There were actually quite a few decent skits in this one. They took a stab at Sanjaya during the news, spoofed the mentoring programs, and satirized Dora by turning her into Maraka (“Do you know why my father left me?”). Peyton Manning did pretty well as a host and performer.
Agree, Peyton’s willingness to make fun of himself made for a better than average show. Does anyone know the name of the instrumental used during the basketball sketch?
That was the theme to the 1967 version of Casino Royale by Herb Alpert.
This one was worth sticking with to the end, for the brief-but-hilarious “meatloaf-lover’s car” commercial.
Great episode, and I didn’t even know who Peyton Manning was before this ep. I particularly love Bronx Beat:
Jodi: Do you know how many times my husband has flirted with me? NONE. None times.
Betty: Unless you count going to the bathroom with the door open.
Really, the new writing team has been notably better than the last couple of seasons’. Sorry, Tina Fey.
As good as the episode was (and my God, Manning actually did better than half the professional actors I’ve seen on that show lately!), I was extremely disappointed that they had Dan Akroyd there and only gave him a two second - though funny - cameo. I kept hoping for a sketch with him after I saw him on the news.
Although as far as Dan Akroyd cameos go, nothing, and I mean NOTHING, will ever top the Roxbury skit that ends with an apearance by the Festrunk brothers.
I absolutely LOVED the fake United Way commercial. “I’ll kill a snitch. I’m not saying I have, I’m not saying I haven’t.” Swearing at kids and teaching them to steal cars, that’s good stuff. I also loved the part in the monologue where Manning said his mother was a huge disappointment for never making it to the NFL.
I also liked the ESPN Office Pool sketch, where they kept using the name Peyton Manning as an insult. Oh, and the sketch with Kristin Wiig as a really disturbing lady - the last time I saw it was when Jamie Pressley hosted. So weird, but it totally makes me laugh.
They’ve really done some good stuff this season. I don’t think that Tina Fey was a bad head writer, I just think she was there for too long. They definitely needed a change.
That was so stupid, it was hilarious! Alas, I kept waiting for the vocals to begin. :smack: 
The really disturbing lady is, unfortunately, somehow familiar. There are an awful lot of people who end every sentence with “so…”
Since I don’t follow sports, could someone briefly explain what Peyton Manning’s deal is, besides playing football? Is he notorious for something?
Thank you NDP – I am vindicated!
No. He does a lot of commercials, but that and football are it.
I should have been more specific. I didn’t like the sketch with the lady at the party who was one-upping everyone, I liked the one where she was sitting on the porch with Peyton Manning and they were sipping coffee and discussing things like the guy who hung himself in his garage and how Peyton had put sliced ham down his pants just to have a secret.
I think it was a little funnier the first time they did it, but the line “I think I saw his butthole” made me giggle a bunch.
He’s one of the top quarterbacks in the league, but he and his team had a knack for not making it far once the playoffs started (until this year, when they won the SB). So he was starting to earn the reputation of being a big choker, not able to get the job done, etc.
And like Marley said, he’s in a lot of commercials.
Also he is known for being a model citizen, never cussing, no DUI’s, no conflicts or problems on or off the field, always polite and helpful, etc.
I thought the sketch was funny, but isn’t that how Tony Dungy’s son killed himself? That part werided me out a little.
Definitely the second best Superbowl MVP Quarterback host, after Joe Montana. Actually, Manning was probably funnier and a better actor (no doubt from his commercial training) but Joe’s “Guy who always says what he’s thinking” sketch is classic.
Very funny (what I saw).
As anyone who has seen a lot of his commercials knows, he’s no stiff, so it wasn’t surprising to me that he did a good job.
The United Way commercial killed me.
Saying his mom didn’t make it in the NFL. . .“she had a try out with the Dolphins and tried to make it in Canada for a while.”
Funny ep.
Ah, yes… “No, you won’t disturb me. I’ll be in my room, masturbating.”
I am a sick person, but Peyton Manning creaming little kids with the football and making them sit in the Port-O-John - “door closed!” - when they couldn’t catch it ranks as my third or fourth favorite SNL clip, oh, ever.
Him beaning those kids was hysterical. (Especially since lots of real players complain that the QBs throw too hard!)
Agreed. That skit, and the 300 one, were such a toxic sludge of suck that they tainted the entire rest of the episode. And otherwise, it was such a good episode. Peyton Manning has a fair amount of comedic timing (as has been evidenced by his past commercials), and it was good to see writing that took advantage of it.
“I told you, I forgot my keys.”
for the record i found the sooo…one upper lady to be hilarious, mabye my favorite skit!