After watching the premiere of Saturday Night Live yesterday, I've decided that something has to be done about Kristen Wiig.Yes, she can be funny sometimes. However, as SNL is currently constituted, this seldom happens. I liked her in the opening sketch as Delware politician Christine O'Donnell. From there, it was a repeat of past shows, as she was unfunny in most of her skits playing the same neurotic, high-pitched character she plays in every sketch. On the whole, I agree with the review of the show by New York Magazine:
[Host Amy] Poehler ably carried the show, of course. Mostly, it was far from her best SNL work, and the return of all those former, funny cast members just made us miss better SNL line-ups, and it almost seemed a little desperate on NBC’s part.Well said. Some of my friends bring up the point that Wiig is the one woman they can trust in the cast to give a decent performance, as if this is a good excuse. But how is anyone else in the cast going to develop if you keep giving the airtime to Wiig, Fred Armisen, etc.? Heck, Andy Samburg is the most popular cast member, and he was barely in anything last night.
Therefore, I proposed this deal to Lorne Michaels on Facebook:
Dear Lorne Michaels,
I have no idea why you feel a compulsive need to put Kristen Wiig in seemingly EVERY Saturday Night Live skit, but honestly, it needs to stop. Maybe you think it's awesome that she plays the same neurotic character with the silly voice in every sketch, but I'm not a fan.
In April of 1976, Lorne, you offered The Beatles $3,000 to appear on the show. Well, I'm doing the same for you - If you fire Kristen Wiig, I'll write you a check for $3,000. If this sweetens the pot for you, my checks have Sesame Street characters on them, and you can pick which one you like the best.
Anyway, let me know what you think, Lorne. (Can I call you Lorne? I realize I've already done it a couple times in this message.) I'm eagerly awaiting your response.
Sincerely,
Steve
The group is open to the public, and you can look at it and join the crusade by clicking here. I don't think it'll actually work, but hey, it sure would be sweet if it did.
Is she the one who plays the sister with the tiny hands and big forhead? I don't watch SNL but I've seen some of those clips and I thought those were funny. SNL has gone down the drain.
ReplyDelete@ Amanda - Yup, that would be her! That skit can be OK, but like anything with her, it's a trainwreck half the time.
ReplyDeleteOk, where do we sign up for $3,000 checks with Sesame Street characters on them? I'm partial to Snuffy. xo The Empress
ReplyDeletehttp://rantersbox.blogspot.com
@ Empress - Unfortunately, you only qualify for the $3,000 if you can remove Wiig from Saturday Night Live somehow. I don't care how you do it; just get it done.
ReplyDeleteAh! I don't watch SNL much, and I blame this woman!
ReplyDeleteI am with you a hundred percent on this. I actually like her in movies but she gets really annoying on SNL. That is, when I actually watch the show anymore.
ReplyDeleteHilarious stuff. I'll join the group for sure.
@ Alison - Sweet, you can join the revolution then! You're young and blonde, you can totally replace her on the show.
ReplyDelete@ TS - I'm with you on the movies. She's part of the best scene in Semi-Pro; she's the trainer of the bear that goes on a rampage.
ReplyDeleteAgh. I'm at a loss. Where I'm not a HUGE fan of hers, I actually don't mind her. Believe it or not I even like those ridiculous Gilly skits! I know, I know...but unfortunately SNL did this to me. It's not nearly as funny as it use to be so perhaps my standards and expectations have been lowered :/
ReplyDelete@ Picosita - Wow, I think you're the only one who likes Gilly :/ Or at least, the only one I've ever heard who expressed that sentiment. Kudos, I guess!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's a generational thing. Lorne is older, and unlike in the past, most of the cast is in their 30s now. My friends are mostly in their early to mid-20s, and I'm one of the few that will still stick it out and watch.
Yeah, I'm actually ashamed to admit it.
ReplyDelete@ Picosita - You kind of should be. Then again, I watch professional wrestling, so there is no accounting for taste.
ReplyDeleteOkay, do your checks actually have Sesame Street characters on them? Because if they do, you might be my soul mate. Lol.
ReplyDeleteBut I totally agree with you, not just on Wiig, but on the whole SNL line-up. I'm not impressed by any of them. And I stopped watching religiously, like, two years ago, I think, because I was just like, meh.
@ Christina - They totally do! I'll take a photo of them at some point for everyone's benefit, haha.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it seemed like they were on the verge of being relevant again about two years ago, back when they had Casey Wilson and some other funny people. But then they let her go, and most of the bit players are still bit players. Except for Samburg and Jay Pharaoh, I can't see anyone from this cast being a future star.
Kristen Wiig is about the only reason TO watch SNL. When Tina Fey hosted, there was hardly any of Kristen Wiig on that show and it really sucked. Tina Fey has a limited scope of being funny. I do like her Sarah Palin but that's about it. Kristen Wiig is sharp as a tack. Think about how quick on her feet she has to be. She can't read all of her material from a prompter. I Wiigsh you all liked her too!
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with the general consensus here. KW just not funny. Same skits way too often and they are bad skits at that.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the post as i've had with about everyone regarding complains about Kristen's performance. I mean really, she can handle every single type of character with the finest sence of hummor. I think that if Lorne fires her he would probably have to fire the writing staff to cause some of the sketches are poorly written and she still manages to lift them to the audience's expectations. Kristen Wiig is absolutely amazing and they should keep her on the show for as long as they can.
ReplyDeleteYou seriously dont know what you're talking about. 1- Kristen Wiig is freaking hilarious. In comedy (my feild) there's always a "straight man", or normal person to make the non straight person seemingly less normal. Kristen Wiig CAN play these characters, and has many a time, but she is a talented and goofy artist, so she tends to not play the straight person. It's usually Abby, who's seemingly better at realistic actung and a bit more on the "witty" side of funny.
ReplyDeleteAnd secondly, Mr. Michaels doesnt control who's in every sketch. And he wouldnt fire Ms. Wiig for 3,000 dollars! That's ridiculous. You know... you DONT have to watch it time and again!?!?!? I do, it's my job, but you can change the channel, okay? You dont have to sit through it just so you can write uneducated "opinion", which is really just bashing someone. Kristen is a more talented comedian that I will ever turn out to be, I love and respect her, and if you dont like her, Lorne really doesnt need to know. Or your money, he executive produces SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!!!! THE. BEST. SHOW. EVER.
I just like that there is now a slew of anonymous comments on this entry about Kristen Wiig's performance. Is my blog circulating among her family or something? Odd.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, if you can't discern that my $3,000 offer was meant in jest, or if you think the current edition of Saturday Night Live is the best one ever, it doesn't really bode well for your future career in comedy. Heck, I'm a SNL defender, and this season has gotten better as it has gone on, but it's still not as good as even two-ish years ago. Far too little of Jay Pharoah, still too much Wiig and recurring, horrible bits, like her one-upper character.
Fred gets to do Obama because they cant just change their impressionist in the middle! When Fred leaves he'll take it.
ReplyDeleteThat was just a side not about a different post.
But um.... If MR. MICHAELS (Maybe you should have asked FIRST) thinks its hilarious, you cant do anything about it. I know you recieved an email from my friend on this, but I'm going to rant anyway.
3 grand and muppets isnt going to do anything to remove a talented comedian from an epic, age-old institution.
They can and have changed people doing impressions in the middle of Presidential terms. Usually it's because the past person doing it leaves - Phil Hartman to Darrell Hammond for Clinton - but Armisen's impression is so bad and Pharoah's so good that they should make the switch now.
ReplyDeleteI like how seriously everyone is taking my $3,000 offer though. Folks, it's a reference to a classic bit from the show - Mr. Michaels, as everyone seems fond of calling him, did it on the air to try and entice The Beatles on the show. He also asked people to call in about whether they should fire or keep Andy Kaufman, and in reflection, maybe that would have been the better comparison to make.
Steve - I have to agree completely. KW is a one-trick-pony and the trick it old. I used to think she was hot, but I got over that like dumping a girlfriend with an annoying laugh.
ReplyDeleteI stopped watching SNL because every skit was either KW making stupid faces or about gay sex... or both. Repulsive not funny.
PS> I am "Anonymous" because I am too lazy to sign in. I am not related in any way to KW or her family. Your blog is funnier than SNL.
Okay, just saying, KRISTEN WIIG is the only reason i watch SNL. as the same with almost all my friends. she is always funny. no matter how crappy the skit is...
ReplyDeleteoh please she is the worst...why else would i take time out in my not really busy day to google kristin wiig sucks and then read these comments and make a comment myself?
ReplyDeletebecause i care...
please -I can see that she has a lot of manic energy and inventiveness and i guess that fools people into thinking that she is talented- maybe she would just be better as a straight actress- anything she's been ok in has been the straighter acting roles in movies- but whatever- her comedy has that one little classic flaw: It's not funny!
SNL just plain SUCKS. I think you could've saved time by just taking a dump on the whole show. Gone are the days of E. Buzz Miller and Roseanne Rosannadanna.
ReplyDeleteYou people - the ones who dislike Wiig - are missing the boat. She is smart and funny and SEXAY!
ReplyDeleteu jerks kristen wiigs amazing, dont blame her if you wanna blame anyone its really snl whos over playing her but to me i cant get enough kristen wiig :D so yall haters forget u i agree with the people who love and who dont whyyyyyyyy whyyyyy????
ReplyDeleteOld thread. However, kristen wiig still sucks. In that bridesmaid movie, the woman from Mike and Molly was so much better than wiig. She should've had the lead.
ReplyDeleteKristen Wiig is BOSS. ABSOLUTLY BOSS. Funniest SNL castmember since Amy Poehler.
ReplyDeleteWhy so many people hating on Wiig? She's awesome.
ReplyDeleteBesides, she's overused at the moment due to the small female cast - hardly her fault.
Furthermore, you can't blame a performer for somebody else's bad writing. She's a star player, so she gets put in a lot of average/dry sketches to lift them up, but you can't polish a turd.
Wiig is amazing. Look at Bridesmaids. She co-wrote that and it's fantastic.
Kristen Wiig - You are loved, ignore the trendy haters.
Best from all the way in cold Scotland : )
DEAR... GOD... YES!!!
ReplyDeletePLEASE make this work!!! Kristen Wiig is so INSUFFERABLE. Every inane character of hers is exactly one degree of ridiculousness from the other, and the fact that ANYone in America likes her is just a testament to how many fucking MORONS are in the general populace.
Unfortunately, Kristen seems to appeal to the same kind of "lowest common denominator" of comedy audience that follows the likes of Dane Cook, Jeff Dunham, Carlos Mencia, and Margaret Cho. UGH. AWFUL!
These are the same prattling morons that would tell you that "Bridesmaids" was "fantastic" and then turn around and post on Fandango that they thought "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" was "too complicated and boring". Fucking idiots. They probably don't even "get" the humor inherent in Shakespeare. But hey... those are Kristen Wiig fans for you.
THANK YOU for your perfectly reasonable crusade, Stephen. You are a visionary. ^_^
Yay! We can all rest easy now. She's gone! Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteShe is gone from the show!!! No more having to watch her make fun of people with deformed hands either. Good riddance!!!
ReplyDeleteMs. Wiig is gone from the show. Can I have my check please?
ReplyDeleteI cast Kristen Wiig in my comedy group many years ago. She had the uncanny ability to inhabit any character she was given instantly. My comedy group died a horrible death from internal politics, and I learned how nasty low-level actors can be. Kristen avoided the politics of the group, which was a good instinct. She also could not stand me. I couldn't seem to avoid saying something she didn't take as a personal insult or judgement. I have never laughed at her characters on SNL, and I don't know why.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, and as painful as I found Bridesmaids.... I have to jump to her defense here. I don't know if it's Kristen Wiig that's the problem..... or the writing. The writing would have to come up several levels to be considered incompetent. The writing staff needs to be fired, and their bizarre writer's union rule of "voting in" new writers seems to have evolved a culture of only voting in writers that will never threaten the last batch; hence the continually and inevitable worsening of the writing.
So, I can't say that Kristen Wiig is actually bad... not until I actually see her work with sketch material that is actually good. Which, with SNL, is impossible...
@ Anonymous - I finally did watch Bridesmaids earlier this year, and while I thought her character was insane in it, I did find her highly funny. Since she's now gone from the show, here's my final reflection on Wiig - way overused on SNL, but she is funny. I think the show will be better in the 2012-13 season just because the writing staff and Lorne Michaels won't be able to use her as a crutch for every sketch.
ReplyDelete