‘SNL’ Season 40 Discussion: Jim Carrey And Iggy Azalea

Previously: “Matthew McConaughey’s Lincoln Commercials” and “Jim Carrey Family Reunion”

Cold Open

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Reverend Al comes to save the day. A cold open concerning Obama’s Ebola Czar Ron Klain, who has no actual medical training, gets a shot of Sharpton, and goes from bland press conference jokes to “Ebola Caesar” and sewer monsters. A perfectly inoffensive way to start the episode.

Monologue

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Then there’s Jim Carrey’s monologue. This seems hard to believe but he’s 52 years old (it’s been 20 years since he became one of the most famous comedians in the world), and while he’s still more energetic than most people half his age, Carrey’s is less able to elevate unworthy material with is manic, fascinating stage presence. Maybe in his In Loving Color days, “Helvis” could have been something (although probably not, considering half the song’s about peanut butter and banana sandwiches), but in 2014, everyone’s waiting for it to be over, including, it looks like, Carrey himself.

Graveyard Song

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Well, it’s been about eight hours since this sketch first aired, and I still have “Paul and Phil” stuck in my head. Beside the catchiness of the two ghosts’ theme music, “Graveyard Song” mercifully doesn’t overstay its welcome: it’s here and gone in under four minutes, which is the right amount of time for a one-joke premise. Also helping is Carrey and Taran Killam’s appealing comedic chemistry. You really end up believing one would kill himself after the other chases a butterfly off a cliff.


Weekend Update: Daisy Rose

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“Stop reading the cue cards out there, and start reading the cue cards…in here.” Maybe Manhattan Love Story would have lasted longer if it starred Michael Che and Vanessa Bayer.

Weekend Update: Drunk Uncle

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Drunk Uncle rolling from Michael Che to Colin Jost was one of my favorite moments of the episode, if not the entire season (although seeing Bobby Moynihan and Che whip racist insults back and forth would have been spectacular). Choice quotes include, “More like Whoreaween,” “If you can watch the NFL anywhere, why can’t I watch it on the toilet, LINDA?” and, “Yeah, I got trapped in a corn maze…excuse me, I’m sorry, Native American maze.” Never change, Drunk Uncle.

Ghosts: Fact or Fiction

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“Welcome to the cast, Leslie Jones. Now go play a resident skeptic in a reality show spoof that isn’t very good, but your energy keeps it from being a total dud.”

Zombie Attack

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“This is just straight-up stupid.” You said it, Kenan. The next time I want to complain about The Walking Dead, I’ll think about this painful sketch and be glad that Michonne never tried to pass off her zombies as victims of ADHD. Pete Davidson murdering Carrey was a relief. Also, the uptempo “Halloween Party,” which has Carrey and Kate McKinnon in a skintight dance-off to Sia’s “Chandelier” (Kate easily wins), is worth a watch, even if it’s a direct descendent of “Black Swan.” But it’s not available as an embed, so you’ll have to check it out here. Props to Todd’s butt/vagina costume.

Geoff’s Halloween Emporium

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Cecily Strong and Vanessa Bayer basically play their porn star characters, except instead of getting banged to death, they’re working for Geoff at his Halloween Emporium. He’s a good boss who just wants to hawk his line of Sexy Hunger Games costumes, and oh yeah, he’s also possessed by a demon from Hell. A bloody vomit-filled ending to a weird, mostly forgettable episode.

“Fancy” by Iggy Azalea

Iggy in SNL sketches > Iggy lip-syncing

…than