SNL Adventure Stories- Season 36, Show 19
FRIDAY
A special friend, Robin came in from CA to visit for the weekend & to do standby. We went to visit her in line.
Arrival time for the April 9, 2011 show with host Dame Helen Mirren & MG Foo Fighters was at 2:00 PM. Robin was #4 in line. We visited her for quite awhile. We saw Hoda Kotb & she waved to us after asking if the line was for SNL. Mark was #1. When Chris arrived he was #5 in line. Chris, Robin, Louis & I went to Burger King for dinner & to chat.
After we ate we went back to the standby line to visit with Chris & Robin for awhile. At around 8:30, the soup guys came out to count the line & then at 9:00, the soup came out. It was Manhattan Clam Chowder & it was Manhattan Clam Chowder. It was really good too. While eating my soup, Jay Pharoah came down. We talked to him for a bit. It was time for Louis & I to go home so we said Goodbye to Chris & Robin.
After we got home, Chris called us around Midnight to give us an update. They saw Bill Hader, Seth Meyers & Andy Milinokis from MTV.
Ticket time arrived. Robin got #2 dress & Chris got #3 dress.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Louis & I met Robin at Tad's Steaks to eat. Robin said she enjoyed the meal since it was her first time. After we ate, we walked to Rock Center to get Ben & Jerry's. We introduced Robin to fire marshall Donald. Robin didn't have any ice cream. I took my smoothie to the NBC lobby. We got to the lobby at 5:00 PM. Stood around & chatted with regular ticket holders, a few standbys, Chris, Robin & Arlene. Louis & I went up for dress.
WHAT GOT CUT
BRITISH MOVIE- Commercial. Bill Hader & Kenan Thompson. I believe this has been on the air before. It's about a guy who speaks in a British accent & you can't understand him.
Chris: I still have my advanced tickets for 'Don' You Go Rounin' Roun to Re Ro'I predict Oscar nods for that one...
LATE NIGHT W/TYLER PERRY- Kenan Thompson, Jay Pharoah & Helen Mirren. A talk show hosted by Tyler Perry.
Chris: This was a fun one and Jay did an incredible Madea with the Madea band!
PTA MEETING- Helen Mirren & Bobby Moynihan. A parent teacher meeting.
Chris: I think this might be a future Bobby character but cute but also understandably cut.
QUEEN ISABELLE- Andy Samberg, Fred Armisen, Helen Mirren, Taran Killam, Paul Brittain & Bobby Moynihan. Fred wants to own a ship but the Queen wont let him have one.
Chris: Two historical sketches in this bunch...cam see why the other was chosen..
BILLY OCEAN- Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Wiig, Helen Mirren & Jay Pharoah. Jay is Billy Ocean doing a concert. Jason doesn't know who Billy Ocean is but his wife tells him who it is so a fan, Helen joins them & goes crazy. She even tells them the story of how she knows Billy. He even comes over & gives her a big kiss. Jay does an excellent Billy Ocean. Should not have been cut.
Chris: Something tells me we will see this one in a future week because this one was brilliant. Jay continues the streak as a great Billy Ocean right down to the recent look of his!
23 standbys got into dress.
After dress, we went down to the lobby. Chatted with Chris, Robin, Mark & a friend of his. Louis & I went up for the LIVE show.
EPISODE REVIEW
PRE-SHOW THOUGHTS- I don't know Helen Mirren that well but I liked Calendar Girls & The Queen. I like Foo Fighters & I have liked Dave Grohl since he was drummer for Nirvana. Should be a good show.
Chris: I remember Helen Mirren as far back as O Lucky Man! and Caligula right down to the Prime Suspect series on PBS. Welcome back Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters. I got a good feeling about this week!
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS COLD OPEN- I thought this was good & I was surprised as to how short it was which I loved. I'm glad we didn't have a Government shutdown.
Chris: This was short but not one of their best efforts this season in terms of cold openings. C
DAME MONOLOGUE- I loved this & she has a great singing voice. The guy added to it made it even better. A+
Chris: This was tighter in live than in dress and done extremely well adding to the many wonderful monologues this season! A
CELEBRITY TAXES- I thought this better than the last time. Paul did a great James Franco. Of course I love The Kardashian's. I'm surprised Bill didn't do a Charlie Sheen. A+
Chris: Jay was Chris Brown in dress but did better with Will Smith in the live show and this was surprisingly better than they did it last time. Helen and Bill made a great Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton with Paul topping off with a great Johnny Depp B+
SNL DIGITAL SHORT- HELENS BREASTS- I love the pictures in Nasim's head flashing before her eyes. Kristen was funny. B
Chris: I fell over at all the images and it added to a very funny short and sweetly direct digital short A-
FOX & FRIENDS- This was cut from last week & it was funny when Fred was Lou & he really did look like Louis except for the hat. The topics were interesting. A
Chris: Glad to see it made it this week! Wait a minute...THAT IS LOU! How did he get down there to the studio floor? B+
MARY SHELLEY- This was OK. I had a feeling this would be about Frankenstein. Seems like Fred's characters like to have a stuffed up nose. Paul was cute as Igor. C
Chris: A funnier sketch than I thought it would be with Fred and Paul being the inspirations for the classic novel and it ended at the right moment without going too long B
FOO FIGHTERS "ROPE"- This was an OK song. I was fascinated with the swinging lights. B
Chris: I got to say this song is amazing and the extra rock out towards the end that is not in the actual song added to it! Check out those lights A+
WU WITH SETH MEYERS- Kristen Wiig's character was funny. I can still do without Jean K. Jean. Carville was funny this time. Jokes were good. B
Chris: Nice package with very little cut! A-
HUGH JACKMAN SHOW- This was funny. Andy did a good Hugh Jackman but Taran did a great Gerard Butler. A
Chris: TWO SIDES! The capper with Helen as Julie Andrews was classic! Taran, make it two from the UK done well! Well Done! They had to choose one talk show sketch but I have a feeling Tyler will return in a future week. A
UNDERGROUND FESTIVAL: EASTER- I am starting to love this & Nasim is cute as Little Blaster. Why does Ass Dan keep dying? The guest names were funny too. B
Chris: I've loved these from the start when I first heard the portopottys won't be there so you can go IN YOUR PANTS! Hey DJ George Costanza! A
THE ROOSEVELTS- I didn't think this was too funny & this was where Billy Ocean should have been placed, however I did love Abby doing Happy Birthday. C
Chris: This was great and added to the inaccuracies and the defenses...Whoa Abby! My My! Terrific sketch and Helen was a great Eleanor! Glad this was the one historical sketch that made it over the Columbus one B+
PERSPECTIVES PHOTO STUDIO- Commercial. This was also cut from last week & I'm glad it made it this week. I love the idea of Seth being himself in it. A
Chris: I had a feeling this commercial was going to see the light of day! THE PONZ! Once again, Seth sneaks into a sketch and/or ad or video! Great use! A+
FOO FIGHTERS "WALK"- I loved the beat but not the yelling/screaming. A
Chris: AMAZING! Two in the row for the FOO FIGHTERS. Just amazing and Grohl came through beautifully! A+
STRIP CLUB- Foo Fighters was cut from this but Dave Grohl took over for Jason at the end. Casey Wilson was missing from this. Jason does a great DJ. C
Chris: This didn't have the last gag that they've done before but nevertheless the addition of Grohl was great! There's somethign about Jason's delivery during sketches like this that are classic! B
AFTER SHOW THOUGHTS- Helen Mirren did a good job & Foo Fighters werent bad but they werent great either. I wouldn't mind seeing Helen host again. I gave this show a B+
Chris: Despite a weak yet short cold opening, Helen came through nicely being in almost every in-studio sketch and Foo Fighters succeeded where a few other GROUPS haven't this season being solid on BOTH numbers. Very nicely done going into the big break! B+ to both live and dress.
21 standbys got into the air show.
After the show we went down to the lobby. Saw everyone except Kenan Thompson, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg, Taran Killam & Paul Brittain. Chatted with Jay Pharoah, Vanessa Bayer & Bobby Moynihan. Chris & I got a picture with Cloris Leachman. She just came out of nowhere.
After everyone left, we went outside to find Robin. She had a cue card, Wally gave her. Some of the cast signed it too. We also chatted with her for a bit & said our Goodbyes. It was great seeing you again, Robin!!!
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