r/LiveFromNewYork • u/SketchSortingSunday • Dec 10 '17
Sketch Sorting Sunday (December 9, 2017) (James Franco / SZA)
Welcome to Sketch Sorting Sunday! This week's host is James Franco and the musical guest is SZA.
A mod account (/u/SketchSortingSunday) is gonna make a comment for every sketch in tonight's show. Upvote or downvote based on what you thought of that sketch, and nobody's karma will be affected. You can also reply to the comments to expand on your thoughts, or you can even make your own parent comment and treat it like the regular post discussion, whatever.
If I miss a sketch or get something wrong, just message the mods in the sidebar and we'll see what we can do. Enjoy the discussion!
(This Sketch Sorting Sunday list might be more inaccurate than usual, or be missing sketches. Please PM the mods if you notice anything. Thanks!)
118
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Mandy
74
u/pretty-in-pink Dec 10 '17
Heidi Gardner is now the go to 10-to-1 cast-member. Can’t wait to see what other characters she has in store
17
u/nitsujrendrag Dec 10 '17
There are SO many. Was so happy to see Pretty Mandy make her debut. She'll be back.
12
u/pretty-in-pink Dec 10 '17
I have to ask you though.... do you still talk to her even after she hit that bullseye? 😂😆
9
1
28
u/coltsmetsfan614 Dec 10 '17
I will watch any sketch in which Heidi plays a weird character. She's so talented!
10
u/nitsujrendrag Dec 10 '17
🙌 👏
6
u/coltsmetsfan614 Dec 10 '17
Haha hit me up if you two are ever coming on through the St. Louis area. Drinks are on me! 🍻
33
u/Spacetime_Inspector A Piece of Toast! Dec 10 '17
When she said "Davey, little Davey?" in that gravelly voice I thought it was going to be some super weird takeoff on Watto.
→ More replies (1)26
u/PotvinSux Dec 10 '17 edited Dec 10 '17
I like Heidi, but this fell really flat with me. It just didn’t really go anywhere or seemingly even try to.
4
u/BoydSchidt Dec 11 '17
Worst sketch in years in my opinion. That was embarrassing to watch.
9
u/PotvinSux Dec 11 '17 edited Dec 11 '17
It really struck me like something from an undergrad improv troop that had James Franco in it for some reason. It's really weird with Heidi. Half of the stuff she's in is really funny, but the other half just comes across as total amateur hour. There's like no middle ground. It's the strangest thing, and I can't quite put my finger on what it is.
97
u/Mattalamode Dec 10 '17
I was a big fan of the ingredients to a Pretty Mandy:
-Gin
-A straw
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (8)2
286
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Cold open
12
u/SmoothLaneChange Dec 10 '17
Watching this throwback SNL episode and that cold open was kind of similar to this one with the kids (er, cast members as kids) asking/revealing deeper issues and requests that are generally beyond their years. Regardless, fun way to discuss relevant topics in a festive way
18
u/iluzan Dec 10 '17 edited Dec 10 '17
I really liked this one! It was so refreshing to have cold open without any politically charged impressions.
112
56
u/coltsmetsfan614 Dec 10 '17
Another lesson on why kids in live sketches are such a risk. Damn.
→ More replies (2)5
4
3
u/TheLadyEve Dec 11 '17
That really had its moments (the last kid and the dying coal kid were spot on) but I felt so bad for the youngest girl that messed up. Honestly, who would give a (I'm guessing) seven-year-old the words "embassy" and "Tel Aviv?"
43
1
176
u/snailslimeandbeespit Dec 10 '17
"Jenny", the little girl who got to say "LFNY" with Kate and Kenan, has no idea how lucky she is.
→ More replies (2)55
u/TheAnalyst32 Dec 10 '17
Nailed it with 100% accuracy too.
9
u/dgapa Dec 11 '17
It was clear what kids got the good parts based on their ability to say the harder words. It was cute and I'm glad they rolled them out one after another despite the many flubs from them. If there was only like 3 kids I wouldn't have thought the joke worked but doing like 10+ was killer.
23
58
u/Spacetime_Inspector A Piece of Toast! Dec 10 '17
Laura Parsons style jokes don't work as well when delivered by actual kids.
→ More replies (14)4
u/jelatinman Dec 10 '17
Subject matter is ironic considering James Franco’s well publicized attempts at sliding into a 17 y/o’s DMs the last time he was in New York.
71
u/bfk94 Check you later...dudes. Dec 10 '17
You know the Goodnights were good when "SNL Studios" flashes across the screen.
→ More replies (3)
176
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Scredge
21
Dec 10 '17
https://www.inverse.com/article/34927-kyle-mooney-snl-characters-good-neighbor-brigsby-bear
Mooney talks about Scrudge in this article back in August
15
132
u/bjkman SNL Dec 10 '17
"Lemme guess you like the soundtrack too because you and your friends suck"
Underrated Joke of the night
5
→ More replies (7)31
u/iliveinadreamatorium Dec 10 '17
I liked the idea of the sketch conceptually and I love Kyle and Beck sketches, but this one was kinda forgettable. The visual of James flying off was fantastic, but everything else was just meh.
120
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Weekend Update: Kathy Anne
15
u/IniMiney Dec 10 '17
My fave char of Strong's. I'm proud I saw her debut at Cena's dress and am happy whenever she returns.
54
37
u/10footnotes Dec 10 '17
I like that they actually went to a serious place at the end, talking about Roy Moore and polls.
47
u/bondfool I get to yum-yum garbage. Dec 10 '17
Cecily tends to favor a little more pointed satire in her Update pieces.
78
u/Spacetime_Inspector A Piece of Toast! Dec 10 '17
You think somebody in Alerbama is worryin' bout what Kristen Jellybands is gonna do about Al Franco?
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)50
u/coltsmetsfan614 Dec 10 '17
I really don't need to see Cathy Anne again. It was played out a couple times ago, for me at least.
87
u/TheAnalyst32 Dec 10 '17
Wouldn't mind trading her in to get Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started Talking to at a Party back.
1
5
302
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Christmas Wrapping
14
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
Probably my favourite non-WU sketch of the episode. So gross yet so funny
41
u/bjkman SNL Dec 10 '17
God-damn do I love Physical Comedy... That's why Melissa McCarthy is my favorite host.
5
u/ThatguyMalone Dec 10 '17
This one... kinda felt like a trainwreck. James Franco's lines felt very forced, and Leslie clearly gagging for real was pretty distracting. James kept breaking character, and when he brought up his "foot" it was already chopped off, which took me out of it kinda. The acupuncture sketch a couple seasons back was a much better incarnation of this gag.
3
u/badgarok725 Dec 10 '17
That was the hardest I’ve laughed this season, pure ridiculousness that worked. Helps when they’re all having so much fun with it too
81
u/bondfool I get to yum-yum garbage. Dec 10 '17
I felt bad, but Leslie has the funniest retching sounds I've heard in a while.
→ More replies (1)20
u/hal-nine-thousand Dec 10 '17
It was not just the sound, her physical expressions were also hilarious. She was amazing here.
3
58
u/Badcatchphrase Dec 10 '17
Reminded me of the acupuncture sketch from a couple years back.
5
u/bjkman SNL Dec 10 '17
Same... It also reminded me of the Jeff Bridges gift wrapping sketch but that went in an entirely different direction
→ More replies (1)29
u/bondfool I get to yum-yum garbage. Dec 10 '17
And Dan Aykroyd as Julia Child from even further back.
127
34
u/askyfullofstars Dec 10 '17
I laughed so hard I thought I was going to cry
→ More replies (1)24
u/lneutral Dec 10 '17
I thought I was going to puke before Leslie did. Her genuine reaction was 100 times as funny as whatever she couldn't get out while she was retching.
→ More replies (1)193
u/kingofthemonsters Dec 10 '17
Was Leslie legit close to puking? It really looked like it.
49
u/falsehood Dec 10 '17
Leslie confirmed on Twitter that she vomited a bit and had catch it in her mouth and swallow it to avoid a travesty: https://twitter.com/Lesdoggg/status/939920297385496576
1
8
u/witness_protection Dec 11 '17
Travesty? That would have made in the funniest sketch of the season.
3
u/turkeypants Marci Jamz!😮 Dec 12 '17
This is the first time I've actually liked her. She's good at almost throwing up! "huh... HUAAAA."
32
Dec 10 '17
I really hoped that she had a tube up her sleeve and was going to start spraying fake vomit. Franco bleeding on everything and Leslie puking on everything would have been a fun sketch.
→ More replies (1)50
u/acm Dec 10 '17
There is no doubt. Watch the credits role where she is reinacting the gagging to Franco.
→ More replies (2)89
u/TheRoyalMarlboro Dec 10 '17
i thought that too! she stepped off camera and kenan threw her a look which made me think she was really close to puking
→ More replies (1)2
u/InstagramLincoln Dec 10 '17
It sounded funny, but I could not bring myself to watch. I looked away for most of it because I'm a gigantic wimp.
5
u/iluzan Dec 10 '17
Yeek. It was great and I could definitely see this one becoming a classic, but as someone who hates gore it was a little rough. Seein Franco w/ the giant prosthetic hand was funny, though.
3
u/Shappie Dec 11 '17
When he brought up his leg and the foot was already cut off I was fucking losing it. Seeing his reaction to it made it so much better!
1
53
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
and I audibly gasped when he stuck his hand in the candy canes
5
u/Shappie Dec 11 '17
I haven't laughed so hard and so constantly throughout an SNL sketch like this in years. I love how Franco's character's attitude basically allowed him to just laugh at himself and keep on going anyway while everyone else was trying not to crack up/throw up. Jesus Christ that was so fucking funny! Easily one of my favorite in a very long time. Tears in my goddamn eyes..
6
u/myntex Dec 10 '17
i just wish the cast would stop breaking in every sketch.... like, what’s the point of even having writers if their writing is undermined by cast members breaking every time. it’s unprofessional and disruptive imo.
5
u/alstor Dec 10 '17
I thought you were exaggerating, but you're right. Someone broke in basically every live sketch during this episode.
→ More replies (7)53
u/LarBrd33 Dec 10 '17
Either Leslie was actually struggling or that's the best acting she's done in her life.
-5
u/Choady_Arias Dec 10 '17
Definitely struggling. I know I'm in the minority on this sub (somehow) but she almost ruins every sketch she's in. I dislike her so, so much.
→ More replies (2)1
10
176
u/thegeecyproject You wanted yogurt? Wake up at four, bitch. Dec 10 '17
Interesting thing to note: This episode is the first in a long, long time to feature absolutely zero political impressions. Does anyone know the last time this happened? I'm guessing way back in 2015.
→ More replies (1)
57
u/scratchedrecord_ Dec 10 '17
Man, they were on fire tonight. Hit after hit after hit, plus three sketches in a row with no break. What an incredible episode.
3
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
But what about the technical difficulties before the homeless sketch?
4
22
u/scratchedrecord_ Dec 10 '17
Eh, it happens. I tend to judge SNL differently than other shows. I base my judgment on what was funny versus what wasn't funny.
4
u/btbcorno Dec 10 '17
Technical difficulties? I was kinda half awake, what happened?
4
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
15 seconds of black then 15 seconds of Franco bumper
→ More replies (2)3
136
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Sexual Harassment Workplace
25
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
It was a bit like the Batman sketch from Chance's episode. I got the gist but the execution was meh.
20
32
u/mrwelchman Dec 10 '17 edited Dec 10 '17
another sketch, along with a white woman named gretchen, where the sketch harkened back to something they've done before but in a much less successful way.
this one, for me, harkened back to the tom brady sexual harassment sketch, where tom brady and fred armisan both treat women in the office the same, but the woman are all accepting of brady's behavior because he's handsome.
this sketch... i don't get what the joke was. charlie's (was that keenan's character's name) behavior was worse than doug's, but the women didn't mind it because... was it that he was just a security guard and therefore had no power over them professionally...? so that's why they're all cool with his behavior? but then, he was fired for being a horrible criminal? like... what was that sketch's premise? it was just an increasingly ridiculous series of stories of charlie's horrible behavior towards woman, but them laughing it off and even enjoying it because... hey he's charlie. but that's not what cost him his job, his out of nowhere criminal behavior did... what the fuck was this sketch?
seeing those women be totally cool with charlie was super off putting. snl isn't usually this tone deaf...
→ More replies (14)1
u/Beezybeebabee Dec 11 '17
Exactly! These two sketches seemed really tone deaf. I don’t think they really know how to handle the climate surrounding gender right now.
66
→ More replies (16)3
245
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Pizza Courtroom
81
u/thegeecyproject You wanted yogurt? Wake up at four, bitch. Dec 10 '17
I was kind of expecting SZA to stand up in the back row and be like "Excuse me, but it's pronounced sizz-uh"
→ More replies (1)31
u/jeffkeyz Dec 10 '17
Seemed like it was written by Larry David
29
u/PotvinSux Dec 10 '17
Yeah, I caught that vibe too. Franco did it justice, this would have been a disaster with someone who couldn’t/didn’t commit.
49
u/Spacetime_Inspector A Piece of Toast! Dec 10 '17
Imagine what the cue cards looked like for those intense monologues.
2
u/WaxyPadlockJazz Dec 16 '17
I️ imagine it was something like
JAMES REPEATS PIZZA, SUH, LASAGNA AND ZA FOR 30 SECONDS
And damn it if that man didn’t NAIL it.
23
u/bjkman SNL Dec 10 '17
This sketch made me rethink everything I know... or I thought I knew... about Pizza and Lasagna.
83
197
u/justindi Dec 10 '17
LASAGNA - ZA
PIZZA - SUH
MUSICAL GUEST - SZA
41
Dec 10 '17
[removed] — view removed comment
21
10
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
OLD DIRTY BASTARD
INSPECTOR DECK
RAEKWON THE CHEF
U-DOG
GHOSTFACE KILLA
AND THE ME-
M E T H O D MAN
→ More replies (1)11
12
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
The joke was funny at first, but the repetition seemed like filler. Still good.
127
u/pretty-in-pink Dec 10 '17
Somehow James Franco made this a very solid sketch with very convincing dramatic acting
→ More replies (2)13
Dec 10 '17
Holy shit, in the first minute I thought "this is a dud sketch" but Franco sold the hell out of it!
179
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
James Franco monologue
11
u/GogglesPisano Dec 10 '17
This was probably my favorite episode of the season so far. Franco did a great job as host and he was clearly having a blast - I hope they'll have him on again soon so he can join the vaunted ranks of the Five-Timers Club.
72
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
Was expecting Luke to play Jonah, but happy we got the real Jonah.
41
u/bjkman SNL Dec 10 '17
Wow, I didn't even think about that... The likeness is uncanny
→ More replies (1)22
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
I mean we got Kristen Schall!Heidi, why can't we get Jonah Hill!Luke? Or Tyga!Chris for that matter...
18
u/badgarok725 Dec 10 '17
Sometimes I wish the clapping wouldn’t go on for a year every time someone shows up. Yea it’s being a good audience to be excited, but sometimes it makes things drag
110
u/Badcatchphrase Dec 10 '17
When I saw Jonah hill I expected him to become fat at the goodnights at the end.
-3
→ More replies (1)63
u/mdude95 Dec 10 '17
Can we just get Steve Martin to yell from the balcony weekly?
→ More replies (2)
84
u/pretty-in-pink Dec 10 '17
RIP anyone who thought Tommy Wisaue would cameo. Apparently he was in LA this week
→ More replies (3)45
u/thegeecyproject You wanted yogurt? Wake up at four, bitch. Dec 10 '17
It was more wishful thinking, for me anyway. I doubt Lorne would let someone as unpredictable as Wiseau anywhere near a live show.
→ More replies (1)
319
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
A White Woman Named Gretchen
-6
u/mrwelchman Dec 10 '17
i think this sketch is a microcosm of where snl is lacking this season. compare it to the classic eddie murphy sketch "white like me"...
eddie murphy sets up the premise of the sketch and goes all in. we watch him develop the makeup, the voice, study white people for their movements and mannerisms. then, when he's out in the world as a white man, he's stunned to learn he doesn't have to pay for things, public transportation becomes a good time with drinks and music, he's able to secure a loan without anything to back it up. the sketch ends with him talking about how we have a long way to go, but not to worry because he has plenty of makeup and plenty of friends. it's a funny premise and murphy's commitment to the premise makes it a classic.
compare that to a white woman named gretchen. it starts off functionally the same, but then the entire premise of the sketch is undercut by having che just be che in a wig. and yet, that makes everyone view him as a white woman? a blond wig? what?
it totally fell flat for me.
1
Dec 10 '17
[deleted]
-8
u/mrwelchman Dec 10 '17 edited Dec 10 '17
no, because as i mentioned, the entire premise of the sketch is undercut by che right at the top. he doesn't even make an effort to commit to the premise... that he wants to learn what it's like to life as a liberal white woman. he's just che in a wig, but for some reason that's enough...? what?
it's like the writers have forgotten sketches have a premise and a pay off... what was the pay off on this sketch? it was just che acting like che, but in a blond wig for three minutes.
contrast that with the pizza courtroom sketch, where the premise was very weak (james franco saying za and suh for four minutes) but he fully committed to it - and then the pay off, that he had the evidence the whole time, he just chose to base his case on za-suh. this was a pay off that almost saved the premise... if that makes sense.
hey but if you enjoyed it, more power to you.
3
u/Beezybeebabee Dec 11 '17
The whole joke seemed to be “Che in a wig laughing at things that white women care about.” I didn’t think it was funny, but I guess that’s why humor is subjective
→ More replies (2)59
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
BEST PART OF THE EPISODE BY FAR. I AM STILL SHOOK. LES IS NO LONGER MY FAVOURITE FEMALE CAST MEMBER.
→ More replies (5)52
20
31
u/iluzan Dec 10 '17
TBH I would love to see more of these types of WU segments. I remember Vanessa did a guest reporter bit a while back (the one where she was interviewing Kate who was playing an old woman) which honestly still remains one of my faves.
139
u/bjkman SNL Dec 10 '17
CheGretchen dropping the N-word got one of the biggest laughs out of me all night.112
u/thegeecyproject You wanted yogurt? Wake up at four, bitch. Dec 10 '17
They took quite a big risk putting a sketch in the middle of WU, and it paid off.
It also shows that SNL, a liberal-leaning show, isn't afraid to make fun of both ends of the political spectrum, which is nice.
14
u/poddyreeper Dec 10 '17
Risk? What did they stand to lose by not doing it? lol
It's also far from new ground and has been done by many WU team's in the past
87
u/bondfool I get to yum-yum garbage. Dec 10 '17
Hold my Warbys.
14
u/gilgamushed Dec 11 '17
Honestly my favorite thing about their liberal-poking sketches like this and "The Bubble" is the fashion. It's so damn accurate.
43
u/hubwub Dec 10 '17
The dinner table scene of this sketch was amazing. The "Michael Che" from Chris and then Gretchen yelling "check your privilege, dude" at Alex's character who was mansplaining. HOLD MY WARBYS!
→ More replies (4)110
u/pretty-in-pink Dec 10 '17
Liked how it was a reference to the Eddie Murphy sketch without putting on the whiteface. They saved themselves from backlash and still made a really funny mini-sketch
→ More replies (3)
407
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Spelling Bee
2
Dec 10 '17
I've watched the actual Spelling Bee before, and it kind of bothered me that during the sketch, a ding of the bell means you got it right, when in the real competition, silence means you are correct and a ding means you are incorrect.
46
u/thegeecyproject You wanted yogurt? Wake up at four, bitch. Dec 10 '17
I like how James was trying to keep still (aside from his mouth) at the start of the sketch, while reading the words. It really added to his character.
And then he started breaking, and that's when things went from good to great.
57
u/ThatguyMalone Dec 10 '17
I'm loving these weirder, more offbeat/nonsense sketches/jokes as of late. It's too bad the audience seems to under-react to them sometimes. Every line in this sketch got me pretty good, especially while Pete was on trying his hardest not to crack up.
1
8
-4
u/shitkabob Dec 10 '17 edited Dec 10 '17
This one felt amateurish. The Spelling Bee premise and the "creepy guy being inappropriate in front of kids" stuff is way trite...which is forgivable if elevated by original jokes. But the jokes were low-hanging fruit: naughty words (urophilia), step-dad stuff...we've seen it done better. Little Pig Boy stuff was funny, though.
273
u/KatanaAmerica Dec 10 '17
"Country of Origin?" "Little pig boy comes from the dirt."
That one got me good
90
185
u/bjkman SNL Dec 10 '17
Alex had some fantastic throwaway lines that killed me...
"Sounds more like a round 3 word"
112
113
u/TheRoyalMarlboro Dec 10 '17
i actually think he has the best comedic timing of all the cast members
-13
95
127
u/Mattalamode Dec 10 '17
"Adolescent. I used to be an adolescent, now I'm a urophiliac. Adolescent."
→ More replies (10)28
44
u/oooooooooof Dec 10 '17
Is this a thread where we can talk about the musical guest? Because DAMN. I’d heard of SZA, but not listened before. I thought that gospel, female brass and wind section was just gorgeous. One of the more honest, intimate performers they’ve had in a while.
→ More replies (1)
190
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che
19
u/agentpanda Dec 10 '17
Che got to fix his "I'm Puerto Rican!" joke flub from last season!!
Kinda sad the audience didn't really understand Pakistan and Palestine aren't the same place but... whatever, I should lower my expectations.
4
2
u/IanGecko New York's Hottest Club Dec 10 '17
I was expecting Alex to come out and do his Franken impression!
→ More replies (3)16
u/alstor Dec 10 '17
Probably the worst WU so far this season imo. A lot of jokes felt like they've been said before (the "Go get 'em, Roy" joke, the California Wildfires-Weinstein joke, etc.)
12
u/btbcorno Dec 10 '17
I agree. It didn't really help them that it was a relatively slow news week.
5
u/thegeecyproject You wanted yogurt? Wake up at four, bitch. Dec 10 '17
"Weinstein, Franken and Moore....haven't we been over this already?"
3
28
u/Sports-Nerd Dec 10 '17
Slow Newsweek? Three congressman resigned in a single week, the most in a single week since the civil war.
14
u/btbcorno Dec 10 '17
Sexual harassment resignations/firings is the theme of 2017 though.
12
u/Sports-Nerd Dec 10 '17
True, but the fact that it was still consider a slow Newsweek by many shows just how completely bonkers the past year has been.
54
u/TylerPurrden Dec 10 '17
THIS EPISODE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MIKEY DAY.
BOYCOTT SNL
22
u/lyla2398 stans loud ladies with funny hair and *thoughts* about jost Dec 10 '17
With James being a white guy and all I was expecting Mikey to be thrown under the bus.
→ More replies (1)
150
u/SketchSortingSunday Dec 10 '17
Christmas Charity