When push comes to shove, it was a tale of two buzzworthy sketches for this weekend’s “Saturday Night Live,” which featured longtime Hollywood mainstay Edward Norton in his first hosting stint at Rockefeller Center.<\/p>\n
“New Horror Trailer,” the first such sketch, earned rave reviews for its biting–yet accessible–parody of Wes Anderson’s filmmaking style. Highlighted by Edward Norton’s pitch perfect impression of Owen Wilson, the segment drew instant raves from its in-house and television audiences.<\/p>\n
Early Sunday morning, NBC, confident that it had a winner, eagerly shared the video (see below) with journalists.<\/p>\n
The reaction to the other key sketch was far more polarizing. Playing off interest in the acclaimed new film “12 Years a Slave,” the segment, entitled “12 Days Not a Slave,” starred Jay Pharoah as a wide-eyed former slave who hoped for instant assimilation into White America. Miley Cyrus, who also appeared alongside Norton (and Alec BAldwin) in the opening monologue, made a brief cameo to riff on her twerking.<\/p>\n
It takes but a simple reading of that premise to understand the polarization; while some praised the biting humor, others–including key media outlets–editorialized on its lack of taste. What is the appropriate take? You be the judge below.<\/p>\n
All key segments–including Janelle Monae’s performances as the musical guest–are below:<\/p>\n
Obamacare Website Ad Cold Open<\/strong>
\nKathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, offers the American public tips for dealing with the glitchy healthcare enrollment website.
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