Bobby Moynihan Q&A Part 3 (Fire and Rice)

It's well-documented that the cast members contribute to the writing. The interview comes from:
http://livefromnewyorkitssaturdaynightlive.blogspot.com/2010/06/bobby-moynihan-q.html





Question: How involved are you in the writing process? Do you pair up often with other particular cast members/writers?

Bobby: All of the cast writes. You kind of just pair up for the week or shoot ideas back and forth. To be honest, that is one thing that I have not cracked yet. It's like asking someone out on a date every Tuesday. I write a lot with Nangle, Bryan Tucker, Colin Jost, Jillian Bell, Rob Klein, Abby Elliot, John Mulaney, Simon Rich, and Ryan Perez. Perez is hilarious. There are so many talented writers, you just want to write with them all. Also they write for you too. Or they cast you in something great. Mike O'Brien is a great writer and he cast me as A** Dan and the lead singer of Smash Mouth. Something I love him for.





Question: Are there any impressions that you wish you could do on the show? Are there any impressions you did not think you could perform well until they were given to you?

Answer: I'd like to try Paula Dean, Danny Devito, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Judah Freidlander, Odd Job, Oliver Platt. You know, the usual. As for impressions that I was CAST in... Karl Rove was fun. I still don't know who he is but it was fun. Mulaney cast me as David Crosby. Also fun. Alfred Hitchcock was the worst. I start off okay then I sound like Lorne! I just couldn't get it down.





Question: One of my favourite sketches last season was one you did with Sigourney Weaver called Fire and Rice. I thought it was really funny and I was just wondering, were you involved with its writing at all? Also, what was it like to appear in a sketch with just you and Sigourney Weaver?

Answer: That is one that is a perfect example of a fake pitch going well. I just wanted to make Sigourney laugh. I pitched a scene where we were a lounge act and she was on top of the piano but she was afraid of heights. She laughed out loud and after the meeting came to my office to talk about it. She had ideas which was awesome because I did not. I teamed up with Nangle and we cranked it out. It was a lot longer and had a lot more back story about her first husband. Nangle was the one who reigned it in and made it really tight. Sigourney had a crazy busy week and we did not get to rehearse it that much.

On Saturday I was pretty sure that it was not gonna make the show but Sigouney and I practiced it in her dressing room whenever she had a free second and she was so awesome about it. She just wanted to nail it because it's almost all her. Dress went okay. The ending got screwed up because after she fell off the piano she got right back up. Then she realized that the whole sketch was about her falling sixty feet and she ducked back down again. The crowd went nuts. It got the wrong kind of laugh. But in between dress and air she fought for it and it stayed in. I was so grateful that I almost forgot that it was my first sketch ever that just had the host and me! I was reeling. It went great and it is one of my top five sketch's that I am most proud of.

My favorite moment from the rehearsal was when the stunt coordinator tried to help Sigourney up onto the piano. She turned to him and said, "It's okay. I was Ripley." Most bad a** woman ever.





This is our last of the Q&As. Find a few more questions here:
http://livefromnewyorkitssaturdaynightlive.blogspot.com/2010/06/bobby-moynihan-q.html

=======================================

Once again, Bobby has nothing mean to say. Nothing but compliments. A good quality to have. =^)

He has a good point that he kind of has to court the writers and actors to collab with him. Surely that's an interesting experience.

Also, in his Sigourney answer, he shows how it's really a pitch to the host. Then the host kind of fights for what she or he likes. I'd love to see Bobby as Oddjob!!!

Enjoy!

Bobby Moynihan Q&A Part 2 (Snookie)

The interview comes from:
http://livefromnewyorkitssaturdaynightlive.blogspot.com/2010/06/bobby-moynihan-q.html





Question: One of my favourite recurring characters/impressions from season 35 was Snooki, who of course you played. I think what's great about it is that you're not just doing a dead-on impression of her, but you've turned her into a character. So, could you talk about the genesis of that impression? (How it was decided you would play her, the writing for her etc.) Also, one reader was curious as to how long it takes to remove the orange make-up?!

Bobby: SNOOKI! It started when I was I was watching TV and literally as I turned it on I just saw a girl get punched in the face. It was the promo for the show on MTV. It hadn't aired yet. I remember writing down "Italian Girl gets punched in the face" I thought it might be funny for update. I didn't even know who Snooki was. Then I started watching the show and I fell in love. That girl is a cartoon character. She is just the free-est of spirits. When I finally saw the episode and they cut it I was amazed. They showed it like a thousand times a day for a week and then said that it was inappropriate so they pulled it. Amazing. I think I just thought about it and wrote down the Garfield line about being orange and loving lasanga and that was it. My good friend Christine Nangle had been hired on the show and we wanted to write together. I pitched her the idea of me playing Snooki on Update. Nangle is brilliant and we work great together. I think we wrote the first one in like twenty minutes. It just flowed. We sat on the couch outside the elevator and just hammered it out. I just remember that we kept saying that it shouldn't be mean. It should be what she would really say if she had a chance to be on Update. It was totally different at dress. Much more subdued. And less orange. Then Seth improvised something and I just did that laugh to recover. The laugh got the biggest laugh. That made me feel good and Nangle said "DO THAT LAUGH AS MUCH AS YOU CAN".

On air, I think I just felt comfortable with Seth and the one was much more joyous and carefree. I think that's why people like her and the bit. Just an idiot having fun being an idiot. And every time we do it she gets more and more orange. Also Nangle is brillaint. She wrote the "Prison Jumpsuit" line from the Alec Baldwin episode. That line is pure genius and pure Nangle. Another crazy surreal moment was watching the real Snooki watch the clip on an MTV special. She seemed moved and touched. I just wanted to remind her that I was a dude painted orange and that she should not be as flattered.

It takes about twenty minutes to get the orange on. It's all Josh and Louis, the best makeup guys in the business. It's all airbrushed on then I get in the dress, boobs, jewelry, makeup, and finally the wig. I've gotten it off in three minutes for the next sketch but if you look closely my knuckles and neck are still bright orange.





Question: There have been a lot of great hosts during your time at SNL. Who were some of your favourites to work with and is there anybody in particular that you would like to see host next season?

Bobby: I have favorites for different reasons. Megan Fox was so cool. Anne Hathaway sticks out as a favorite just because I was so new and she was so excited to be there like me. Paul Rudd was amazing. I wanna marry Gabby Sidibe. Rogen and Phillipe were awesome. Blake Lively was great and I had my first "live from New York" on her show so that meant a lot to me. James Franco was a pisser. Sitting on John Malcovich's lap was nuts. Megan Fox... Megan Fox had to see me naked and for that I apologize. But if I had to go top three it would be Sigourney Weaver, Jude Law, and Betty White.... and Megan Fox.

As for hosts I would like next season... THESE ARE MY DREAM HOSTS... Robert Downey, Jr., Tom Hanks, Michael Emerson, Evangeline Lilly, Bryan Cranston, Sam Rockwell, Ken Jeong, Will Smith, Mickey Rourke, Amy Poehler, Carrie Fisher, Jonathan Winters, Gonzo, Ricky Gervais, Omar from The Wire, Tess from Pretty Wild, Simone from Head of the Class, A Bear, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, My Dad, Bill Clinton, Christina Aguilera, Alyssa Milano, Elisha Cuthbert, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Heather Graham, or the cast of Twin Peaks.

Dream Musical guests... (After Pearl Jam my dream had come true but...) Beastie Boys, Snoop, G-Love and the Special Sauce, Christina Aguilera, Leon Redbone, or Randy Newman. But I would trade them all for Biggie.





Question: What were some of your favourite sketches that didn't make it to the air?

Bobby: Ones that always stand out are anything that Fred or Forte write. Fred did a sketch called "Bi*** on Wheels" at the table read for my first episode. It was the funniest thing in the world. It was all about a woman who hosts a talk show on roller skates but she was a terrible roller skater. It eventually got turned into "Riley" but I still hold a place for the original in my heart. On the last episode of season 35 Forte wrote a sketch called "Finders Keepers" it was insane and wonderful. It got cut for time but I have high hopes that it will be seen again. Abby and I always threaten to write something called "The Adventures of Danny Devito and Rhea Pearlman" where we are super heroes. We have never written it but I am including it in the "Didn't make it to air" section because if we do it probably wouldn't. Also, Seth wrote a LOST sketch for the finale but it didn't make it. I loved it. I was Hurley, Bill was Sawyer, Kristen was Kate, Jason was Jack. It was just a nerds dream sketch and expertly written. I really wish we had done it. That one will kill me forever.


Read more here:

http://livefromnewyorkitssaturdaynightlive.blogspot.com/2010/06/bobby-moynihan-q.html

================================

"Simone from Head of the Class" - Hahahahahaha

A bummer that Lost skit got cut! That would have been Bobby's chance to whip out Hurley (an


Enjoy!

Bobby Moynihan Q&A Part 1 (Bobby's SNL Audition and Single Ladies)

Here is Part 1 of the Bobby Moynihan Q&A from the Live From New York blog. Read the rest on the blog:

http://livefromnewyorkitssaturdaynightlive.blogspot.com/2010/06/bobby-moynihan-q.html





Question: Could you talk about how you originally got into comedy? (What led you into it? Was it what you were always interested in pursuing?)

Bobby: When I was a kid I wanted to be a cartoonist. Or at least draw comic books or make action figures. Then I started doing the youth summer theatre in my town. Mostly just to hang out with my friends at the diner after rehearsals. When college time came around I got into UCONN for Acting. So I went. I did mostly plays and musical theatre while I was there but we had to a final presentation for our senior year and we kind of did sketches and then a roast. I think that was my first real jump into sketch comedy. Then when I came back to New York I saw an improv show at UCB. I loved it so much and I knew instantly that that was what I wanted to do. I signed up for classes the next day and I have been doing it ever since.


Question: What was your audition like for Saturday Night Live? Did it feature any characters/impressions that have since been featured on the show?

Bobby: My audition process was torture. It was 14 months in between the first time I auditioned and the second time because of the writers strike. The first time I auditioned I believe I did Hurley from Lost trying to open a jar of Dharma Initiative Chili, Turtle from Entourage. I did Mark Payne, and I did another character called Simply Victor that will never be on the show and a bit where I tap danced. The second time I auditioned I think I had a better handle on what they wanted from me. I did like 13 short bits. I believe I did a character called "The Biggest Douche on the Subway", I did Nathan Lane for the National Hamburger Society, I did Snagglepuss at a swingers club, I did Jack Black at a funeral, I did a character called Mark Dark Narcoleptic Narc, I did Simply Victor again and Mark Payne. I also did other stuff that I am forgetting and when I write it out like that I don't know how I got on the show.





Question: In your first show at SNL, you got your character Mark Payne on the air. How did you succeed in getting a character on the air in your first week and what was it like to feature so prominently in a sketch that early on?

Bobby: Honestly, I have no idea. I think it was all a matter of timing and stupidity. I pitched my only good character right out of the gate. Not the smartest thing I have ever done. But it was the only thing I had that I knew really really well. I had been doing that character in a show with my sketch group Buffoons (with Charlie Sanders and Eugene Cordero) for three years so I felt comfortable with it. Everyone was very nice at my first read through and I was terrified. But it went well and it got picked. Still can't believe it. I also think it had a lot to do with the fact that Michael Phelps was hosting and he had just won like a million medals and he was exhausted. All he had to do in the scene was sit and not swim. If an actual actor hosted I don't think it would have seen the light of day. To this day I still cannot understand the chain of events that led to getting that on the air in my first show. We did another one a few episodes later with Tim McGraw that I loved and another two, one with Rosario Dawson and one with Tracy Morgan, that got cut for time. The Tracy Morgan one was the Mark Payne origin story. A flashback to Tracy training Mark at Uno's. I love it more than anything. But it will never see the light of day. The Mark Payne saga is complete in my mind. I love that character and believe it is a big part of what got me on the show. The biggest thrill of all was seeing Mark Payne in the opening credits sequence of the SNL in the 2000's documentary. I can remember the moment I saw it. I will never forget how thankful I was that I worked in Pizzeria Uno for 9 years too long.





Question: One of my favorite things that Saturday Night Live has done in recent years was the now infamous Single Ladies sketch, the writing of which was attributed you. Could you talk about the conception of that sketch, what it was like to work with Rudd, Timberlake & Beyonce and how it felt to see it turn into a pop culture phenomenon?

Bobby: Monday - Kenan showed me the Beyonce video in his dressing room. I wrote down on a piece of paper (That I still have) "Backup dancers for Beyonce". All I was thinking was that it would be funny to see a chubby guy in a leotard.

Tuesday: I asked John Lutz if he wanted to write with me. He said yes. I pitched the idea to him and we started writing it with just me and Andy as the backup dancers. Lutz came up with the structure and made it into a real sketch instead of just a sight gag. People kept telling me that Beyonce had done the show before and that she didn't do any sketch's. We stopped writing it. Half way through the night we got the news that Abby and Michaela were joining the show. We went back to writing and we immediately put them in the sketch, just in case. At this point I did not think we were even going to hand it in.
Wednesday: It went to the table read with Kristen playing Beyonce. She sold it and it did better than I expected. I figured that it would not make it in and it didn't. I was not surprised.

Thursday-Saturday: I kind of have no idea what happened. We weren't doing it and then Andy asked me to come and ask Beyonce if she would do it. I was really scared to go in her dressing room and ask which was ridculous. She was a complete doll. She was so nice and she told me to sit next to her on the couch. I just kept saying, "Thank you, Beyonce" over and over. (A sidenote... I remember one of the women in Beyonce's entourage just kept saying, "Wouldn't it be funny if I was in the background eating a bagel!" It did not make it into the sketch. Weird.) We asked and Beyonce said she would do it if we could pre-tape it because she wanted to concentrate on her musical performances. We said thanks but we would need to do it live. The next thing I know, I don't know what happened. Someone called Justin Timberlake and what seemed like moments later he was at the studio, he bum rushed her and Beyonce said yes. The rehearsal process was nuts because we only did it twice before the show. The choreography wasn't that bad, I just couldn't understand what was happening. I just kept thinking, "What is happening and what have I done". I also remember Lorne coming to the studio half way through the rehearsal and saying that he watched the video and that there were only two back up dancers. I said, correct, but now we have Justin. Then there was talk that I would be cut from it and that it would just be Andy and Justin. I said I completely understood and tried not cry. Andy and Lutz stood up for me reminding Lorne that it was kinda my idea. I will never forget that. I think that the whole thing was a test because that was the last I heard of it. I remember Lutz saying that it was one of the most bizarre experiences he had working the show. Lutz played Justin for one of the rehearsals and he was great. Lutz is one of the best comedians in the world. The next thing you know we did it at dress and people went nuts. One of the crew guys came up to me and said "Congrats on making history." All I could think was that my Dad was going to see me in a leotard on TV. We did it on air and I remember every second. Darrell had the first line, it was Abby and Michaela's very first appearance on the show. And I was on SNL. That sketch, for some reason, I was completely aware of my surroundings. I enjoyed it more than I can explain.

The Next Monday: I woke up and it was in Entertainment Weekly. That is when I realized how strange and amazing working for this show was going to be.

Every time I see a picture of it in the hallway at SNL or hear that song coming from a car, I get chills and just shake my head and laugh.



Read the full interview here:
http://livefromnewyorkitssaturdaynightlive.blogspot.com/2010/06/bobby-moynihan-q.html

============================

I think the audition was the most interesting part. Essentially it was:

Audition 1 (four longer bits):

1. Hurly from Lost
2. Turtle from Entourage
3. Mark Payne
4. Simply Victor
5. Tap Dancing

Audition 2 (13 shorter bits):

1. The Biggest Douche on the Subway
2. Nathan Lane for the National Hamburger Society
3. Snagglepuss at a swingers club
4. Jack Black at a funeral
5. Mark Dark Narcoleptic Narc
6. Simply Victor
7. Mark Payne

He doesn't remember the last 6 bits.

Bobby also reveals that he tried to get Mark Payne on two more times after the first two. I think he might be tired of trying, so he's done trying.


Plus it's interesting to see how Single Ladies just fell together like that. They need to call JT up again, because he was sorely lacking from season 35 (this last season)!

Enjoy!

Bobby Moynihan on Comedy Central's Portable Lounge (with Chris Gethard)

Watch the whole episode here (warning - some language):

http://www.comedycentral.com/full-episodes/portable-lounge/101-chris-gethard-and-bobby-moynihan


Read about this:
http://news.tubefilter.tv/2010/06/21/sobe-sponsors-comedy-central-portable-lounge/ 

======================

Bobby's growing his beard back for the summer (he'll shave it for SNL in the fall though).

Bobby's obviously the improv'er here, and he's leaving Chris in stitches.

Enjoy!

Bobby Moynihan - When In Rome (on Blu-ray)

When In Rome is now on Blu-ray, and to celebrate it, here's a bad review of Bobby Moynihan:

And speaking of intolerable, "SNL" star Bobby Moynihan pops up now and then to screech like a wounded monkey as Nick's beer-swilling, improv-silly BFF, tearing around the frame as if there wasn't even a director on-set.

Read the full review here:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/44203/when-in-rome/

Now about THE BLU-RAY:

Visual:

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) preserves the golden cinematographic intention of the film, which provides a glow to the Roman antics to submit a proper romantic mood.

Audio:

The 5.1 DTS-HD sound mix provides a full sonic experience, with heavy emphasis on slapstick acrobatics and soundtrack selections, which retain a proper punch of low-end beats to help the movie bounce along.


Extras:

"Alternate Opening & Ending" (7:17) includes Beth's first-act encounter with a drunk partygoer and tough security, and a last-act gag with a mummified Jon Heder.

"Crazy Casanovas: Mischief from the Set" (12:28) is a making-of featurette, interviewing cast and crew about their experiences on the set and how well they interacted with one another. At one point, Kristen Bell is described as having "the body of a young woman and the soul of the Marx Brothers." That's exactly that type of promotional gobbledygook being served here.

"Extended Pain with the Suitors" (2:39) is actually the original title of "When in Rome." I kid. The supplement consists of three brief deleted scenes with the smitten boobs as they participate in an art installation.

"Kerplunk! Bloopers from Rome" (3:07) is a dreary affair, showcasing tired mix-em-ups from the cast as they deal with faulty improvisations and props.

"Deleted Scenes" (7:45) bring around more hysteria for Beth as she attempts to reverse the curse and juggle male advances, offers more sexual forwardness from Al, extended mummification with Lance, spies a naked lady painting of our heroine, and includes a brief scene with the suitors as they submit a few more jokes.

"Music Videos" for "Starstrukk" (by 3OH!3 Featuring Katy Perry) and "Stupid Love Letter" (by Friday Night Boys) are presented.

Enjoy!

Bob Odenkirk mentions that his wife manages Bobby Moynihan

So my wife [Naomi Odenkirk] is a talent manager. She manages some great actors and actresses including Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader and Bobby Moynihan and Jenna Fischer, so she’s always going out to see shows like at The Groundlings and the Upright Citizen Brigade Theater and the Second City whenever she’s in Chicago.

- Bob Odenkirk

Excerpt From:
http://trueslant.com/pietlevy/2010/06/10/bob-odenkirk-talks-chicago-kid-friendly-comedy-and-da-super-fans/

Enjoy!

Bobby Moynihan - new movie - Certainty

Certainty, starring Valerie Harper & Bobby Moynihan, is shooting in Ft. Totten, Bayside, Queens.



Valerie Harper is best known for her role as Rhoda on Mary Tyler Moore Show (70-77) and her spinoff show, Rhoda (74-78). She also led Valerie / The Hogan Family from 86-87.

Since they're filming now, my guess is that it will release in Spring 2011. It sounds like Bobby is second bill, so he might play her son.

Enjoy!

Bobby Moynihan helps his UCB pals do an improv show.

This image obviously is from Bobby's pre-SNL, but this review is recent...



Saturday night, Upright Citizens Brigade performed the first of a string of improv shows that will last through the end of the festival. The UCB Tour Co., which cherry-picks the best comics from both the New York and L.A. outposts, has been hitting Fringe for years. They have a big cast down for the festival; seven comedians crowded the stage, including Saturday Night Live's Bobby Moynihan, who will be in town for at least one more show.

They kicked things off by inviting an audience member up on stage, which is my favorite way to start an improv show. Watching the comedians make fun of the volunteers is always a good way to get the ball rolling (as long as it's not me up there). Jordan, a waitress at Monza, was the enthusiastic volunteer. After Moynihan fixed her up with a T-shirt to drape over her legs (apparently a previous skirt-wearing volunteer had forgotten to wear her panties), Jordan settled in for a little public scrutiny.

They didn't find too much dirt on her, though they did find a lot of sand in her purse. They also found a cheesy save-the-date, a coupon for a rival pizza joint, and a note written on a napkin about an awesome fireplace in Asheville. She also admitted that her dream job is bartending in Spain. The comedians obviously had enough to work with, so they released her back to her seat.

The next hour or so had the Citizens improvising hilarious scenes based on the brief conversation. An adult reception featured "fuck beds" and quaalude bongs. An incredible fireplace caused people's brains to melt. Vin Diesel made an appearance at a save-the-date photo shoot. And of course, they couldn't let the bartender dream job go; their version of was a girl who just wanted to be a bus driver in Wisconsin.

Though the cast is big, they have great chemistry. They played off of each other easily and naturally, and sometimes even threw in curveballs as a challenge to their castmates (like when Moynihan randomly delivered a cup of sand in the middle of a scene). Though it's hard to pick out one as the strongest, Moynihan did have a penchant for delivering the one-liners that ended a scene.

While every scene in the first half of the show obviously referenced the initial conversation with Jordan, the second half was a little broader, and a few of the scenes weren't as successful, including a marriage counseling session. Knowing that the show was about to end, we waited for that last good scene with that last good line, but it didn't really come. The show may not have ended perfectly, but it was full of funny scenes from a talented cast of performers. If you can, catch the show while Moynihan's still in town. But it's still worth seeing when he's gone.

From:
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/snls-bobby-moynihan-helps-his-ucb-pal-tickle-funny-bones/Content?oid=2044905

Enjoy!

Mystery Team out on DVD

Even some of the smaller roles in the film were played by people who have gone on to higher profile work, like Ellie Kemper, who is on "The Office" now, or Bobby Moynihan, who went on SNL.

Bobby's back:



More:
http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-6-motion-captured/posts/a-quick-catch-up-with-derrick-comedy-as-mystery-team-hits-home-video

Enjoy!

Bobby Moynihan - in 3 of the season's top 10 sketches?

Mark Graham made a list of the top 10 sketches, and Bobby's in 3 of them...



Now that the 35th season of Saturday Night Live is in the books, it’s time to take a look back at what most observers would classify as a solid-B season of the show. Admittedly, the show never quite reached the dizzying heights that it did last year in its 34th season, but then again, the writers and castmembers didn’t have the benefit of the frenzy of an election year to fall back on. Even without that well of material, this season saw plenty of its own highs: Kenan Thompson blossomed into a star (as Kristin Wiig faded ever so slightly), the Lonely Island guys had their most consistent season of their five seasons on the show, and newcomers Jenny Slate and Nasim Pedrad helped to stabilize the show after the off-season losses of Casey Wilson, Michaela Watkins and Darrell Hammond.

Without further ado, here are our picks for this season’s ten most memorable sketches.


10. “On The Ground” starring Andy Samberg, Bobby Moynihan, Jenny Slate, Ryan Reynolds and Elijah Wood

Even though none of the digital shorts that the Lonely Island contingent produced this season struck the kind of viral paydirt that predecessors like “Lazy Sunday” or “Dick In A Box” did, it was quite a consistently funny year for Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer (this despite the fact that SchafferTaccone was doing double duty in the editing booth putting the finishing touches on the MacGruber movie). This particular short revolves around the exploits of one of those annoying, anti-social types who are always prattling on about their revulsion to things like “the system” and “the Man.” As a means of showing his disgust with the rules of society, this goateed hipster with misplaced anger issues takes his frustration out by whipping things like energy drinks, hot dogs and his girlfriend’s Blackberry at the ground. “Happy birthday to the GROUND!”


9. “Potato Chip” starring Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis and Blake Lively

This was one of those delightfully bizarre end-of-show sketches that never quite catches on with the audience at the live taping but becomes more and more impressive after repeated viewings. Frankly, we kind of wish that host Blake Lively would’ve got out of Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte’s way in this sketch and these two comedic powerhouses go toe-to-toe. That said, watching Forte unleash his rage while staying in character (see also: Fart Face) always makes for essential television.


8. “Scared Straight” starring Kenan Thompson, Jason Sudeikis, Bobby Moynihan, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader and Betty White

In a lot of ways, this was Kenan Thompson’s breakout year on the show. His recurring series of “Scared Straight” sketches, in which he portrays the movie-obsessed jailbird Lorenzo MacIntosh, gained tons of momentum this year and became an audience favorite. We really liked the sketch he did with Charles Barkley (“Instead of ‘Show me the money!’, he’ll be saying ‘Blow me for free!’”), but then again, you can’t really beat Betty White screaming “WIZARD OF ASS!”


7. “Teacher” starring Tina Fey and Justin Bieber

We’re pretty sure that Justin Bieber dropped out of school about 20 million YouTube views ago, but on the off chance he didn’t, we sincerely hope that he asks Tina Fey to prom.


6. “Hamilton” starring Will Forte and Gabourey Sidibe

This was one dynamite, envelope-pusher of a sketch. Will Forte has always excelled at creating characters with really weird backstories (think MacGruber, think Jeff Montgomery, Sex Offender), but this extension of Hamilton — a character we’ve seen pop up at various public functions involving a microphone over the years — was pretty bold. He’s overtly racist, he traces long passages from Robert Ludlum novels onto his lover Gabourey Sidibe’s back with his penis, and would prefer to go to Larry Bird theaters, if only they existed. More humor that makes people feel uncomfortable, please!


5. Monologue: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bobby Moynihan

Wow, just wow! Okay, we admit that this doesn’t exactly fit in the category of “funny” [except for Bobby Moynihan's contributions], but can you remember the last time that a guest host put this kind of effort into winning over an audience during a monologue? We certainly can’t.


4. “Stefon” starring Bill Hader and Seth Meyers

The most recent example of a Saturday Night Live cast member breaking character due to a giggle fit came during this past weekend’s Weekend Update segment. W.U. host Seth Meyers brought in the show’s anxious city correspondent, Stefon (as played by Bill Hader), to discuss some of New York City’s finer tourist attractions. Hader is normally an unflappable performer, but midway through the bit, he hilariously loses his composure while sniffing his hands and explaining to Midwesterners about the allure of Teddy Graham people and high-waisted midgets.


3. “What Up With That?” starring Kenan Thompson, Kristin Wiig, James Franco, Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen, Jenny Slate, Nasim Pedrad, Will Forte, Bill Hader, Mike Tyson and Jack McBrayer

Oooh, wheee! Kenan Thompson’s performance as Soul Glo’d BET host Diondre Cole is a comedic tour-de-force of irrepressible energy, enthusiasm and sweat. This character first debuted in the episode hosted by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Gerard Butler back in October, but quickly became such an audience favorite that he appeared in five total episodes this season. And while there’s no denying that Kenan is glue that holds this sketch together, the non-speaking roles portrayed by Fred Armisen and breakdancing b-boy Jason Sudeikis really provide the icing on the cake (that is, if you will allow me to mix my metaphors).


2. “Hamm & Bublé” starring Jon Hamm and Michael Bublé

In just two appearances as host of Saturday Night Live, Jon Hamm has shown that he has the potential to one day reside alongside hosts like Alec Baldwin, Christopher Walken, Tom Hanks and Steve Martin in the (as yet non-existent) SNL Guest Host Hall of Fame. The thing that we love about this particular sketch is the way it derives its strength from the menacing side of Jon Hamm, a side which he frequently shows off on Mad Men in his portrayal of Don Draper. Sure, he’s hands down one of the most handsome actors working in Hollywood today, but it’s his embrace of the dark side that really separates Hamm from other one-note pretty boys. That is not to take anything away from Bublé’s performance here; the skit balances on him effectively cowering in fear of the champagne and pork-obsessed Hamm and he nails it.


1. “Pageant Talk” starring Zach Galifianakis, Jenny Slate, Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader

This was one of those glorious moments on SNL where an individual’s performance connects with both their fellow actors and the audience in such a way that the entire sketch gets elevated into instant classic status. In this case, Zach Galifianakis’s perfect turn as the pageant-obsessed “old queen” Gene Shimp was so hilariously eccentric that it nearly caused Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader to break character. Add in SNL rookie (and old Best Week Ever alum!) Jenny Slate’s perfectly blank performance as the object of Gene’s obsession, daughter Wanda Gale Shimp, and you have yourself a sketch for the ages.


Plus videos here:
http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-05-18/top-ten-sketches-of-saturday-night-live-season-35/

======================

So Bobby was mentioned here for On the Ground, Scared Straight, and the Joseph Gordon-Levitt Monologue.

Okay, I think Bobby's Snooki should have been in there, Doorbells should be in there (Bobby helps assist Jenny's character), and the Twilight Zone airplane skit was amazing. Bobby was truly channeling John Belushi. It was fantastic!

Enjoy!

Bobby Moynihan in Joseph Gordan-Levitt's monologue

We finally found a version of one of Bobby's defining moments... where he made something cool and interesting actually funny (for a few moments).

From 11.21.2009

Bobby is the only cast member to appear in Joseph Gordan-Levitt's monologue and helps lighten the mood with modern humor.



Is it just me, or does this seem like JGL would make a good Joker? He almost seems to go crazy in this attempt to win over the audience. It's amazing and wonderful.

Enjoy!