The “More Cowbell” sketch is definitely one of the classics in SNL history by this point. From Christopher Walken’s boastful performance as THE Bruce Dickinson to Will Ferrell’s exploration of the space with the cowbell, the sketch has all the elements working for it. This includes a breaking Jimmy Fallon for good measure, helping to push this over the cliff into legendary territory. The idea of anybody trying to update the sketch or do it on their own is hard to grasp, but Gad Elmaleh did just that on the French version of SNL.
Elmaleh stopped by Conan on Wednesday and shared a clip of their version of the sketch. The differences are pretty clear from the very start — even more so when you watch the full version from Le Saturday Night Live — and some of the comedy is lost in translation. But otherwise, it is the “Cowbell” sketch. It’s got the basic idea, the same moments, and a version of the same roles from the original. It just seems off.
I think the main thing it is missing is the key performances that made the original a great addition to the show’s history. Every part of the cast in the original sketch plays that part, while here the load seems to be on Elmaleh to carry the entire sketch. The folks who watched it in France might feel differently, but it’s so odd to watch from the outside. The wigs, the big audience, the fact that French Saturday Night Live airs on Friday night. It’s all just very odd.
https://www.hulu.com/watch/536145
