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Big shot two-time Oscar-nominated actor Jonah Hill swung by Studio 8H to lower himself to the bottom rungs of the performing arts by doing some comedy bits. He's kinda funny, we suppose.
Of course that introduction was exaggerated because he was funny before he was Big Shot Actor Jonah Hill. But now that he has reached that plateau, Hill can bring out Leonardo DiCaprio to assist with his monologue. And he can convince Leo to do the Titanic scene with him, which was a highlight, despite what some curmudgeons might think. [Whatever, Leo barely tried. —JR]
Michael Cera showing up in the last half of the show was also a nice treat. (Cera has been weirdly absent for the last while. It was good to see him again!)
The entire episode was a little difficult to watch, though, if only because it brought up thoughts about what could have been if Hill was discovered by Lorne Michaels instead of Judd Apatow. There were flashes of past SNL greats in his performance that make you wonder what the show would be like if he was every week. (Good. The answer is, good.)
2nd Runner-Up: Vanessa Bayer
I do my fair share of talking about Vanessa Bayer's unparalleled ability to play the straight man in sketches. She never breaks, for one thing, but more than that, she projects an air of beleaguered, quiet dignity whenever she's called upon to react to some of the more outlandish characters. I still feel like she should have been handed an Emmy or the Presidential Medal of Freedom or something for her work in that Super Showcase sketch. Alas. This very quality was one of the highlights of the Benihana sketch, as she played the perfect counterpoint to Jonah Hill's six-year-old Catskills comedian. Of course, the topper on Bayer's night was the return of Brook-e and Unnamed Former Porn Star, shilling for Lamborghini. —JR