Nov 152009
Some highlights, folks!
Monologue– perhaps a bit insulting to Basketcases? Naaahh!!! (the theme song is adorable)
Party planning:
Rear Window (get it? Rear Window)
Dairy Queen:
Today Show:
Mrs. Hyde:
January is the date who doesn’t get it:
clips via NBC.com
79 Responses to “January on SNL”
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lighten up – jeez-louise.
SNL is missed a great opportunity with January – she is a good actress. I thought she did an adequate job considering the material she had to work with. The Rear Window scene was difficult and she held her own and pulled it off – she proved herself a trooper. I liked the way she laughed through the scenes. She was having a good time. The purpose of the show is to have fun!
As a serious fan of MM, I wasn’t in the least insulted by the opening “Mad Menniesâ€monologue; on the contrary I felt it was a nice little personal “shout-out†to me and my mom. I jumped up, spilling my whiskey, neat, and thumped on the ceiling with my rifle but I think she was already asleep.
I got the feeling the audience didn’t get the gag though. You know, there aren’t a large number of people that watch the show regularly. 2.6 million on AMC maybe triple that online. I wonder if the crowd was completely tuned into our sense of enthusiasm for all things Mad Men.
I don’t watch that much SNL anymore, but as far as the five minute fart joke goes, that’s fairly standard fare isn’t it? (The good old days of SNL was what? the first two years had some edge, then? We may be over-sentimentalizing how sharp the show was.)
I think they were trying to save the sketch by going way over the rainbow with the sound effects, but it was a distance to go for the punch line, “Hitch, I’m a celebrity judge at a chili cook-off tomorrow. “ Jason Sudekis nailed his Jimmy Stewart though.
January stepped on a few of her lines, appeared nervous, but I don’t think it’s any negative indication of her acting chops; performing anything in front of a life audience involves a special skill set. And after all, the past thirteen weeks wasn’t just some elaborate illusion; we all witnessed; she definitely was Betty Draper.
Come on now! The Black Eyed Peas are fun, and Fergie has an awesome set of pipes, no?
****Wait! I just rewatched and have changed my mind. January’s image is definitely permanently disgracefully irredeemably tarnished. How can she seriously run for vice-president in 2012? Harrumph. I’ll have no choice but to vote for the other ticket. Shame, shame Ms. Jones. You’ve let America down, show some scrap of dignity please and just disappear.
#52 I also liked her laughing; it was real and goofy. I was reading about other SNL debacles that were worse: the aforementioned DeNiro, Elaine Page, Nancy Kerrigan, Wayne Gretsky, Val Kilmer (who read other people's lines on the cue cards), Peter Sarsgaard. Rudy Guliani (who I loathe) was our mayor at the time, and he was great! I think JJ is a good actress, and it's funny, but her performances look great in the stills at the head of this thread.
January Jones is talentless and should be fired for the extensive damage that she has done to Mad Men's reputation and legacy.
I hadn't watched SNL in years. I watched last night because I'm a Mad Men fan and January Jones was hosting. I really wished that I hadn't watched. I was appalled at how far downhill SNL has gone. Also, Jones showed that those who said she isn't a good actress were correct. It is only with the incredibly good writing and directing on Mad Men that she can be considered in any way a good actress. This morning, when I told my wife about how awful SNL has become, she reminded me that I was still watching SNL long after he had given up on it. So many people have no idea how good SNL used to be in "the good old days."
I think some people are better suited to doing live comedy, and others are not. JJ seems to feel a bit uncomfortable in doing comedy. The laughing got to be a bit old for me, and her nervousness was apparent. Maybe it was just a case of her wanting to try hosting SNL like her costar, and it wasn't her strong suit.
I don't think JJ is the strongest actress on MM, but I also think she is the most under developed character on the show.
Deborah, the Cinder63 quote that was lifted from Television Without Pity (the page I sent you the link for) by Betty Basher was written by me, and unless I am losing my mind I am not logged in here as Betty Basher, so I know for a fact it's plagiarism. Not earth-shattering but I find it strange that people are cutting and pasting from other sites rather than sharing their own thoughts here. And as a journalist I'm kind of picky about receiving credit where credit is due.
Thanks.
Okay, if it was written by you, that's different. I wish you'd said that to start! I've deleted it.
Here's the deal.
Comedy has no couth; it didn't in Ancient Rome and it doesn't now.
Why do you think obnoxious types like the late John Belushi say that women aren't funny? Besides the obvious and odious sexism, it's because too many actresses are worried about couth.
Jones got into the comedy trenches with the Rear Window skit and good for her.
I think January probably wanted this opportunity to show the world that she is not as stiff as Betty Draper and unfortunately, that didn’t go so well. But she didn’t suck either. It was a suckful episode, and to blame her for not providing her own sketches is unfair. Maybe that’s the way to really shine on SNL, but it shouldn’t be considered her failure.
And @55, Skyway, I don’t know what you’re talking about regarding “the extensive damage that she has done to Mad Men’s reputation and legacyâ€. Talentless? She has given amazing performances, and strongly deserved Emmy consideration for season two, which I consider to be her season.
I think we now see the justification for all of Don Draper's affairs. Matt Weiner was auditioning new actresses for the role of Don's wife.
January Jones was exceptionally good in Mad Men. The role was complimentary to her talents. She has three looks – angry, quizzical & beatific.
Now that her role in that show is done, this was an excellent opportunity to show that she's not a one-dimensional actress. Her debut was in 1999 and she's mostly had roles as "Girl #2". Mad Men gave her huge visibility and some directors may have been interested in using that buzz to promote their next movies. But she needed to show that she can do different voices, different looks, different characters. She didn't vary her appearance much on SNL and showed made little attempt to affect a different dialect. Most were variations of Betty Draper.
SNL is as good as it ever was. Episodes with the likes of Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift show that non-comedians can excel. Even on a good night, at least a third of the sketches fall flat. This past Saturday, they all did.
I had hope at the beginning of the the Diary Queen sketch, she showed excitement and playfulness. Unfortunately, it was poorly written, went on too long, and she had very few lines.
The Rear Window sketch repeated the same premise until it became uncomfortable. Anyone could have taken her place in the Kathy Lee sketch. The Party Planner sketch may have been better if the topic was parenting tips, as had been suggested on this blog.
I got the impression that she brought no suggestions to the table and showed limited ability to go out of character. The writers seemed to have prolonged every sketch because they couldn't find anything else that she could do.
I feel badly that she tanked on SNL. Perhaps she's an outstanding actress and just had a bad night. Not everyone can do comedy well, maybe those skills elude her. Maybe her limited visibility in other roles meant that the writers had little to work with.
In any case, she came off looking very poorly, and I hate to see that happen to anyone.
Deborah, I'm sorry; at first I was trying to maintain some measure of anonymity (don't know why, really) and again it's not a huge deal, just odd. Thanks for your attention at this busy time.
@60 Roberta "..unfortunately, that didn’t go so well. But she didn’t suck either."
Actually, as much as it pains me to say it, I thought JJ sucked big time. She has no stage presence, whatsoever, which is amazing, considering her physical beauty. It was if SNL had run another contest to select a host from the viewing audience, and selected, as winner, some thirty-something housewife from South Dakota. (The only skit where JJ was convincing was in the DQ skit — I could see JJ working in a Pierre, SD DQ!)
But, her failure at SNL has no bearing on her work in front of the camera. As mentioned, Robert DiNiro was also lost when asked to perform in a half dozen sketches in 90 minutes time, and with only 5 days to prepare. Jones showed some serious acting chops in S3. Weiner has commented how the role of Betty was originally not envisioned to be a large part of MM, but that Betty became an integral part after JJ's reading for the role.'
Oh well.. she was cute, anyway.
btw, Roberta… thanks so much to you and Deborah for this site. Excellent fun!
"If Tina Fey was still head writer for SNL, the sketches for a female host would be stronger. Post-SNL interviews with former female and black cast members are quite revealing"
I have to agree, especially this season…it has been a disaster. The hired talent isn't cutting it…
I love how most people on this site are rushing to JJ's defense, as if their gesture will salvage anything. If you go to any forum, you'll see what people who aren't so biased really think. Matt Weiner now has no other choice but to demote her role to that of a secondary character who'll make only a handful of appearances in season 4 (i.e. McNulty's ex-wife in The Wire).
"Matt Weiner now has no choice" because people on the Internet are bitching? Whoa. Grow up.
Agree with Deb. Whoah.
Ogilvy, thanks!
I didn't see SNL this week because I think it is an un-funny show that passed its prime in around 1978. I don't know why anyone agrees to be on it, to tell the truth. I'm sure it will have no effect on January Jones' role on the show or her career. I have to comment, however,on the post above that says we will see Don and Betty "co-parenting." I don't think so! That is a distinctly modern concept. If true to the times, Don might visit the kids once in awhile or have them over on a weekend, but it won't be like it is now, where divorced parents try to divide up the time equally and participate equally in child-rearing. There was even a thought, expressed to me as late as the 70s, that it was better for the kids for the absent father to withdraw from the kids' lives completely! I don't think the show will go in that direction. but I don't think Don is going to be having the kids every other weekend or that there will be much of a role for JJ as Betty on the show after they are divorced.
@#66 and #67–
Agreed. What, is MM now American Idol? Oh, please.
"Agreed. What, is MM now American Idol? Oh, please."
OMG…that is exactly what I was thinking! This is definitely weird to see, I don't know where all the JJ hate came from.
I don't hate her at all, but man, I thought she absolutely reeked. Worse than her Grace Kelly character. Worse than the (admittedly awful) writing.
She looked like she had absolutely no idea what she was doing at all, with the exception of the entertaining film – not what you'd expect from an experienced actress. A number of people thought her laughing was sweet or real – I thought it was painful to watch and horribly unprofessional.
I've been listening to the season 1 dvd commentaries – I've come to the conclusion that Betty's wooden "of course" and narrow affect isn't acting – it's January.
@ 68 Annie R- I disagree with you. Don loves his kids. Without thinking it through, he wanted full custody. He is not going to withdraw from their lives. They are going to be spending part of the weekend with him, and maybe the occasional dinner in the city.
In general I think SNL has been lacking for years. All the skits are way too long. Haven't they ever heard of "leave 'em wanting more"? Something is only funny the first few times, but then it gets tired, just like the Rear Window skit. If they would make shorter skits they would have time for MORE skits. But, I guess maybe they don't have enough talent for that? Who knows.
I love JJ, but I thought she was flat throughout the show, and I can even see how/why Ashton said what he said to her about her acting career. I think she is just very self concious, though, and with time and experience, she will become more comfortable in her skin. I think she has potential.
Keep working, JJ!
Love ya!
#71 Artemisia: "I don’t hate her at all, but man, I thought she absolutely reeked. Worse than her Grace Kelly character. Worse than the (admittedly awful) writing.
She looked like she had absolutely no idea what she was doing at all, with the exception of the entertaining film – not what you’d expect from an experienced actress. A number of people thought her laughing was sweet or real – I thought it was painful to watch and horribly unprofessional.
I’ve been listening to the season 1 dvd commentaries – I’ve come to the conclusion that Betty’s wooden “of course†and narrow affect isn’t acting – it’s January."
I just read what you wrote Artemisia. I have to agree 100%.
Without thinking it through, he wanted full custody. He is not going to withdraw from their lives.
Don might even be spending MORE time with his kids than he did before, which let's face it, seemed to be very little. Now that he doesn't have to avoid Betty (and think about it- even discounting the considerable time he spent with his mistresses, how much of his after-hours "work time" was just finding something else to do besides go back to Ossining) , he wont need to run away. How many nights did he come home after they were in already bed, even when he did come home?
Yes, he might only see them on the weekends but he'll spend more time with them on the weekends than he ever did while he was married.
Or at least, that's what I hope.
Sally & Bobby could have a blast with Daddy in Manhattan.
I don't see what the big deal is. I wonder why so much Betty hate. I wonder why so much January hate. Is she a bad person or is something expected of her because she's really pretty or something else? I find myself defending her all the time and I can't figure out why I see the positive and others see glaring negative.
#76 What? Really? You think people are critical because she is pretty? There are pretty girls aplenty in the acting world who are great at what they do. I don’t see anyone “hating†on them unjustly because they are pretty.
How about we reverse this idea and ask, "Because she is pretty, we can't critique her work?"
Certainly, JJ wouldn’t want us to patronize her.
Hi Just as a follow-up, Millicent noted that an earlier comment was lifted from TWOP. It was signed "concerned" and it's comment 38. She was right. I post on TWOP under my screen name, Jasunshine and pretty much use the same screen name everywhere – Twitter, TWOP, EW, etc. I definitely did not post the comment here, so it was plagiarized. And really odd. Although I guess I could be flattered. I hope it's not read as Betty bashing though. That's not the intent. Thanks.
Hi here is the link to the Mad Men forum on TWOP where I posted the comment that “Concerned” reposted here – comment # 38 on this site (I guess the numbering changed after you removed a previous post): http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showtopic=3157633&st=270
If you want to confirm my profile I have the same user name on my twitter pg:
http://twitter.com/jasunshine
Thanks