I know that everyone was really excited about NPH hosting SNL, and I certainly thought that it paid off. Expectations are hard to meet, especially when you’re talking about Saturday Night Live, but I thought that this week’s episode was one of the best of the season. Between rocking out the Doogie Howser theme on a keyboard, slapping on a horrible wig and some massive press-on nails, and delivering a great monologue, NPH gave a great performance. Because we like to speak in hyperbole, and arbitrarily rank unimportant things, I have to ask the question: Was Neil Patrick Harris the best host yet this season?
Other hosts this season have been good too, I shouldn’t heap all my praise on NPH. Tim McGraw tried his hardest and I was a bit impressed, but he definitely had lowered expectations working for him. I mean the dude’s not even an actor. Hugh Laurie had a great performance, but the poor guy had the worst writing of the season to work with, or at least I thought so (singing lamps?). John Malkovich wasn’t bad, and was able to poke fun at himself. Paul Rudd was serviceable, but suffered from bad material. Ben Affleck thought that he was really funny, as he giggled his way through his hosting job. Jon Hamm was great, and a big surprise as I didn’t know what to expect from the man who plays the incredibly serious Don Draper.
I can barely even remember the earlier hosts from this season, except Michael Phelps, but that’s for all the wrong reasons. He earned eight more gold medals than I did this summer, though, so I’ll give him a pass.
So what do you think? Who’s been the best host so far this season?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Jan 13, 2009 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
To be honest I didn’t really get the love for NPH. Maybe you all think the episode was that good because for the first time in ages the last half hour didn’t suck?
I really think I laughed more when Paul Rudd hosted, which goes a long way since I don’t think Judd Apatow is working in the SNL writers’ room.
Anyway, last weeks episode was nothing special for me but I guess that’s because my viewing habits include fast forwarding past the bad parts and because of that I don’t have too many bad memories about the other episodes.
Some of us are obliged to watch every skit… even if they feature singing lamps… I can see how fast forwarding would change the way I felt about some of the episodes, though.
In any case, comedy is so subjective that it’s impossible to have everyone agree about it.
Absolutely right :-)
I am one of those people who thinks HIMYM isn’t just great because of Barney and that SNL isn’t all that bad every week (compared to lots of the reviews). I guess my taste is simply a bit different :-)
I still hold that the Jon Hamm episode was the best in a long while. It was a solid show – the only one that I watched twice in a long time.
I think it has been a great season. Jon Hamm, Hugh Laurie, and NPH being the best. There hasn’t been many musical guests this season that I have loved but I am so excited for the Fleet Foxes next week you don’t even know. Let’s hope that with Springsteen’s new album this month he shows up as musical guest.