Saturday Night Live achieves high ratings but only with low blows to Lindsay Lohan
By Michael Palumbo
March 8, 2012 11:49 p.m.
BY michael palumbo
Last week, Lindsay Lohan hosted “Saturday Night Live,” and the show received its second-highest ratings this season.
Despite all the hype surrounding her appearance, backlash followed instantaneously from critics and fans of the show alike.
One headline from Entertainment Weekly even posed the question online, “Worst Host of the Year?”
After viewing the show, I had to admit that it was not a strong episode nor did it feature a strong performance by Lohan, especially given the fact that this was her fourth time hosting. SNL has recently had a string of pretty funny episodes with Zooey Deschanel and Maya Rudolph hosting, but I think everyone is giving Lohan a little too much flack for her performance.
While it was obvious that Lohan was relying heavily on cue cards, Lohan isn’t entirely to blame.
For one, she was not used as much as she should have been in most of the sketches.
Many of the sketches had her as a minor background character, even in the hilarious “Real Housewives of Disney” sketch, in which she played Rapunzel. Kristen Wiig and other characters with more lines typically overshadowed Lohan, and she was never allowed to shine or demonstrate her comedic skill as she has done so well in the past.
The writers of the show are also guilty of harping on Lohan’s personal struggles in her private and professional life.
The opening monologue was a prime example of the entire cast poking fun at Lohan’s house arrests and drug allegations. While it was funny initially, there were other sketches that also alluded to her troubled life.
It almost feels as though the writers were expecting Lohan to fail, as Jimmy Fallon, who made a brief appearance during the monologue, said, “Lindsay you can do this. This is the return of Lindsay Lohan. … If for any reason you can’t, Jon Hamm is on standby for backup host.”
The camera then panned to Hamm.
Besides poking fun at Lohan’s downward spiral, is it fair for her fans and the general public to expect Lohan to suddenly have a career comeback after one 90-minute comedy show?
Even if Lohan performed as an amazing host, I feel like critics and audiences may have already given up on the actress.
The fact that Lohan was even on the show is puzzling, as she doesn’t have a new movie or album to promote.
SNL and NBC seem to be capitalizing on Lohan’s turbulent career and her ability to generate headlines.
Is Lohan ready to reimmerse herself into the acting world?
My guess is not just yet, but that doesn’t mean she’s a lost cause.
Robert Downey Jr. was out of the spotlight for years before he finally donned the Iron Man suit, and when Lohan gets her act together, she can do the same with the right role and guidance.
SNL got what it wanted from Lohan ““ higher ratings than usual ““ but it takes more than high-profile names to sustain interest and to consistently deliver laughs, and since when was that Lohan’s burden to bear?
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