Live From New York...

I've had a chance to catch most of the Saturday Night Live episodes since the stike ended (and most before the strike). This past week however, was one of the funniest episodes of the season. In fact, the entire season has been solid for the most part. I'm not going to go so far as to say SNL is entirely back to full form, but it's not far off. They're missing something--and I can't quite put my finger on what (maybe a better Weekend Update?). A few of the better moments of the show's 33rd season.
1. Digital Shorts: The Digital Shorts might have saved this show all together. "Dick in a Box" and "Lazy Sunday" get all of the attention but the show has had a few gems this season.



2. The "MacGruber" sketches: These sketches (which have now been featured here and there over the last two seasons) are brilliant. If you haven't caught one yet, they are three shorts that are spread out throughout the show. MacGruber is a spoof of MacGyver that always seem to end badly. They also seem to sometimes cross the line just a little bit more each episode as you'll see below.


3. Christopher Walken: Indoor gardening tips from a man who's very scared of plants. There isn't another actor on the planet--ney, universe that could pull this sketch off better.


4. Andy Samberg: Andy Samberg's humor as a whole is rather underrated...it's simple humor, you need to shut your brain off and laugh (and I mean that as a compliment). Most of Samberg's best work have been in the digital shorts as you see here.


5. Fred Armisen: When all is said and done, I don't think it's out of the question that Armisen could end up being the most versital actor in SNL's history (passing the late Phil Hartman). He can play any character (literally ANY nationality). I would imagine the show is secretly pulling for Obama to become the next president as it would mean at least four more years of Armisen.