Gothamist: Fey and Phelps Mark the Return of SNL

JMH

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:53:19 -0500

Phelps was poor, predictably, but the show had its moments. Shatner was funny, Will Forte's dancing in the locker room (probably also Phelps' funniest moment), the Clinton/Palin cold open.

bornbrednewyorker

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:36:32 -0500

Why is this shit still on?

zodak

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:11:04 -0500

it was a terrible show, only palin & the phelps diet were funny. olympics in space, the ugly kids & the charles barkely show was incredibly stupid & the logger on the news was offensive, & i'm an obama supporter. i liked the quiz show but the homeschooled answers should have been actual religious answers those are funnier than gremlins.

asg749d

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:43:00 -0500

I still watch SNL for its emotional value it holds in my..ohh cut the crap!

angry_pickle

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:40:49 -0500

SNL is not news. It is not funny, and it is definitely not culturally relevant. I agree. I feel the actors are really good. But the writers must be the biggest rejects ever ... like they came from the same pool as David Letterman's writers. Either that or they are 50+ years old and only watch TVLand when they're home. MadTV is 10x funnier. I think all that comedic potential wasted on shoddy writing. I even think Michael Phelps would be perfect as a surfer dude-like character but nope, they wasted his potential too.

NannyState

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:03:30 -0500

I dunno, Jen, I think Tina Fey missed the mark a bit with her impersonation: too much gravitas!

slyseekr

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:32:40 -0500

There was a time when SNL's writing was actually intelligent and witty, as recently as Tina Fey's tenure as the show's writer, actually. Watching a few of the skits from the premiere, the writing's become unintelligent and incredibly debased! It felt like watching the humor that was being aired on Nickelodeon 15 years ago when I was 10 years old...

AvenueHebrew

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:03:49 -0500

I counted four times during the Quiz Show skit where the director cut to Phelps in the middle of someone else's line, when he's just sitting there not doing anything. I guess even the production room has a bizarre crush on that pug-ugly dude.

Billiamsburg

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:20:09 -0500

Saying 'SNL is not funny' is not funny or clever anymore. That same comment has been used since the end of the 1st season. You're not treading new ground.

jackdonaghy

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:15:31 -0500

The opening was great, but unfortunately the rest of the show was very poor. I knew we were in trouble when the first sketch after the monologue (the quiz show) was completely flat. I know Phelps is not an actor, but I expected a bit more since the writers had 3-4 months to put their ideas from paper to the stage. It doesn't say much when the segment with the most laughs over the past couple of years is usually "Weekend Update." What did you guys think of Bobby Moynihan? I knew several of you are familiar with his other work...

JacqueMehoff

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:06:33 -0500

how can a swimmer be so stiff? two times he looked stiff and mouth agape like a mouth breather. after his opening monologue and after the second intro to lil'wayne. his head tilted and mouth opened. tina fey, spot on especially on how palin pronounces AlassssKaaaa.

handsomedevil

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:45:49 -0500

Can we please get back to real things we need to know? You do know this is Gothamist, right?

Jen Chung

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:45:18 -0500

I thought Tina Fey did a good job with Palin's accent. And I love how they are playing Hillary--I believe that she's that pissed.

Spiritof76

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:33:54 -0500

then again most of the cast of this show can't seem to do good comedy either. Ooooh, slam! You're vicious. Honest, but still vicious. Although I blame the writers more than the cast.

duanereade

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:31:33 -0500

SNL is not news. It is not funny, and it is definitely not culturally relevant. Can we please get back to real things we need to know?

supernova

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:22:42 -0500

Just saw the 12000 calories a day clip. Ummm... yupe, they should have coached Michael Phelps better! Although, Amy Poehler showing off her baby bump was funny.

supernova

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:06:19 -0500

That was funny! Don't even remember when was the last time I saw something funny over there!

Rfive

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:52:38 -0500

SNL is still on tv?

flynn110

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:50:51 -0500

then again most of the cast of this show can't seem to do good comedy either.

Spiritof76

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 11:42:30 -0500

Michael Phelps, don't give up your day job. With his terrible delivery, it's no wonder they kept him quiet. Most people can't do comedy. If they could, they'd all be on sitcoms. Lucky for Phelps that cereal boxes don't have sound or video.