(S33E05) Cold Open (CNN Democratic Debate): After seeing all those rumors about adding a new cast member to specifically play Barack Obama, I had resigned myself to seeing a new black guy. Hey, don't pretend you didn't think the same thing. In my mind, Fred Armisen never, ever entered into the equation, so imagine my surprise when Armisen popped up on screen next to Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton and was immediately identifiable as Obama. It was the ears and the super-serious look of concern, I think.

This sketch was all about the some members of the "unbiased" media's blatant negligence of Clinton. Yeah, the content was all right, but I spent most of my time trying to figure out if I liked Armisen as Obama. He had the look down, but only part of it. Obama's frowny face was pretty spot-on, but what about his signature grin? And the voice didn't work at all. Perhaps this will improve with time, because I don't think it's likely that Armisen expected this new role and didn't have much time to intensely study Obama's voice and mannerisms before the end of the writers' strike.

Monologue: Have you all seen footage of Tina Fey from her writer days on SNL? She would occasionally make a writer cameo, playing a bit part, and, I've got to say, she was frumpy as hell. Now, look at her... Ten years later and she looks a million times better and younger. It gives hope to all slouchy, geeky girls in the world. This must have been the most surreal thing for Fey as well. After all, she used to work on SNL, then she got a show based on her experiences at SNL, and then, because of that show, she came back to host SNL. Fey has really got it made right now. The monologue touched on the writers' strike and then somehow managed to work in a cameo by SNL favorite Steve Martin. The whole monologue was okay, but I really loved that bike shorts moment. Just the subtlety in Fey's reaction showed just how far she's come since her performing days on SNL, when I totally loathed everything thing she did.



"Annuale": I absolutely loved this commercial, because birth control ads are already inherently hilarious. The only bad part of it was Fey's rat's nest of a wig. "It may turn your baby into a firemonster" was pure gold. We also caught a glimpse of Maya Rudolph's replacement, new featured player Casey Wilson.



"Rock of Love 2": Bret Michaels (Jason Sudeikis) had to pick three out of four skanks to keep on his show. One-legged Amber, who we haven't seen in a while, farted her way off the show. I don't really care for this particular character, but I suppose the audience will always enjoy one-legged chicks and fart jokes. Also, I think it was around here that I decided the new girl, Wilson, was trying a little too hard.

"DVDs That My Wife Made": This was the most incredibly random commercial, but I still enjoyed it. Honestly, I'll watch anything that has Bill Hader and Andy Samberg together (as long as it isn't Hot Rod). "That phone's in the movie, Grandpa! It's not your phone!"

"What's That Bitch Talking About?": I'm not sure if it was because Kenan Thompson played host, but I got a weird adult All That vibe from this bizarre game show. It was kind of weak but a little intriguing at the same time. I don't think I liked the game show part very much, but I did like the home game design. Did I spot Ann Coulter and Queen Elizabeth?

"Weekend Update": Joke-wise, this was a pretty good WU. I adored the appearance by Governor Mike Huckabee, who has been making the comedy rounds like whoa. First he fuels the whole O'Brien vs. Stewart vs. Colbert feud and now he's on SNL? Someone make him say, "Sock it to me" next, please. Honestly, I may not agree with that man's ideas, but I appreciate how he can play along like this. It was so beautifully self-deprecating, I wanted to give Huckabee a pat on the back. Fey also jumped back behind the desk, forming a surprisingly cool WU line-up. Can you see it? Fey, Poehler, and Seth Meyers. It could totally work. Anyway, Fey ranted on some lady-related issues, from mocking Lindsay Lohan to bashing Hillary-haters. That Lohan joke caught me off-guard, by the way. It was a fairly tame jab, but Fey's whole history with Lohan, including Mean Girls and that weird post-SNL intervention, made it a bit weird. If it was Poehler or Meyers delivering the joke, I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but the fact that it was Fey made it seem so much more malicious that it really was. No? Yeah? Just me? All right.





"Celebrity Apprentice": Oh, Darrell Hammond, why are you still here? I bet even Tim Meadows is thinking, "When in the hell is this guy going to let go?" Anyway, this was pretty much just an opportunity for all the cast members to show off some of their weirder celebrity impressions, ones that have little to no relevance in today's bigger pop culture scene. Seriously, when else was Kristen Wiig going to get to show off her awesome Jennifer Tilley voice? Wilson's over-excited Rachael Ray was... okay. The girl needs to play it cool, she's trying way too hard.

"Best Man Speech": When in doubt or need of filler, do a best man speech. I loved the Mario references and had a good chuckle, though.

"Hot Air Balloon Rides": What in the hell was this? It was awesome, but I'm still confused. It felt like SNL briefly switched over to Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

"I Drink Your Milkshake": I still have yet to see There Will Be Blood, but that milkshake scene has already reached enough of a quotable status that I could laugh along. Hader's impression was spot-on, as always, and Poehler's wide-eyed, silent little Plainview was hilarious. The overall sketch was okay, but the best part was Will Forte's over-enthusiastic "I Drink Your Milkshake" theme song.

End: The thank yous ended with a big Happy Birthday to announcer Don Pardo, who recently turned 90. Come on! 90! That's absolutely insane. And Pardo totally owned those birthday candles, putting them out. I would have been winded halfway through, quite honestly.

Carrie Underwood: Didn't this blonde girl win a contest or something? Anyway, she was pretty.

Next time: Ellen Page and Wilco? Man, this episode is going to get so much street cred with the indie kids. I really hope Page pokes a little fun at Diablo Cody.