Bruce Willis hosted tonight for the first time in 24 years, and seemingly just for fun, since he didn't have anything to promote. He was actually trying pretty hard too, which I didn't expect, assuming he'd sleepwalk through it like Robert DeNiro did the last time he hosted, but unfortunately the material just wasn't there for him. Worst of the season so far.
COLD OPEN: It starts off pretty good tonight, with a Gravity spoof and then Houston not responding because of the government shutdown. Short, sweet and Kenan's funny as the only "essential" employee at NASA- the janitor.
MONOLOGUE: Bruce mentions how many Die Hard's have come out since he was here last, and then he shows he can play a mean harmonica. Another short monologue, emulating Miley Cyrus from last week.
24 HOUR ENERGY DRINK: Ad for what to take if you're dating an actress. It's only mildly amusing, but it kinda looks better in retrospect once the rest of the episode goes by.
BLACK OPS: A dud with Bruce as a macho tough guy wannabe who would rather make up action movie scenarios than follow the procedure for a Navy SEALS operation. Too long, but it's possible it just felt longer than it was.
BARBER SHOP: Jay and Kenan as two black barbers cracking each other up, while Bruce is the awkward white barber who can't tell his stories right. A couple of chuckles, but when stuff like this is in the first half hour you know it's only going to get worse.
BOY DANCE PARTY: Hilarious! Best sketch of the night by far, and funnily enough, it's basically a digital short, which they've stopped doing since Andy Samberg left. The one most likely to be remembered from this episode.
LADY GAGA SHOW: Vanessa is Lady Gaga, and this new Gaga show seems to be replacing the Miley Cyrus one she had. Unfortunately, her Miley was funny and her Lady Gaga really isn't. But Bruce saves the sketch with his hilarious Michael Kors impression. Maybe worth seeing just for that.
KATY PERRY: She sings "Roar" with everyone on stage in animal costumes, which they had to be embarrassed to be stuck in, especially the giraffe guy. Or maybe the crocodile. Not to mention how hot those things look.
WEEKEND UPDATE: A pretty mild update tonight with a couple government shutdown jokes and a bunch of zingers about Bruce and Kris Jenner's divorce (that was my favorite part). Kenan comes out as Chaplain Barry Black to pray for Congress, which is pretty good, and new guy Brooks Whelan makes his (first?) appearance as himself to warn against bad tattoos. Eh. It's ok, but it's kind of interesting to see all these new people fighting for screen time and trying to distinguish themselves- don't think any have been successful yet.
ARMAGEDDON: Oh, boy- we're settling into the truly dismal back half of the show now. It's a space sketch with Bobby's kitty-cat character, who I HATE (not as much as Cecily's Girlfriends show, but close). Ick. Not funny, and way too long.
CENTAURI VODKA: A launch party with Bruce as a waiter dressed as a centaur whose back half is passing out. The only thing notable about this one is that Nasim Pedrad shows up in it, and I realized I'd almost forgotten she was even on this show. Seriously, where's she been?
EDDIE: Another (seemingly popular?) character that I pretty much hate. It's Taran as the rude adult "teen" Eddie, who yells as Bruce for dating his mom. Ugh, he's just really obnoxious here. Do people really like this character? Doesn't work for me at all (and again, way too long).
SIGMA: And quite possibly, the worst sketch of the night, a pre-recorded one from newbies Beck and Kyle as frat boys setting up a weird contest for people at a party. Thankfully, it doesn't go on too long, but not a single laugh here and I don't even know what was supposed to be funny in this one.
KATY PERRY: This time she sings "Walking on Air" with a bunch of wind machines blowing sheets above her head. Katy always has to have weird visual and/or physical stuff going on around her to distract from her inability to really sing or dance, I've noticed. No offense to anyone who likes her of course, but there's not a lot going on there. Although I'm surprised she didn't show up in a sketch tonight, since she has in the past.
E-METH AD: Really? Already a replay of the meth ad from just two weeks ago with Aaron Paul. Ran under this week, huh guys?
So, that's it. The only thing worth seeing was the Boy Dance Party, even though Bruce did his best with the skits, and effort's always appreciated. Still, the writing wasn't up to par tonight, and for only one good sketch I have to give it a D. They're off next week, so I'll be back on the 26th for the Halloween ep with Edward Norton and Janelle Monae- see you guys then!
