Jason Alexander on SNL - A Review

Is it just me or was the SNL with Jason Alexander unbelievably NOT funny? I mean, SNL has been dropping lately, but I was surprised that with such a usually funny character they'd have one of the most laugh-less shows.

Above Chad Skelton says:

I agree. If SNL is trying to be not funny, then it's brilliant. I don't watch it that much anymore since it's become a complete waste of time, but when I do I have to wonder how, with all that money, a huge staff, they they can consistently be so not funny. How do they do it? I've noticed that the skits can waste perfectly good talent, like Alexander, because they don't know how to develop a premise. They come up with one idea and then repeat it until the end of the time slot, flash the applause signs, and go to a commercial, or if your lucky, a "Deep Thoughts." It's actually kind of surprising how much the show sucks. It's so moronic and devoid of talent or interest that I am generally at a loss to explain it. Compare that to "Seinfeld" where they can not only come up with a great premise but then develop it, with beginning-middle-end and unpredicted variations. For example, compare any episode to last week's sorry SNL skit where Jason A. works in a grocery store. Once you get the premise that he is going to keep retreating to rooms where there are increasingly less amenities, you've seen the whole thing. They simply repeat it three times and stop. No laughs, nothing; and you feel like you've just been robbed of eight minutes of your life. I could go on and mention other annoyances of this public nuisance excuse for filling up air time--like the irritating, non-funny "characters" they're trying to market and the absolute no-talent hacks that do them (Pat, ugh)--but I think that's enough. I guess what I'm saying is why can't other shows be even 1/2 as good as Seinfeld? Is that too much to ask? They're both NBC shows--why can't the Seinfeld writers give SNL a clue?

Yes, but you gotta admit, that particular show did have some redeeming qualities. The Irony and Woody skits were, in my opinion, good enough to justify watching the hour of crap. This is all thanks to Jason Alexander's acting prowess, without it, both skits would have sucked as bad as the rest of the show. Come on, JA NAILED the facial expressions in Irony. IMO- the best skit they've had since the Bassomatic!!!!

(Feel free to disagree!) :-) [email] -------------------------------- "And you to whom adversity has dealt the final blow, With smilin' bastards lying to you everwhere you go. Turn to, put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain, And like the Mary Ellen Carter, Rise Again!!!" -- Stan Rogers

Hopw many others out there were just waiting for George to say "NTTAWWT" this week when he found out his old girlfriend has turned to lesbianism? I guess that shows good restraint by the writers to not make something into a cliche.

And while I have your attention, I can't help but comment on this:

I agree, Pat was funny once, maybe twice, but she sure isn't enough to merit an often recurring skit.

On the subject of no-talent hacks on SNL which should have been forgotten after using once: the one woman who does the Jan Brady immitation. Again, OK the first time, but not THAT funny. And how did the producers ever let Kevin Nealon talk them into letting him be the WU anchor. I don't think I've gotten a laugh out of WU since Dennis Miller left.

I hate "deep thoughts", too.

The Sat. night competition is too good nowadays to waste time watching SNL (except on tape in FF mode, maybe). The HBO comic strip-live type shows are usually a lot more fun to watch if I'm up that late.

Back to the Seinfeld discussions.

Dennis