'Saturday Night Live' Recap - Cameron Diaz & Bruno Mars/Mark Ronson

Cameron Diaz is no stranger to Saturday Night Live. Despite not hosting since 2005 (a season whose only remaining cast member is Kenan Thompson), Cameron hosted three times in the ‘90s and early 2000s. A quick look at the sketch titles for her first three episodes shows a who’s-who of ‘90s-era reoccurring sketches – Cameron and Mr. Peepers, Cameron and the Culps, Cameron and the Gibbs. Although I have a foggy memory of a few of her previous skits, the one that really sticks in my mind is the fantastic Jingleheimer Junction sketch in which Tim Meadows hosts a kids show where the guests have he unfortunate luck of wearing shirts with the letters F U C and, well you get the rest. It’s a brilliant exercise in sketch writing and still a real SNL gem more than a decade later.

Anywho, all this means that hopefully she’ll host a killer SNL. In her last three episodes, Diaz integrated herself really well into the cast and populated more reoccurring sketches instead of making the skits all about her. Let’s get to it.

Like I always do, I’ll be writing the recaps “live,” meaning I’ll watch a sketch and immediately write a short blurb reviewing and recapping it. For each segment, I’ll rate it on a scale of 0-5 stars. At the end of the piece, I’ll share some quick overall thoughts and the best/worst sketch of the night.

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I’m Just A Bill: * * *
The concept of riffing off Schoolhouse Rock and “I’m Just A Bill” is a really solid one and a fantastic way to get away from the typical POTUS Sitting At A Desk cold open. While there was some funny moments, it seemed surprisingly timid and relied way too heavily on prat falls when it should have focused on more pointed political humor.

Opening Monologue: * ½
While Cameron Diaz wants to talk about Annie, the “audience members” just want to ask about her previous movies and a possible sex exception. Yeah. I have no idea what happened here or how such funny people could end up with such a lifeless, unfunny and anemic monologue. Yikes.

Back Home Ballers: * * * * ½
‘Lil Baby Aidy is back y’all! For all intents and purposes, (Do It On My) Twin Bed was the best sketch last year. But their follow-up titled (creatively) Dongs was just about the worst. Thankfully, the SNL girls are back to form in this fantastic music video. While not quite as imaginative or funny as Twin Bed, Back Home is a great ode to returning back to Mom and Dad’s. Plus, the hook is extremely catchy (almost as catchy as last week’s Apple song) and it was great to finally meet Jean…You know, the lady who gave Aidy’s mom a cough in Bed. Also, from now on my WiFi password will be: 000000000000000b45ltngX3331458tdq314w (‘Cause it’s so easy to remember).

Annie: * * * ½
Thank God Leslie Jones is on SNL. Even in sketches like this, which are pretty dire on paper, she just makes me laugh so much. It’s funny to see Jones in a Little Orphan Annie dress and wig. Yes, that’s about it. But there was a fun, slapdash quality to it and Jones and Bayer have great energy. No offence to Quvenzhane, but I’d pay to see an Annie movie with Jones and Bayer sharing the title role.

Nest-Spresso: * *
With all the things going on in the news, I have no clue why SNL went with a skit about a instant coffee machine that brews live chickens. I’m not saying everything should be topical but...Am I missing something? Perhaps. Is that something a laugh? Definitely.

Whispers of America: * * * * ½
I spent a lot of time in my college’s black box theater that was full of multipurpose black flats and, yes, those ubiquitous boxes. So perhaps my love of this sketch is a touch too personal. I’m not sure it’ll hit home with everyone the way it hit home with me, but, hey, this is my recap. And I just loved this. From Bayer and Thompson as the disgruntled parents (“Why are they moving those boxes around so much” is perhaps the funniest single line I’ve heard all season) to the pretentious, pseudo-political dialogue. Yup, this one’s a real winner.

Weekend Update: * * * ½
I was really wondering if SNL would try and tackle the Bill Cosby scandal. Michael Che’s handling of the material was really funny and I sorta hoped they would have just let him go off on the topic for a good portion of the segment. The rest of WU wasn’t so cutting age or original. The segment with Angela Murkel (a wonderfully singular comedic creation from McKinnon) wasn’t quite as good as Murkel’s previous two riotously funny Update segments partly because it focused too much on the politics which tossed away what made the others so good – McKinnon’s quirky take on the Chancellor’s sad personal life. And the last interview segment with Charles Manson and his new wife? It didn’t work for me. I know this sounds funny being directed at one of the most famous American criminals, but I found it borderline offensive in its treatment of mental illness. I’m not one to get easily offended (and in a way I wish SNL would try to offend me more) but making a man’s mental illness the center joke of a sketch just didn’t work for me. It didn’t really mock his criminal past or his young bride more than it mocked the fact he says wacky things.

Mr. Patterson At Home: * * * ½
Beck Bennett’s Mr. Patterson character is a real triumph of physical comedy. While it was great to see him at home instead of in the office, this one didn’t really take the Baby Boss theme up a notch. It feels more like a really great acting exercise and less of a fully formed, singular sketch.

Animal Hour: * ½
You know what, let’s forget this sketch ever happened and let’s just watch this great sketch cut last week about Aidy Bryant hitting 10,000 Tweets.

I’m Going To Fight Andy Rydell: * * *
The slacker Bennett/Mooney films are generally hit-or-miss. Usually miss. Except for that great beer pong one, all miss. But while this one wasn’t up to beer pong, or even a stand-alone great sketch, it was much better than their usual effort. I’m not sure if I was the repetitious onscreen graphics, the stock broll or even the fact that this was mercifully short, but Andy Rydell actually made me laugh.

Poetry Teacher: *
I wrote a poem too: I’m thankfully for my family, I’m thankful for my friend/ I’m thankful I never have to see “Poetry Teacher” again/Look, I like Vanessa Bayer, she’s usually out of sight/ but this is the worst sketch of the night.

Night Murmurs: * *
Kate McKinnon likes playing dumb sex workers, now doesn’t she? Is this as good as the Ex-Porn Stars sketch? Nope. It wasn’t nearly as risqué or funny or unique. The idea of flipping back and forth between three adult call line operators who each have an odd backstory has promise but this just seemed to go on forever.

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Best Sketch: Back Home Ballers was probably objectively the funniest thing all night, but nothing made me laugh harder than Whispers of America. My God that was funny.

Worst Sketch: Poetry Teacher.

Musical Guest: Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson
I don’t generally love Mars’ music but he is infectiously fun and energetic on stage. Backed by a cool retro set and playing cool retro-esque songs, this was just totally entertaining to watch.

Overall Thoughts:
Diaz was a good host but generally stayed out of the way in most sketches, once again choosing to be a supporting player instead of a center-stage host. This created an uneven show with some really smart, funny material and some really dire stuff too. But, overall, more good than bad I'd say.