Jesse Eisenberg hosted “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, and the big moment came in the first few minutes when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg appeared on stage with the actor who portrayed him in The Social Network — as well as another impostor, Andy Samberg. I’m on the record as being against the “SNL” habit of real people confronting their imitators, but in this case I laughed in spite of myself (and despite Zuckerberg’s nervous overacting). What can I say, it was the best Bergfest since the Titanic sank.
If there was a downside to Zuckerberg’s appearance, it’s that it overshadowed one of the better monologues in recent memory (I liked Eisenberg joking about his confidence) and the asstastic luminosity of Nicki Minaj, who appeared in a digital short and a sketch in addition to her two musical performances. God, I love her. She’s like Lady Gaga, except way hotter and cooler and able to rap. (So… a black Lady Gaga.)
Highlights of the episode below.
Monologue:
https://www.hulu.com/embed/YC5kRfiZfSoI4hBiAZ2sGw
I could’ve done without the backstage peek with Lorne Michaels, as I think it would have been better if Zuckerberg had just shown up on stage. But it’s a pretty small quibble for the rare monologue that wasn’t a complete waste of time.
The Creep (Digital Short):
https://www.hulu.com/embed/esvXckQPU3tj3tylE5I5yg
I found this to be visually appealing but below the level of humor that Lonely Island can incorporate into their music. Nicki Minaj infuses the video with her raw energy, and I enjoyed the lyric “Get your knees flexin’/And your arms T-Rexin’,” but all in all it was more miss than hit for me.
Bride of Blackenstein:
https://www.hulu.com/embed/siVnwwpY-9L1neiDbE5COw
I think this may have been my favorite sketch of the night (another sketch I enjoyed, in which Eisenberg is a contestant on “Don’t Forget the Lyrics,” isn’t available on Hulu). There’s a lot to like here: Jay Pharoah doing something besides an impression, Jesse Eisenberg’s Igor, Nicki Minaj’s booty, and Bill Hader as the angry villager who I can’t help but identify with. (The introduction with Jason Sudeikis as Robert Osbourne, however, is completely unnecessary.)
(via)
Weekend Update – Tyler Perry:
https://www.hulu.com/embed/27OfiDjmQPdGh7JRbdOM7w
Tyler Perry is a pretty easy target, but this video goes at the top of the page for the Adventureland joke.
And here are the rest of the sketches. You’ll forgive me if I don’t describe my mild amusement or boredom with each one:
Mister Wizard:
https://www.hulu.com/embed/FBaYNodE6uJI-Gf-ZCq0qw
MTV Skins:
https://www.hulu.com/embed/Zw1AA4afJ2fyTVGhfex68g
El Shrinko:
https://www.hulu.com/embed/VLHyjHcFb5dqwm_CmJW25w
Herb Welch:
https://www.hulu.com/embed/UKDvflLKgBSr5RFJeYxiWg
Spa Talk:
