Comments on: Williams on SNL: Your reviews

By: baker

baker — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:46:35 +0000

for me, his appearance served as a reminder that, by and large, anchors are just actors doing schtick, an “anchor” impersonation — appropriately jovial or concerned as the teleprompter requires, i’d like to think the world has had enough of anchors, they’re an endangered species, and i hope to watch them become entirely irrelevant to news in my lifetime.

unless, of course, you’re an anchor reading this post. in which case, i don’t mean *you* because i’m sure you’re awesome and a true journalist in the mold of that guy who everyone uses as an example, the one in black and white photos with the cool hair.

By: fleetwood mack

fleetwood mack — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:37:14 +0000

Jealous of John Stewart?

Give me a break.

He was Brian Williams BEFORE there WAS a John Stewart.

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:33:59 +0000

Monologue - I admit to wondering if Brian Wiliams hosting was a good idea. I figured they’d try to keep things bland so that NBC’s prize anchor couldn’t be accused of offending anyone. (Interesting that when a politician like Rudy Giuliani hosted SNL that was not so much of a concern.)

Digital short was funny, especially Matt and Al.

Williams should’ve been a part of Weekend Update in some way. He’s good at mocking himself.

Sometimes he sort of kept looking for the teleprompter or at the camera, instead of at other cast members.

By: Rob W

Rob W — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:32:13 +0000

Williams’ SNL will be the last one for awhile due to the WGA strike. So it is what it was.

By: mo from ne

mo from ne — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:12:15 +0000

I agree with the above posters that the writing on SNL isn’t the greatest. I thought this show would be better because of Williams’
involvement and expected something from him during the update. But who knows, maybe management said no to that.

The last skit just sucked and the audience didn’t get too many of the jokes.

I enjoyed the behind the scenes digital short and Feist. I am looking forward to the train wreck that is Amy Winehouse for their next live broadcast.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:55:39 +0000

Brian Williams has never passed up an opportunity to play the hip, glib TV newsman on the Daily Show or Jay Leno. He strikes me as someone who’s jealous of Jon Stewart. I’d be willing to bet that he has been begging to host SNL for years. Now he’s gotten his wish, and it was boring. The digital short was about as cliche as you can get (who didn’t know that he was leaving a message for himself on his machine at the end of the day? You could see that coming from a mile away!). Whatever. No wonder Charlie Gibson is beating him.

By: Anon

Anon — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:58:42 +0000

I agree with the 6:14pm Anonymous; the show’s pretty weak, but I can still get an occasional minor giggle out of Weekend update.
Although it was pretty strange watching BriWi (as I saw him dubbed) do the Bronx accent.
And yes, the pennies thing was pretty funny.

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 02:39:37 +0000

I thought Brian did a good job. The funniest was Matt Lauer actually “swearing” when he and Roker were pummelled with coins throuwn from Brian Williams’ office. It was nice to see him make fun of himself. That takes courage.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 01:14:52 +0000

I thought Williams did well with what he had, but the show overall was unmemorable. The next-to-last sketch of a behind-the-scenes of a Democratic debate was just awful. There was audible groaning at the ambulance-chaser line and booing at the end.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 01:12:56 +0000

Williams should have come on as himself for a Weekend Update segment with David Gregory portraying Tom Brokaw. Or maybe he could have done a Larry King.

SNL has become a mostly bad show. The writing is weak and the actors are sub-average.

The current Weekend Update is, though, a tad better than your typical local newscast.

The guy that tries to do George Bush should seek a different type of career.

Obama stole the show.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:14:09 +0000

Good episode overall, but the best part I thought was Feist. Williams came off a little stiff throughout, but game for the occasion– great opening monologue and the Digital Short was pretty damn funny.

By: Allen

Allen — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:52:00 +0000

What are you talking about? Peyton was money. I liked the CW skit and the behind the scenes of his day.

It’s gotten so bad they had to bring Horatio back for a couple of skits. Let the writers strike begin.

By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:27:10 +0000

Better than Payton and Jeff Gordon

By: Treacle

Treacle — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:07:11 +0000

Williams performed well in comparison to past hosts who come from outside hollywood/music biz (i.e., athletes/politicians). But I agree with discreet_chaos: the writing was terrible. My wife fell asleep, and as I reached midpoint in the show I thought “Why am I still watching this crap?” SNL has reached a new low.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:58:46 +0000

Meh.