SNL -- Saturday Night Live -- 4/10/10 -- Tina Fey with Musical Guest Justin Bieber

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OPENING -- MESSAGE FROM BARACK OBAMA ABOUT THE CENSUS -- 2

Good to see that Fred Armisen spent his lengthy time off learning how to make his Barack Obama impersonation worse. The sketch involves the premise that the Census is too intrusive, as Obama points out many questions about sex, your bank, your ATM PIN, and if anyone in your house has criticized Obama. The premise might be funny if someone other than Obama was giving the talk. It's unclear if this is a toothless jab at those who ridicule the census or merely an attempt to play on those fears for a laugh. I can't help but think another person besides Armisen's Obama could have made this funny.

MONOLOGUE -- TINA FEY -- 5

Tina Fey devotes her monologue to the "village" that helps her juggle her busy career, including her tax lawyer Steve Martin, Justin Bieber, Chaka Khan, and more. Probably seemed funnier on the drawing board.

DUNCAN HINES BROWNIE HUSBAND -- 8

Brownie Husband is a life-size microwave brownie for single women, "with or without nuts." Disturbing and very funny.

MASTERS COVERAGE -- 8

Ashlyn St. Cloud (Tina Fey) shows up with Jim Nantz to do commentary about Tiger Woods at the Masters. She makes some funny comments about why golf is not a sport. The Tiger Woods Nike Spoof is priceless.

SARAH PALIN NETWORK -- 10

Sarah introduces her network, which includes movies like "My Daughter Only Sprained Her Ankle, You Can't Seriously Be Considering Euthanizing Her?", game shows like "Are You Smarter Than A Half-Term Governor", and a cop show with "Todd". A wonderful roasting of everyone's favorite idiot politician, Sarah Palin.

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FANTASY --6

Tina Fey plays a high school teacher, with Justin Bieber as a student that she loves.... a bit too much. She imagines Bieber singing to her romantically about things that women her age do. It's funny to watch Tina Fey dance and hear her voice over asides, but watching the baby-faced Bieber in this sketch is disturbing. Amusing ending, though.

JUSTIN BIEBER -- BABY -- 2

A ridiculously inane tune that plays on every teen pop cliche for 50 years coupled with more people in the background than the Rolling Stones have toured with in their entire career. It's catchy, but so is MRSA.

WEEKEND UPDATE -- 6

Guests tonight include the Devil (played by Jason Sudekis) who feels bummed out by the Catholic Sex Scandal. Aunt Linda shows up to do her movie reviews in another painful bit from Kristen Wiig. Tina Fey shows up to do Women's News and in the middle of a very funny bit, gives this priceless line about Jesse James' Mistress Bombshell McGee: "When your body looks like a dirtbag's binder from 7th grade metalshop, it doesn't bode well for your character."

Funny lines: (Regarding Alan Greenspan saying he was wrong 30% of the time) "We need the Fed to be on the pill, and you ran it on the rhythm method."

AL ROKER'S RUFF RUGGED AND ROKER -- 7

Kenan plays Al Roker in a nightclub talkshow. Tina plays Dina Lohan, promoting her chest freckle balm, "Checkles". Kenan is very funny as he switches from smooth dude Roker to goofy weather guy Roker at the drop of a hat.

SCHOOL DANCE -- 2

Nasim Pedrad plays a geeky girl at a school dance with her mom, played by Tina Fey. The whole joke is that the girl is adult beyond her years. Not funny.

JUSTIN BEIBER -- U SMILE -- 3

A nice piano plays through another catchy but mindless kid pop tune, complete with high school level choreography. Snore.

THE 9 INCH WHORE -- 7

Tina Fey plays a 9 inch prostitute at a bar, talking about her tough life as a tiny hooker saving up for a trip to France. Oddly amusing but end of night filler.

OVERALL -- 7

Tina Fey's talent outshone a lot of mediocre writing tonight, with particular standouts in the Sarah Palin Network and Weekend Update bits. Somewhat disappointing for her return, but better than many other funny people have fared this season.

Published by Crutnacker

Freelance writer and business professional from Louisville, Kentucky. Husband, father of one beautiful daughter and three annoying cats. Lived in Maryland, Boston, MA, and Louisville, KY.  View profile

1 Comments

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  • Saul Relative4/11/2010

    great review...

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