Who Makes A Better Hoda?
TMC
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Who Makes A Better Hoda?
Last [Saturday] night, SNL newbie Jenny Slate was put in the
unenviable position of picking up a character created by Michaela
Watkins, a one-season castmember who was let go earlier this year.
Watkins had carved out a niche for herself on the show with a spot-on
impersonation of Today show anchor Hoda Kotb—the straight woman to
Kristen Wiig’s boozy, bawdy Kathie Lee Gifford. But the sketch was
revived yesterday with Slate in the role, a slightly jarring change to
those of us accustomed to seeing Watkins in the chair next to Wiig.
My colleague Ken Tucker thought the sketch was pretty underwhelming
and took pity on Slate for having to “compete with the memory of
Watkins’ original impersonation and sit by while Wiig did mugging that
wasn’t freshened with anything new.” I actually laughed a few times
during the sketch, but I agree that it feels like Slate’s got her work
cut out for her if she wants to outshine Watkins. Check out the sketch
below, and then let us know: Do you miss the old Hoda? Or did Slate
manage to make the character her own?
From:
http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/11/15/snl-who-makes-a-better-hoda/
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Now hold on here. First of all, Hoda is an impression. You can't give
Michaela credit for "creating the character." There is no character.
It's merely an impression. Second of all, the way it probably went was
more like this... Kristen: "Check out my Kathy Lee impression. I've
been working on it. What do you think?" The Writers: "Perfect. Got a
skit. We need a Hoda? Anyone do Hoda?" Michaela: "I do!" Boom.
And then it was probably similar for Jenny. Writers: "Got another
Kathy Lee skit. Any of our other three ladies do Hoda?" Jenny: "I do!"
Boom.
So the idea that Jenny is taking over someone else's character...
that's rubbish.
Now that I've got that out of its box, decide for yourself who did
better. Michaela probably did, because it seems that Jenny is still
nervous. Jenny, you better work out those nerves very soon! Nasim's
not going anywhere. She's been showing that lately, and this episode's
Kim Kardashian was the one that tipped the scale (very similar to how
Abby's Angelina Jolie impressions have tipped the scale for her).
Nasim's here to stay. However, Jenny hasn't quite proven herself yet.
So who did better? Check it out...