Monday, May 10, 2010

White's Night....



When I first read the facebook campaign to have Betty White (not pictured) host "Saturday Night Live," I was skeptical.

I thought, how random?

This was probably just people creating a false sense of 80's nostalgia for the "Golden Girls."

I thought, people don't actually want this, they just want to sound COOL by wanting this.

I just didn't get it.
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Much to my surprise, Lorne Michaels actually obliged the masses and let Betty White host the show.

It's one of the better decisions he's made in a while.
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I have now watched the Betty White episode of SNL 3 times on my DVR.

I thought she was incredible.

Truly.

And not just incredible for an 88 year old.

Incredible for an SNL host.

Her sense of comic timing, her acting, she was outstanding.

This isn't just 'let's laugh at the old lady to be nice.' Betty White was foul, crass, dirty and hilarious.
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Perhaps, having the vessel of an 88 year old charming woman, gave the writers the freedom to cut loose.

Frankly, you can get away with ***t when you have a nice old lady say it, that you couldn't with anyone else.

Between "Wizard of Ass," "Barking up the wrong lesbian" and the entire "muffin" sketch, it was one of the raunchiest SNLs in recent memory.

But the laughs were real.

And it helps that SNL brought back so many talented female cast members, Tina, Amy, Rachel, Maya....

Really shows you where the lack is now.

The show needs to rely a little less on Kristin to bring ALL the female funny.

It needs a few more strong female cast members.
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Betty wasn't the only highlight of the show.

It's easy to say Jay-Z is your favorite rapper.

But Jay-Z is mine.

I thought his first performance, taking all that time, going through so many of his greatest hits, it was a real treat.

He brought his A-game to SNL and even gave a shoutout to Betty White after his second song.

The set was also worth noting.
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SNL is a challenge for ANY actor.

Plenty of people have sucked at it.

Look Betty White is almost 90.

To give performances like she did, at that level, at that age, it was truly inspiring.

It's nice to know that you can still do what you love, your whole life.

Plus, I was truly touched watching the cast members interact with her.

When they brought her flowers at the very end of the show, I was moved.

Much like with the movie "Up," I love seeing older people being treated with dignity.
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I thought this started out as a facebook hoax.

But what it turned into was a populist movement to honor an actress, who used the spotlight to shine.

Get yourself on hulu and start watching clips from the show.

It was an instant classic.

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