Saturday Night Live: Tiffany Haddish, Taylor Swift
November 11, 2017 11:04 PM - Season 43, Episode 7 - Subscribe
Host: Tiffany Haddish, Musical Guest: Taylor Swift
- The Vice President's Office - Heidi Gardner, Beck Bennett, Mikey Day, Kate McKinnon
- Opening Monologue - Tiffany Haddish
- Gamer Con - Melissa Villaseñor, Pete Davidson, Kyle Mooney, Kennan Thompson, Mikey Day, Kate McKinnon, Luke Null, Tiffany Haddish, Alex Moffat
- The Lion King Screen Tests - Cecily Strong, Beck Bennett, Tiffany Haddish, Chris Redd, Alex Moffat, Kennan Thompson, Leslie Jones, Pete Davidson, Luke Null, Chirs Redd, ?, Tiffany Haddish, Aidy Bryant, Melissa Villaseñor
- Message from the DNC - Kate McKinnon, Alex Moffat, Cecily Strong, Mikey Day, Leslie Jones, Jason Sudekis, Larry David
- Beck And Kyle - Beck Bennet, Kyle Mooney, Leslie Jones, Chirs Redd, Colin Jost, Lorne Michaels, Aidy Bryant, Tiffany Haddish
- Taylor Swift - ...Ready For It?
- Weekend Update - Michael Che, Colin Jost
- Claire from HR - Cecily Strong
- Chris Redd, Tiffany Haddish
- Lavar Ball - Kennan Thompson
- The Last Black Unicorn - Aidy Bryant, Melissa Villaseñor, Beck Bennett, Tiffany Haddish, Leslie Jones
- Get Woke With Tamika - Leslie Jones, Aidy Bryant, Tiffany Haddish
- The Dolphin Who Learned To Speak - Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Tiffany Haddish,
- Taylor Swift - Call It What You Want
- Whiskers R We - Kate McKinnon, Tiffany Haddish, Chris Redd
I thought this was the most even episode so far. They did two Cavalcade of Impressions together (and Beck and Kyle made it three pre-recorded pieces in a row), but I like that kind of thing. Mikey Day's floaty videogame character detail was perfect.
I also was unaware of Tiffany Haddish, and she was an excellent host. I thought she was an actor in a show I haven't seen, but she's a standup comic? I'll be checking her out.
I'm still not sure there's a person in there, but I liked the Taylor Swift songs and part of me still holds out for the possibility she's real, even though the second song was her fully playing Mick Guitar.
They pulled their punches in Get Woke, being kind of fuzzy on the "standing Aidy" thing where they wound up just telling her to leave.
HAAAAAND!!!
posted by rhizome at 8:33 AM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
I also was unaware of Tiffany Haddish, and she was an excellent host. I thought she was an actor in a show I haven't seen, but she's a standup comic? I'll be checking her out.
I'm still not sure there's a person in there, but I liked the Taylor Swift songs and part of me still holds out for the possibility she's real, even though the second song was her fully playing Mick Guitar.
They pulled their punches in Get Woke, being kind of fuzzy on the "standing Aidy" thing where they wound up just telling her to leave.
HAAAAAND!!!
posted by rhizome at 8:33 AM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
This was pretty great from start to finish, tho' I'll admit I skipped Taylor Swift. Tiffany Haddish is wonderful. I was overjoyed to see Whiskers R We come back, even if it looked like Kate almost got nailed. I might recommend plugging in a few Feliway diffusers on the set next time around.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 9:20 AM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 9:20 AM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
I only watched a bit, so can't review the episode. But I've seen some of Haddish's standup before, and just didn't think she's that funny. If you were already a fan, I'd like to hear your POV. She's energetic, she's confident, I can see why people respond to that. The CK/Weinstein "thang thang" joke was good.
But her primary material still seems a little lacking depth. (I was in foster, now I'm famous. Ta-da.)
Talk of her being the first African-American *female* comedian to host got me thinking about Richard Pryor, who did SNL the year it debuted. He took a really bad childhood and made something bigger out of the pain.
Yeah, yeah, everyone's taste is different. But even if we go to MeMail cos it's a bit OT, I'd like to hear people's take.
posted by NorthernLite at 10:51 AM on November 12, 2017
But her primary material still seems a little lacking depth. (I was in foster, now I'm famous. Ta-da.)
Talk of her being the first African-American *female* comedian to host got me thinking about Richard Pryor, who did SNL the year it debuted. He took a really bad childhood and made something bigger out of the pain.
Yeah, yeah, everyone's taste is different. But even if we go to MeMail cos it's a bit OT, I'd like to hear people's take.
posted by NorthernLite at 10:51 AM on November 12, 2017
Dude, who the hell among us is Richard Pryor?
posted by kittens for breakfast at 11:19 AM on November 12, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by kittens for breakfast at 11:19 AM on November 12, 2017 [3 favorites]
Richard Pryor was pretty much the James Brown of comedy, if not its Louis Armstrong. We'll know when someone comparable shows up.
If the point is about a gratuitous distinction between male and female black comics, I'll just say that black women are fully justified in claiming any significance they can find, because they have been consistently shit upon in this country. For centuries.
posted by rhizome at 11:26 AM on November 12, 2017 [6 favorites]
If the point is about a gratuitous distinction between male and female black comics, I'll just say that black women are fully justified in claiming any significance they can find, because they have been consistently shit upon in this country. For centuries.
posted by rhizome at 11:26 AM on November 12, 2017 [6 favorites]
I thought her Schaal voice drifted a bit toward a Wanda Sykes edge, but I think there's a future in it!
posted by rhizome at 12:39 PM on November 12, 2017
posted by rhizome at 12:39 PM on November 12, 2017
I had no idea who Tiffany Haddish but she's delightful.
Yeah, totally, Kristin Schaal impression was totally aces. I'm very impressed with Heidi Gardner (I'm assuming that she was the one doing Schaal).
The Dolphin sketch, though, wow. The joke was telegraphed from 55 years ago, but the technical stuff that went into it was very very good. From the age prostheses to the era-specific set (the wet lab, the outfits, the hair, the bakelite ashtray by the pool...), to the aged photographs. All of it.
It might have been physically challenging to do, but I suspect that everyone had a blast doing it.
posted by porpoise at 2:37 PM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yeah, totally, Kristin Schaal impression was totally aces. I'm very impressed with Heidi Gardner (I'm assuming that she was the one doing Schaal).
The Dolphin sketch, though, wow. The joke was telegraphed from 55 years ago, but the technical stuff that went into it was very very good. From the age prostheses to the era-specific set (the wet lab, the outfits, the hair, the bakelite ashtray by the pool...), to the aged photographs. All of it.
It might have been physically challenging to do, but I suspect that everyone had a blast doing it.
posted by porpoise at 2:37 PM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Dolphin sketch, though, wow.
posted by porpoise
posted by NorthernLite at 2:59 PM on November 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by porpoise
posted by NorthernLite at 2:59 PM on November 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
I _loved_ Claire from HR. I hope she comes back.
posted by amtho at 3:48 PM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by amtho at 3:48 PM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Actually thoroughly enjoyed this episode from beginning to end (sans Swift, but I know that's not for me).
For those of you who were not aware of Tiffany Haddish before, I guess that means that you didn't see her on the Carmichael Show, which I highly recommend fixing, because it's one of the best sitcoms of the past decade.
posted by General Malaise at 4:10 PM on November 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
For those of you who were not aware of Tiffany Haddish before, I guess that means that you didn't see her on the Carmichael Show, which I highly recommend fixing, because it's one of the best sitcoms of the past decade.
posted by General Malaise at 4:10 PM on November 12, 2017 [2 favorites]
The Get Woke sketch seemed like it was actually referencing the Putin technique of supporting puppets who are nominally against his interests, but provide useful discord and chaos. Were the writers actually going there? How many SNL viewers would pick up on that? Or am I just way off base?
posted by paper chromatographologist at 4:38 PM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by paper chromatographologist at 4:38 PM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
The dolphin sketch was based on a real BBC documentary about a scientist and a dolphin with 'urges'.
posted by Gary at 6:28 PM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Gary at 6:28 PM on November 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Tiffany really blew up when on the publicity circuit for Girls Trip, she told this story on Kimmel. I lurve her.
posted by Stanczyk at 6:33 PM on November 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Stanczyk at 6:33 PM on November 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
I did not get the gamer con sketch at all. The Lion King Screen Test sketch was gold. Message from the DNC was quite good too. This was quite a solid episode.
I watch SNL on the Global TV site the day after it airs, and they always cut out the musical acts. I liked not having to watch Taylor Swift.
posted by orange swan at 7:40 PM on November 12, 2017
I watch SNL on the Global TV site the day after it airs, and they always cut out the musical acts. I liked not having to watch Taylor Swift.
posted by orange swan at 7:40 PM on November 12, 2017
If you were already a fan, I'd like to hear your POV.
I think she's sort of like Tracey Morgan where she just does her thing and it's usually funny as hell. And I thought she fit in great with the cast and had a lot of energy and "up for it"-ness. The thing with the dress? Hilarious.
I literally did not understand Get Woke and I couldn't figure out if it was because Leslie is still sometimes choppy with her live game or if they'd edited something that would have made it make more sense.
Agreed I was hoping Swift would have been in sketches. I'm not that into her new stuff but I loved it when she hosted.
Heidi Gardner's Schaal was perfect, so perfect.
THE DOLPHIN SKETCH OMG. I knew the story was based on an actual thing and had a total nerd freakout telling Jim "DUDE HAT REALLY HAPPENED" and I appreciated the hell out of whoever dragged that out of the archives. Always love screen test ensemble pieces. Continue to love the bizarre Kyle/Leslie mini-movies and Cecily had a number of great bits including Claire from HR. Appreciated them calling out Louis CK (even if briefly) because I know they've been skewering all the other harasser/molester/rapists and I was wondering if they'd make an exception for him.
posted by jessamyn at 6:17 AM on November 13, 2017
I think she's sort of like Tracey Morgan where she just does her thing and it's usually funny as hell. And I thought she fit in great with the cast and had a lot of energy and "up for it"-ness. The thing with the dress? Hilarious.
I literally did not understand Get Woke and I couldn't figure out if it was because Leslie is still sometimes choppy with her live game or if they'd edited something that would have made it make more sense.
Agreed I was hoping Swift would have been in sketches. I'm not that into her new stuff but I loved it when she hosted.
Heidi Gardner's Schaal was perfect, so perfect.
THE DOLPHIN SKETCH OMG. I knew the story was based on an actual thing and had a total nerd freakout telling Jim "DUDE HAT REALLY HAPPENED" and I appreciated the hell out of whoever dragged that out of the archives. Always love screen test ensemble pieces. Continue to love the bizarre Kyle/Leslie mini-movies and Cecily had a number of great bits including Claire from HR. Appreciated them calling out Louis CK (even if briefly) because I know they've been skewering all the other harasser/molester/rapists and I was wondering if they'd make an exception for him.
posted by jessamyn at 6:17 AM on November 13, 2017
The Mortal Kombat sketch was great. I loved the bobbing, awkward pauses, and lame one-liners. Totally spot-on.
posted by liet at 2:20 PM on November 13, 2017
posted by liet at 2:20 PM on November 13, 2017
The video game sketch also made me giggle because of the character bobbing. That was great. The sketch itself was eh, but the well-observed details that went into it made up for the lack of plot/direction.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:17 AM on November 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:17 AM on November 15, 2017 [1 favorite]
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I liked the Lion King screen tests. Really I like any time they do that thing where they just do a lightning round of celebrity impersonations. The Kristen Schaal one was probably my favorite.
Message from the DNC was pretty spot-on. Nice callback to David's monologue last week, though the joke seemed to fall flat.
I could watch Kate and Tiffany playing with cats all night long.
Was Cecily's Clair from HR character new? I loved that so much.
Surprised not to see Taylor Swift show up in any sketches. She's hosted before and she's pretty comfortable there so it was kind of a disappointment, especially after Miley was all over the show last week. Taylor's music is... not for me, though it was nice to see her playing guitar in the second song. She's not for me, sure, but I still have OPINIONS on the fact that she used to be country and now she's Lady Gaga or some shit.
Easily the best episode of the season so far.
posted by bondcliff at 6:48 AM on November 12, 2017