SNL, Season 38

[kupo]

Yeah, losing Hader is a blow. Sudeikis...not so much (and I say that as a real fan of Sudeikis, but I feel like he's mostly been sideline for a while now).

But I think "sinking ship" is a bit alarmist and doesn't recognize the talent of some of the featured players. Cecily Strong and Kate McKinnon have been two of the best things about the show since they joined. Jay Pharaoh also seems quite talented, if grossly underused. Aidy Bryant also usually shines when given an opportunity. I'm all for letting these talented cast members move up and do some even more heavy lifting.

[MindyFan]

Whenever I watch SNL, I think what unfunny and overly biased political opening piece can they poop out next...

[Libs]

Loved the Stefon (and Bill Hader) send-off on Weekend Update. I'm gonna miss Hader a lot.

Also, they brought back the "drugged out porn stars shilling stuff" skit, which has become one of my favorites.

[City Lights]

Loved the Stefon (and Bill Hader) send-off on Weekend Update. I'm gonna miss Hader a lot.

Also, they brought back the "drugged out porn stars shilling stuff" skit, which has become one of my favorites.

Yes to both of these. Heh-mus & Herpes Bags.

[dyedred19]

The Stefon farewell was so great. Seriously perfect.

And I echo the love for the Hermes sketch. I love those girls so much.

[Ben7]

I just saw last night's episode. Obviously the Stefon bit was the highlight. And Kanye was amazing, as usual.

[Largo]

Stefon and Seth almost made me cry. That was the most perfect send-off ever. Complete with Ben Affleck shrieking to FOLLOW YOUR DREAM!

[Ceilidh-ann]

Yeah, the Stefon send-off couldn't have been better. I basically laughed all the way through it. It's quite sad how emotional it made me too.

[Largo]

There better be a movie of Stefon and Seth Meyers' married life. I've never wanted an SNL movie so badly.

[flibber]

The audience's cries of despair when Stefon left were actually kind of heartrending.

[Ceilidh-ann]

There better be a movie of Stefon and Seth Meyers' married life. I've never wanted an SNL movie so badly.

Is there a Kickstarter for this?

[kupo]

Count me in the group that almost teared up at Seth and Stefon. I think that's my favorite thing on SNL in a decade, maybe longer. Tooooooooooo good.

[Atypical]

Ben Affleck was a pretty awkward host. All I thought he did adequately was the dead guy sketch and the one with the former porn stars. Getting Jennifer Garner for his monologue was nice, and of course Amy Poehler for her segment with Seth. I was more into how the show was going to address these major departures. None reached the level of Kristen Wiig's poignant exit from last season, but the "It's a Lovely Day" song almost got there with Fred Armisen and Bill Hader (Jason Sudeikis curiously in the background on drums), and of course Stefon's great section on Weekend Update (the highlight of this episode by a mile; and a surprise appearance from Anderson Cooper!). Both of Kanye's performances were angry and not all that coherent. Why so mad, Ye? Poor episode overall by season finale standards. It makes me wish that they had saved their heavy-hitters for the finale instead, like Justin Timberlake, Melissa McCarthy, or maybe Tina Fey if she had opted to host this season. The show's best bet for the Emmys is either Timberlake's, McCarthy's, or Short's episodes. Good luck to those who remain for the season 39 cast, b/c they're gonna need it.

[Bremen]

EW spots all the "cameos" at the wedding:

http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/05/20/sa...uffed-wedding/

[BTN]

The wedding part was really funny. All the people stefon had mentioned as being part of a clubs crowd being at the wedding.

I thought all the cops crying in different ways was good. killam and Moynihan were the best.

[Jackers]

The wedding part was really funny. All the people stefon had mentioned as being part of a clubs crowd being at the wedding.

I was sad Stefon's dog Bark Ruffalo wasn't there.

Jay Pharoah let it slip on Twitter that Jason Sudeikis is leaving.



He deleted it afterwards, so either Jason isn't leaving or hasn't made his final decision yet.

[Ben7]

^ it's been rumored for awhile that Jason would be leaving after this season, and that the only reason he didn't leave after last season was to stick around and play Romney last fall. However, I think Jay Pharoah deleted that tweet because Lorne made him take it down. It's probably set in stone that Jason will be gone by next fall, but Lorne has notoriously liked to be in control over the announcement of changes in the SNL cast.

[Jackers]

^ it's been rumored for awhile that Jason would be leaving after this season, and that the only reason he didn't leave after last season was to stick around and play Romney last fall.

I think he's after the head writer/Update host position. Last year he said this:

"I'd like the opportunity to use creative muscles that … haven't been asked of me for the first nine years that I've worked there. It could be some sort of title change."

Who knows what will happen now that Seth is leaving too. Ugh! I hate we'll have to wait all summer to know for sure.

[kupo]

So, I've watched the Stefon farewell on a near-loop for the past 3 days.

Honestly, like, I'm in love with it. It's just so rare to see queer romances that have a sunset to ride off into. Whenever mainstream media deigns to represent queer romances at all (which is rare in itself), it's almost always fraught with all sorts of complications and saddled with social baggage. Not much of a space for queer fantasy in the mainstream, and it's just sort of refreshing and jubilant to see that.

[Eduardo Zuckerberg]

Yeah, the Stefon Meyers bit was great.

The send-off was pretty emotional as well. Even though he's one of the least funny, I'm glad Armisen got a nice moment since the episode was pretty Hader-centric. (The TY LM on his guitar strap was a nice touch).

Sudeikis and Hader tearing up at the end was really touching.