Sofia Vergara Hosts SNL: Best And Worst Skits
Like a football team trying to integrate a golfer into its game plan, Saturday Night Live struggled mightily to utilize Modern Family star Sofia Vergara's broad and boisterous brand of comedy this week. Things started out promisingly with a short but amusing opening monologue and Vergara's not-quite-accurate but still funny Fran Drescher impression, but went steadily downhill thereafter. Here's my take on the best and worst sketches:
Best: Drunk Uncle
The acerbic randomness of Bobby Moynihan's soused holiday memories and rage against the new-age-iness of a younger generation never fails to amuse me. "Is this wi-fi organic? Can I get some raw almonds on my yoga class?" was second only to Drunk Uncle's speculation that there's now an app to color one's eggs.
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Best: Bein' Quirky With Zooey Deschanel
It's the little details in Abby Elliott's impersonation that make me chuckle: Her comment about collecting vintage typewriters, the dancing and winking to Billie Holiday songs, her penchant for flip-flopping human and pet names. Plus, Kristen Wiig's Drew Barrymore was amazing, especially the bit about the Joseph Gordon Levitt singing telegram.
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Worst: News Promo
Someone please explain to me what was supposed to be funny about this repetitive non-joke of Fred Armisen's traffic helicopter guy not being able to turn to camera. Unless excruciating is the new funny?
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Worst: Manuel Ortiz Show
A double fail for Armisen-fronted sketches. The problem with this recurring spoof of Latin talk-show culture is that it never strives for anything unexpected or outrageous, and instead lazily relies on a formula that gets less funny each time it airs: Bring out a guest with shocking family secret, watch guest and Manuel dance ridiculously, pray that Bill Hader pops up so you'll at least get a chuckle from his maniacally committed facial expressions.
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What did you think of this week's SNL? What were your picks for best and worst sketch? Sound off in the comments!