'SNL' Recap: Blake Shelton Charms, But the Show Was Out of Tune
In hindsight, Saturday Night Live featured player Leslie Jones was sending viewers a clear message during host/musical guest Blake Shelton’s opening monologue. Having roped various cast members into participating in a painfully protracted Hee Haw homage, The Voice judge and multi-platinum country artist prodded them to deliver moldy cornpone punchlines, to Jones's increasing horror. Her running commentary was supposed to apply to the sketch at hand, but it proved applicable to the show that followed. "May I be excused?" Jones asked early on, followed later by "This is wrong."
Sing it, sister. Tapping Shelton for SNL double duty certainly made sense from a marketing standpoint for NBC, what with the next season of The Voice kicking off at the end of February. But one would think that the creative forces behind the show would have recalled the Great Adam Levine Debacle of 2013, and either a) Begged for another reality show star (like, say, Bob Harper from The Biggest Loser or even Chuck Todd from Meet the Press) or b) Just tried harder. Sadly, they chose the path of least resistance, turning the stage over to Shelton and plugging him into a series of forgettable B-side sketches. The good ol' boy didn't seem to mind the lackluster material, keeping that trademark goofy grin plastered on his face throughout the night and enthusiastically bellowing, "I did Saturday Night Live" during the sign-off. Nice to know that he enjoyed himself, but we kinda wish we could have excused ourselves along with Jones.
Best Sketch: "Farm Hunk"
Amidst slim pickings, this Bachelor spoof stood out because it put Shelton on the sidelines and let SNL's current crop of stellar female comedians run the show. And the gals had their roles down cold, nailing every Bachelor cliché ("I love that" and "Can I steal him for a second?") and creating kooky characters that would be totally believable as actual contestants. Special shout-out to Kate McKinnon's veteran (of the porn industry) for serving her country, like, 200 times.
Worst Sketch: "Celebrity Family Feud"
Pitting American Idol against The Voice was an obvious gag, and the obviousness didn't stop with the premise. From digs directed at Pharrell's taste in hats to Blake and Adam Levine's passionate bromance, the writers made sure to hit every joke anyone has already made about The Voice. Also, what's up with including Steven Tyler and Nicki Minaj on the Idol team when those two aren't even on the show anymore? Surely, somebody on the current cast can do a convincing J.Lo. (Looking at you, Bobby Moynihan.)
Episode MVP: Leslie Jones
She stole the opening monologue, got the last laugh in the "Farm Hand" sketch and then wisely disappeared for the rest of the show. You couldn't ask for a more effective example of George Costanza's old lesson about going out on a high note.
Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:35 p.m. on NBC.
