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“Feast your ass on this”
Cold Open: Trump Interview
3 Stars
Seeing as how Melissa is our host I kinda wish we were starting with Sean Spicer just to get it out of the way. Now I gotta watch the episode knowing that a character who has quickly been beaten into the ground is lurking just around the corner. Trump is being interviewed by Lester "Jazzman" Holt about Russia. He admits to firing James Comey for investigating Russia which would normally be an impeachment level bombshell but sadly nothing matters anymore. He has Paul Ryan feeding him ice cream and sits on every chair like it's a toilet. Not bad, could have been worse.
Melissa McCarthy Monologue
For Mother's Day Melissa makes all the moms in the audience stand up and takes one of them on a backstage tour. She gets to pet the backstage llama, down some tequila shots, share an awkward hug with Kyle, say Hi to HAIM, and walk on to home base as if she's giving the monologue. Whoever introduced Joan as she walked out was doing a pretty solid Don Pardo impression. I did a double take while I was watching, wait Pardo is dead, right?
Just Desserts!
A game show where you win money or a pie in the face. In round 1 Melissa gets several pies to the face. Then we break to meet the contestants and it's time for round 2. I wonder what's gonna happen in round 2. More pies? Yep, more pies.
Amazon Echo Silver
An Amazon Echo made specifically for old people that will respond to any name that sounds remotely like Alexa, tell you what those boys across the street are up to, remind you that your lost phone is in your hand, and listen to your pointless, rambling stories.
Press Conference
Aidy makes her debut as Sarah Huckabee Sanders but who's that hiding in the bushes outside? It's Sean Spicer making his final appearance. He brings out the dolls, a fire extinguisher, throws columns at reporters...
and drives his podium through the streets of New York City to Trump Tower, which was well filmed if not hilarious.
Then he meets Donald who gropes and kisses him. Ok, seeing how this sketch is forever long and involves multiple sets and a filmed section I can see why it's not the cold open. But did it have to be this long?
HAIM
"Want You Back"
Yes.
Weekend Update
Film Society Of Lincoln Center
Well it's finally happened. We're officially at that stage in every recurring character's lifespan where the host does your bit with you. Debette Goldrey is joined by Melissa playing another Debette Goldrey. Don't be scared, it happened to The Roxbury Guys, Mr. Peepers, Goat Boy, it's just a part of life for a recurring character. It just means you're growing up.
Kyle And Leslie
A continuation of Kyle and Leslie's offscreen romance more from Kyle’s perspective. Since the last time we've caught up with them they have gotten married and had a child (Little Lorne). It's the big day of Little Lorne's recital but Leslie doesn't show because she was working on a script with Colin. Kyle shoots Colin which Lorne doesn't condone, but does admit that Colin can be rather annoying. Another great oddball concoction.
HAIM
"Little Of Your Love"
First Birthday
Melissa is celebrating her child's first birthday and the other moms encourage her to embrace her spirit animal. That animal that all moms eventually embrace as their identity and embroider on pillows and put on their vests. It gets fun when it starts to turn into a horror movie and Vanessa's dramatic tale of how she got her animal. Not much of an ending but a cute sketch.
Production Logo
Beck is pitching new logos for a film company. All of them include Donna, a haggard lady who is going through some things. She pops a young child's balloon, cuts her own hair, and shouts "Paramount Pictures!" as the Seinfeld theme song plays. None of these please the executives obviously. I enjoyed the logo without Donna which is just two guys talking about Donna. A technical mishap happens near the end where the previous logo is still seen as the new one is supposed to be playing. Ah, the joys of live television. I don't usually say this but I wish this was pre-taped, at least the Melissa portion. They could have done some crazier things other than just having Melissa screaming.
“Nothing matters anymore?”
Average
3.1 Stars
MVP
HAIM and Little Lorne
Best Sketch
Kyle And Leslie
Worst Sketch
Press Conference
How I Would Have Lorne Michaels-ed It
I know everyone is expecting to see Sean Spicer, but why not zig when they expect you to zag. Don't do it. Or if you're going to do it, does it have to feel like half the show? I say shorten it to just the press conference and make it the cold open. I didn't need a Trump cold open and a forever long Sean Spicer sketch. Also, you're so close but move Amazon Echo Silver up just a little bit to put it after the monologue. What ever happened to "We'll be right back" followed by a fake commercial?
Host Analysis
My favorite sketch of the night was one she was barely in so that should say something. A little Melissa McCarthy goes a long way for me. I felt like there was too much in this one. The first sketch is just her getting hit in the face with pies and cakes repeatedly, then we get the endless Sean Spicer sketch, a recurring character she hops in on, and we end with more Melissa screaming. Again, the best stuff in this one (Kyle And Leslie, Amazon Echo Silver, HAIM) were things she wasn't in.
Final Thoughts
It was nice to see Steve Martin present her with a 5 Timer’s jacket at the end of the night though. Melissa has always been one of those hosts that kinda feels like she was a cast member. The way she dominates an episode is the same way Kristen and Kate do. She's got big, broad characters that chew the scenery (sometimes literally) and if I didn't know any better and you told me she was a featured player on Season 23 I would believe you. The mileage depends on the viewer I suppose. I like Melissa McCarthy, but I find her overpowering in her episodes. I like my hosts like a dash of pepper on a steak, just a little seasoning. Melissa is like a fistful of garlic.
Up Next
Our season finale with Dwayne Johnson joining the 5-Timer's Club and Katy Perry.
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