10 Best SNL Digital Shorts
Usually when people claim “Saturday Night Live” hasn’t been good in a while, I know they haven’t been watching it. From where I sit, the last few years of SNL have delivered week after week. Tragically, that streak seems to be fading. A week ago, Neil Patrick Harris hosted the show to some acclaim, though I must confess this left me baffled. Sure, he was funny, but the writing just wasn’t any good. This weekend’s episode, hosted by Rosario Dawson, confirmed my suspicions: It was criminally unfunny. After the steady highs of election season, hopefully this is just a little post-holiday burnout.
As means of encouragement, I thought I’d gather together the best of the series’ recent best. When the first SNL Digital Shorts appeared in late 2005, usually produced by Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island, they jump-started NBC’s viral marketing engine quite unexpectedly, and could usually be counted on as the highlight of each week’s episode. Here are my 10 favorites. What do you think? Which are your favorites?
10. Laser Cats - “There are two things that everyone loves, cats and lasers!” Featuring Lindsay Lohan.
9. Laser Cats 2 - That rare sequel that tops the original.
8. Laser Cats 3D - A new dimension in laser cats.
7. Body Fuzion - Starring Drew Barrymore, this parody of ’80s exercise videos is spot on, right down to the tracking problems.
6. Andy’s Dad - Jonah Hill gets close with Andy Samberg’s dad when guest-hosting SNL.
5. The Japanese Office - Skip it if you’re not a fan of The Office.
4. J••• in My Pants - This prematurely catchy electro-pop music video stars the Lonely Island trio and features Molly Sims, Justin Timberlake, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
3. Natalie Raps - Natalie Portman. There are no words.
2. D••• in a Box [Watch Uncensored] - Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg unveil three simple steps to win a lady’s heart.
1. Lazy Sunday - You may know it as the “Narnia Rap.” The second digital short to air (after the long-forgotten Lettuce), this is really the one that started it all.
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Comments
By vistavision
January 19, 2009 9:42 PM | Link to this
The cyclical nature of SNL dates back to the days of Charles Rocket at least.By Tony
January 19, 2009 11:26 PM | Link to this
I really liked the Digital Short ‘Everyone’s a Critic’: In a clip from Paul Rudd’s new movie, Samberg romantically paints him nude and then Rudd returns the favor. While selling the painting at an auction, it is shown to be so graphic that everyone who sees it begins convulsing violently, vomiting, bleeding from the eyes, and committing violent acts of suicide. Armisen appears as the auctioneer, Wilson as the interviewer, Hader and Wiig as Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood respectively (they appear tied to a post with their eyes closed while everyone else is dying after seeing the painting, parodying the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark).By Tony
January 19, 2009 11:30 PM | Link to this
I also liked ‘Extreme Challenge’: Samberg and Wiig compete in nonsensical activities, from arm wrestling to human ATM. Forte referees, Thompson is an ATM customer, and Anne Hathaway appears when Andy turns into Jane Austen.By :P
January 27, 2009 9:18 AM | Link to this
I think the digital shorts on SNL are stupid. And the show itself is going through one of its down phases. I wish they would just show some of the classic shows in place of the new ones….