Not questioning ability so much as SNL's approach to "live " performances. Still sounded/looked canned, but I surrender to the Florence fans of the world, with the proviso that, if indeed live, the performance sent me rewinding to discover why is sounded and looked that way.

Fair enough. Feelin' ornery—apologies if I sounded harsh. To you, I mean—this episode did not impress me at all. Thanks for reading.

How "There were two sketches that might have passed for decent lesser material on a good show" translates as "the pinnacle of humor" escapes me. But thanks for reading!

You understand that I praised the Muhammad sketch as one of the only funny things of the night, right? And "racist" was used as a blanket term for prejudice. Sort of like how I call "racist" on a blanket "fuck em" to all Muslims.

SNL has its rough patches, but MADtv? Low blow.

"Grumpy," "giving thoughtful analysis"—potato/potato. Thanks for reading.

Dunno—I rewound a lot because I was so annoyed at the prospect and it sure looked that way. There was one cue that was so off that it was either that or a major problem with the sound mix. I like the band just fine, but the disconnect between the singer's performance and the song was, as I said, unnervingly discordant…

Thanks!

You understand that I meant, in addition to the usual cue cards, she presumably had her lines on the papers in front of her, right? I feel that was especially clear.

They didn't realize he had had such an abusive childhood, apparently. He agreed to come on dressed as her, and had something like a psychotic break. (He was pretty prone to those during his time in the cast, as it turns out—it's a harrowing read, that book.)

Not lip-synching as much as singing over a backing track, but it sure looked like the audio didn't match up a few times, in the first song especially. Not to pick on Florence, et al, but the canned emotion of the musical numbers has become such an isolated experience from the rest of the show that they're deeply…

"We met Bluebell when he came to the door to tell us he's a registered sex offender."

In Darrell Hammond's book, he tells a truly upsetting story about how he was forced into one of these Mother's Day skits and had a total nervous freakout. (His mom was…not a nice lady.)

Just picturing every mother licking their fingers and wiping smudges off each performer's face right before the camera goes on.

[Peels off mask—am actually the Cancellation Bear.} That's right… by me!

[Crashes into the show you love most.]

Cranky?! Cranky? I'll show you cranky! Now get off my lawn!

Then my work here is done. To the Criticmobile, away!

Loved that. "I can say hello in a lot of languages. Not yours, of course."

That's my friend Dutch Dennis. Who does actually exist. I'll tell him in English—he'll get it.