saturday night live
10/15/2007
SNL's Andy Samberg on Punching Spree
By all recognized laws of pop culture, one thing is universally understood: at some point, Andy Samberg and the boys of The Lonely Island are going to find themselves facing a major-league backlash. But for right now, they are riding high with viral success. And bless them for it.
This Digital Short actually reminds me a lot of the short films that Albert Brooks would make for Saturday Night Live during its early seasons -- but shorter, and more laced with video game references, and maybe not actually funny. But it's really cool to see a fresh comedic voice being spotlighted on national television. It's like Saturday Night Live is almost... cutting edge. Well. As cutting edge as one can be with a Bon Jovi cameo.
10/04/2007
SNL's Andy Samberg: "I Ran So Far," An Ode to Ahmadinejad
Because Andy Samberg and the "Dick in a Box"/"Lazy Sunday" boys at Saturday Night Live sampled the band Aphex Twin without permission, this SNL Digital Short ode to Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (friend to the homosexual) has been off and on YouTube faster than a juicy Daily Show clip. But now things seem to have settled down, and we can enjoy this sweet, tender, homoerotic love song the way it was meant to be enjoyed -- illegally on YouTube.
10/01/2007
Kanye West Saves Face on SNL
Kanye West's new album "Graduation" has been a critical and commercial success, going gold in a day and crushing the competition (including poor ol' 50 Cent, who may or may not actually end up retiring). In short, the man is a clear winner, which has made his recent temper tantrums about losing super-baffling.
But the Kanye PR machine must be a mighty and fierce one, rivaling Truckosaurus with its cunning and ability to breathe fire. That's the best explanation I have as to how the hip-hop star got the chance to satirize his poor losing on the Saturday Night Live season premiere. It's a triumph of self-parody, simultaneously negating the bad press of his VMA hissyfit and promoting Kanye as a comedy threat. Because who knew Kanye was funny? Not me. But next time I have the opportunity, I'll definitely give "a black man -- um, a short black man -- a chance."
