Let’s kick off this week’s discussion by asking the question, “how important is the musical guest to SNL?” Sometimes it’s really nothing, other times it can save the episode. Case in point this weekend Mumford & Sons saved the day. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a bonafide great actor, person, and hey, I’ll say it, good lookin’ guy. You’d think this was something to be worked with and Levitt kicked the show off with a ton of enthusiasm with a dance number in homage to the movie Magic Mike. The problem is, things fizzled soon and this high energy was gone by the time midnight came. What is going to happen for the next hour? Well, that’s pretty much where it became the Mumford show for the highlight reel.

Mumford took the edge, raised the energy and rode the waves of the night through ’til the end. While Levitt was just kinda hanging around to eat up the minutes in between. JGL shoulda had a better night. As when Will Ferrell last hosted, we had high hoped but the result was just a pretty mediocre showing. Let’s check the tape shall we?

Cold Open: Live with Kelly and Michael
How we doin’ new Live! host Michael Strahan? Two consecutive weeks of Jay Pharoah handling the cold open. Good on ya Jay. As you stated as Strahan, yes, it’s a great job. We knew they were going to give you some more screen time this year Jay and it appears they meant it.

Monologue
JGL is here and he’s Magic Mikin’. This monologue was just a reason to show off his (and Bobby Moynihan’s) sex appeal I reckon.

Undecided Voters
Our first commercial of the night and it’s a pretty hilarious take on the swing voters and in this case. It’s apparently not because they are undecided, they just are buffoons.

Tres Equis 1
What a great concept for a commercial. I’ve always wanted to know what the son of the world’s most interesting man was up to. This was also the moment of the night I first thought, “are we going to see a live sketch this week?” Then I got my answer.

Private Detective
Hrmmmm, I guess this was funny. If there aren’t pictures of the events at hand, let’s draw them? It’s one of the weirdest sketches of the night.

Tres Equis 2
Oh another great commercial of the son of the most interesting man in the world. It would be great if they did these throughout the episode and with them coming so frequently that might be the case ala the Clint Eastwood Super Bowl ads. Oh even better Jason Sudeikis as the actual most interesting man in the world whose disappointed in his son.

Hypnotist
If you need further proof that Taran Killam can do pretty much anything, here’s an example. The sketch is something simple and forgetful but Taran selling it to the point that he’s willing to strip down to his skivvies to sell it is applause-worthy in my book.

G.O.B. Tampons
Another pre-recorded sketch? Geeze! The upside… this was funny.

Mumford & Sons “I Will Wait”
Here’s where the cavalry comes in. By the time the “wtf?” questions roll off our lips. Mumford and his band of gypsies start the energy and excitement that will carry us through the rest of the night. Thank you guys with your banjos and kick drums.

Weekend Update
Fresh off the airing of Thursday’s Weekend Update Primetime special which knocked it out of the park addressing the Mitt Romney 47% video tape and a full on Bobby Moynian drunk uncle. Speaking of which… where was Bobby this episode? Other than dropping in as a backup dancer in JGL’s monologue he wasn’t around was he. This episode could use a drunk uncle.

Asaad’s two best friends from growing up. It’s pretty much the same sketch that Vanessa Bayer and Fred Armisen launched for Moammar Gadhafi but he’s ya know, dead.

“Shake John Voit’s cold lizard hand.” Kate McKinnon’sAnn Romney is solid, and let’s be honest, we all love us a little Beyonce. It’s one of the highlights of the night.

Stephen Smith on Tim Tebow. More screen time for Jay Pharoah! Please Hammer don’t hurt ‘em!

Hide Your Love Away
Mumford saves a sketch here simply by being around. While I will say it’s a good call on having them appear as a Beatles cover band, this is a sketch we’ve been seeing for years and has to be retired. Not surprising there’s no clearance for The Beatles’ song, “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” because that cost $$$. So no video, but here’s a picture to get your imagination going.

The Finer Things
For the first time in a really long time, I fast forwarded through an SNL clip. Literally having not a single desire nor care how a sketch was going to head or end.

Mumford & Sons “Below My Feet”
They’re back.

My Daughter
C’Mon really? I don’t know what’s going on here other than my time being wasted.

Real Estate Agents
This sketch was a funny idea. It was also cut off when it should’ve been for it’s time filling duties. Tim Robinson wins with the back-to-back sketches. New guy is doing fine. While on the topic, another week without Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong being relegated to some background scenery. Let’s hope for more from them soon!

And that’s what we have folks, it was a stumble to the end. At the risk of beating the dead horse, this episode was just not a win. JGL is a great performer and underutilized and/or didn’t take many chances. Hopefully we’ll get a better turn next week when James Bond himself Daniel Craig hosts the evening and Muse will melt faces. We have high hopes for that episode. Let’s expect lotsa 007 jokes and a few digs at the British accent. Yeah that’s what we want.

See you then.