'Saturday Night Live' highlights: Tracy Morgan returns, boozin' Barbie, party douchebags

March 15, 2009 10:57 AM

As Tracy Morgan points out in his "Saturday Night Live" monologue, returning as a host means that he gets to be in a lot more skits than when he was a cast member. Indeed, in the March 14th edition, he certainly gets a ton of face time, including this silly opening sequence in which he gets pissed off that he's not immediately recognized on his old stomping grounds.

Tracy's back:

Much of his appearances follow the same path, not making a whole lot of sense, but delivered in a booming, declarative manner that makes you chuckle. "Deal with it, Cate Blanchett!"

The consistently funny and versatile Kristen Wiig's tribute to Barbie's 50th birthday is a hoot -- especially watching her trying to maneuver her permanently posed arms and hands and when we discover that not all is well in Mattel paradise with the emasculated Ken.

Boozin' Barbie:

Of Morgan's skits for the night, the "Scared Straight" parody is notable since cast member Bill Hader obviously cracks up at their antics, and the bizarre "Family Flix" skit with Wiig playing the straight man dances the line between tasteless and preposterous. In the great "SNL" tradition, however, we do get a new ad for a faux product that suppresses erections -- you know, for those times when it'd be inappropriate to be visibly aroused.

Suppressex:

Finally, Hader and Andy Samberg bring us another winning digital short. Alas, it's not another music video (more "I'm on a Boat" please), but it's a smart, playful bit that features visual gags based on our behavior at parties and our wonderful English language.

Party douchebags:

Kelly Clarkson was the musical guest, but she was kind of a snore, singing "My Life Would Suck Without You" and "I Do Not Hook Up." She recently acknowledged in an interview that she's never been Hollywood thin, but seeing her in that sober blue tunic brought to mind all those pregnancy rumors.

All in all, The Rock brought the funny back last week with "The Rock Obama," and although Morgan wasn't as spot on with his impersonations, it was still an enjoyable, light-hearted and fast-paced show.

What did you think of the show? Did you like these skits? Did we leave any of your favorites out? Are you still giving "SNL" a chance? Did you miss the political parodies this time around?

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| Comments (15)

15 Comments

Great to see Tracy Morgan do Brian Fellow and Astronaut Jones. Did Kelly Clarkson turn down the Astronaut Jones sketch? Andy Sandberg was okay, but Kelly Clarkson would have made it better. Sadly, there was no Tyrone the Bum sketch. Was that sketch cut? I was hoping to see Tracy do Tyrone the Bum, but I guess Kelly Clarkson only wanted to sing her songs and she avoided the sketches.

Andrew | March 15, 2009 11:22 AM

The fact that you identify Wiig as 'versatile' (yeah, she sure does play a lot of characters who all have the same whacky mannerisms) was confusing to me, but when you expressed enjoyment of the awful 'I'm on a boat' music video, it immediately became clear where the problem lies.

Rorschach | March 15, 2009 11:46 AM

I watched SNL just to see Kelly Clarkson, and if I had been watching it for anything else, I would have been sorely disappointed. I thought Tracy Morgan was the "snore" and the highlight of the night was definitely KC's two songs!!

fifi548 | March 15, 2009 12:06 PM

Did anybody notice after Bill Hader cracks up that Jason Sudeikis sits down way too fast and breaks his balls? That's what everyone (Andy, Bill, Bobby) is laughing about.
I can't believe that nobody has noticed it.

Me | March 15, 2009 2:52 PM

i thought kelly clarkson's songs were pretty boring. if that's the best of her new album, then it's in trouble.

kew | March 15, 2009 4:09 PM

Kelly Clarkson was fantastic! I agree that SNL can sometimes be not good, but to the dude that didn't like "I'm on A Boat" I think you are in the minority and out of touch. That video was hilarious!

Fred | March 15, 2009 7:20 PM

They had a chance to do several funny political skits but didn't. The Obama's gave a really tacky gift to Prime Minister Gordon Brown on his visit to the U.S. this month... A gift set of 25 old movie DVDs. Brown is blind in his left eye and is having trouble with his right eye so giving a bunch of movie DVDs to a man with failing eyesight is in pretty bad taste. If Bush had pulled something like that SNL would have been all over it and had several skits making fun of him.

Plus, SNL had the chance to poke fun at Obama's choices for cabinet members who keep dropping out because of tax and other problems. Heck, the new Treasury Secretary is a tax cheat and he's running the IRS. I can picture all kinds of skits using that scenario.

SNL is just not that funny anymore.

Dee | March 15, 2009 8:09 PM

SNL is just not that funny anymore.

Dee | March 15, 2009 8:10 PM

Kelly was a-ma-zing! I do Not Hook Up will probably blow up bigger than My Life Would Suck Without You. Tracy Morgan was funny. I thought it was a good show.

Michael | March 15, 2009 10:26 PM

Kristin Wiig finally was not horrible and redundant in a bit in which she played an interviewer. Her reactions were sharp and subtle, characteristics she rarely displays (as evidenced by her tiresome loooooong Barbie bit).

Too bad Tracy Morgan chose to shout all of his lines in every sketch, some would have been much funnier if properly delivered.

I thought the digital short was the best of the season, very well written.

The show still is seeking a breakout talent.

Bill Chuck | March 16, 2009 4:31 AM