SNL -- Saturday Night Live -- Jon Hamm / Coldplay -- 10/25/08 -- Sketch by Sketch Review

Jason Sudekis' impersonation of Joe Biden still needs a little work. The premise, having Biden going down a list of what crisis might befall Obama while Murtha talks about the racists in PA, seems like it should be funnier. I'm not sure if the timing if off, or maybe there just isn't enough familiarity with Biden and/or Sukedis' impersonation with him for the skit to connect. I am not laughing, though.

Monologue -- Jon Hamm -- 6

Funny commentary on how Hamm's show, Mad Men doesn't get enough viewers and the reasons why we should be watching, including the fact that Obama and McCain will be smoking weed on it. Is it just me or have the monologues been an afterthought this year.

Halloween -- Sex Offender -- 4

I'm not sure if I would find the premise funny on a different night, but a sex offender trick or treating seems more like a cheap attempt at edgy humor handled poorly.

Digital Short -- Some Rastafarian Crap with the talent deprived Andy Samberg -- 1

This stream of consciousness crap from Andy Samberg is so horrible that a large chunk of the population finds it funny. It doesn't bode well for the rest of the show that something this bad is on this early.

Mad Men Meet the A-holes or Two A-Holes in an Ad agency in the 1960s -- 4

Someone explain to me why the show does so few parodies. The Mad Men cameos were funy. It's good to FINALLY see the two a-holes, but the jokes are a bit lame. Wiig's A-hole Marilyn Monroe impersonation was funny. The rest wasted the entire premise. Sad.

Barack and Michelle Obama Message -- Obama Variety Hour -- 7

Fred Armisen's voice is not deep enough and his cadences are nowhere near Obama's. The new lyrics to Ashford and Simpson's Solid (As a Barack) were funny. Wiig's Nancy Pelosi is pretty darn good.

Don Draper's Guide to Picking Up Women -- 7

Funny, but only if you've watched Ad Men.

Coldplay -- 7

What's up with the sound mix that everybody sounds like they're lipsyncing? Coldplay leaves me cold.

Weekend Update -- 6

Amy Poehler had her baby today, so Seth is on his own. Robocall (a robot that does the robocalls for the Republican party) was inspired, especially his drowning his sorrows in oil and saying, "Next week, Robocall supposed to tell black people election cancelled." Seth seems to be more on his game without Amy there. Bill Hader's Ralph Nader seems like a ridiculous time filler. And do we really need another appearance by the increasingly unfunny Fred Armisen doing his never funny "political comedian" bit? The song for Amy Poehler was very sweet.

Best line:

(Regarding Sarah Palin taking her kids everywhere on Alaska's dime) "In fairness to Governor Palin, when she leaves them home alone, they get pregnant."

Vincent Price Halloween Special -- 8

Vincent Price? REALLY? This wouldn't have been fresh on a Carol Burnett episode. The impersonations and sketch is funny to this 37 year old, but how many people out there actually get this? Jon Hamm's James Mason is hysterical. Armisen's Liberace is not. Oddly enough, the sketch has the sharpest writing and performances tonight. I laughed.

Jon Hamm's John Ham -- 10

Sure it is a crude joke, but watching Jon Hamm eat ham from a roll of ham on a toilet tissue dispenser was pretty funny. Classic commercial.

Coldplay -- 5

I now know what Dr. House would look like having a seizure. Yawn.

Pat Finger in Butts -- 4

Lorne Michaels hates funny name jokes supposedly. I guess that isn't the case anymore. Would have been funnier had they not telegraphed it.

Coldplay -- 7

A more enjoyable ripoff of U2.

Overall -- 5

Tonight's episode appears to have been very off. Perhaps a lot of Amy Poehler's sketches had to be dropped today because she had her baby. Or maybe they're tired from going non stop since the season premiere. Jon Hamm was fine. The writing and sketches were not. Let's hope they do better for Ben Afleck next week.