SNL Recap: The Amazing Emma Stone

Emma Stone, 24, hosted Saturday Night Live for the second time last night. Quite a monumental feat for someone her age in the industry. Lorne, like everyone else, obviously really likes her. Her first hosting duty last year was strong but nothing amazing. This year though she really knocked it out of the park. The sketches were repeated characters, for the most part, but her delivery and her earnest, genuine desire to be there really pushed them past the typical SNL mediocrity that is sometimes bestowed amongst unknowing hosts.

The night opened with a very weak cold open about Ricky Perry and the Republican party. It was long and it didn’t work. SNL’s political stuff only works when the debate is on fire, especially really close to the election and if the candidates are particularly engaging and characters. It’s just not working this year. Sarah Palin, you are MISSED. Legit. Then we had Emma’s opening sketch which was reminiscent of Kirsten Dunsts when she hosted 10 years ago, as noted in the sketch itself. It was really cute and Andrew Garfield, Stone’s co-star in The Amazing Spider-Man and real life boyfriend, dropped in tot say what’s up.

Following the monologue we had the “Guess That Word” game show sketch which is best known for Kristen Wiigs outstanding character. She is so ridiculous and so over the top but like everything Wiig does she is completely committed and I think it’s one of her underrated characters. While Wiig was strong, Stone was almost equal if not better than Wiig. I can’t find a YouTube clip of it but if you can watch it, it’s really great. Her “puss” line is so out-of-left field but so on point. Right after that we had an awful digital short and then we had the old reporter sketch that Bill Hader is incredible at. It was at it’s best this week and when he breaks when his microphone is molesting Wiig’s character, I died. It was great.

The sketches that followed were interesting, funny though not laugh out: We had one that Stone did last year when she hosted with the french kids dancing out of no where. I don’t find it funny, and it’s not supposed to be overtly hilarious, but it’s really interesting, unique and fun. Stone is completely committed and does a great job. After that we had this really interesting sketch which surrounded how people react when they hear they hear Adele’s Someone Like You. It’s kinda genius. I really appreciated it. And then we ended with the skit above, Technology Humping, totally ridiculous, implausible and hilarious.