Chris Rock was the host of Saturday Night Live and, as a returning alum, his appearance was highly anticipated. Did he deliver an iconic monologue and memorable skits this time around? Those are always the questions. Check out video highlights and see what the television critics have to say.
As always when a SNL alum returns there is much fanfare. When it’s an alum of the stature of Chris Rock — to say nothing of a music legend such as Prince as the musical guest — the fanfare is inestimable.
Returning for the first time to host since 1996, Chris Rock set the tone with a blazing, take-no-prisoners approach to the opening monologue. It was not softened with cameos or with sentimental reminiscing about his days long gone. No, Chris Rock took the studio audience and the television viewers. Joking about the 9-11 terrorism attacks and the Boston Marathon bombing would seem to be beyond the proverbial pale. But that is the purview and indeed the duty of comedians to take us there. Was Chris Rock successful in this venture? That’s being intensely debated online in social media as well as major media.
In that sense, mission accomplished. It was not just another Saturday Night Live.
There were the usual skits. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s controversial attempt to quarantine Ebola nurse Kaci Hickox was there for the taking. And of course, there was the expected mocking of the upcoming midterm elections — an easy target, after all — and even the terrorist group ISIS got its own skit. Just imagine ISIS going before the sharks of ‘Shark Tank’ to pitch their latest venture. Well, thanks to SNL we don’t have to imagine that.
But arguably the high point of the night was Prince’s epic eight-minute long set of songs from his two new albums. It was his third time on the show and this time, with 3RDEYEGIRL and singer Lianne LaHavas there was no debate or dispute; it was a memorable performance from a music legend.
But what did the critics think of Chris Rock’s comedic risks and the episode overall? Here’s a roundup of what some have been saying.
“… What’s fascinating here is how long it takes for the crowd to warm up to Rock’s charged routine about terrorism and marathons. It’s also fascinating that Rock thought this was material suited for this audience. Only when he starts laying into The Freedom Tower does the crowd finally come alive. There’s almost a palpable relief that he says something about the IRS versus the horror of human suffering. [...]
“This was an oddly paced episode that had some serious tonal issues and a lot of flubbed lines. Very little about this week’s episode seemed fun, with those onstage rarely seeming comfortable onstage…” — Hitfix
“…No surprise here: Rock’s monologue consisted of his stand-up material. He started off by riffing on the absurdity of running a marathon, and he just got stronger from there. He made a point about how he would never enter NYC’s Freedom Tower, saying: “I don’t care if Scarlett Johansson is buck naked on the 89th floor in a plate of ribs.” And he hilariously mocked the commercialization of Christmas by pointing out that Jesus wasn’t a fan a materialism. “No bling on Jesus,” he said. After a forgettable cold open, things are looking up…..” Hollywood Reporter
“….Unfortunately, Rock’s hosting gig only showcased the fact that he’s really not suited for sketch comedy, as he blew a shocking number of lines (he had company), and never stepped enough out of himself to inhabit any of the characters he was given.
His monologue was the highlight, naturally—a sharp set where Rock’s signature willingness to broach difficult topics (in this case: terrorism, the “arrogance” of Freedom Tower, the hypocrisy of commercializing the birth of Jesus, and Internet trolls) with a confident delivery that finds fresh insight into each topic. You could hear the audience refuse to follow him down certain paths, only to finally succumb under the sheer force of his personality and comedy logic. Yes, he’s that good. …..” — AV Club
“…Comedy may be tragedy plus time, as the old saying goes — but you’d better be mighty sure your punch lines are on point if you’re going to try to mine laughs from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, fear of repeat terrorist attacks at One World Trade Center, the current Ebola outbreak and the growing threat of ISIS.
“That was a hard-learned lesson during this week’s Saturday Night Live, which found host Chris Rock sputtering through a mostly dismal monologue and several bleak sketches — none of which rose to the heights of last week’s frothy, funny Jim Carrey installment. (At least we had Prince as a musical guest, though, right?)…..” — TV Line
See the video highlights below from last night’s show below!
Pictures: PR Photos
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/b8Jgg2bOGTM/
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