Waddingham on SNL UK

Sketch comedy is hard.

Sure, anyone can do it - but not well.  Further, week in and week out, putting on a sketch show that actually lands most of the bits is a challenge.  It may be one of the oldest forms of television, but how many of these shows are well remembered?  How many jokes last the length of a sketch?

While Saturday Night Live has lasted 51 seasons, innumerable other shows have come and gone. 

I've aged out of watching the US version of SNL.  And that's fine.  I had a very good run of watching the show off and on.  And I'm glad the humor is pointing to a younger audience than me.  I am old.  I do not even know what SNL is talking about a good 1/5th of the time.  Thank god.

It never occurred to me that SNL was a franchisable concept, but I suppose so.  Why not?  American humor may not always translate, but the way the show works is a well-developed machine which you could plug in anywhere.  

Neo-Noir Watch: Bound (1996)

Watched:  05/09/2026

Format:  Criterion Disc

Viewing:  Third

Director:  The Wachowskis

I know I saw Bound (1996) once in the theater and once on VHS.  But it's been at least since last century since I've given it a whirl.  

The movie is mostly famous for the not-exactly-subtle eroticism between stars Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon.  I am not going to undersell the Wachowskis clearly seeing the erotic thrillers of the 1990's and saying "hold my beer".  

And while I enjoy a bit of post-9:00 PM cable in any movie, I think this is a great example of a neo-noir thriller that understands genre conventions and doesn't think sexy sex in a noir somehow elevates the concept so much it excuses abysmal writing.  Maybe not every line in this movie lands, but from a plotting standpoint and from a character standpoint- it just works.