# SNL - Louis CK 3/29/14 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898 "2014-03-30T15:37:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/21 "2014-03-31T16:55:29Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > I don’t know that they really need to be given a break. Both The Daily Show and Colbert Report typically tape four new episodes a week, Monday through Thursday, forty-two weeks a year and while it’s not sketch comedy, they’ve got more jokes, funnier jokes, fewer players, and less budget. Clearly, it can be done better, because it has been. > > Mr. Show was better. As was Kids in the Hall. TDS and Colbert are comedy talk shows. They have interviews and monologues and an occasional taped remote. The writers may spend all day writing about seven minutes of original material per episode. They also do not have a live band, choreography, blocking, costume changes, prosthetic makeup, inexperienced hosts, or new sets and props every week. And neither them nor \*Mr. Show \* or _Kids in the Hall_ are done live. So the comparison is fairly ridiculous. They are completely different enterprises. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/22 "2014-03-31T16:56:41Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > It did the first time I saw it. I’m not even being snarky. But like most good bits, they hand in a carbon copy of it week after week. This is only the second time they’ve done this one, IIRC. I still found it funny. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/23 "2014-03-31T17:23:08Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > TDS and Colbert are comedy talk shows. They have interviews and monologues and an occasional taped remote. **The writers may spend all day writing about seven minutes of original material per episode**. And it’s better. It’s funnier, sharper, and more insightful. It’s even dangerous and relevant. > [@friedo](#): > > They also do not have a live band, choreography, blocking, costume changes, prosthetic makeup, inexperienced hosts, or new sets and props every week. You’re listing strengths as if they’re weaknesses. These should make a show better, not listed as some sort of handicap. > [@friedo](#): > > And neither them nor \*Mr. Show \* or _Kids in the Hall_ are done live. So the comparison is fairly ridiculous. They are completely different enterprises. Dude, you’re ridiculous. We can’t compare three sketch comedy shows, because two of them get takes!? Have you noticed how much of SNL pre-taped? Commercials, video shorts, etc. There’s more pre-taped material on SNL now more than ever, and no one, including me, cares. Live is overrated. Plus, no one begrudges cue card reading in comedy. From Jon Stewart’s desk to Weekend Update, we’ve all agreed to laugh along if it’s read off a teleprompter or a card. Live isn’t hard; dying is hard. Everyone can agree there’s been some poor SNL episodes. Now go find a poor Daily Show or Report: you can’t. Those shows are just that tight 100% of the time. Costumes and set changes? If people were genuinely impressed at the technical difficulty of live stage craft, then high school productions would be able to sell tickets to non-relatives. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/24 "2014-03-31T19:19:19Z")
One thing I found odd about this episode is that it seemed Vanessa Bayer was isolated from the rest of the cast. She was either in taped bits or only interacting with the host. I hope this doesn’t mean she is on her way out. I find her talented and watchable. But I agree they need to pull Colin Jost from Weekend Update. His delivery is not right for a fake news show. I think it would be better with just Cecily if they don’t have a replacement for him. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/25 "2014-03-31T19:26:15Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Dude, you’re ridiculous. We can’t compare three sketch comedy shows, because two of them get takes!? You can compare whatever you want. My point is that comparing two vastly different shows is not particularly instructive or relevant. (And _The Daily Show_ and _Colbert Report_ are not sketch shows in any sense of the term. More apt comparisons would be to _KITH_, _Mad TV_, _Monty Python_, _SCTV_ and the like.) > [@](#): > > And it’s better. It’s funnier, sharper, and more insightful. It’s even dangerous and relevant. Dangerous? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/26 "2014-03-31T19:37:54Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Dangerous? :dubious: More likely to offend, or at least to piss off some segment of the population. Safe comedy avoids politics or religion, or at most says something innocuous and unfunny like “politicians - they’re all dishonest AMIRITE?” Obama kissing Justin Bieber isn’t real edgy. It had nothing to say about whether Obamacare is or is not good policy. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/27 "2014-03-31T19:39:39Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > One thing I found odd about this episode is that it seemed Vanessa Bayer was isolated from the rest of the cast. She was either in taped bits or only interacting with the host. I hope this doesn’t mean she is on her way out. I find her talented and watchable. Why would having a skit working one-on-one with one of the more desirable hosts of the season mean she’s on the outs? That means Lorne and the writers like her. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/28 "2014-03-31T20:16:09Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Here’s my take on it. I’m questioning Colin Jost’s abilities as the head writer; and I think he’s HORRIBLE in Wekend Update. The best talent they have on SNL right now is Cecily Strong and Kenan Thompson. Vanessa Bayer is pretty good too; but the rest are bordering on unwatchable. I want to turn the channel when I see Kate McKinnon or Aidy Bryant featured as anything more than a background character. Bobby Moynihan seems very one dimensional to me. He apparently can only play one type of character, regardless of the role. I think we need to give Jost more time to grow into his role. The last few WU anchors did double time in sketches, we’ve never seen this Jost guy before so I think people are unused to him. Is it a silly, funny guy like Amy Poeler, or is he a more serious, sarcastic guy like Colin Quinn? Right now, I would say his biggest problem is that he’s not sarcastic enough, he’s too earnest, and with WU, you need to mock people, not come off as meek and trying to impress ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/29 "2014-03-31T21:03:01Z")
No love for Kyle Mooney’s class president video? That, to me, was the highlight of the evening. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/30 "2014-03-31T21:09:46Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > I’m a loyal SNL fan, but since Seth Meyers left, the show is downright terrible. Not at all funny. This. All you have to do is compare Louis CK’s previous episode to this one. The quality of writing has noticeably dropped. I was disappointed we didn’t get a sequel to “Lincoln.” But then again, it’s probably better they didn’t try. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/31 "2014-03-31T21:41:02Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > No love for Kyle Mooney’s class president video? That, to me, was the highlight of the evening. Yes, that thing was weird and amazing. It almost wasn’t comedy exactly–I mean, I know people _exactly_ like that guy. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/32 "2014-03-31T22:17:52Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > I knew Louis CK as only a name, nothing more. I thought his monologue started slow but got better as time went on. Not side-splittingly better, but at least reasonably interesting and thought-provoking. > > {snip} > > One friend in particular laughed at virtually _every line_ of the monologue. I swear to you, it almost seemed like a Pavlov’s dog thing. “He just delivered another line…I have to laugh now.” Something about stand-up comics - familiarity breeds hilarity. Once you’ve jumped on the bandwagon with a comic, your expectations change and all they have to do is show up and you laugh. Whereas when they are new-to-you, they are a harder sell. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/33 "2014-03-31T22:39:26Z")
When I saw the setup for Black Jeopardy and LouisCK was playing a white professor of African American studies I was expecting that the joke was going to be that “Black Jeopardy” was just the same as regular jeopardy and the professor would be shown a pompous ass for expecting otherwise. Instead, the joke was that Black Jeopardy would just be nonsense, which feels insulting in a way they weren’t intending. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/34 "2014-03-31T22:42:27Z")
Does it seem to anyone else that Nasim Pedrad is getting much less screen time lately? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/35 "2014-03-31T23:06:58Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Well, as usual, people love to flock to SNL threads to express “worst. episode. ever” and “SNL hasn’t been great since \”. This episode was extremely strong. The Bieber impression on the cold opening was spot-on, Jos A. Bank commercial was hilarious, Black Jeopardy was inspired (SO many great lines in that - “as usual, we started 10 minutes late, so we have to jump to Final Jeopardy”, along with Louis’ amazing straight man act, etc.), etc. The “Who Do You Think You Are?” skit was funny - “this is an actual song, did you guys rehearse or something?”, “I’m, AT MOST, a Mr. Medium Stuff.” The odd pajamas/bad soap opera skit was a little weird - but they were strange interesting characters. Not everything needs to be spoon fed to us to be explained. But of course, if it were, people would complain about that as well. This wasn’t the worst episode ever. It wasn’t even the worst episode of the year. It was purely and simply in and of itself a bad episode. Louis C.K. did a great monolog but he can’t act, not even a little bit. Or at least, he may be able to act elsewhere but he left that at the studio door. If something is bad, it doesn’t matter what people say about similar things. This show was bad because it was stupid, lazy, and badly done. That’s true regardless of any other show this season or any other season or any other show on the air ever. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/36 "2014-04-01T00:01:25Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Does it seem to anyone else that Nasim Pedrad is getting much less screen time lately? Has she ever gotten enough screen time such that it would even be possible to get much less screen time? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/37 "2014-04-01T00:22:57Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > Has she ever gotten enough screen time such that it would even be possible to get much less screen time? She’s been reduced to poor Kim Kardashian imitations. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/38 "2014-04-01T01:12:37Z")
I don’t watch SNL every week, but I thought this was a fairly mediocre episode. The best skits were the 2 where Louis CK acted really awkward (the 2 detectives skit, and the skit where he tried to win his ex back). Other than that, meh. “How many holes do we need to make love” “How many holes are you ok with” was great. I’m using that line in my day to day life. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/39 "2014-04-01T02:11:21Z")
I liked Black Jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898/40 "2014-04-01T02:15:33Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I liked Black Jeopardy. I was really wishing Black Sean Connery would show up. Or at least Black Burt Reynolds. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snl-louis-ck-3-29-14/684898.md?page=3)