Saturday Night Live Archives - Entertainment Ave!

Does Jay Pharoah Play a Good Barack Obama on SNL?

I don’t know why I give it a chance every week, but I still watch Saturday Night Live. I generally don’t watch it live, usually it’s on Sunday, which does give the ability to skip over crappy sketches, but oddly I generally don’t skip over them, somehow hoping they will eventually get funny. They rarely do, and usually I just shake my head wondering how a sketch that had a little promise at the beginning of it could seemingly drag on and on until the sketch turns into utter boredom. Yesterday marked the return of the SNL season with Seth Macfarlane as host, and as a person who likes a good Family Guy episode and finds Seth’s humor on par with mine, I had high hopes. Also, generally liking the impressions Jay Pharoah does, the announcement that he was going to play President Barack Obama had me jointly excited. Hooray, Saturday Night Live was back for a new season!

Then, so much for “Hooray.”

Yup, Jay is up there doing his Obama impression, and I actually longed for Fred Armisen. I don’t know if it was the bad joke writing (and I’m sorry, but SNL writers you’ve had an entire summer to think up funny stuff, and I’m always amazed the first episode of the season usually falls flat, but I digress) or just Jay needs a ton of refinement (again, all summer to get it right – come on!), but the new season was not off to a good start. I’m not going to go into how I only enjoyed two sketches (the commercial bashing Mitt Romney and Bain Capital, as well as the sketch poking fun at Gangnam Style complete with surprise guest Psy), was perplexed by musical guest Frank Ocean singing his, um, hit, “Thinking About You” with disjointed lyrics including “Got a fighter jet, I don’t get fly it though,” and I can generally appreciate any music, but I was lost. Weekend Update was a little flat, and, oh hell, I just wanted the episode to end yet didn’t hit the fast-forward button, in constant hope of “This will be the sketch to bring it back.” It never came back.

And so, as most of the sketches will probably be lost into the oblivion, I have a feeling Jay Pharoah coming back as Obama will be a regular feature, especially in this election season. I’m hoping he gets better, but right now I plight: Does Jay Pharoah play a good Barack Obama on SNL?

That’s it for this plight! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

TV Talk of Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice, The Amazing Race, American Idol, and who’s that band on SNL?

By: The Dude on the Right

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Stu Gotz must have gotten the President’s Day bug, or the Washington’s Birthday bug as other might call it, because he couldn’t meet up with me for this episode of the “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast. And so, it’s solo time for me and as the exciting part of my weekend involved cleaning my balls and repairing an 8″ x 8″ hole in some drywall, I decided to keep most of this podcast to TV wrap-up talk as I got caught up on “Survivor: One World” and “American Idol,” and am perplexed but have a theory as to the miriad of “who is this” musical guests on Saturday Night Live lately.

As Sunday came, my TV viewing just got more complicated with the return of “The Amazing Race” and “The Celebrity Apprentice,” and on the Apprentice, I think the women got screwed when the men had one donation of over $300,000 which just seemed unfair in the world of selling a sandwich competition. Lastly, Whitney Houston was buried over the weekend, and somehow Bobby Brown was able to make the tabloid news all about him. Just sad.

Hopefully Stu will be back next week, hopefully I’ll see a movie or Blu-ray, but as always…

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Grammy Talk, Nicolas Cage’s Clone, The Big Year, Contagion, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

By: The Dude on the Right

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It was “The Big Year” at The Grammy’s for Adele, where luckily there was no “Contagion” to ruin the likes of Bruce Springsteen, and an all-star guitar jam was just “In Time” to bring life to a show exorcised by Nicki Minaj. Nicolas Cage couldn’t be there, maybe because his clone was Live on Saturday Night, but hopefully he won’t forget Valentine’s Day tomorrow. He’ll probably have clean balls, but The Dude on the Right won’t until at least this Saturday, while Stu Gotz, over this upcoming weekend, might be able to help you with that underwater video of whales humping you’ve been trying to edit, or at least help you figure out how to make it viral.

Yup, during this episode of Stu & The Dude’s “Weekend Wrap-Up” podcast we talk about all of those things, just not necessarily in that order.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

A Debate Translator App, Sherlock Holmes, No Tattoos ,Chicken Pot Pie, Oprah Winfrey, and Howard Stern.

By: The Dude on the Right

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With the weather so fabulous in Chicago right now you would think Stu Gotz or I would have gone crazy and gotten stuff done, but, instead, as you’ll find out during this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast, it was really a weekend to relax, rest, and finally get ready for 2012.

Stu, at least, did get out with Mama Gotz, and rather than see “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” they opted for “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows”he lets us know if we should go and see it as well. Me, I was going to see “War Horse,” but it was decided a nap was more important and upon further review, even if “War Horse” ends up winning an Academy Award, the nap was the right choice.

Stu didn’t go SCUBA diving, we both liked Charles Barkley on “Saturday Night Live,” I think there should be a Charles Barkley translator app to explain what the Republican candidates are really saying during the debates, Beezow Doo-Doo Zopittybop-Bop-Bop was arrested, Stu thinks he might want to see “Beauty and The Beast” in 3-D, while I might be seeing “The Iron Lady” if it opens anywhere near me, and I think Oprah Winfrey and Howard Stern should interview each other. Hopefully we will be more exciting next weekend!

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Barbies are Kissing, Chicago Bears are Fighting, Adele Causes Laughing, and Jewish People are Dancing.

By: The Dude on the Right

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Stu Gotz is back in town, and for this episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast, he doesn’t have many tales about his trip to Mickey’s World, but he has seen a few movies and lets us know if “Bad Teacher” or “Puss in Boots” are worth the watch. Me, I saw “West Side Story” (which comes out on Blu-ray tomorrow, November 15th), and “Blue Velvet,” and give my recommendations as well, as well as give Stu a recap of my travels to see “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.”

Yes, we do talk about movies, but I also tell Stu about some risque Faith Hill and Tim McGraw Barbie moments during the CMA Awards, and that Saturday Night Live did have some funny in it, you just had to wait about an hour and twenty minutes. We analyze dancing Jewish people in the song “Marry Me” from Bruno Mars, discuss fighting during football games, and have a culinary discussion concerning turkey, capon, or cornish hens for Turkey Day. Yup, we’re all over the place, but what kind of podcast would it be if we weren’t?

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Losing in Las Vegas, Loving Storage Wars, Horrible Bosses, and iPhone Envy.

By: The Dude on the Right

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Both Stu Gotz and I were supposed to go to Las Vegas and this “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast was supposed to be filled with stories of debauchery and missing memories, but sadly he was the only one to make it as a stomach flu sidelined my travel plans. From the sounds of it, Stu needed me out there to mix things up a bit, as everyone knows I am the party animal, but in any case, Stu gives his wrap-up of the Vegas fun, complete with the wedding of staff member The Dude on the Left to Trash. Me, on the other hand, spent way too many days catching up on everything from Ellen (nice little Glen Campbell interview) to The X-Factor (could Enrique Iglesias look any more disinterested), from Survivor: Somewhere Warm (the blind-siding has begun) to Storage Wars (a new favorite show, and a better watch than the last Saturday Night Live).

I have my new iPhone 4S and Boner doesn’t, I liked Horrible Bosses and Stu sort of liked Hall Pass, Stu is losing his fan-boy love for House and my new iPhone’s Siri knows where my house is – and it’s kind of scary.

All of that and yes, popsicles are still a good remedy for the stomach flu.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Kids at a Farm, Disturbing SNL, No Marathon Running for Us, One Last Carnival, and Assburgers.

By: The Dude on the Right

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I wish you could hear the original open for this “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast because it was smooth, perfect, and I hit the post for a very fun Billy Currington song, but sadly there was a computer hiccup that messed up recording the perfect version, and you get this one. Oh well. it is a weekend wrap-up, and neither Stu Gotz nor myself ran in the Chicago Marathon, and that’s probably why both of us are functioning, but Stu wonders about the woman winner of the marathon and the use of these dudes called “Pacers.” He also wonders if Lady Antebellum’s singer blew out her voice, but then realizes it might be Adele and I have to fill Stu in on some Saturday Night Live and some disturbing skits they showed.

With the season of Autumn upon us, Stu had time for one last carnival, and we analyze little kid’s attention spans that I witnessed at Johansen Farms pumpkin patch/corn maze/hay ride/giant slides/petting zoo place in Bolingbrook, IL., and Stu is iffy on a couple of new TV shows.

The Chicago Bears are tonight so we didn’t have Bear talk, but South Park is back and Cartman’s got assburgers. Of course we both laugh.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

New TV & Old TV, Sucky Bears & Sucky Shoes, Getting Wet & Getting A New iPhone.

By: The Dude on the Right

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The fall television season has begun, and for this “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast, Stu Gotz and I break down the return of “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Saturday Night Live,” and my lack of seeing the current “Survivor.” Then there are the new shows, and I explain to Stu that “Pan Am” is a good show, especially because it portrays how a stewardess should be, Stu is worried that some shows like “Up All Night” and “Person of Interest” might easily lose steam if they are even able to build an audience at all, and we discuss “The X Factor” and a naked man.

The Chicago Bears lost even with a trick play that reminded me of my football days, lots of people have seen “The Smurfs” movie and we don’t know why, I can’t decide whether I should see a funny movie about cancer (“50/50”) or a movie about baseball (“Moneyball”), I went shoe shopping and was denied by both Nordstrom and Zappos, Stu Gotz got wet and it didn’t even have to do with his wishing his Lil’ Gotz a happy birthday today, and I recommend you start getting in line now to buy a new iPhone on October 14th.

It was a busy weekend, let alone week!

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Arena Football is Fun, John Rich is a Winner, Dr. Strangelove is Good, and Balls are Clean.

By: The Dude on the Right

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Stu Gotz is watching old movies (Dr. Strangelove), and I’m watching girly TV (Real Housewives of New Jersey), and during this podcast episode of our “Weekend Wrap-Up!”, we dissect is all, sort of. We have talk about a Chicago Rush game, talk about The Celebrity Apprentice, but surprisingly no review talk about “Pirates of the Caribbean.” I tell Stu he should catch the season finale of “Saturday Night Live” with Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga because it is was very funny, and Stu learns his kids might be a little too young for “Doctor Who” sometimes.

We have tick talk, “American Idol” talk, and whether you want it or not, a lot of talk about washing my balls.

All of that and more, and thanks for listening!

That’s it for this podcast! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

A Home Opener Tale, Bubble Tea, Tangles, Diaries, and Goodbye Richard Hatch.

By: The Dude on the Right

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It’s a rainy day, and it’s a Monday, and it’s another episode our our “Weekend Wrap-Up!” podcast. Rainy days are also mentioned because Stu Gotz went to the Chicago Cubs home opener, telling some tales of losing baseball and trips to Greektown, while I made a trip to Oak Brook Mall with tales of weird clothes and finding a place with bubble tea in Downer’s Grove called Bello Tea. Stu’s weekend wasn’t all about baseball, as he also breaks down the movie “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules,” while, for what it’s worth, we also give you the breakdown of the Disney movie “Tangled” from an adult dude point of view.

Richard Hatch is gone from “Celebrity Apprentice,” Stu says I should watch “Break Out Kings” on A&E, I’m fighting some kind of cold, and we still can’t decide if Saturday Night Live is good again.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this podcast! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!