SNL: Ben Carson and Trump; Bernie Sanders (Larry David)

Saturday Night Live kicked off a fairly terrific episode this weekend with a faux CNN news report, announcing Ben Carson's (in likely Jay Pharaoh's last impression of him) endorsement of Donald Trump. This is mixed with the latest appearance of Larry David as Bernie Sanders. Lots of good stuff in here.

SNL: Trump the Vulgarian

SNL: Hillary Sings "I Can't Make You Love Me"

Hillary Clinton's biggest obstacle is that 25 years in politics creates a lot of baggage. And all along,  whether with her husband, or individually,  the media has been complicit in making everything about potential scandal, or "how x hurts Clinton." Its reason #397 why I find the notion of "liberal media bias" so laughable. But it has fostered a feeling many have toward Hillary: they're suspicious of her, even if they don't know why. Saturday Night Live has put this odd factoid to song, with Hillary singing it.

SNL: Tina Fey Returns as Sarah Palin (with Darrell Hammond as Trump)

Image from source, MediaIte

As hoped by millions, after famous-for-almost-no-reason Sarah Palin endorsed Donald Trump for president, Saturday Night Live alum returned as everyone's least favorite hockey mom. Needless to say, Fey was terrific. And Darrell Hammond seems to have taken over the Trump role from Taran Killam for good.

[Excerpt]

Tina Fey Returns As Sarah Palin to Endorse Donald Trump in SNL Cold Open

. . .Shining comedy star and SNL alum Tina Fey returned to send up former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin‘s endorsement of Donald Trump earlier this week. . .

Read more (with video) at: MediaIte

SNL: Latest GOP Debate Skewered

Image from SaturdayNightLive.com

Amy Poehler and Tina Fey cohosted this weekend's Saturday Night Live, and it was frankly one of the best episodes of the past several seasons. SNL continues to attract nay-sayers, people who are fond of saying "Saturday Night DEAD," or that it hasn't been funny in decades. Of course, they've been accusing it of being cursed with suck since John Belushi left. As a regular watcher, through thick and thin, I think the cast has gelled, and is currently very good. And when they've got stellar guest hosts, they get a dynamite show.

The cold opening actually followed a real Democratic presidential debate, by spoofing the most recent Republican one. And it was a hoot. Darrell Hammond was back as Donald Trump, since current "leading man" Taran Killam was serving as Ted Cruz. That's unfortunate, because Killam's Trump is better than his Cruz. Otherwise, the bit was a home run.

SNL: Taran Killam's Donald Trump is HUGE on Premiere Episode!

All summer, I've thought that Lorne Michaels and Darrell Hammond would be just itching to get back on the air, so that they could skewer Donald Trump. I was half right. Hammond--who returned to replace the late Don Pardo as announcer last year--didn't get to play Trump, one of his signature impressions. But current SNL male lead, Taran Killam--bizarrely named, but very talented--had clearly been spending his summer perfecting his Trump impersonation, because it is spot on. Cecily Strong also continued to prove that being moved out of Weekend Update and back into prominence in sketches was the right move. She's terrific too, as Trump's most recent immigrant wife.

SNL Scores with Hillary Clinton Appearance

This weekend marked the 41st season premiere of Saturday Night Live, and there I was, just as I had been for season one, watching live. It's the first time in a long time for me, since I've been in the Pacific time zone for the past twenty years. But I have watched most season openers, even if they were on tape delay. And usually--oddly--the first episode is shaky, like a bad first day of school. This one wasn't, in my opinion. It was fairly strong. Particularly the political stuff.

One of the best bits was something SNL does fairly often, but not often well: the appearance of a real-life presidential candidate in a sketch. In this one, Kate McKinnon, whose Hillary impression is getting better but not on the mark yet, meets with the real Clinton for some fairly good--and politically effective--banter. Good job!

Funny or Die: The 2012 Candidates Meet The Internet

This isn't brand new, but if I missed it, maybe you did too. Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link. It's hilarious (stay tuned to the end!).

Live Funny Or Die in 2012 from Darrell Hammond

Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion for Health Care Reform

I liked it. I didn't love it, but I liked it. Too bad the late, great Phil Hartman couldn't be there.

Funny or Die's Presidential Reunion from Will Ferrell

Amy Poehler Returns to SNL as Hillary Clinton

Last night's Saturday Night Live wasn't the best or worst episode of the season, but it wasn't great either. Still, the return of Amy Poehler--however short-lived it turns out to be--was welcome. There are a few other female cast members, but other than Kristin Wiig, none have really burst out as identifiable talents. Maybe Amy can help school them before she goes.

Amy got to perform as Hillary Clinton one more time, here to comment on the Secretary of State appointment. And Darrell Hammond as Bill Clinton is hands down the best Presidential impression in all of SNL history, in my opinion, no matter what the skit is.