Sick of that lead guitar-playing nerd during the interstitials. Man, I miss G.E. Smith.

I love Kate too, but she hasn't yet created a recurring character the way the above names did, one you can watch on screen for more than five minutes at a time. That "proof of concept" is what propelled all SNL vets to stardom. Maybe GHOSTBUSTERS will do that for her.

"Kenan Thompson mostly just grins like an idiot and talks in his usual voice."
You say that like it's a bad thing…
Long ago, Lorne & SNL learned to play to Kenan's strengths. Admittedly its all he can do and has probably stayed too long.
He gets a free pass for "What's Up With That?" which should last forever.

"D'Angelo didn't grab me and sounded sort of like reworked Steely Dan."
Exact reason I loved it; couldn't have phrased it better.

Have thoughts on how Vanessa Bayer seems under-utilized (she was great in the Totino's Super Bowl spot), but realize this applies to all the talented ladies of this current cast. It's an overcrowded room, but without any breakout characters. Curious how the Kate McKinnon movie casting will affect the dynamic there.

TL;DR
B-grade episode, like a lot this season. Really enjoyed Taran Killam's Grammy takedown on Update & the Jay-Z mockumentary by Mike O'Brien (I thought he was gone?).

You guys wanna do some lines?

This is a funny vid. Two thumbs up.

"Interesting: In both versions this week, the little things are the same, such as clothing and the room."

More recommended gems:
"Angel" from Heroes are Hard To Find (Bob Welch period) is a driving magical phase shifted jam.
"Fireflies" a soundcheck recording from the Live album (recorded while touring Tusk) is one of my favorite Stevie tunes. Don't know if it's available elsewhere.
"Dragonfly" a Danny Kirwan song from Kiln…

For Peter Green-era I'd recommend the compilation English Rose which includes both "Albatross" and "Black Magic Woman." Their finest LP with Green is Then Play On from 1969 which sounds like the bridge between White Album Beatles and early Led Zeppelin."Oh Well" is from this period, as is "Green Manalishi" but only…