Saturday Night Live -- SNL -- Jon Hamm and Rhianna -- 10/30/10 -- a Review

Jason Sudeikis as Biden says life isn't that bad because, unlike the Chilean miners, we aren't below ground, and those guys came out praising their President. Sudeikis' Biden sounds nothing like him, but at least he's developed a persona to go with it. Unfortunately, this is another barely written political opener that goes nowhere. Yawn.

Monologue -- Jon Hamm -- 6

Hamm says his experience with Mad Men has turned him into a slogan mastermind. He takes subjects from the audience and turns them into slogans. Mildly amusing.

SNL Digital Short -- 8

Rhianna stars in Ronnie and Clyde with Andy Samberg as Shy Ronnie and Rhianna as Clyde, two bank robbers. Rhianna narrates in song, and as she throws the song back to Shy Ronnie he mumbles his words, forcing Rhianna to chide him in the song. First true laughs of the night.

Vincent Price's Halloween Special -- 8

Bill Hader returns with his Vincent Price variety special, a sketch that's very funny to those of us over 35 who actually get the references.. Jon Hamm turns in an amusing impersonation of JFK, and Fred Armisen does a very funny Liberace who turns everything into a double entendre. Kristen Wiig does a passable Judy Garland, but it's laced with too much of her standard frantic chick character. The end of the sketch, where the "feel the creepy body parts" game gets out of hand, definitely pushes the limits of network TV, but is very funny.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Screen Tests -- 8

Jay Pharoah turns in a great impersonation of Eddie Murphy, Kristen Wiig does a great Jennifer Tilly, Bill Hader does his Al Pacino, Bobby Moynihan does an awesome impersonation of Sam Kinison, and Jon Hamm hits Robin Williams out of the park. They've done this before, but it works.

Casting Call -- 3

Kristen Wiig plays an actress who is willing to pretty much do anything to get a part, including doing all sorts of nudity and disgusting acts. Some of it is funny, mostly all of it is crude. Jon Hamm plays her husband, who is more over the top than the wife is. Not very funny.

Back to the Future 25th Anniversary Screen Tests -- 8

This time we get Andy Samberg's Nicholas Cage, Bill Hader's incredible Alan Alda, Fred Armisen's Prince, Keenan Thompson's Cosby, and more.

Rhianna -- What's My Name -- 6

Pleasant but forgettable pop song.

Weekend Update -- 3

This week's commentary comes from Bill Hader as a funny James Carville talking about the potential outcome of the upcoming election. Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig show up to do their god awful Garth and Kat, which goes on forever and kills the good will that came from Seth's funny jokes during the segment.

Funny Lines: Regarding Charlie Sheen's trashing of a hotel room: "Well Jon Cryer, I think you can go ahead and book that vacation."

Regarding Charlie Sheen's $7,000 in damage to a hotel room: "$7000? He must have taken the cashews out of the minibar."

I Didn't Ask For This -- 5

Bobby Moynihan plays a host of people who have embarrassing videos of themselves posted on the Internet. The sight of him punching out a computer monitor where he's just been subjected to the Exorcist scare prank is priceless. Unfortunately, the other two victims of embarrassing videos, played by Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm are not as funny. Shame. This could possibly have hit one out of the park.

Highway Cops -- 1

Jon Hamm and Jason Sudeikis play a 70's cop duo and Keenan Thompson plays their boss. They ride off on police calls but keep getting sidetracked, as does the comedy in the skit. Throw in a payoff that was telegraphed from the very beginning and you get one for the crap pile. Absolutely terrible.

Darlique and Barney -- 3

Jon Hamm and Kristen Wiig do a long standing SNL tradition, the singing duo, which we haven't seen since...... oh, Weekend Update. And this is just as bad as Garth and Kat.

Rhianna -- Only Girl -- 7

Slightly better dance pop here, but it appears to be completely lipsynced.

Greetings from American America -- Dog In Purse with David Spade -- 2

David Spade plays an animated dog in a purse at a Hollywood Party. Makes me wonder what happened to the 1000 times funnier Saturday TV Funhouse. Spade seems bored, the animation is bland, the bit goes nowhere.

Overall -- 4

Jon Hamm is very funny and was completely wasted by the writers tonight. Two singing duo sketches, some pointless sketches that seem like some improv exercise gone wrong, and a flat tone from start to finish make this episode one for the recycle bin. Thank goodness there is not a new episode next week. They need a break.