Elton John on 'SNL': The season's 'worst episode'?

Some commentators say the comedy show hit a new low this weekend, with too many jokes riffing lazily on the flamboyant host's sexuality

The skits on Saturday Night Live this weekend, including the "Silver Screen," played up host Elton John's sexuality.
(Image credit: Screen shot, hulu.com)

This past weekend's "Saturday Night Live" had plenty of big names — Elton John hosted, with guest appearances from Tom Hanks, Jake Gyllenhaal and Carmelo Anthony — but commentators are calling it one of the season's "weakest" and "worst" episodes. (Watch a sketch from the show, below.) All the star wattage wasn't enough to make up for writing that relied repeatedly on John's sexuality for laughs. Was it really that bad?

Yes, it was consistently unfunny: This was, "without a doubt, one of the worst episodes this season," says Kelsea Stahler at Hollywood.com. While I love Elton, and "he did his best" with what the writers gave him, their reliance on "tasteless gay stereotype[s]" just wasn't funny, despite all the talent at their disposal.

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