‘SNL’ Season 40 Discussion: Cameron Diaz And Bruno Mars With Mark Ronson

Previously: “Back Home Baller” and Michael Che’s Bill Cosby Joke

Cold Open

Simpsons did it? There was really only one joke here — Kenan falling down a ton of stairs, multiple times — but it was still one of the least painful cold opens this season. Seeing Bobby Monyihan as an “Executive Order” was a treat, and if nothing else, it reminded me of the brilliance of “Amendment to Be.” OH YEAH DOOR’S OPEN, BOYS.

Monologue

Questions from the audience monologues are the laziest monologues, and Cameron Diaz‘s was no exception. It was extra bad, like “not even trying” bad. “Is Shrek really that grumpy in real life?” got a chuckle out of me, but otherwise, the writers seemed to have no idea of what to do with Diaz in the monologue, so she breezed through it as quickly as possible. Good call.

Black Annie

Diaz was picked to host because she plays Miss Hannigan in Annie, which your child will force you to see on December 19th. She reprised the character for “Black Annie,” which I would see on December 19th. No offense, Quvenzhané Wallis. It’s not the best sketch (once you get past the concept, there’s not much there), but Leslie Jones gave it her all and kept the energy from flagging. SNL needs someone who’s an instant shot of adrenaline. That’s what Jones brings.


Nest-Spresso

Vanessa Bayer hasn’t had much to do this season (real-life Miley has outgrown her Miley impression, I guess), but she was a gem this episode, especially in “Nest-Spresso.” Her line readings were bizarrely hilarious, as was her nonchalant response to a baby chick being turned into a cup of bones. I want one for Christmas.

Theatre Show

The volume on my TV went silent during this sketch, which is SO weird because Time Warner is usually SO reliable. Anyway, when I mentioned this on Twitter, a few people responded back that “Theatre Show” actually makes a reference to the cable company. I’M ONTO YOU, BILLION-DOLLAR CORPORATION. I eventually went back and watched it, this time with volume, and was pleasantly assured that, yup, it was just intentionally nonsensical as it looked. Mocking the pretentiousness of experimental theatre (NOT “theater”) is never not funny.

Baby Boss

I haven’t talked much about Diaz’s performance yet, but I thought she was actually…pretty good? Her film career is filled with more misses than hits, and she has the tendency to play her characters broad and over-the-top, but on SNL, she was a seamless, very funny part of the ensemble; she was the star, but Beck Bennett, he’s the baby BOSS.

Dr. Dave and Buggles’ Animal Hour

“Dr. Dave and Buggles’ Animal Hour” reminded me of Brian Fellows, and then I got sad about what happened to Tracy Morgan, so I’m refusing to talk about it, even if I did appreciate an entire sketch based around Kenan’s detached penis. Also, a monkey.

“The Fight”

Every time the camera cut to stock footage of cars exploding while sh*tty metal music played, I laughed. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

Night Murmurs

Would you call a phone sex line if Diaz, Cecily Strong, and Kate McKinnon were on the other line? OK, but what if I told you one of them needs you to meet them in parking lot, where they’ll hand you a mysterious package, while another requires footage of a 20-pound turkey being thrown at their back? Yes, this was most definitely the 10-to-1. A decent enough one, too.

Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, and Mystikal

Cameron Diaz and Mystikal: it would have made sense in 2001. Still makes sense now.

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