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UPFRONTS 2013: TV Spinoffs’ Almost Perfect Year 
Justin Timbelake proved his ratings prowess, leading NBC’s Saturday Night Live to season highs. Last night’s show, marking Timberlake’s fifth time as host, averaged a 5.9/15 in metered-market households. That was up 23% from last week when Kevin Hart was emcee, and SNL‘s top overnights in 14 months, since January 7, 2012 when the show followed a highly-rated primetime NFL playoff game. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, last night’s SNL, on which Timberlake also was musical guest, averaged a 3.7/18 in adults 18-49, up 32% from last week and also the show’s highest result in the LPMs since January 7, 2012.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
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This is not surprising – Timberlake is a TREMENDOUS talent, and the show overall was outstanding. My 40-something-year-old wife and my 14-year-old daughter were both entranced, and agree Timberlake should run for president. It’s just too bad that Kevin Hart obviously did not get the full attention of the writers for his episode last week. I would bet a tofu blob from Veganville that last week the SNL team was looking and likely writing ahead to this anticipated blockbuster episode. Kevin Hart deserved better.
Agreed on Kevin Hart. The writing staff seemed to give him short shrift with sketches that didn’t tap into what makes him funny (in spite of that hilariously bent “Z” bit they did). Not to turn this into a race thing, but it reminded me of the way SNL has consistently failed to capitalize on Jay Pharaoh’s talents. If Pharaoh’s best assets are his impressions of Denzel, Will Smith, etc, then why can’t SNL build a memorable character around that the way they did with Billy Crystal’s hammy impressions? I’ve read a couple of those behind-the-scenes books about the history of the show, so I know that a talented cast member can get lost in the shuffle. If I was Lorne Michaels instead of an anonymous commenter, I would make sure the writing staff and Pharaoh were working towards this goal. I don’t see that happening this season. Maybe I’m wrong. Why is Pharaoh not breaking through? Is he overrated?
Agreed. I love Pharaoh but I wish they’d give him funnier material to work with. Hopefully he’ll develop a couple strong characters over the next few seasons though. He has the potential to be a really funny A-list actor in the future.
Probably because all he can do is impressions like Frank Caliendo. There is literally nothing else he does well.
A fun show, indeed. Justin is spot-on, unlike some of the guests, like Adam Levine. But I still think the Christoph Waltz episode had a better writing and the skits were funnier. These two shows are the top of the season.
Disagree. Waltz seemed to simply occupy space in his sketches. Timberlake jumps in and gives it everything he has.
But you can’t blame Waltz for being written into sketches as a side player. He was more than game and willing to give it 100% effort, just like Timberlake always does, but I don’t think the writers felt they could trust him with as much responsibility, so they wrote all the sketches with a cast member as the center of the sketch. What could Waltz do at that point? But his Papal Retirement and Djesus Uncrossed bits were fabulous. I hope he comes back again next season and they give him more to work with.
I never thouht of myself as a Justin fan, but after last night Im on team Justin,LOL He was really good, funny and I loved his new music. Wow…..
+ 1
except for the Caligula bit…blame that on the writing… JT was, indeed, quite good including his new music.
SNL has been so bad that there are very few stand-outs. Martin Short is still the best of the season. Timberlake was on fire before Weekend update, and everything went downhill from then on. The show came back to life with the last sketch. Should’ve dropped the Caligula part.
I bet NBC is trying to find a way to do a series with JT. Back up the Brinks truck.
I kind of hope he doesn’t do TV yet. Finally saw “In Time,” and though I didn’t love the flick, Timberlake was fine. But between that, “Friends With Benefits,” and “Social Network” (and his SNL-like one-note role in “Bad Teacher”), I kind of hope the right directors get him in the rights movies. When he’s good, he’s very good.
And damn, had forgotten he’d voiced Boo Boo to Dan Aykroyd’s Yogi a couple of years back.
I really can’t see that happening ever. Being tied to a tv series is the last thing he wants/needs.
The kid is flush with cash, sets his own schedule, works when he wants to work, and is in complete control of his creative content. Why tie himself down and become an employee when he can make a ton of money through any one of multiple revenue streams on his clock?
Ratings bonanza is not a surprise. Justin T. was fantastic. I don’t even like Jay-Z and HE was terrific with Timberlake! This guy is an immense talent, his music is fantastic and his comic timing is brilliant. The other “Justin B.” should be trailing after this guy and educating himself, not hanging out with a bunch of loser thugs in Beverly Hills.
Not the best episode, but hardly the worst. Timberlake brings a lot of energy and chops, and the show managed to rise to the occasion in a few skits. The nostalgic star cameos from Paul Simon, Steve Martin, Chevy, Akroyd, Hanks, et al, were amusing if not always laugh-out-loud funny. It’s sort of mind-blowing to see characters from different eras — “Wild and Crazy” Festrunk brothers and the “D**k in a Box” guys — crash into the same sketch. Like a lot of SNL fans, I love it when a favorite host like Timberlake or Alec Baldwin comes around for more. But these eps always run the risk of turning into self-congratulatory lovefests. Last night courted that, but I don’t mind so much.
The old guys just looked sad. Chevy Chase is an empty husk of a performer, Akyord looks like a heart attack on legs. Steve Martin’s still funny but lacks energy.
I really try very hard to hate Justin Timberlake. I’m just not successful at it. Geez how that guy put it out there for the “Vegan Village” bit, and not for a second flagged.
Andy Samberg – him I have no trouble hating. He makes it easy. But even when JT is with him, dammit – JT deserves the respect.
No shock. They brought out all the stops for this show and once again, JT was funny.
Personally(and I’m sure a lot people were) was looking forward to another d**k in box video but the dating show was just as hilarious. Also loved the Three Amigos joke with Martin Short the only one doing it.
Maybe they should just make him the permanent host of the program then, based on the ratings results he has garnered during his stints on SNL.
WithMarty “the only one doing” what?? We all did the same thing. Same Amigo salute.
Oops! I was thinking of the musical intro – you meant the 5 year club sketch. My bad.
Talent and great ratings and a five night stint as musical guest on Fallon’s show this coming week. Is it possible he is being considered to take over Late Night when/if Fallon takes over the Tonight Show. We should be so lucky
SNL always does its best when Timberlake is there. The show itself has been a disaster on and off for the last few years, but you just knew everyone would actually TRY not only with Timberlake but all the other “alumni” in attendance.
Here’s a thought: let Timberlake host the 2014 Oscar telecast. He seems comfortable with a live audience so what have they got to lose? It certainly couldn’t be worse than the last few years.
Timberlake has proven himself to be that rarest of things – an SNL host that performs in almost every sketch (as well as the musical performances). Not every SNL host is willing to make fun of their own image and look silly for the sake of a sketch. Timberlake seems to truly enjoy being there.
The 5-Timers CLub was a nice touch. It is interesting to note the variety of the 5-Timers hosts – a mix of musicians and actors (it would have been good to see writer/actor Buck Henry in that sketch if he was able to be there).
About the only missteps on this JT SNL were the Caligula and the Main Justice sketches (at least they did something new, not just relying on retreads). To me, it seemed that Chevy Chase was painfully uncomfortable being back at SNL (he didn’t/couldn’t do the Three Amigos “salute”). Even Dan Akroyd and Steve Martin gamely reprised the Festrunk Brothers.
Let’s not confuse SNL with other stuff. Justin is always funny on SNL. But then he completely flops in other acting stuff. Oscars are not SNL. They won’t create ridiculous characters, there won’t be other 3 cast members.
I suspect that as Oscar host Justin will be ordinary and unfunny. It’s not like he can deliver lines like Amy, Tina, Seth or Ricky. People think Justin can be good host at Oscars. But they were hoping that Hugh Jackman would be too. And then he wasn’t.
Also Caligula was embarrassing. They were like some 15-16 old teenagers who were let to say words like penis and sex, so they were trying to say that as much as they could. Really embarrassing for everyone involved, completely not funny, and I can’t believe they still went with it. They must have seen how bad it is on dress rehearsal.
Let Timberlake have a shot at the Academy Awards. He’s got to be better than Franco. If not Justin, then maybe Jimmy Fallon.
Great to see the Aykroyd, Martin et al in sketches. Overall, there was a turkey of a sketch here and there, but that’s just like the old days, too, in case anybody’s forgot. Timberlake is one of the few stars who could actually have his own variety show, not just talk show. That’s something I’d actually watch.
Timberlake is painfully over-rated on SNL. He’s not of the distinction that Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are. Not even remotely. The cameos are enjoyable but they do not equal comedy and Timberlake’s over-earnestness can’t compensate for self-satisfied camera mugging and milking a joke after the laugh has been had. The audience wasn’t laughing as much as they were marveling over “there’s Justin Timerlake”! Granted he’s leaps and bounds better than January Jones, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, etc. but at the end of the day he’s a celebrity and not a comedian.
On SNL, Justin Timberlake only looks good when the show plays up to his persona, other than that-his acting weaknesses are revealed. When you watch Timberlake’s acting performances in In Time, The Social Network, and Friends With Benefits, his acting is dreadful with no film presence whatsoever. Plus, during Justin’s live music performances , he fakes playing his instruments- piano and guitar. For example, whenever he plays the guitar, Timberlake has his back turned. And, Justin’s singing voice is only passable. His hype is too much for me.
this man has such an abundance of talent and charisma. and that he’s a nice guy seems very clear. i think he’s a huge talent and each time he shows up on SNL I know it’s going to be great. Can’t find any fault with him….knit picking just seems silly.