SNL -- Saturday Night Live -- 3/13/10 -- Jude Law and Pearl Jam -- Sketch by Sketch Review

Bobby Moynahan plays Greg Massa, explaining the crazy tickle fights he had while in Congress as simply what "guys do". The sketch is crude, perhaps crosses the line, but shows the problem with SNL's political humor. It's broad and never biting, going for the simple and crude joke instead of surprising or providing insight. Not a horrible opening, and better than another C-SPAN opening.

MONOLOGUE -- JUDE LAW

Jude Law has been on SNL before? Law talks about what goes on when he performs Hamlet, which is amusing but not laugh out loud funny.

FORD COMMERCIAL -- 9

Abby Elliott and Kenan Thompson play nature lovers driving a Prius..... to their doom. Cut to the tagline, "Ford.... We make hybrids too." Funny.

SECRET WORD -- 8

This fictional game show from 1967, hosted by Bill Hader features Jude Law as a ballet star with a tremendous bulge in his pants (Joke stolen from Top Secret) and Kristen Wiig plays a Broadway star. Wiig keeps giving away the Secret Word, and Law can't give good clues because he's Russian and doesn't understand the culture of this country. Funny because the jokes are not one note like so many game show sketches.

BROADVIEW SECURITY -- 8

A funny commercial that plays on the overblown fears that women have of having their home broken into. Nasim Pedrad's scream alone is hysterical.

SPANISH RESTAURANT -- 7

Jude Law is a Spaniard who meets women, takes them to his place, makes love, and then "keel's them." Abby Elliott is intrigued, Nasim Pedrad is scared. Law is really funny as the demented lover/killer.

SNL DIGITAL SHORT -- BOOMBOX -- 6

Another Lonely Island R&B song about a powerful boom box. Joyfully goofy until the part about old people having sex because of the power of boom box, which results in imagery that makes me want to call the FCC. A lesser Lonely Island effort.

PEARL JAM -- JUST BREATHE -- 8

A pretty, tuneful song. I just wish Eddie Vedder would mumble a lot less.

WEEKEND UPDATE -- 8

The writers woke up this week with many funny jokes based on the news and Seth does a pretty good job of delivering them.

Kenan Thompson does a funny turn as Whoopi Goldberg explaining why she made a bladder control product commercial. Jerry Seinfeld shows up to do a great segment of "Really!" with Seth about Greg Massa that is almost as funny as when Amy Pohler is there to do it.

Funny Lines:

"Harry Smith had a colonoscopy live on air on the CBS Daily Show. So I hope you remembered to set your TIVO..... on fire."

"This Tuesday, Andrew Lloyd Webber's sequel to Phantom of the Opera called Love Never Dies opened in London. It picks up right where the first one left off, with your aunt shaking you awake and telling you, 'It's over!'"

TWILIGHT ZONE -- 9

Jude Law plays the William Shatner character who sees a creature, played by Bobby Moynahan, on the wing. Each time he looks out the creature is doing goofy things like walking on a stairmaster, grilling salmon, and more. A very funny cameo pushes the sketch over the top and makes up for a lame ending.

JUDE LAW'S HAMLET AUDITION -- 5

Bill Hader's Al Pacino shows up at the same time to audition for Hamlet at the same time as Nathan Lane (played by Bobby Moynihan), Nicholas Cage (played by Andy Samberg), and Jason Sudeikis' Sam Elliott. Would be much funnier if the impressions were better. Only Samberg has his down tonight.

KICKSPIT UNDERGROUND ROCK FESTIVAL -- 9

Repeat of a very funny commercial from earlier in the season.

UNTHOUGHT KNOWN -- 7

Never been a huge Pearl Jam fan, but tonight they've demonstrated a more thoughtful and tuneful side that makes me wonder if I shouldn't check out that new album.

CRAZY COURT REPORTER -- 1

Fred Armisen plays an annoying court reporter with a distracting typewriter. Fred Armisen proves once again that he's outstayed his welcome at SNL, bringing not a laugh to this bit built around his character. One of the worst sketches this year.

TALK SHOW WITH RAVISH -- 3

Nasim Pedrad plays an Indian child being forced to be a talk show host by his father. Jude Law plays himself, only showing up to get a discount on a rug. The sketch is mostly a study in stereotypes without much humor. Pure end of night filler.

OVERALL -- 7

Jude Law proves to be far more amusing than one would imagine from his acting roles. The show sputters to an ending, but there were some very funny bits along the way.