardwood floor and Dratch saying snowflakes are because of yoooouu in this totally creepy country voice.  Who couldn’t laugh just a little bit?!

 

2 Coneys 

 

 

 

11.  Sketch:  Coco and Maisui Super Show

Premise:  Japanese talk show with emotional hosts

 

Jason:   Now we know what would happen if Armisen and Maya did Club Traxx in Japanese.  Aniston plays herself on this talkshow and is pretty much forced to take over the interview since the hosts can’t stop gawking and crying over her.  Armisen’s line “My English, not so happy” earned a laugh, but the rest was just a trip through Aniston’s ego.

 

1 Coney

 

 

Heather:  On the whole, this sketch pretty much flopped.  Armisen’s gruff Japanese accent and wide-eyed stare were the best things about it.

 

1 Coney 

 

 

12.  Music:  Black Eyed Peas #2

 

 

Jason:   Man that girl is cute!   Allmusicguide.com reveals her name is “Fergie”.  Usually I think rap/urban alter-ego names are pretty stupid, but I’m willing to overlook it due to her A+ stomach.  I’m throwing this song a Coney simply on Fergie belly envy.

 

1 Coney

 

 

Heather:  Yeah, I really don’t like these guys at all.  And what the hell was on the girl dancer’s face?!

 

0 Coneys 

 

 

13.  Sketch:  Appalachian Emergency Room

Premise:  White trash visit the hospital

 

Jason:  At first this seemed like Kattan/Poehler’s COPS characters in a different setting.  Fortunately, I love Poehler’s hillbilly character impression.  Fallon and Parnell added some laughs too, but Sanz stole the show!  He played a guy who got his tongue cut off by letting a pitbull eat out of his mouth.  He then proceeded to get his own severed tongue confused with a piece of ham.  Totally best.

 

2.5 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  This was a surprisingly hilarious sketch.  Poehler and Aniston had great hillbilly impressions.  Fallon, unfortunately, brought the sketch down temporarily with his stupid flailing arms and legs.  But Sanz immediately had me laughing again with his “bitten-off tongue” injury.  “I hord my tonge.”  I seriously rewound his explanation of why his tongue was bitten off by his pitbull about 10 times and laughed just as hard every time.  I wouldn’t want to see this as a recurring sketch, though, because it’ll never be as good as this.

 

2 ˝ Coneys

 

 

14.  Phone Sex Line

Premise:  A phone sex operator has trouble talking “raw” enough

 

Jason:  This one came as a surprise since I didn’t think there was time enough for another sketch!  However, I went into it with high hopes because usually the 12:55 AM sketches are the most experimental and weird.  Sadly, this one did not fit that mold at all.  Aniston basically played a shy phone sex operator who isn’t comfortable talking dirty.  I know I’ve seen this routine before, I just can’t place where.  Not a good way to end this average at best episode.

 

0 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  It’s too bad they couldn’t have just ended with the last sketch.  This was disappointing to say the least.  Aniston was unexpectedly lame and Keenan was just plain weird with his shifty eyes.  Forte and Armisen were slightly amusing, but this was definitely not a strong ending.

 

˝  Coney

 

 

 

 

 

Closing Comments:

 

Jason:   This season is officially starting to let me down.  Apart from the promotion of Will Forte and the kick ass new opening sequence, Season 29 hasn’t given us many 4 Coney “Instant Classic” sketches.  The last three episodes have totally been forgettable.  What gives?  Sadly, I don’t see next week’s episode (Jessica Simpson/Nick LaChey and G-Unit) being any better.  It will be another Timberlake type episode completely filled with MTV audience style humor.  Timberlake was able to pull of a decent show thanks to the cast really bringing out some strong material, but with two hosts next week – will there be enough room for a repeat save?

 

I honestly expected more out of Aniston too.  While her last episode back in 1999 was by no means comedy gold – it was years beyond this showing.  Aniston.  Some say overrated.

 

22 out of 56 Coneys

 

 

Heather:  I can’t believe this episode wasn’t better.  I thought for sure Aniston would deliver, which she did at times, but nothing seemed to follow through to anything truly funny.  However, I can’t blame the whole show on her.  While at least we’re seeing something different from Jarrett’s Room and Wakeup Wakefield, the sketch ideas this week weren’t all that inspired.  That combined with the Black Eyed Peas made for a rather weak show.

 

23 out of 56 Coneys 

 

 

SNL Coney Rankings:  Season 29 – REVEALED!

 

Jason

 

Andy Roddick/Dave Matthews – 41.5

Jack Black/John Mayer – 34.5

Justin Timberlake - 30

Alec Baldwin/Missy Elliot – 28.5

Halle Berry/Britney Spears – 27

Jennifer Aniston/Black Eyed Peas - 22

Al Sharpton/Pink – 21.5

Kelly Ripa/Outkast – 19

Elijah Wood/Jet – 16.5

 

 

Heather:

 

Jack Black/John Mayer – 34.5

Andy Roddick/Dave Matthews – 28.5

Justin Timberlake – 26.5

Halle Berry/Britney Spears – 24

Alec Baldwin/Missy Elliot – 24

Jennifer Aniston/Black Eyed Peas - 23

Kelly Ripa/Outkast – 20

Elijah Wood/Jet – 18.5

Al Sharpton/Pink – 17.5