SNL -- Saturday Night Live -- James Franco & Kings of Leon -- 9/20/08

Another funny opening, with John McCain's campaign spots featuring attacks on Obama's Universal Healthcare truly being healthcare for the whole universe, and providing a link between Obama and Charles Barkley. An article in the Huffington Post last week pointed out that SNL's political humor is rather toothless, and this sketch doesn't prove that argument wrong. Darrell Hammond has McCain's voice down cold, but needs to work on his facial mannerisms.

Monologue -- James Franco -- 3

While it was slightly amusing to think of James Franco having an RA, the joke of the RA's girlfriend being stolen by Franco was telegraphed from sometime last year.

The Cougar Den -- 4

Oh boy, this is the first real sketch of the night? Note to Lorne Michaels: after more than a decade of variations on the "goofy/annoying chick with an annoying voice does a talk show spoofing absolutely nothing that exists" can we put this crap to sleep? And is Kenan Thompson penciled into every sketch as "behind the scenes guy" or "clueless/snapish sidekick?" Where the hell did Cameron Diaz come from? The jokes about a broken spider vein looking like an ankle tattoo and "you have an Eddie Money sound" did make me laugh though.

Agent 420 --5

A pothead superagent? The pseudo Bond opening was amusing in this sketch. James Franco sells the sketch well, with his laugh at Dr. Huang's name, but they have no clue how to end the sketch after setting fire to Agent 420's stash. This was a premise in search of a script. Lame.

OJ Simpson Jurors -- 7

Ever wonder how they managed to seat a jury for OJ that didn't know anything about his past? Now you know. The people who all claim to not know anything about OJ Simpson are all crazy, brain damaged, or from other planets. Funniest sketch this season so far. But then it just ends. Sad.

Murray Hill -- Digital Short -- 7

Nicely shot takeoff of the average network drama. James Franco looks a bit like Tom Berenger as he talks about his "small ding-dong". The ending was amusing.

The Looker -- 5

Okay, this is one sketch where they should have just stopped with Fred Armisen's image playing Penny Marshall in this alleged TNT original show. That shot alone made me laugh. Too bad what followed didn't.

Kings of Leon -- First Performance --5

Not a bad song. Not a great song. But I'm getting too old for anything but catchy crap, I think.

Weekend Update -- 8

Weekend Update desperately needs to find someone who can devote his/her full attention to Weekend Update. Seth Myers and Amy do not have the timing or attitude to sell these jokes. I did love the joke about the financial collapse of several companies this week that said, "basically, if your commercials aired during golf tournaments, you're done." The jokes are much sharper than last week though.

New York Times -- Sarah Palin -- 6

I'm guessing the point of this piece is that the NYT reporters are isolated from much of the rest of the country, as its staff is prepared for a trip to Alaska. Not excrutiating, but not great. The end was funny though.

Of Mice and Men -- Lost Ending -- 8

The idea of Lenny suddenly realizing he was acting like an idiot and smartening up is pretty damn funny.

Yankee Stadium Stories -- 8

Great Scorsese from Armisen. Cute.

Kings of Leon -- Second Song -- 5

Yawn. Sounds like a U2 reject.

James Franco meets Willem Dafoe -- 7

Great impression by Bill Hader, and I have to admit the idea of killing Andy Samberg was funny. The sketch would have been funnier if, when Dafoe was hit, he revealed to James Franco that he was actually Bill Hader and he REALLY hated Samberg. Oh well.

OVERALL -- 6

The show was certainly funny in spots, but still seemed lazy. Franco wasn't given that much to do, and there wasn't much inspiration. It's a sin that, given the week we've had in news, with the downfall of Wall Street and the crazy campaign, the show isn't doing more topical stuff.