Saturday Night Live

Based on a couple of moments during the show, I can't help but get the feeling that more than one cast member said at some point this week, "You know, Bruno Mars could be our new Justin Timberlake." Timberlake's quite popular hosting style was obviously the blueprint for the evening: Timberlake was even mentioned during the monologue  and  Mars starred in a sketch that Timberlake had previously performed. Admittedly, I was dreading this show. Musical performers who are thrust into hosting duties have a, let's say, mixed history of success. But, yeah ... maybe Bruno Mars (with a  little  help from Tom Hanks) really  is  the next Justin Timberlake? (OK, not quite, yet.) So, the host was great, what about the sketches?  That  is a slightly more complicated answer. In other words: Bruno Mars was the best  host  of the season, but this was not the best  show  of the season. On to a mixed bag of a Scorecard... //www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ryan/snl-scorecard-bruno-mars_b_1997270.html?utm_hp_ref=tv&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+weblogsinc%2Ftvsquad+%28TV+Squad%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Bruno Mars told us  he was no comedian , but he was game for a surprisingly entertaining episode of  Saturday Night Live . Was he of Justin Timberlake caliber? No, but who is? Mars was initially restricted to a lot of song numbers, which had me concerned. Still, the musical sketches were pretty funny, particularly one featuring Pandora, as you’ll see below. Thankfully, after the Pandora one, Mars mostly kept the singing to his duties as musical guest and turned up the charm as a sad mouse, a one-eyed hotel employee and a fake ID maker. I had my doubts about you as a host, Mars, but you showed me wrong. I’d like to see you back someday! Read More... //popwatch.ew.com/2012/10/21/saturday-night-live-recap-bruno-mars-we-like-you-just-the-way-you-are/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ew%2Fpopwatch+%28Entertainment+Weekly%2FEW.com%27s%3A+PopWatch%29

Christina Applegate resuscitated a flatlining season of  Saturday Night Live  with her brilliant song and dance numbers this weekend. The  Up All Night  actress last graced the  SNL  stage 19 years ago in her Kelly Bundy days, but looked right at home last night. She seemed to be over-selling herself during a few sketches, especially those that involved speaking in accent, but redeemed herself with song. And unlike last week’s dull treatment of the first presidential debate, the gang had a field day with last Thursday’s vice presidential debate. Read More... //popwatch.ew.com/2012/10/14/saturday-night-live-recap-christina-applegate-sang-and-danced-her-way-into-our-hearts/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ew%2Fpopwatch+%28Entertainment+Weekly%2FEW.com%27s%3A+PopWatch%29&utm_content=Google+Reader