SNL -- Saturday Night Live -- Ryan Phillipe & Ke$ha -- Sketch by Sketch Review -- April 17, 2010

Fred Armisen does his level best to not improve on his Obama impersonation with his Larry King, which consists of him wearing a Larry King costume. Kristen Wiig shows up in a 12 years too late Bjork impersonation. Bill Hader does an amusing take on the perpetually happy Richard Branson. There are some amusing digs at Larry King's age and divorce, however, that keep the sketch from being a total loss.

RYAN PHILLIPE MONOLOGUE -- 5

Ryan Phillipe is in the MacGruber movie, which gives other SNL characters a chance to ask him if there is a chance they can do a movie. Kristen Wiig shows up as Target Lady, Andy Samberg shows up as the ___ in a box guy. Kenan Thompson shows up as the What's Up With That Host. Obviously the writers couldn't think of anything. Mildly amusing.

BROADVIEW SECURITY -- 7

A funny dig at the paranoia security companies play on, but this commercial's already aired on SNL.

ESPN TODAY SPONGE WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS -- 2

SNL is going to coast tonight, it appears, as they bring back the ESPN Classic Competition between lesbian women sponsored by an embarassing sponsor skit once again. The good humor of the original has worn thin in lame sex jokes.

HIP HOP KIDZ -- 7

Several of the cast and Ryan Phillipe play a bunch of kids in 80s/90s Hip Hop attire who are trapped in a bear cave. Andy Samberg is funny as the only one with common sense, and their desire to face off with a bear by doing a dance off. Funny.

DIGITAL SHORT -- NOW IS NOT A GOOD TIME -- 8

Ryan Fillipe plays a guy who tries to reconcile with his girlfriend but finds out that she is seeing another man, then finds out everyone in his life has a disturbing secret. Funny.

MORT MORT FEINGOLD -- ACCOUNTANT FOR THE STARS -- 7

Andy Samberg plays a wacky accountant who takes care of Tyler Perry, John Edwards, and Shaun White. Starts off not so good, but gets funny with Jason Sudekis as Mel Gibson and Bobby Moynihan as Susan Boyle.

SHAKE WEIGHT COMMERCIAL DVD -- 8

Bill Hader plays a spokesman for a full length DVD of the Shake Weight ad, playing off the fact that the commercial is a bit....... suggestive. Bill's marketing a DVD so that guys can enjoy the commercial in the privacy of their own homes whenever they want.

KE$HA -- TIK TOK -- 7

White rapping chick party music. Not great music, but the performance is catchy, and fun.

WEEKEND UPDATE -- 7

A better than average Weekend Update this week. Bill Hader shows up with his awesome James Carville impersonation. Will Forte shows up as Father Swimcoach Scoutmaster, playing on recent stories about swim coaches, scout masters, and priests molesting children, which isn't slightly amusing. Bobby Moynihan shows up playing the most awesome idea I've seen on WU in awhile, second hand news guy, who represents every conspiracy nut and misinformed jerk you work with.

Regarding Mike Huckabee's statement that gay people should not adopt because children are not like puppies: "(This) tells me that Huckabee has no idea how awesomely gay dudes treat their puppies."

Ragarding a guy who started a dead cockroach museum: "Just because you call it a museum inside your head doesn't mean you're not just a crazy son of a bitch with a glue gun."

FOUR GUYS SINGING AND SHARING -- 8

Another recurring sketch in which four guys share the totally inappropriate stories that stem from the song they're listening to, in this case, Matchbox 20's Breakfast at Tiffany's. Bill Hader's story about beating the crap out of his wife's lover is funny, as is Will Forte's description of his Chinese dinner. The end is quite amusing.

TEEN TALK -- 7

And yet another recurring sketch with Fred Armisen playing the insensitive producer of a Teen Talk show who is filling in for the psychologist host. Funny stuff as he has no clue how poorly he's treating the kids in front of him.

KE$HA -- YOUR LOVE IS MY DRUG -- 7

A visually cool dayglow performance of a disposable catchy pop song.

I GOT THIS -- 7

Three guys play in a game show where the object is to be the one who most forcefully asks for the check for a meal. A slight, end of the night sketch that still manages some laughs.

UNDERGROUND ROCK MINUTE -- 9

Thrilla Killa Klownz (Ryan Phillipe and Bobby Moynihan sing a song of truly clueless mysteries they ponder that looks like another digital short for tonight. Funniest skit for Ryan tonight.

OVERALL -- 7

While there are no real standouts among sketches, this episode was more consistently funny than many have been this season. Ryan Phillipe wasn't given much opportunity in this episode, but didn't suck in the sketches he was in.