Sarah Silverman returned to host Saturday Night Live 20 years after being fired as a cast member, As usual, she drew attention and discussion not least for her portrayal of Joan Rivers in heaven conducting a roast of fellow departed celebrities. Check out a roundup of reviews and see video highlights of the show.
Yes, Sarah Silverman was back on old stomping grounds where she was among the SNL cast in Studio 8H for a mere 18 episodes. But 20 years is a long time; it is a generation ago. Back on stage she opened with a triumphant monologue, referring to herself as a “blue comedian” and noting that at the dress rehearsal the show had to censor her jokes. From there on, she gave a monologue that had that extra edginess — what would she do on live television, and would the censors catch it in time?
Her monologue was proceeded by the politically-themed cold open spoofing President Obama’s 60 Minutes interview with Steve Kroft. Jay Pharaoh was a rather daffy Commander in Chief who seemed to think that he was tracking the terrorist by their apparent social media activity as a send-up of the President’s much criticized strategy on ISIS, or more accurately, lack of same.
But all eyes and interest continued to be on Sarah Silverman who gave a starting portrayal of Joan Rivers in heaven doing in that realm what she did best in this one. Quite a range of celebrities and historical figures were skewered from Richard Prior to Benjamin Franklin. It seemed to leave the studio audience uncomfortable. But success or failure of the skit is a matter of opinion and we can probably surmise that Joan Rivers herself would have approved, and it certainly was in keeping with her funeral — after all was it not Howard Stern who delivered the eulogy?!
Musical guests were Maroon 5 who, of course, have a famous frontman in Adam Levine, People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive as well as a coach on one of the NBC network’s prized shows, ‘The Voice.’ So naturally he figured into some of skit, notably as Freddie Mercury in the aforementioned Joan Rivers’ skit.
So how did it all shake out? Here’s a roundup of what some have had to say of her return to SNL.
“…We’ve seen plenty of audience interaction, but this is a fresh take, and plays entirely into Silverman’s comedic strengths. (The one time the monologue does the “usual” take of audience Q&A, it’s Silverman talking to her younger self on the show.) The rest of the show might not solve Silverman’s style, but this did. I can already see this monologue splitting people online in a divisive manner….” — Hitfix
“…Endings have never been SNL’s strong suit, but this young season continues to allow sketches to dribble out on anticlimax and uneasy, puzzled laughter. That, coupled with Silverman’s repeated flubbed lines on a sketch clearly meant to be a centerpiece sunk the “Joan Rivers roast in heaven” to the bottom this week. Jay Pharoah’s Richard Pryor, like so many of his impressions, was technically excellent and underwritten, although Bobby Moynihan’s bewildered but delighted Ben Franklin almost rescued it. …” — The AV Club
“….Silverman was never better or more natural than during her monologue. First, she plopped herself down into an audience member’s lap and stayed there for an uncomfortably long amount of time, revealing that she wants to get her “hair shampooed like a little child or a princess or a quadriplegic.” Then, she hilariously fielded absurd questions that her 20-years-ago self had asked to celebrity guests on the show. Nothing brings back the ’90s more than the query, “Are you going to be doing any solo albums now that you’ve left Wilson Phillips?”…..” — The Hollywood Reporter
“…Like the season premiere, the episode wasn’t perfect but Silverman helped give the show a certain quality that made it enjoyable. Some of the sketches fell flat — including the final sketch of the night — but there was still plenty to love about the episode……” — FanSided
See the video highlights below from last night’s show below.
Cold open
Sarah Silverman’s Monologue
The Fault In Our Stars 2: The Ebola In Our Everything
Joan Rivers in Heaven
Weekend update
Sarah Silverman – surprise proposal with Adam Levine
Pictures: PR Photos
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/6XyGMBGqBbY/
No comments:
Post a Comment