SNL -- Saturday Night Live -- Anna Faris / Duffy -- 9/27/08

Tina Fey makes another visit to the show as Sarah Palin. A nice job of capturing the cluelessness of Sarah Palin, and more of what SNL needs to do in terms of political humor. The best part was Sarah Palin's string of non-sequitur talking points. Amy Poehler doesn't sound like Katie Couric, but has her mannerisms down. Best: "Katie, I'd like to use one of my lifelines." Best opening sketch in years.

Monologue -- Anna Faris -- 2

Oh my God, is that Ashley Simpson? And how much has she smoked before the show? These are things you think about when you're not laughing.

Dropping off Friends -- 8

A different premise. Funny sketch as a couple driving home after dropping off their friends lists an increasingly ridiculous reasons why the people would hate them. Nice ending straight out of the Toonces playbook.

John McCain and Barack Obama Debate -- 7

Fred Armisen is terrible as Barack Obama. Darrell Hammond is incredible as John McCain. McCain's suggestion to replace the debates with a pie-eating contest was funny. I also love the instant talking points at the bottom of the screen. Obama's playing the race card suggestion is pretty funny, as was his use of dinner with Scarlett Johanson to deal with Kim Jong Il. Best line from McCain: "Truthfully, at this point I really just don't care anymore."

First Date -- Drug Dealer -- 7

Is it just me or does Anna Faris look like Britney Spears in this sketch. Kenan singing, "I gotta kill this lady" made me spit out my Diet Dr. Pepper. Silly, cute, and funny.

Duffy -- 3

Is she lipsyncing? Do I care? Snooze.

Weekend Update -- 8

Amy is looking better with some baby weight. Bill Clinton's comments on Sarah Palin were funny. Funny WU.

Scores Girls Bailout Plan -- 6

Amusing, but slight

Deep House Dish -- 2

An oldie but still a suckie. I hate this skit.

Slightly Stained Wedding Dress Store -- 4

The end of the show is getting near, isn't it. A sketch about selling wedding dresses that are stained could possibly be funny if it had been fleshed out AT ALL. This one is a time filler. Bad.

Duffy - 2

Is this a novelty act? What the hell is this?

Josh's New Girlfriend -- 5

Josh's new girlfriend can't stop talking about stuff that reminds her of her old boyfriend. Would have been much funnier if Bill Hader had been allowed to do a slow burn of some sort. The giant sausage at the end is a cheap joke, but it did make me laugh.

OVERALL -- 7

The show is getting funnier each week, which is a good thing. The Sarah Palin sketch at the beginning is far funnier than the one that opened the season, and more of the type of political humor SNL should be doing. The problem with SNL this year is that the cast seems a bit stale. Nobody seems to be trying very hard this season, and the performers all seem a bit too comfortable. It would help if a few amusing recurring characters might be created. At least this episode we were spared stupid talk show parodies (with the exception of Deep House Dish).