whatevs.org presents...

"SNL - SEASON 31 REVEALED"

by Nummer and H-Bomb

Episode 19: Kevin Spacey / Nelly Furtado (5/20/06)

CONEY RATING SYSTEM
= John Belushi
= Amy Poehler
= Tim Meadows
= Melanie Hutzel
= Charles Rocket
= Self-Explanatory

0-10 Coneys – Garbage
11-20 Coneys – Needs Improvement
21-30 Coneys – Average
31-40 Coneys – Above Average
41-50 Coneys - Instant Classic
51+ Coneys - Unparalleled Comic Genius

OAD = Original Air Date*

(*To be fair, coneys will be awarded the same as they were the first time they aired)

Why there was a ten-year gap between Spacey episodes is a tragedy. Weather it was breaking down how to win on American Idol, doing a spot-on Neil Young impression or delivering sharp sarcasm, Spacey's theater experience paid off when it came to live comedy. Other great Spacey moments came courtesy of his hilarious dead stare into the camera during "Two A-Holes at a Crime Scene" and just watching him have fun during Sanz's "Carol" sketch.

One episode after I complained Samberg might be relying too much on Digital Shorts came tonight's great take off of 1995's "The Usual Suspects". This time around, Samberg played the Verbal Kint role while Spacey was the one who got duped. Very clever Samberg, although seeing that your Lonely Island partner (now SNL writer) Jorma Taccone showed up in the sketch too, I'm wondering if he actually had more of hand in writing it.

Following up his brilliant Rich Little impression from last weekend's "Charades" sketch, Hammond had another big night. Although I'd grown sick of it over the years, the Schwarzenegger caricature he rolled out during the cold opening was very effective. For example, here is Hammond's Arnold on how to increase border security: "A few keep out signs, a barbed wire fence and of course…an army of Predator monsters". With lines like this, he kept Seth's continuing "Hardball" ripoff cold opening from getting 0 coneys.

As predicted, Kevin Spacey did a great job hosting this week's episode of Saturday Night Live. From his monologue to the closing credits, Spacey was the consummate professional but seemed to have a lot of fun on the set as well. While I very much enjoyed his dead pan stares as the no-nonsense detective in Two A-Holes at a Crime Scene as well as his take on being deceived in the Usual Suspects spoof, I was especially amused by Spacey's portrayal of Neil Young in the skit promoting his latest cd. What a perfect impression! "Dear President Liar. What did you have for breakfast today? Was it a bowl of lies, washed down with an ice cold glass of lies?" Best.

Samberg seems to have become the big winner of the featured players this season, finishing up the year with some pretty substantial airtime. Although his popularity can probably be attributed more to his boyish good looks, shaggy hair and goofy nature (ala Jimmy Fallon), Samberg still has the ability to make me chuckle. He hasn't become too incredibly annoying……yet, but that could only be a matter of time. Just some advice, Samberg. Don't rely too heavily on just one or two ideas to get you through your career. Even Belushi and Farley had some depth beyond their amazing knack at falling down.

Nelly Furtado's performances (well, at least her first one) were better than I expected. Perhaps it was Timberland that gave "Promiscuous Girl" that little added punch to make it so catchy, but whatever it was, I liked it. Can't really say the same for her second set, but I guess one of out two ain't that bad, especially when I wasn't a huge fan to begin with.

Perhaps it was the product of expending too much energy in the recent "Best of TV Funhouse" special, but tonight's Robert Smigel "Fun With Real Audio" bombed. In fact, it earned the show's first "0 coney" rating in over a month. Worst.

What really kept tonight's show in the average range, despite Spacey's best efforts, was the abundance of simply "passable" sketches. A-Holes, Carol and even the coney-reliable Falconer squeaked out average installments at best. This has become very common over the last few season finales. I guess the cast and crew just can't get over the excitement of having summers off.

Once again, the just so-so sketch writing got the best of yet another season finale. What appeared to be a real turnaround back in December and January now has me asking the question: Was the awesome writing that occurred mid-season just a fluke? Or do they only give the good material to young Hollywood hotties (Johansson and Lohan) and talented goofballs (Black and Dillon)? I'm not sure what the deal was, but the writers seemed to have lost their steam somewhere back in March, with a brief spurt in April. I mean, can't you think of something better to give Spacey to work with besides firggin "Carol?" Even the old standbys, "The Falconer" and "Two A-Holes," were pretty lackadaisical. What's the point of the show regaining some of its credibility a few months ago just to basically fizzle out in the end? I guess we'll never know.

With a few portions of tonight feeling like Lorne was grooming America for more Samberg, it seems clear that change is imminent for next season. Fey's "Thank You" shirt during the goodbye credits was a likely signal of her departure, and the kisses blown by Dratch likely means her exit as well. Hammond, Sanz, Maya and Parnell were a bit harder to read, but after seeing ol' Darrell in four total segments tonight (his most in ages), I wouldn't be surprised if this 11 season veteran finally packed it in as well.

8 months after this season's debut, the additions of Wiig, Hader, Sudeikis and Samberg proved just the right mix to start the rebuilding process for SNL. With a few more fresh faces next year, I have little doubt that SNL can continue to build on the improvements this season already demonstrated. So much early buzz for Season 32.

While Season 31's season finale was anything but a showstopper, Kevin Spacey still did a heck of a job with his second shot as host. It's just too bad Lorne didn't invite him back sooner when the sketch writing could've matched wits with the talented actor.

As for Season 32, I continue to look forward to seeing more of featured players Hader and Wiig. It's more than apparent that Samberg and Sudeikis have arrived, and while Sudeikis has proven to have a decent range of characters, the digital short route is only going to get Samberg so far. I'm still hoping that real comedic talent will triumph and I'm even more confident that the real future of SNL lies with Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader.

Fey and Dratch seemed to have made their last appearances on the SNL stage, as full time cast members anyways, but what about the likes of Hammond, Sanz, Parnell and Rudolph? I haven't witnessed anything truly funny from any of them in at least 2 seasons. If the show stands any chance at continuing to reinvent itself, it needs to start with fresh faces and talent. In other words, these guys have got to go.

CONEY COUNT

1. Cold Opening: Anderson Cooper 360 Premise: Recurring spoof of the CNN news program Cameo: Al Gore

2. Monologue: Spacey

3. Sketch: Two A-Holes at a Crime Scene
Premise: Recurring sketch about a indecisive and difficult couple

4. Sketch: Oprah's Legends Ball
Premise: Spoof of Oprah's recent prime time special

5. Sketch: Carol!
Premise: Recurring sketch about an obnoxious woman

6. Cartoon by Robert Smigel: Fun With Real Audio
Premise: George W. Bush speech outtakes

7. Backstage Bit: Samberg's Usual Suspects
Premise: Andy escapes an angry Spacey via quick thinking

8. Music: Nelly Furtado "Promiscous Girl"
Cameo - Timberland

9. Weekend Update
Guests: Sudeikis, Maya, Mitchell, Dratch, Armisen and Sanz

10. Sketch: The Falconer
Premise: Ken Mortimer must travel through time to protect Donald from a hunter

11. SNL Digital Short: Andy Walking
Premise: Samberg quizzes New Yorkers

12. Sketch: Legends of History – Phillip Sarc
Premise: The history of sarcasm is revealed

13. Nelly Furtado - Maneater

14. Sketch: Neil Young's New CD
Premise: CD full of not so subtle anti-Bush administration songs

TOTALS

27 / 56 Coneys

27 / 56 Coneys