Is it possible that, with only 10 days to go before the presidential election, Saturday Night Live has already conceded the winner? Saturday's episode featured not a single McCain/Palin sketch. There were a few throwaway jokes during "Weekend Update," but that was it. Instead, there were two Obama/Biden sketches (one Obama, one Biden to be more specific) -- both totally absent of any GOP. Maybe it's SNL attempting to play fair and goof on everyone equally, but I don't think so. Without getting too political, I think there's something bigger going on.
Jokes About a Cult Show
Jon Hamm hosted Saturday's show, demonstrating that he's actually quite good at playing comedy -- which I don't think he gets to do very often. Whether it was to get more SNL viewers to watch his AMC show, Mad Men, or to just help audiences understand what the show is, SNL included not one but two spoofs on the cult series. Though both had their moments, one did get the feeling that there was a relatively small group of people who really appreciated them.
Some Cast Leaves, Others Come Back
But the biggest news of the night, of course, is that cast member Amy Poehler wasn't able to appear because she was giving birth to her baby son. I'm fairly sure this was supposed to be her last show -- she wasn't returning after her maternity leave, scheduled to begin soon (instead she'll be joining the cast of Greg Daniels' new sitcom) -- but she wasn't able to make it. Seth Meyers did "Update" solo and did a fine job, but it's a bummer if Poehler doesn't get any kind of send-off.
The second biggest news was that former cast member Maya Rudolph returned to play would-be First Lady Michelle Obama. While it was good to see her -- she was always kind of under-appreciated -- she wasn't given a whole lot to do. Apparently, it was her ability to play an African-American that most qualified her for the role (by that logic, maybe they should have brought back Ellen Cleghorne). It does raise some concerns, though, that SNL has needed to bring back so many former cast members to play parts that they may need to return to again over the next four years. The producers may need to figure something else out.
Sketch Highlights:
- "Road to the White House" - The show's cold opening and the first of the night's democrat spoofing showed Senator Joe Biden (Jason Sudekis) and Representative John Murtha (Darrell Hammond) address a rally in Pennsylvania and proceed to say stupid things that they shouldn't say out loud. Not so much a joke as a reflection of what's actually happened. (Watch the video)
- "Obama Address" - The second democratic spoof of the night featured Barack Obama (Fred Armisen, who hasn't quite nailed the impression yet) and wife Michelle (Rudolph) so confident in their lead that rather than use their half hour of TV time to address the country, they put together a variety special. It was a funny idea with a few bright spots -- Kristen Wiig's crazy-eyed Nancy Pelosi and Jon Hamm's JFK -- but didn't feel fully realized. (Watch the video)
- "A-Holes: Pitch Meeting" - A sketch that begins as a funny <i>Mad Men</i> parody (complete with guest appearances by actual cast members) turns into another Sudekis/Wiig "A-Holes" sketch. I've always been a fan of this sketch -- mostly because I think it's pinpointed a certain kind of person that isn't made fun of elsewhere -- but there's never a new joke. I don't mind repeating characters, but you have to go somewhere with it. And is it just me, or is Kristen Wiig starting to overplay some her characters? (Watch the video)
- "Rasta Man" - I liked what Andy Samberg's "Digital Short" was making fun of -- white kid Rastafarian posers (especially the line about a part-time job at Cold Stone creamery) -- but not so much how he made fun of it. (Watch the video)
- "Don Draper's Guide" - Probably my favorite sketch of the night, this short film featured Jon Hamm's Mad Men character teaching people how to meet women. Short, to the point and funny. (Watch the video)
Up next: Ben Affleck and American Idol winner David Cook on November 1!
- Original Air Date: 10/25/08
- Host: Jon Hamm
- Musical Guest: Coldplay
