The Sound of the Crowd

The World Makes Sense Again

Six and a half months ago or so, I wrote in this space that I was favorably impressed with Ben Affleck’s second time hosting Saturday Night Live. Last night he hosted for the third time, on their season opener, and it was not so good.

I’d say that the frustrating thing about this show is that sometimes you sense how good it could be without the technical limitations and “pull-it-out-your-ass” writing forced on them by being live. But that wouldn’t explain why so many of the cast and writers go on to do movies where they don’t have those limitations, and still stink up the joint.

Or maybe it does. After four years in an enviroment where being mediocre is hailed as a triumph, it must be remarkably easy not to try that hard.

And you thought this post wouldn’t have anything to do with George W. Bush, didn’t you?


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