# Hugh Laurie to host SNL on October 28 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2006, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374 "2006-10-05T12:55:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/21 "2006-10-29T00:30:32Z")
Oh yeah: _Bwump!_ ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/22 "2006-10-29T00:32:25Z")
Nah. I naively wasted 90 minutes of my life for Jaime Pressly on _SNL_, and learned my lesson. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/23 "2006-10-29T03:17:26Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] That plan is so funny you could put a tail on it and call it a platypus. Unfortunately, SNL stink so badly that you could put a tail on it and call it a rotten dead skunk with body odor. [/QUOTE] My Lord, I have a **cunning plan** … ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/24 "2006-10-29T03:21:17Z")
It’s been so long since I’ve watched SNL that I’m not sure what channel it’s on! But since I just saw this thread, I have 5 minutes to figure it out! ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/25 "2006-10-29T03:30:18Z")
I think this thread exposes one of the big reasons why SNL isn’t considered funny by a lot of folks: for their comedy (as it stands now) to work, they have to go for the lowest common denominator. I mean, there is NO way most people know Hugh Laurie’s great history in comedy. So any sketch that refers to, or takes advantage of it, is in serious danger of going over their average audience member’s heads. Hell, when Michael Palin and John Cleese reenacted the Parrot Sketch back in the 90’s, there was barely a laugh in the house. And perhaps this could be addressed with changes in philosophy. But I think a good deal of SNL’s problems, as many 'Net critics see them, is with the TV audience. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/26 "2006-10-29T03:37:51Z")
Great way to improve SNL: replace it with the Ali G Show. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/27 "2006-10-29T03:39:02Z")
I guess I’m in the lowest common denominator, 'cuz I don’t know who this Hugh Laurie person is. _lowers head in faux shame_ ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/28 "2006-10-29T03:41:29Z")
Okay, well the complete silence that followed the Shakespeare joke in the opening monologue doesn’t bode well. Sadly, **Leaper** may be right. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/29 "2006-10-29T03:41:51Z")
I was rather worried when I turned on SNL, and the opening was Borat. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/30 "2006-10-29T03:47:02Z")
Okay, a sketch based on a fart. For this we need Hugh Laurie? I’m outa here, folks. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/31 "2006-10-29T03:50:38Z")
Okay chesburster-Hillary was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/32 "2006-10-29T03:51:08Z")
Also, **Beck** is the musical guest. Reason enough to watch, right there. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/33 "2006-10-29T03:54:01Z")
[QUOTE=Tengu] I was rather worried when I turned on SNL, and the opening was Borat. [/QUOTE] Not a good sign and Maya please shut up and go away. Not Funny!!! ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/34 "2006-10-29T03:56:33Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Not a good sign and Maya please shut up and go away. Not Funny!!! [/QUOTE] She must have been funny because I laughed. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/35 "2006-10-29T04:09:32Z")
It’s official - even the comic talent of Sacha Baron Cohen and Hugh Laurie can’t save this festering pile of crap. Nothing so far has been remotely funny. Perhaps there’ll be a flash of brilliance coming up, but I’m not hopeful. Currently there’s the “Hardball” sketch, which is a big black hole of suck. Given current events, putting some funny sketches together should be a piece of piss… ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/36 "2006-10-29T04:17:03Z")
Maya’s singing sketch was very funny, so was Hugh Laurie singing a protest song. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/37 "2006-10-29T04:18:54Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] Maya’s singing sketch was very funny, so was Hugh Laurie singing a protest song. [/QUOTE] I liked the Protest Song. I liked Beck, I thought Hardball had some laughs. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/38 "2006-10-29T04:25:40Z")
Tim Calhoun makes me turn to the Time Life infomercial on the PAX channel. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/39 "2006-10-29T04:32:06Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] Tim Calhoun makes me turn to the Time Life infomercial on the PAX channel. [/QUOTE] Agreed. Though instead of Pax I started adjusting some clocks. While I cringed at them having to use Gay Goombas to represent NJ, it was funny. Seth is doing a good job on Weekend Update. I think Amy is still dragging it down. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374/40 "2006-10-29T04:52:46Z")
I actually liked the Tim Calhoun part. Came back to post about the awesome Beck performance on the second go around. Cool ass song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hugh-laurie-to-host-snl-on-october-28/375374.md?page=3)