coolmite

I have to say that I’m impressed with this year’s SNL cast. Each week someone shows a trait or ability that makes me happy. I’m still getting caught up, but I just saw the 1/31 show where All the new ladies showed how well they can sing. Damn.

I only thought that Michaela Watkins did uncomfortable humor well as evidenced by her Hoda Kotb character, but the singing really turned my head. I knew that Casey and Kristen could sing, but not her and Abby, too.

One of my favorite SNL skits involved Britney Spears, Ana Gasteyer and Maya Rudolph as Gemini’s Twin. Ana and Maya took that little girl to school with their singing.  I’m glad to see the tradition lives on.

I’m also here to laud Armisen, because damn it, he can sell a bit. I don’t know David Paterson. I’ll never meet David Paterson. I’ll probably never see him on TV much. I love Fred Armisen’s David Paterson. From the leer that says I think I’m the funniest person in the room, to the obligatory slide on/off camera, that’s the funniest on-going character I’ve seen in a while. I did spit takes during his entire bit on WU. I wasn’t drinking anything and am now parched. Never have I loved to pile on New Jersey as much as when this dude gleefully does.

Also, the ESPN Classic Sketch was awesome. “Gene made two catches that day. A touchdown and a bullet.” Is there nothing Bill Hader can’t do? Even Darrell Hammond was great in that sketch. I say that because I think he’s a wonderful impressionist and actor, but I’ve never bought him in sketches playing characters that he hasn’t already had years to practice.

I almost forgot about Bobby Moynihan, who on Wikipedia has Rich Sommer (someone I consider a friend) as a celebrity impersonation. Bobby is a riot so far.  He’s going to end up being the glue of the cast down the road, mark my words.

I do feel bad about Abby Elliott in the sense that her father Chris has ingested all sorts of things on television, like a bottle of canola oil and a bottle of vegetable oil at the same time.  I don’t know if that affected her chemical make up, let alone her childhood, but the results seem to be ok right now;) Third generation SNL!  Awesome.

I wrote this to Tony Rizzo of ESPN Cleveland 850 AM this morning:

Riz,
 
I’d like to thank you for something you did for me today. You gave me the gift of hating the Cleveland Browns and the delusions that Browns fans have all over again. I am very appreciative of this gesture.
 
As a Steelers fan since ‘79 from Youngstown, OH, I have always taken special glee in lording over my friends and family who are Browns fans the sheer supremacy of the Rooney organization. I took my lumps in the 80’s when the Kardiac Kids did their thing, and the Browns pretty much ruled the division, but I wasn’t worried. I knew that the Steelers would have their days again. They’re the Pittsburgh Steelers. Winning is what they do.
 
As of the 1990’s, I’ve had to coddle my friends and family who’ve faced disappointment after disappointment to the point of anxiety and depression. Instead of rubbing their noses in it after a competitive game, I’ve had to pat them on the heads and say, “There there. It’s going to be OK. You’ll see an AFC Championship before you die.” What Art Modell did to this town was shameful beyond compare. I went to that last Steeler game in Cleveland Stadium only to see a home game for Pittsburgh. Cleveland. Gave. Up.
 
I really can’t blame the city for taking it on the chin for three years after that. How glorious it was to see the Browns come back. Finally, I can hate the Mistake on the Lake once again.
 
Nope. The Lerners bought the team.
 
I respect that you don’t want any pity from Pittsburgh fans or want to give respect to us. That’s fine. You should have the stance that you do. But you need to realize something. Something that you say in your promotional bumper that runs every day. What can a Browns fan say to a Steelers fan? You’ve got nothing on us. Nothing! Tell me how my ass tastes? I’m pretty sure you already know how mine tastes—like day old Primanti Brothers sandwiches and stale Iron City Light. You’ve known this taste for the past 40 years. You’ll never get rid of it until the Browns win. Never.
 
So, talk your smack. I’m hoping your team can back the checks your mouth keeps trying to cash someday. Lean on the Lerners to get it done. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh will keep winning. It’s what they do. Don’t like four Super Bowls in six years? Tough. We can still do it now. Expect it.
 
Oh, there is some consolation. You’ll always have a higher first round draft pick than Pittsburgh does. So, there’s that.
 
Love the show, though. Hope Top Man opens his wallet and that Hammer can land the Eagle.
 
Chris Hall

I mean every word of it. He got me in a lather about being a Steelers fan living in Browns Country. Calling people like me ‘bandwagon.’

Wrong button, pal. As I mentioned above, I’ve been diehard since 1979. Never wavered. The only Steelers game I’ve ever walked away from, willingly, was the 51-0 shellacking at the hands of the Browns in 1989. And that was after being held down by my college friends who forced me to watch the ineptitude Pittsburgh put on the field that day. The others have been games my wife has made me stop watch because my shouting was scaring her and the children. I completely understand that.

I’d been looking for a reason to loath the Browns again and that’s as good as any for me. Game on. Oh, the odds for repeating next year? 10-1. The odds for the Browns? 55-1.

Methinks Pittsburgh is the better bet