I'm probably the most critical person of "Saturday Night Live" that I know -- hey, I was a Gilda Radner kid -- but even I have to admit this Saturday's was pretty damn good. I've always thought Justin Timberlake was a bit overrated for what he's done so far -- one decent acting job, and two solo albums and Madonna was turning to him to jumpstart her career????? -- but he did impress me last night.
He handled a potentially uncomfortable sketch with fellow five-time hosts -- and some oversized egos -- deftly, and his rapping "sandwich board" was startlingly good (vegan-inspired parodies of Chic's "Le Freak," Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby," Rihanna's "We Found Love," Billy Idol's "Dancing With Myself," and Trinidad Jame$' "All Gold Everything" all while dressed as a giant piece of tofu!). I'm still scratching my head about "Maine Justice" -- and I'm sure some will take issue with his un-PC but spot-on romcom parody -- but that second song he sang was fantastic (Chart Rigger declared "Mirrors" the best song of 2013 so far). Not since Debbie Harry hosted in 1981 have I seen a host/musical guest appeared in as many sketches at JT did -- he even introduced himself as the musical act on song one! -- although the evening's two finest moments were mostly Timberlake-free. Seth Meyers' "Weekend Update" made me laugh on every joke, and the women who starred in this "Moet & Chandon" promo were so brilliant, I'm pretty sure I heard Gilda herself laughing from above!