We often bemoan the fact that Saturday Night Live buries its hosts — much too often, we get really excited to see a certain actor, and then they get about two great moments that are overshadowed by Bill Hader anyway. But Jamie Foxx, who ushered SNL back from a three-week hiatus last night, was everywhere. And it was usually a good thing. The episode got off to a shaky start, but picked up serious speed after Weekend Update. Maybe they just needed half a show to recover from the long break? Either way, the sum total is not too shabby. Watch the best and worst sketches after the jump, and let us know what you thought of the episode in the comments.
The Best:
Dylan McDermott or Dermot Mulroney
This episode of SNL, for better or for worse, was all about race — from Foxx’s “How Black is That?” monologue to the first skit out of the gate being a game show where Foxx makes fun of nerdy white people for being bitches. We’re not sure where it falls on the spectrum, but this skit — where three African-American contestants couldn’t tell the difference between the two actors, made us laugh even before Dermot Mulroney showed up holding a photo of Dylan McDermott. At least, we think that’s who it was. The kicker was at the end, when they were all upset they missed the chance to play “Djimon Hounsou Or Chiwetel Ejiofor.” Very clever.
Maine Justice
This one was a little, um, out of the box, and it took us a little while to understand what was going on, but it was still our favorite sketch of the night. We always go for the surreal ones. And for the ones where Jamie Foxx and Jason Sudeikis have such hilarious chemistry.
Swarvoski Crystals
Yikes. That is, yikes in a good way. This skit was gross and upsetting, but terribly funny. Everything just kept getting amped up at a constant pace, and even though we usually hate Cecily Strong’s trademark stupid-girl-drone, we never got bored.
The Worst
Fiscal Cliff Press Conference
Oh, this one was fine, but it was a little boring. We’re not saying we could have come up with anything funnier to do about the whole “fiscal cliff” situation, but Obama talking about how sorry he is that John Boehner is getting hazed? A solid meh.
Tyler Perry Presents Alex Cross
Unfortunately, this was about as painful as a real Tyler Perry movie.
Tree Pimps
This one was a little funny, but it’s on the “worst” list because of the missed opportunity. We always expect more out of the pre-taped sketches, and this one felt like it was trying to go down the same road as Louis C.K.’s Lincoln sketch, or even the Sad Mouse sketch — it managed to be just as dark and slow as those two, but nowhere near as funny or (dare we say it?) touching.
Special Award:
Bitch, What’s The Answer?
Intellectually, we know that Jamie Foxx calling a bunch of white nerds “bitch” over and over again isn’t funny. It’s base! It’s boring! It gets old so fast! But we laughed the whole way through. Take it as you will.