[7.3/10] So far this season has had a lot of episodes that were either pretty great of pretty awful.This is the first one that was just a solid, unspectacular, but largely enjoyable episode.
A lot of that comes from an outing where they spent a surprising amount of time just letting James Franco play James Franco. (It’s a part he knows how to play!) The opening monologue was pretty funny with all his comedy friends (including Steve Martin!) ragging on him and shrugging off the fact that he’s hosting the show. Similarly, I enjoyed the pre-taped bit with Cecily Strong where Franco plays a homeless guy in a standard Manic Pixie Dream Guy situation, only to reveal that the homeless guy is actually James Franco researching a part. It’s an appropriately loony left turn that goes entertainingly meta. And the weird but effective final sketch, featuring James talking to an oddball cousin who hit a bullseye and is wondering if James needs help was superb in the same vein. The reversal of this weirdo relative chronicling James’s missteps, only to have Dave Franco show up as a capper, was a good bit.
Otherwise, my favorite sketch of the night was the most delightfully out there and physical of them, where Franco plays a giftwrapper who accidentally cuts himself and ends up shooting out a torrent of Tarantino-esque blood all over everyone and everything. It lent an unpredictable air to the proceedings that was enjoyable, and found increasingly absurd heights as the show went on.
The political material was pretty tepid this week. The opener, with Santa hosting a series of politically-minded kids, was a decent enough premise, but felt like standard snark in a yuletide package. Similarly, Weekend Update wasn’t especially strong this week, though Cecily Strong’s Kathy Ann is always a welcome presence. Che’s pre-taped segment as a “Liberal White Girl Named Gretchen” felt like it was reaching for a punchline and never quite got there, though the absurdity of Che’s lack of makeup led to some fun gags, even if the segment wasn’t as incisive as it set itself up for.
The sexual harassment sketch at least had a clearer point and perspective -- that people write off sexual harassment from folks deemed adorable and harmless -- but the way it was conveyed was, uh, less than great. And the “Modern Scrooge” bit with Beck Bennett is a neat enough idea, but doesn’t really go anywhere (though I guess that’s kind of the point). Similarly, the bit with Franco as a spelling bee moderator who injects his personal issues into the event had some legs, but never really finds a place to go with them. And the “Za” sketch was just a dud that never had the right energy.
Overall, a number of largely enjoyable bits, and a good amount of meh-to-ugh material, which balances out to a middle-of-the-road episode.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-12-19T23:31:11Z
[7.3/10] So far this season has had a lot of episodes that were either pretty great of pretty awful.This is the first one that was just a solid, unspectacular, but largely enjoyable episode.
A lot of that comes from an outing where they spent a surprising amount of time just letting James Franco play James Franco. (It’s a part he knows how to play!) The opening monologue was pretty funny with all his comedy friends (including Steve Martin!) ragging on him and shrugging off the fact that he’s hosting the show. Similarly, I enjoyed the pre-taped bit with Cecily Strong where Franco plays a homeless guy in a standard Manic Pixie Dream Guy situation, only to reveal that the homeless guy is actually James Franco researching a part. It’s an appropriately loony left turn that goes entertainingly meta. And the weird but effective final sketch, featuring James talking to an oddball cousin who hit a bullseye and is wondering if James needs help was superb in the same vein. The reversal of this weirdo relative chronicling James’s missteps, only to have Dave Franco show up as a capper, was a good bit.
Otherwise, my favorite sketch of the night was the most delightfully out there and physical of them, where Franco plays a giftwrapper who accidentally cuts himself and ends up shooting out a torrent of Tarantino-esque blood all over everyone and everything. It lent an unpredictable air to the proceedings that was enjoyable, and found increasingly absurd heights as the show went on.
The political material was pretty tepid this week. The opener, with Santa hosting a series of politically-minded kids, was a decent enough premise, but felt like standard snark in a yuletide package. Similarly, Weekend Update wasn’t especially strong this week, though Cecily Strong’s Kathy Ann is always a welcome presence. Che’s pre-taped segment as a “Liberal White Girl Named Gretchen” felt like it was reaching for a punchline and never quite got there, though the absurdity of Che’s lack of makeup led to some fun gags, even if the segment wasn’t as incisive as it set itself up for.
The sexual harassment sketch at least had a clearer point and perspective -- that people write off sexual harassment from folks deemed adorable and harmless -- but the way it was conveyed was, uh, less than great. And the “Modern Scrooge” bit with Beck Bennett is a neat enough idea, but doesn’t really go anywhere (though I guess that’s kind of the point). Similarly, the bit with Franco as a spelling bee moderator who injects his personal issues into the event had some legs, but never really finds a place to go with them. And the “Za” sketch was just a dud that never had the right energy.
Overall, a number of largely enjoyable bits, and a good amount of meh-to-ugh material, which balances out to a middle-of-the-road episode.