Look who turned up on 'SNL'!
The season opener provided some surprises
Look who turned up on ‘SNL’!
David Hiltbrand, Inquirer TV Critic
Saturday Night Live kicked off season 38 (schmikey!) this weekend with Seth McFarland hosting. They got right into the political stuff with Jay Pharoah replacing Fred Armisen as the show’s President Obama fill-in. OK, it still needs some work but Pharoah is still an improvement over Armisen, who was doing more of an impression than an impersonation.
Jason Sudeikis returned to the fold, for which we can all be grateful, because SNL wasn’t going to get a better Mitt Romney. And Taran Killam took on Paul Ryan. Eh, what can we say? He got the hair almost right.
Then there was Bill Hader doing Clint Eastwood on a new comedy tour -- just the aging Hollywood icon gruffly addressing an empty chair.
But there were other moments of the show that really sparkled. Like this special appearance during ‘Weekend Update’.
That’s right, honey child. It’s Mama and her juiced up spawn. Why do we think we’ll be seeing more of this as the season goes along? That’s Bobby Moynihan, fresh off his triumph as Snooki, rendering a dazed June Bug.
The musical guest was Frank Ocean. After an emotional performance of “Thinking of You”, he returned to perform his new single “Pyramids” with the help of a guitarist you just may recognize.
The comedy was spotty. But the music on the season 38 opener was pretty special.
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This was one of the worst SNL's I have ever seen. Also Fred Armisen did a much better "impression" of Obama then that other guy. New guy didn't look or sound like Obama. I guess if somebody is black you can't say anything negative these days.— neddyflanders- seriously ? that was the bets clip from the show ? i don't think i'll bother catching it 'on demand' then. pathetic— the_chief
- The best scenes were the puppetter sketch and the dancing Korean— Ashburn072
- I havent watch SNL in a long time. Good to see I'm not missing much.— cuso20
- Wow, lots of haters. I thought the premier was really funny. I think they will be fine without Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig.— sparky2212
