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SNL: Jon Hamm Expands His John Ham Enterprise This weekend Jon Hamm returned to SNL despite having nothing to promote, simply because we're all in love with him. Which is a much better reason than most people have to host that show, so I say, good decision, both SNL and Jon Hamm. As usual, he was enthusiastic, handsome and funny, even when the sketches weren't. I have nothing bad to say about him or his hosting duties, so let's just run down the best and worst sketches of the night.

Best: First off, the most memorable sketch of the night. A "Jon Hamm's John Ham Pt. Deux" if you will. Jon Hamm is the most enjoyable hostage harborer television has ever seen, and Michael Buble's desperate, trying probably way too hard scaredy eyes? Magnificent (and really, very endearing. I love when non-actors try that hard to make the sketches work.):


Worst: I hated the Digital Short, and assumed everyone hated the Digital Short, but then in a meeting this morning I found out I was the only one who hated the Digital Short. This did not go as I planned, so hey, if you didn't think a shirtless saxophonist curse was stupid in a bad way, watch it again!


Best: Don Draper on Saved By the Bell and QVC? Calm down! You're hysterical!


Worst: The State of the Union sketch was 15 years long and almost as laborious as the real State of the Union. I know they can't ignore an event that huge, and I'm not asking them too -- but does it take that long to make their point? And does it have to be so boring? I do have to say, though, that Fred Armisen has got Obama's cadence down these days.


Worst: Greg the Alien used to be very weird and funny, but it's outworn its welcome. Love extraterrestrial Hamm's scrunched up double chin face, however.


Best: This made me laugh, but as a New Yorker I think Starbucks would have been more apt. But, you know, that company's founders aren't very old timey, so that wouldn't work. Forget I said anything -- this was a funny sketch!


Worst: I'll forgive Fred Armisen almost anything, but this one was rough:


Best: Closet organizer, the most Will Forte thing on this show since the "Po-tay-toe chip!" sketch, and its barroom sequel:




Worst: Sometimes Kristen Wiig's shtick is perfectly weird enough to be funny and enjoyable, and sometimes it's this. Great Hamm pretend piano playing, though:


Best: And, last but not least, Jon Hamm fetish stripper dancing for the democratic leadership. What's not to like?


6 Comments

February 1, 2010 3:52 PM
Cindy McLennan
Reply

Hey, Mindy. It amazing to me how uncritical I was, once I saw John Hamm on the stage. And you're right; it's nice that he came back just to come back, because everyone's in love with him.

I can't even mind the saxophone sketch (although it was bad) because he was all adorable in it (and his body isn't gym perfect -- just regular nice).

February 1, 2010 4:31 PM
Sara
Reply

I loved the Hamm and Buble sketch. Jon Hamm cracks me up with the line "You are on the thinnest of ice". I've watched it three times, and still laugh.

The saxophone one was ok - the only time I laughed out loud was when the psychiatrist literally exploded into Sergio.

February 1, 2010 4:48 PM
Grace
Reply

No love for "Greg is Not an Alien"?! Aw. I adore that sketch.

Just the thought of all of these beer-swilling, football-watching guys at home, calling in to comment on the game and casually chart Greg's alien evolution -- it cracks me up. They don't even care about Greg being an alien, it's the dishonesty that gets to them.

Eh, and I enjoy the thought that an alien invasion could be developing on ESPN, and no one knows because the guys watching the show don't see it as particularly newsworthy. They're talkin' about doin' stuff to the earth!

February 1, 2010 4:50 PM
Aki
Reply

Loved the Hamm and Buble sketch. It still cracks me up.

February 1, 2010 5:42 PM
erin
Reply

you know the saxophone sketch was based on the saxophone dude from "the lost boys" right? THAT's what i laughed my ass off.

February 1, 2010 6:26 PM
Craig
Reply

Sorry, Mindy, but I laughed my ass off at the sax curse too. SERGIO!

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